BookoftheHopi byFrankWaters,VikingPress(1963)

BookSummaryandAnalysisbyDavidWorrell
http://sustainedaction.org/Explorations/book_of_the_hopi_by_frank_waters.ht
m
PublishedfiveyearsbeforeCastaneda'sfirstbook,sothepossibilitythatayoung
anthropologystudentinterestedinthesouthwestmighteasilyhaveencounteredthis
workisnotatallfarfetched.Therewillbefewcommentsonmypartmostlyquotes
appearinginitalics.
Foreword
"LaurensVanDerPost,giftedwriter,andperceptivestudentofhumanity,has
deploredthelosstooursocietyofthe"wholenaturallanguageofthespirit."
Introduction
WaterssaysthattheHopispeaktous"outofimmeasurabletime,fromafathomless
unconsciouswhosearchetypesaremysteriousandincomprehensibletous."
(useofdescriptors:fathomless,mysterious,incomprehensible)
"Whattheytellusisthestoryof...theiremergencesfrompreviousworlds."
"Itisaworldviewoflife...whoseesotericmeaningtheyhavekeptinviolatefor
generationsuncounted."
"Itisamythoreligioussystem...ascomplex,abstract,andesotericasanyinthe
world.Ithasbeenthedespairofprofessionalanthropologists,ethnologists,and
sociologists."
(useoftheword"abstract"torefertoasystemof"myth")
"Theesotericmeaningsandfunctionsoftheceremoniesthemselveshaveremained
virtuallyunknown.ThisisnotwhollyduetoHopisecrecy.Professionalscientific
observersthemselveshavenevergrantedvaliditytothoseaspectsofHopi

ceremonialismthatborderthesixthsenserealmofmysticism.Indeed,therationalism
ofallthewesternworldvehemenentlyrefutesanythingthatsmacksofthe
unknown..."
(useoftheterm"theunknown")
"ThattheseHopihaverevealedtheirconceptualpatternoflifetousnow,forthefirst
time,impartstotheirgiftastrangenessuniqueinournationalexperience...They
reassertarhythmoflifewehavedisastrouslytriedtoignore.Theyreminduswe
mustattuneourselvestotheneedforinnerchangeifwearetoavertacataclysmic
rupturebetweenourownmindsandhearts."
(astrangesystem,beingrevealedforthefirsttime)
"NorwilltheHopiviewoftheuniverseasaninseparablyinterrelatedfieldor
continuumbequitepalatabletothosewhotacitlyaccepttheroleofmanasarational
entitycreatedtostandapartfromnature."
ANoteAbouttheCompilationoftheBook
"[W]orkontheprojectrequirednearlythreeyears.MuchofthistimeIlivedthe
reservation...withmyresearchcoworkerOswaldWhiteBearFredericks...the
discoursesofourHopispokesmenweretakendowninHopionataperecorderby
WhiteBear,wholatertranslatedthemintoEnglish."
(preciselyrecordeddialogwhichwassubsequentlytranslated)
"AlltheHopispokesmenwillinglyandfreelygavetheinformation...noneofthem
waspaidinformantfeesinthemannercustomarilyfollowedbyprofessional
researchers."
(echoesof"paymeformytimewithyourtime")
"Thisgreatcooperativeeffortcouldnothavebeenobtainedbefore,norcoulditbe
obtainednow;alreadysomeoftheolderspokesmenhavedied.Theirtraditionscome
tousbythedictateoffatewecallfortuitouschance,atthetimewhenwe,asthey,
mostneedthem."
(Spokesmenunavailable,receivedby"fortuitouschance")
"ImustreiteratethatthisbookisanexpressionbytheHopisofthetraditional
viewpoint.Allthematerialinit,savemyownobviouscommentaries,wassupplied
byourHopispokesmenandapprovedastranscribedinmanuscriptform.Itsaimasa

