David Yarrow (jdmann@cdp.uucp) (08/19/89)
/* Written ..:..xm July 26, 89 by jdmann(David Yarrow) in ............*/
THE ESSENCE OF HOPI PROPHECY
by Thomas F. Tarbet (all rights reserved)
The entire Hopi prophecy takes many days to tell, and many lifetimes
to fully understand. This is a summary of some essential points.
THE BALANCE OF LIFE
As caretakers of life we affect the balance of nature to such a
degree that our own actions determine whether the great cycles of nature
bring prosperity or disaster. Our present world is the unfoldment of a
pattern we set in motion.
Our divergence from the natural balance is traced to a point
preceding the existence of our present physical form. Once we were able
to appear and disappear at will, but through our own arrogance we took
our powers as instruments of creation for granted, and neglected the plan
of the creator. As a consequence we became confined to our physical form,
dominated by a continual struggle between our left and right sides, the
left being wise but clumsy and the right being clever and powerful but
unwise, forgetful of our original purpose.
THE CYCLE OF WORLDS
This suicidial split was to govern the entire course of our history
through world after world. As life resources diminish in keeping with the
cycles of nature, we would try to better our situation through our own
inventions, believing that any mistakes could be corrected through
further inventions. Through our cleverness, most of us would lose sight
of our original purpose, become involved in a world of our own design,
and ultimately oppose the order of the universe itself, becoming the
mindless enemy of the few who would still hold the key to survival.
In several previous worlds the majority have advanced their technology
in this way, even beyond what we know today. The consequent violations
against nature and fellow humans caused severe imbalances which were
resolved in the form of war, social disintegration and natural
catastrophe.
As each world reached the brink of annihilation there remained a
small minority who managed to live in nearly complete accord with the
infinite plan, as implied in the name: Hopi. Toward the final stages they
would encounter signs of disintegration within, as well as enticing
offers and severe threats from without, aimed toward forcing them to join
the rest of the world.
OUR PRESENT WORLD
Our common ancestors were among the small group who miraculously
emerged from the last world as it reached its destruction, although they
too were tainted with corruption. The seeds of the crisis we face today
were brought with us when we first set foot in this world.
Upon reaching our present world, the Hopi set out on a long migration
to meet the creator in the person of Maasaw, the caretaker of this land
and all that live upon it. They followed a special pattern, however, a
serious omen made a separate journey necessary, in order to balance the
extreme disorder anticipated for the latter days.
THE TRUE WHITE BROTHER
A Hopi of light complexion, now called the True White Brother, left
the group and travelled in the direction of the rising sun, taking with
him a stone tablet which matches a similar tablet held by those who went
on to meet Maasaw at a place called Oraibi, where the present Hopi
villages were established according to his instructions.
The Hopi anticipated the arrival of a race of light-skinned people
from the east, predicting many of their inventions, which would serve as
signs indicating stages in the unfoldment of the pattern the Hopi had
studied from antiquity.
It was clearly forseen that the visitors, in their cleverness, may
have lost sight of their original purpose, in which case they would be
very dangerous. The Hopi were to watch for one who has not left the
spiritual path, and carries the actual stone tablet.
THE SWASTIKA AND THE SUN
Through countless centuries the Hopi have recalled in their ceremonies
the previous worlds, our emergence into the present world, and our
purpose in coming here. Periodically they have renewed their covenant
with Maasaw to live the simple, humble way of life he laid out for them,
and to preserve the balance of nature for the sake of all living things.
The knowledge of world events has been handed down in secret religious
societies who keep watch as each stage unfolds.
The leaders watched especially for a series of three world-shaking
events accompanied by the appearance of certain symbols that describe the
primordial forces that govern all life, from the sprouting of a seed to
global movements such as weather, earthquakes, migrations and wars.
