Navajo Rug Symbols Meaning

Yei spirits were believed to control natural elements such.

Navajo rug symbols meaning. Yeibichai rugs depict the ceremony in which dancers attempt to call the spirits. Moore who owned the trading post at crystal new mexico from 1897 1911 was another visionary trader who exercised enormous influence over early navajo rug design. These elements were incorporated into old wearing blankets and continue in the modern day navajo rugs. From wearing blankets to modern day rugs the use of diamonds and triangles have become cornerstones for representing the dinétah and the beautiful land they call home.

Common symbols include crosses for spider woman triangles or diamonds for mountains and the navajo homeland zigzags for lightning yei spirits and a spirit line to release spiritual energy from. These elements were incorporated into old wearing blankets and continue in the modern day navajo rugs. In navajo mythology the yei spirits mediated between the great spirit and humans the name yei derives from yeibicheii meaning the holy people. Navajo weavers like anyone proud of their motherland would often capture elements of the four sacred mountains of the navajo homeland in their work.

Depicting the navajo homeland. Perhaps two of the earliest design elements to be utilized by navajo weavers are the diamond and the triangle. Again we cannot be too sure of some of the meanings but many navajo grandmothers will tell you that the diamond is a symbol of the dinétah or navajo homeland with its four sacred corners that are marked by the four sacred mountains.