freenarrativewastoachievethefullspiritandpatternofHopibelief,unrestrictedby
detaileddocumentationandargumentativeproof...Thedocumentaryscholarmay
questionwhetheranancientprimitivepeoplecouldhaveevolvedsucharichbelief
andpreserveditsfulltraditionforgenerationsbywordofmouth.Hemayassertthat
themyths,legends,andceremoniesarelargelymyownspeculations.Hewill
certainlydenythatinvisiblespiritsmanifestthemselvesasdescribed.Tothesedoubts
anddenialsmyonlyansweristhatthebookstemsfromamythicandsymboliclevel
farbelowthesurfaceofanthropologicalandethnologicaldocumentation.Thatitmay
notconformtotherationalconceptualizationrulingourownbeliefsdoesnotdetract
fromitsownvalidityasadepthpsychologydifferentfromourown.Itstandsfor
itselfasasynthesisofintuitivesymbolicbeliefgivenutteranceforthefirsttime."
(noproof,nodocumentation,wordofmouth,containsmagicalevents,etc.)
Tokpela:TheFirstWorld
"Thenhe,theinfinite,conceivedthefinite.FirsthecreatedSotukang."
(ThisbeingSotukangwenttothefirstworldandcreated"SpiderWoman",sohere
youhaveamale/femalepairoffirstbeings.)
"nineuniversalkingdoms:oneforTaiowatheCreator,oneforhimself,andseven
universesforthelifetocome"
(TheEagle,theorganicband,andseveninorganicbands?)
"Allthevibratorycentersalongtheearth'saxisfrompoletopoleresounded..."
(hey,cool!)
"SoSpiderWomangatheredearth,thistimeoffourcolors,yellow,red,white,and
black...moldedthem,andcoveredthemwithherwhitesubstancecapewhichwas
creativewisdomitself...andwhensheuncoveredthemtheseformswerehuman
beingsintheimageofSotuknang.Thenshecreatedfourotherbeingsafterherown
form.Theywerewuti,femalepartnersforthefirstfourmalebeings."
(two"special"beings,naguals?,thenfourmaletypesandfourfemaletypes)
"theyunderstoodthattheearthwasalivingentitylikethemselves"
(theearthasalivingbeing)
TheNatureofMan
Speakingofhowachildwasreared...

"[A]lthoughhehadhumanparents,hisrealparentsweretheuniversalentitieswho
hadcreatedhimthroughthemhismotherEarth,fromwhosefleshallareborn,and
hisfatherSun,thesolargodwhogiveslifetoalltheuniverse."
(ouremanationsarecontainedwithintheEarth'sandourenergyisalittlepieceof
theSun)
"Thelivingbodyofmanandthelivingbodyoftheearthwereconstructedinthe
sameway.Througheachrananaxis...alongthisaxiswereseveralvibratory
centers..."
(anaxisthroughthebody,with"vibratorycenters",hmmmm...)
"Thefirstoftheseinmanlayatthetopofthehead...justbelowitlaythesecond
center,theorgancalledthebrain...Thethirdcenterlayinthethroat...Thefourth
centerwastheheart...Thelastofman'simportantcenterslayunderhisnavel,the
organsomepeoplenowcallthesolarplexus."
(ThesedonotcorrespondexactlywithCastaneda's,butCastanedahimselfisnot
consistentabouthislabelingof"centers"inhisearlybooksforexampleatonepoint
sayingthatthecenterof"seeing"isagainsttheribs,andsince"seeing"waslater
explainedasaeuphemismformovingtheassemblagepoint,thatmakesnoreal
sense.)
Thefifthcenter,theoneunderthenavelwassaidtobe"theonewhichdirectedallthe
functionsofman."
(correspondingtowhatCastanedaearlyoncalled"thewill")
"Thefirstpeopleknewnosickness"
(Castanedasaidamanofknowledgedidnotgetsick)
Speakingofamedicineman...
"Thehandsofthemedicinemanwereseerinstruments;theycouldfeelthevibrations
fromeachcenter."
(useofword"seer")
Tuwaqachi:TheFourthWorld
"'Iamthecaretaker,theguardianandprotectorofthisland'.Thepeoplerecognized
Masaw.Hehadbeenappointedheadcaretakerofthethirdworld,but,beingalittle
selfimportant,hehadlosthishumilitybeforetheCreator."

(useofwords:caretaker,guardian,protector,andselfimportant)
TheLegends
TheHopidon'treferto"thepathwithheart".However,theydoreferto"theroadof
life".
(thereisalotoftalkabouthowHopibeliefsrefuteagreatdealofwhat
anthropologistsbelieveabouthowtheAmericascametobeinhabitedatheme
Castanedawouldalsoplayonfrequently)
"...manrisesupward,bringingintopredominantfunctioneachofthehighercenters.
Thedooratthecrownoftheheadthenopens,andhemergesintothewholenessofall
Creation,whencehesprang.ItisaRoadofLifehehastraveledbyhisownfreewill,
exhaustingeverycapacityforgoodorevil,thathemayknowhimselfatlastasa
finitepartofinfinity."
(Centerattopislaststep,goingbeyondgood/eviltojointheinfinite)
Watersgivesaprocedureforcreatingandthen"planting"a"magicjar"whichbrings
waterfromthedesert.Thedetailedprocedureremindsofsomeoftheelaborate
proceduresCastanedaputsinhisfirsttwobooks:
"Thetimewillcomewhenthevillagesyouestablishwillfallintoruins.Otherpeople
willwonderwhytheywerebuiltinsuchinhospitableregionswherethereisnowater
formilesaround.Theywillnotknowaboutthismagicwaterjar,becausetheywill
notknowofthepowerandprayerbehindit."
(Inthebookthereisfrequentuseoftheword"power")
Atthebeginningoftheirentrancetothefourthworld,theHopiencounteranEagle
whohasbeentheresincethecreationoftheworld.AnditwastheEaglewhich"gave
thepeoplepermissiontooccupytheland."
(So...an"Eagle'sGift"?:)stretchingithere...)
ThereisanaccountofhowWaterstookanIndiantoexaminemuseumpiecesfrom
ancientsites,andtheIndianwasabletogivedetailedandtotallyunknown
explanationsofthepieces.
(Castanedatoldasimilarstory)
"Theoldwu'yahadleftasignwhichallcouldreadclearly.Hishearthadbeenpure,
hispowergreat.Inhisdyinghourhehadgonedowntothespringbelowthevillage

andtransformedhimselfintoasprucetree."
(manofpowerbecomesatree)
Note:specializednameslikewu'yaareitalicizedthroughoutthisbook,justasthey
alwayswereinCastaneda'sbooks.
Thereisanaccountofachiefplantingamaleandafemalesprucetreewhichboth
grewabnormallyfast,allowinghimtoclaim"proofofourpower...andasignthatall
thehighplacesaroundthevillagewillbecoveredwithsprucetreeswhosepoweryou
mayuseinyourceremonies."
(Exampleofan"omen"thisbookisfilledwithstoriesof"omens."Infact,the
peopledirecttheirlivesbyfollowing"omens"or"signs"and"spirits"andoffering
"tokens"ofvariouskinds.Andthosearetheactualwordsused.)
"Akachinaisaspiritofanykindastar,mountain,plant,animal,orinvisibleforce.
Soisthemanwhoimpersonatesthespirit...wearingthesacredmaskandcostume
whichinvestshimwithitspower."
(similartoCastaneda'searlyforcesandallies)
"SunflowersarelivingpersonsimbuedwithlifebythedeitiesandourFatherSun,
justasweare."
(menbeingequaltoplants)
"ThesekachinapeopledidnotcometotheFourthWorldliketherestofthepeople.
Infacttheywerenotpeople.Theywerespiritssenttogivehelpandguidancetothe
clans,takingtheformsofordinarypeople."
(inearlybooks,alliesoftentaketheformsofordinarypeople)
Thereismentionof"howthestarsaffectedtheclimate,thecrops,andmanhimself,"
andthereismentionoftakinganobjectandputtingitonaceremonialmound"where
thefirstrayoftherisingsunwouldstrikeit"thusfertilizingitbyFatherSun.
(DonJuanlooksforomeninfirstraysofrisingsun,manisaffectedbyenergyfrom
thestars)
"TheCoyoteClanwasalsoassigneditsproperplaceamongtheclans,being
designatedtocomelastto"closethedoor."
(specialuseofphrase:"closethedoor")