The gourd rattle is a key symbol. The shaking of the gourd rattle in
ceremonies means the stirring of the life forces. On the rattle are drawn
the ancient symbols of the swastika, or meha, showing the spirals of
force sprouting from a seed in four directions, surrounded by a ring or
red fire, showing the encircling penetration of the warmth of the sun,
tawa, causing the seed to sprout and grow.
The first two world-shaking events would involve forces portrayed by
the swastika and the sun. Out of the violence and destruction of the
first, the strongest elements would emerge with still greater force to
produce the second event. When these actual symbols appeared, it would be
clear that this stage of the prophecy was being fulfilled.
THE GOURD FULL OF ASHES
Eventually a "gourd full of ashes" would be invented, which, if
dropped from the sky, would boil the oceans and burn the land, causing
nothing to grow there for many years. This would be a signal for certain
Hopis to reveal some of their teachings in order to warn the world that
the third and final event would happen soon, that it could bring an end
to all life unless people correct themselves and their leaders in time.
Hopi leaders now believe that the first two events were the first and
second world wars, and that the "gourd full of ashes" is the atomic bomb.
After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, teachings formerly kept
secret were compared and released to the world. The details presented
here are part of those teachings.
THE DAY OF PURIFICATION
The final stage, called the Day of Purification, is described as the
hatching of a "mystery egg," in which the forces of meha and tawa unite
with a third force symbolized by the color red, culminating in either
total rebirth or total annihilation - we don't yet know which, but the
choice is ours. War and natural catastrophe may be involved. The degree
of violence will be determined by the degree of inequity caused among the
peoples of the world, and in the balance of nature. In this crisis, rich
and poor will be forced to v$yuggle as equals to survive.
That it will be very violent is now almost taken for granted among
traditional Hopi, but humans may still lessen the violence by correcting
their treatment of nature as well as each other. Ancient spiritually-
based communities, such as the Hopi, must especially be preserved, and
not forced to abandon their waise ways of life, or the natural resources
they have vowed to protect.
THE FATE OF HUMANITY
The Hopie play a key role in the survival of the human race, through
their vital communion with the unseen forces that hold nature in balance,
as an example of a practical alternative to the suicidal man-made system,
and as a fulcrum of world events. The pattern is simple: "The whole world
will shake and turn red, and turn against those who are hindering the
Hopi." The man-made system now destroying the Hopi culture is deeply
involved in similar violations throughout the world. The devastating
reversal predicted in the prophecies is part of the natural order. If
those who thrive from that system, its money and its laws, can manage to
stop it from eliminating the Hopi Way, then many may be enabled to
survive the Day of Purification and enter a new age of peace. But if no
one is left to continue the Hopi Way, hope for such an age is in vain.
The forces we must face are formidable, but the only alternative is
annihilation. Yet the man-made system cannot be corrected by any means
that depends of forcing others to do ones will, for that is the source of
the problem. If people are to correct themselves and their leaders, the
gulf between the two must be eliminated. To accomplish this, one can only
rely on the energy of truth itself.
This approach, which is the foundation of the Hopi Way, is the
greatest challenge a mortal can face. Few are likely to accept it. But
once peace is established on this basis, and our original way of life is
allowed to flourish, we will be able to use our inventive capacity
wisely, to encourage rather than threaten life, and benefit everyone
rather than enrich a few at the expense of others. Concern for all living
things will far surpass personal concerns, bringing greater happiness
than could formerly be realized. Than all living things shall enjoy
lasting harmony.
For a free copy, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
The Planting Stick Project, Route 9 Box 78, Santa Fe, NM 87505
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***** prepared by David Yarrow, the turtle, Associate Editor of
SOLSTICE, author of "The Dragon and the Ice Castle: Rediscovery of Sacred
Space in the Finger Lakes," a tale of the Onondaga Nation.
***** SOLSTICE: "Perspectives on Health & Environment" is published
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0189/4427.
***** SOLSTICE publisher John David Mann (igc.jdmann) is concerned about
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"Perspectives on the Climate Crisis."
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