Native American Legends
The End of The First World
A Hopi Legend
So the First People multiplied and spread over the face of the
land and were happy. Although they were of different colors and
spoke different languages, they felt as one and understood each
other without talking. It was the same with the birds and the animals.
They all suckled at the breast of their Mother Earth, who gave them
milk of grass, seeds, fruit, and corn, and they all felt as one:
people and animals.
But gradually there were those who forgot the commands of Sótuknang
and the Spider Woman to respect their Creator. More and more they
used the vibratory centers solely for earthy purposes, forgetting
that their primary purpose was to carry out the plan of Creation.
Then there came Lavahóya, the Talker. He came in the form
of a bird called Mochni (a bird like a Mockingbird), and the more
he kept talking, the more he convinced them of the differences between
them: the difference between people and animals, and the differences
between the people themselves by reason of the color of their skins,
their speech, and their beliefs in the plan of the Creator.
It was then that the animals drew away from the people. The guardian
spirit of animals laid his hands on their hind legs just below the
tail, making them become wild and scatter from the people in fear.
You can see this slightly oily spot today on deer and antelope on
the sides of their back legs as they throw up their tails to run
away.
In the same way, people began to divide and draw away from one
another: those of different races and languages, then those who
remembered the plan of creation and those who did not.
There came among them a handsome one, Káto'ya, in the form
of a snake with a big head. He led the people still farther away
from each other and their pristine wisdom. They became suspicious
of one another and accused one another wrongfully until they became
fierce and warlike and began to fight one another.
All the time, Mochni kept talking and Káto'ya became more
beguiling. there was no rest, no peace.
But among all the people of different races and languages there
were a few in every group who still lived by the laws of Creation.
To them came Sóyuknang. He came with sound as of a mighty
wind and suddenly appeared before them. He said, "I have observed
this state of affairs. It is not good. It is so bad that I talked
to my Uncle, Taiowa, about it. We have decided this world must be
destroyed and another one created so you people can start over again.
You are the ones we have chosen."
They listened carefully to their instruction.
Said Sóyuknang, "You will go to a certain place. Your
kópavi (vibratory center on top of the head) will lead you.
This inner wisdom will give you the sight to see a certain cloud,
which you will follow by day, and a certain star, which you will
follow by night. Take nothing with you. Your journey will not end
until the cloud stops and the star stops.
So all over the world these chosen people suddenly disappeared
from their homes and people and began following the cloud by day
and the star by night. Many other people asked them where they were
going and, when they were told, laughed at them. "We don't
see any cloud or any star either!" they said.
This was because they had lost the inner vision of the kópavi
on the crowns of their heads: the door was closed to them. Still,
there were a very few people who went along anyway because they
believed the people who did see the cloud and the star. This was
all right.
After many days and nights the first people arrived at the certain
place. Soon others came and asked, "What are you doing here?"
And they said, " We were told by Sóyuknang to come here."
The other people said, " We too were led here by the vapor
and the star!" They were all happy together because they were
of the same mind and understanding even though they were of different
languages and races.
When the last ones arrived Sóyuknang appeared. "Well,
you are all here, you that I have chosen to save from the destruction
of this world. Now come with me."
He led them to a big mound where the Ant People lived, stamped
on the roof, and commanded the Ant People to open up their home.
When an opening was made on top of the anthill, Sóyuknang
said to the people, "Now you will enter this Ant kiva, where
you will be safe when I destroy the world. While you are here, I
want you to learn a lesson from these Ant People. They are industrious.
They gather food in the summer for the winter. They keep cool when
it is hot and warm when it is cold. They live in peace with each
other. They obey the plan of creation."
So the people went down to live with the Ant People. When they
were all safe and settled Taiowa commanded Sóyuknang to destroy
the world. Sóyuknang destroyed it by fire because the Fire
Clan had been its leaders. He rained fire upon it. He opened up
the volcanoes. Fire came from above and below and all around until
the Earth, the waters, the air, all was one element: fire. And then
there was nothing left except the people safe inside the womb of
the Earth.
This was the end of Tokpela, the First World.
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