Thereisastoryinvolvinga"talkingdeer."There'salsoanaccountofhowtheytimed
theirceremoniesbythepositionsofthestars,andadescriptionofapaintingincludes
this:
"thesevendotsneartheswallow'sbeakrepresentthesevenstarsinthePleiades;the
ninelargerdots,theninestarsinCorona..."
(mentionofCorona)
Here'saparticularlynicedescriptionofwaitingforanomen:
"[T]hechiefsentoutfouryoungmentoclimbahighridgetothenorthandwaitthere
forfourdaysforasigntoguidethem.Onthefourthdaythesigncame:atallcloud
thatbuiltuplikeatallpillarandfell,pointingtheway..."
Inonestorythereisamanwhomakesasoundthatisheardbyhisownclanatan
enormousdistance.Inthesamestory,thereisanothermanwhocanturnintoabird
andflylikeabird.
(GenarocallsCastanedafromadistancewithasound;Castanedaturnsintoabird)
TheMysteryPlays
(thenameoftheritualsremindsoneof"sorcerytheater")
Waterssaysofoneoftheirreligioussymbolsthatitis:
"partofthewildnessoftheearthandtheeverlastingmysteryofcreationwhichman
hasneverunderstoodandwillnevercompletelydominateanddomesticate."
(theworldisanendlessmystery)
IwanttoemphasizethatwhileWaters'styleisprimarilydocumentary,heoften
waxespoetic.Forexample,speakingofsomedancers:
"Howbeautifulandbrillianttheyare,touchedbyastrangeotherworldliness,asthey
comedancingslowlyandsingingdeeplythroughthenarrow,dustystreets...The
frozenpondbehindthevillagehasmelted,andnakedchildrenarecrowdingthe
sunnystonewalls.Fromthehighmesatoponecanseethedry,tawnydesert
stretchingemptilyawaytotheloftybuttessixtymilessouth.Thesoftlypounding
feet,thesoughingvoices...itisalittlemesmeric,asalways."
(astylebothdocumentaryandartistic,atthesametime)
Speakingofaritualwhichhasshockedobservers:

"Mastop...hascomealong,longway.Hisblackhelmetmasksuggeststhe
interstellarspacehehastraveled,thethreewhitestarsoneachsideofhisheadbeing
thethreestarsinOrion'sbelt(atthispointhegrabsawomanfromtheaudienceand
goesthroughmotionsofcopulationwithher)...butthisisnotpromiscuousandis
withmarriedwomenonly...forcopulationisfortheexpresspurposeofprocreation
ofman,thathemayclimbfromworldtoworldonhiscontinuingRoadofLife."
(sexisforcreatinglife,alaFireFromWithindays)
"Anindividualwhoobeysthelawoflawsandconformstothepureandperfect
patternlaiddownbythecreatorbecomesakachinawhenhediesandgoes
immediatelytothenextuniversewithouthavingtoplodthroughalltheintermediate
worldsorstagesofexistence.Fromthere,travelingthroughthevastwastesof
interstellarspace,hecomesbackperiodicallywithkachinasofotherformsoflifeto
helpmankindcontinueitsevolutionaryjourney.
Beyondthesesevenuniverses...lietwomorebeyondman'sreach.Theeighthisthe
realmofSotuknang,whohelpedtocreateandstillhelpstomaintaintheother
systems;andtheninthistheindefinable,incomprehensibledomainoftheonedivine
Creatorofall."
ReplicaWatchesReplicaWatches
(echoesof"theEagle","theunknowable',our"evolutionaryjourney,"andthe
warriorwhojourneysintootherworlds)
ReplicaWatchesReplicaWatches
Watersemphasizesthatspiritsareinvoked"sothatmanmaybeenabledtocontinue
hisneverendingjourney."
AnotherrelevantspeechbyWaters:
"Academicconsiderations,however,areinvalidatedbythebasictruthsandmeaning
ofthekachina...InitsconceptiontheHopishavecreatedaformfortheeverlasting
formless;alivingsymboluniqueintheworldforthatuniversalandmultifoldspirit
whichembodiesalllivingmatter;whichspeakstous,asonlythespiritcanspeak,
throughtheintuitiveperception..."
Atonepoint,aseachkachinaentersthekiva,akachinamanamakesfunoforpraises
him,causinghimtoreviewhispastactions.Thisisregardedasa'confession'or
'purification.'

