SPIDER ROCK

CANYON DE CHELLY NATIONAL MONUMENT IS IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF ARIZONA AND IS LESSER KNOWN DESTINATION AND IT IS ONE OF IT'S MOST DRAMATIZED INSPIRING PLACES.  IT IS SMALLER THAN THE GRAND CANYON., BUT HAS MANY BEAUTIFUL VISTAS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES.  THIS LAND IS OWNED BY THE NAVAJO NATION WHO FARM HERE.  ONE MAY TAKE A HIKE INTO THE CANYON ON A PATH TO A SITE.  BUT ALL OTHER AREAS MUST BE VISITED PNLY WITH A GUIDE.  MANY SITES ARE SACRED TO THIS TRIBE.

 SPIDER ROCK IS A  RED SANDSTONE , 900'  TALL SPIRE WITH A SMALLER 600' SPIRE.  MY FAMILY VISITED THIS SITE WHEN MY SON WAS ABOUT 12  OR SO.  ACCORDING TO THEIR MYTH SPIDER WOMAN USED THE SPIRE AS HER HOME. SHE IS AN IMPORTANT DIETY IN THE NAVAJO CULTURE.  WHEN THE NAVAJO PEOPLE FOUND THEIR WAY HOME FROM THE UNDERWORLD SHE GAVE POWER TO THOSE WHO HERE DESTROYED EVIL CREATURES  THAT ROAMED THIS WORLD.  SHE PROTECTED PEACEFUL MEN WHO FOUND THEMSELVES IN DANGER.  ONE  STORY IS THAT A YOUNG NAVAJO WAS HUNTING IN THE CANYON WHEN AN ENEMY WARRIOR PURSUED HIM.  HE KEPT CHASING HIM AND THE HUNTER SAW A SILK CORD DOWN THE SIDE OF SPIDER ROCK.  HE TIED IT TO HIS WAIST AND WITH THE HELP OF SIDER WOMAN HE ESCAPED TO THE TOP, WHERE HE WAS ALLOWED TO STAY UNTIL SAFE.

THERE IS A DARKER SIDE TO SPIDER WOMAN.  ON THE LOWER PEAK IS SPEAKING ROCK.  SPIDER WOMAN SEEKS OUT MISCHIEVIOUS CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT BEHAVING AND SNATCHES THEM AND CARRIES THEM TO THIS ROCK.  THE CHALKY COLOR OF THE CAPS ARE THE BONES OF CILDREN SHE HAS EATEN.

ANCIENT CANYONS WERE IDEAL FOR ANCIENT PUEBLOANS WHO BUILT HOMES HERE.  DESCENDANTS OF THE PUEBLOANS , THE HOPI, MIGRATED INTO THE CANYONS TO PLANT FIELDS OF CORN AND OTHER FRUITS.  THEY ALSO COLLECTED NATURAL PLANTS.  THEY ALSO COLLECTED NATURAL PLANTS.  THEY HAD THEIR NATURAL HOMES ON MESA TOPS.  THEY STILL HAVE MANY TRADITIONS IN THEIR HOME AND KIVAS.  THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES DATE ABOUT  4,000 YEARS OF HUMAN OCCUPATION.

I VISITED THIS PARK WHEN I WAS ABOUT 18 WITH A NAVAJO TEACHER. 

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