THE BOOK OF THE HOPI

CREATION OF MANKIND

"Spider Women gathered earth, this time in four colors, yellow, red, white, and black, mixed with tuchlava, the liquid of her mouth; molded them; and covered them with her white- substance cape which was the creative wisdom itself. As before, she sang over them the Creation Song, and when she uncovered them these forms were human beings in the image of Sotuknang. Then she created four other beings after her own form. They were wuti, female partners, for the first male beings.

When Spider Women uncovered them the forms came to life. This was at the time of the purple light, Qoyangnupta, the first phase of the dawn of creation which first reveals the mystery of man's creation.

They awakened and began to move, but there was still a dampness on their foreheads and a soft spot on their heads. This was at the time of the yellow light, Sikangnuqa, the second phase of of the dawn of creation, when the breath of life entered man.

In a short time the sun appeared above the horizon, drying the dampness on their foreheads, and hardening the soft spot on their heads. This was the time of the red light, Talawva, the third phase of the dawn of creation, when man, fully formed and firmed, proudly faced his Creator.

"That is the sun," said Spider Women. "You are meeting your father the Creator for the first time. You must always remember and observe these three phases of your Creation. The time of the three lights, the dark purple, the yellow, and the red reveal in turn the mystery, the breath of life, and warmth of love. These comprise the Creator's plan of life for you as sung over you in the Song of Creation."

Then "The Song of Creation" is given.

"The First People of the First World did not answer her; they could not speak. Something had to be done. Since Spider Women received her power from Sotuknang, she had to call him and ask him what to do. So she called Paloengawhoya and said, "Call your Uncle. We need him at once."

Paloengawhoya, the echo twin, sent out his call along the world axis to the vibratory centers of the earth, which resounded his message throughout the universe. "Sotuknang, Our Uncle, come at once! We need you!

All at once, with the sound as of a mighty wind Sotuknang appeared in front of them. "I am here. Why do you need me so urgently?"

Spider women tells Sotuknang that she created the First People as Sotuknang bid her to do, that "they are fully and firmly formed", properly colored, and have life and movement, but that "they cannot talk." Spider Women also asked Sotuknang to give the First people "the power to reproduce, so that they may enjoy their life and give thanks to the Creator."

Sotuknang obliged, and "gave them speech, a different language to each color, with respect for each other's difference. He gave them the wisdom and power to reproduce and multiply", and said to them:

"With all these I have given you this world to live on and to be happy. There is only one thing I ask of you. To respect the Creator at all times. Wisdom, harmony, and respect for the love of the Creator who made you. May it grow and never be forgotten among you as long as you live."

So the First People went their directions, were happy, and began to multiply."

According to this, there was a hierarchy, the echo twin was asked to call his Uncle Sotuknang, whose Uncle was Tiaowa, the Creator himself, not involved in all this, nevertheless the echo twins message resounded "throughout the universe" as everything happening on the earth effects the universe entire. There were different races with different languages who went in their directions, but in each world the people didn't heed the words of Sotuknang to remember to sing praises to their Creator, hence became wicked and had to be destroyed and a new world created for them, or us.

Charlotte