Kokopelli

Growing up in New Mexico was a blessing in many, many ways. One of the most important things that I gained while living there was cultural diversity and understanding. Kokopelli is one of the many legends that I was taught while living there.

The town I was born in, Grants, is situated between several Native American tribes, all of which have their own legends revolving around Kokopelli.

Kokopelli is one of the most intriguing and widespread images surviving from ancient Anasazi Indian culture. He is depicted as a humpbacked flute player, and is widely believed to bring well-being to the people. He was the one who would change the seasons and bring about a good harvest.

Many cultures have their own interpretation of Kokopelli. Known to some as a magician, to others he was a storyteller, teacher, healer, trickster, trader, or god of the harvest. Some even credit Kokopelli with being the “original” journalist.

Almost universally however, he was regarded as a harbinger of fertility, assuring success in hunting, growing crops, and human conception.

The Anasazi, who were first to claim Kokopelli, were primarily farmers who grew corn, beans, and squash on the Colorado Plateau. They regarded Kokopelli as a fertility symbol and he was always welcomed during corn planting season. A visit from Kokopelli insured that a good harvest was in store.

According to Navajo legend, Kokopelli was the God of Harvest and Plenty - a benign minor god who brought abundant rain and food to people. The Zuni also regarded him as a Rain Priest, able to make it rain at will. Others regarded him as a Spiritual Priest with actual healing powers. Many different legends exist about what Kokopelli actually carried in his sack. In Pueblo myths, he carried seeds, babies, and blankets.

According to the Navajo, his hump was made of clouds filled with seeds and rainbows.

Others believe that Kokopelli’s sack contained the seeds of all the plants and flowers of the world, which he scattered every Spring.

According to San Ildefonso legend, Kokopelli was a wandering minstrel who carried songs on his back, trading new songs for old ones. According to this legend, Kokopelli brought good luck and prosperity to anyone who listened to his songs.

Kokopelli embodied everything pure and spiritual about music. He and his magical flute traveled from village to village bestowing gifts and spreading cheer to all whom he visited.

His flute was said to symbolize happiness and joy. When he played his flute, the sun came out, the snow melted, grass began to grow, birds began to sing, and all the animals gathered around to hear his songs. His flute music soothed the Earth and made it ready to receive his seed. The magic of his flute was also thought to stimulate creativity and help good dreams come true.

The story that has stuck with me the most, and the one I heard all the time growing up, was the story of Sky City.

Sky City is a village on the Acoma Pueblo and is regarded as the oldest, continuously inhabited community in the United States. It’s built on a 300-foot-high mesa, and its believed this was for protection against invaders.

The faces of the mesa are sheer, and before modern times, the only way up or down was by a rock staircase that hads been carved into the face of the mesa.

In the late 1500’s the Spanish Crown began ordering conquest expeditions into the territories of the Pueblo Peoples, one of which was Acoma.

For several days the Acoma were able to hold off the Spanish conquistadors. But the the village was running out of food, and they were beginning to starve.

During the night, it is said that Kokopelli showed himself on the mesa, playing his flute. As he played, the children awoke, and ran outside. Kokopelli turned them all into butterflies and they flew off the mesa, to the top of the neighboring mesa.

The Spanish invaded the next day. Don Juan De Oñate, the conquistador in charge of the invasion, ordered for every man above the age of 25 to have his right foot cut off, then be sold into slavery. Several hundred Acoma natives were killed in the massacre.

But as legend has it, Kokopelli saved the children of the village, and every butterfly that is seen atop the mountain is blessed by Kokopelli himself.