Charlotte,

Please don't get offended. I don't think that is anyone's intention. I certainly don't think you are an ufo believing nutcase. However, what Hunterbear is talking about is the completely different perception of the spirit world and what would be considered forms of ESP. In native traditions, these things aren't scoffed at like they would be in a western society. Someone with this kind of ability would be rejoiced and possibly become a medicine person or an elder. In this tribe, that's definitely the case. Talking about seeing a ghost openly is nothing new or shocking. In fact, their entire tradition dealing with death is to prevent the creation of ghosts. Crying too much at a funeral of a loved one is bad because it could draw the spirit off of its path.

This is what Hunterbear is talking about. You'll also find that alot of SW natives have an open mind about ufos as well. How could they not when this is officially known as "UFO country"? It's just that Hunterbear isn't talking about reinterpreting Hopi traditional stories into including aliens. That is one person's speculation and probably not a Hopi speculation. Who were the spirit deities that became the kachinas? Well, nobody really knows but you won't see an official Hopi stance that they came from outerspace. They could've come from there, who is to say...but they didn't arrive in magnetic space ships. The version you've read is flawed. That is all anyone on this thread is trying to say.

Stephanie

In every man there is something wherein I may learn of him, and in that I am his pupil.--Ralph Waldo Emerson