Perspectives of myth

Myths have been around for ages, shaping our modern ideas and worldview. This week my group investigated North American lore and Hopi myths, both of which contain strong influences of how beliefs came about.

1. The tree of abundance as depicted in the Hopi myth video and the article “Myth, Belief, Narration,… ” serves to explain creation and nature with a cosmic interpretation. The tree of abundance is a mythology that unifies people with a shared origin story while also creating smaller groups through the movement of people across a landscape. This represents an essential unifying metaphor that is prevalent for many groups throughout North America. This idea is a vital cosmogenic interpretation because it allows for the global spread of a unified belief system. The Hopi myth explains that humans come from a similar background known as the underworld, this is illustrated by the tree of abundance. These shared beliefs are seen as a part of a worldview. It was interesting to note that many Native Americans shared a belief that they emerged from the earth. They were also told to walk to the world’s farthest corners, learn the earth with their feet, and find their Center Place. The cosmology of living beneath the earth is something that cannot be scientifically explained, but mythologically possible. Emerging from beneath the earth, meeting the caretaker of the universe who instructed them to honour and take care of mother earth, let them know that the planet is a gift and to find their home, they need to locate the ‘center place’.

Retrieved from: https://www.paulgalloro.com/abundance-for-all-octobers-message/tree-of-abundance/

Each individual group member chose to discuss and investigate a different idea or character of North American mythical lore in relation with the local landscape. One of the myths, explained the symbol of spiral and it’s significance to Hopi ceremonies and how the Chaco Canyon became a sacred place for their people. Another group member discussed the Inuit people of Kiilliniq and the coastal areas of the south, Uvajuq’s family was believed to be the first to die, bringing about the circle of life and death. This story spoke of the origin of lakes and rivers on the southwest hills around Qikiqtaqtuuq.  Lastly, the only character discussed this week was Spider Woman from Hopi mythic lore. his cosmogenic myth in Leeming’s anthology describes the creative partnership between Spider Woman, who is associated with the Earth, and the sun god Tawa. In this myth Spider Woman led the men and women she created through the Four Great Caverns of the Underworld to an opening at the deepest part of the Pisisbaiya.

Two of my group members agreed that given European Context the “Salem Witch Trials” was the mythology that provided both etic and emic perspectives. The emic perspective explains that during this time period the Christian belief system’s opposition to witchcraft. Many considered outbursts from girls as devilish and the result of witchcraft. The etic perspective explains that this myth was caused by paranoia, however it was later scientifically discovered that the hallucinations were caused by rotting rye. Another group member saw etic and emic perspectives in the Sedna myth example.

2.   This week’s discussion of Hopi myths reminds me of cosmology of my culture. In Chinese culture there is the same emphasis of the landscape and how it came about. The mythological features of terrain such as, mountains and rivers contains strong relation to Hopi myths. It is intriguing that myths exist everywhere, no matter the geographical differences.

Retrieved from: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/articles/7-fascinating-chinese-myths-and-legends/

References:

Uvajuq: The Origin of Death. 9781554880911. Toronto: Dundurn, 1999. Canadian Electronic Library/desLibris. Absolute Page 1. Downloaded 15-07-2020.
Copyright © 1999. Dundurn All rights reserved.

Leeming, D. A. (Ed.). (1991). The world of myth : An anthology. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca