![]() An image of a bird, for example, often acts as a representation of tranquility and calm and helps reduce anxiety by replacing it with quietude. In Navajo jewelry, pottery, and other art forms, animal characters also bear symbolic meaning and are deeply linked to Navajo cultural practices. To interpret these dual meanings, the context for what type of jewelry or object the lightning is inscribed on is very important.Īnimal Characters: Bird, Horse, Bear, Thunderbird ![]() In Navajo culture, lightning is symbolic of speed and agility, but it can also represent something that is forbidden. ![]() Water symbolizes balance, and its presence might indicate that someone is looking for inner peace with moving forward in life.Ī final commonly seen decorative element that is closely linked to the natural environment is lightning. In traditional Navajo culture, water is closely related to life and acts as a representation of the fluidness and ever-changing ways of existence. Decorative sun elements on Navajo jewelry are said to bring the bearer high spirits and good fortune.Īnother natural element design that is frequently seen in Navajo jewelry is water. For example, for the Navajo People, sunshine represents good cheer and symbolizes universal harmony. This becomes apparent in the designs and representations of different natural elements in Navajo jewelry. Natural Elements: Sun, Water, and Lightningįor the Indigenous Peoples of the southwestern United States, many spiritual practices and ways of life have been shaped over centuries from a deep-rooted connection to the land. ![]() Check out some of these common symbols that you might encounter in Navajo jewelry and what type of deeper meanings they have held for generations for the community. Forged through a deep connection to earth and nature, many of the significant symbols in Navajo jewelry are linked to nature and the land. Whether the unique shapes and objects are painted onto gorgeous pottery,, shaped through beautiful jewelry patterns, or take the form of carved Kachina dolls, the Navajo artistic tradition is full of rich symbolism and meaning. ![]()
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