Over the years a great deal has been written about Pueblo cultures and their reverence for the heavens, particularly for the sun and the moon. There is a third aspect to their relationship with the heavens that has received very little attention because it has largely been kept secret by the tribes. The third component of Pueblo cultures' reverence for the heavens is the focus of this book, and that is the stars. "Secrets" revolves around matching ancient southwestern iconography to constellations and showing patterns between these constellations and modern ceremonial dates. The patterns show that most daytime ceremonies, both current and historical, are held when the representative constellation is at a cardinal point (defined as upper meridian passage, lower meridian passage, rising or setting) at sunrise on the day of the native ceremonial. Sunset ceremonies are also tied to cardinal positions but at sunset instead of sunrise. Over 60 illustrations with 20 overlays on star charts show the comparison between ancient art and the stars. A list of modern ceremonials and stellar positions at sunrise and sunset provide repeating patterns made more compelling by cross-tribal repletion. The study was further enhanced when the main ceremonial gods of the Tewa (Humpbacks, Deer, Turtle and Eagle) were found to be in a section of the Milky Way bisected on both sides by the ecliptic. That location meant that they were not random entities scattered throughout the universe, increasing their significance. Their placement also coincided with a section of the Milky Way revealed in a published story by well-known 20th-century Tewa artist and writer Pablita Velarde. The book marks a giant leap in the understanding of southwestern cultures.
- Street:
- 4022 Rio Grande Blvd NW
- City:
- Albuquerque ,
- Province:
- New Mexico
- Postal Code:
- 87107-3157
- Country:
- United States