(Akachinamanais"amandressedasawoman",andWatersfrequentlyusesthe
actualword"recapitulation"todescriberetellingorreviewingthepast.)
WatersdescribesaritualcalledSaqtiva,orthe"jumpofdeath,"whereinthe
performersleapfromtallpolesandcatchathongsecuredtoacrossbarandswing
themselvesoutovertheedgeofacliff.Anymiscaluclationresultsinactualdeathon
therocksbelow,sotheyareceremoniallypaintedfordeathbeforehand.
(thejumpfromthecliff?)
ThenWatersmentionshowthisissimilartoaprehistoricceremonyoftheAztecs:
LosVoladores,TheFlyingPoleDance.Watersevendescribestheperformersas
"fourmenknownasvoladoresorfliers."
(useofterm"fliers")
"TheHopisfirstaskpermissionofanyplantbeforecuttingitforceremonialuse."
(talkingtoplants)
Nowgetthis...
"AstillmoresignificantparallelbetweenLosVoladoresandSaqtivaisthe
sublimationofsexsothatthegenerativepowerofthefliersmaybetransferredtothe
poweroftheritual...Thefourfliersarealwaysselectedfromyoungunmarriedmen
whohavenosweethearts.Theyarerequiredtoobserverigidcontinenceandto
promisetoflyforsevenconsecutiveyears."
(sevenyearsofcelibacy)
Eagleskilledinceremoniesareburied"headtothewest."AnoldHopiman"points
tothehorizonwithhischin."
Afteradanceinwhichthemenholdliverattlesnakesintheirmouths,Watersreports
onhowthemendrinkastrongemeticthen"standontheedgeoftheclifftoretch.
Otherwisetheirbellieswouldswellupwiththepowerlikecloudsandburst."
(remindsofGordamakingCastanedavomitaftercontactwithallies)
Note:Waterstwiceusestheword"indulgence"todescribeoverdoingsomething.
Thereisastorytoldofamagicfeatof:
"puttinghandsinabowlofwhitewashandthenmakingthemotionsofpaintinga
wallinfrontofthem.Severalpeoplelaughed,fortherewasnowallinfrontofthem.

ButtheYaYamembersquietlypointedacrossthedeserttoaclifftenmilesaway.It
waspaintedwiththewhitewash."
(kindofremindsoneofCastanedaseeingtheplantontheothersideofthehill)
Humorously,theHopiconsider"sorcerers"and"witches"peoplewhoabusethe
poweroflife,andwhosufferpenaltiesfordoingso,andarenotallowedtoevolveas
rapidlyasothers.:)
Thereisalongsectionafter"theMysteryPlay"sectionabouthowtheHopifared
undertheSpanishconquest,andthecomingoftheAmericans,butI'mnotgoingto
gointoanyofthat.
Intheconclusionofthebook,thereisaninterestingremarkabouttime:"Hopitime,
unlikeourown,isnotashallowhorizontalstream.Itdoesnotflowoutofa
convenientlyforgottenpastthroughthepresentintoafuturewearehurryingtoreach.
AllIndiantimehasaverticaldimensionthatcupspastandfutureinatimeless
present."
("wheeloftime"?)
SumminguptheHopireligion,Waterssays:
"...itisabeliefwhosecoreisnotspoken,butexpressedbytheabstractritualism..."
("abstractcore")
Inclosing,Watersshowsappreciationfor...
"thecourageousandcooperativeeffortofourthirtyHopispokesmeninrecapitulating
hereforthefirsttimealltheirmyths,legends,history,andmeanings..."
:)Recapitulating.
FinalNote
Ihopeitmaybeabitclearerhowitmightbequitepossibletousetheimageryofa
Nativesystem,subtlymodifiedandmixedwithWesternphilosophyinordertocreate
"amazingtales."(Gee,IalmostfeellikeIcouldhaveacrackatitmyself.)Anyhow,
thisbookmaywellhavebeenquiteinfluential.Whileanysinglepointcouldbe
debated,itisquiteinterestingtofindsomanysimilarideasallinthesame
anthropologicalwork,whichwaspublishedpriortoCastaneda'sworks.