"Walking with the Ancient Ones"

These photos are from a journey to Petroglyph National Park and Chaco Canyon, New Mexico (2008).  I traveled there with my friend and colleague, Neshi Lokotz.

The ancient people were deeply attuned to the natural world and to the movements of the heavens and these images appear in the glyphs.

The petroglyphs serve as both prayers and gifts of gratitude.
They also tell stories or mark significant events.

 Chaco Canyon is a beautiful and dramatic landscape. Here, the Anasazi (Navaho word for the Ancient Ones) created and sustained a center of civilization that served as an important trading and ceremonial center.  This enormous urban center was inhabited between the 800's and 1100's.

 Neshi and I entered one of the main ceremonial areas and began our visit to this sacred site by honoring the Ancient Ones with a tobacco giving ceremony.  We then drummed at the largest and most sacred Kiva, called "La Rinconada", which means "The Great Return".  This Kiva appears to be aligned with the return of the sun at the Winter Solstice.  With many of the kivas and petroglyphs here, care was taken to mark celestial events - both lunar and solar.

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All photos copyright Deb Swingholm 2008 . 
All rights reserved.