Place of Origin: Navajo Nation, Southwestern United States
Origin Date: Changing Woman has been a central figure in Navajo mythology for centuries, with her stories passed down through generations.
Domain: Changing Woman governs life, fertility, growth, and transformation.
Symbols: Common symbols associated with Changing Woman include maize and natural elements like the sun and the eagle.
Attributes: Changing Woman possesses creative powers, including the ability to create life and transform herself. She is also associated with fertility, growth, and the changing seasons.
Religion: Navajo and Apache mythology
Description
Changing Woman, known as Asdzą́ą́ Nádleehi in Navajo mythology, is one of the most revered deities in Navajo cosmology. She symbolizes life, fertility, and transformation, embodying the cyclical nature of existence and the interconnectedness of all living beings. Changing Woman is celebrated for her ability to renew herself, transitioning through the stages of life while remaining eternal.
According to Navajo creation myths, Changing Woman played a pivotal role in the formation of the Diné (Navajo people). She created the first Navajo clans using her own skin and sacred mountain soil, establishing the foundation of Navajo society. She is also the mother of the heroic twins Monster Slayer and Born for Water, who are central figures in Navajo mythology.
Changing Woman is associated with the Blessing Way ceremony, a sacred ritual that promotes harmony, prosperity, and long life. Her presence is celebrated during the Kinaaldá, a coming-of-age ceremony for young Navajo women, emphasizing her role as a guide and protector during life’s transitions.
Her home is said to be a floating house in the western waters, where she resides in harmony with nature. Changing Woman’s enduring significance reflects the Navajo values of balance, renewal, and the sacredness of life.
Relations: Changing Woman is related to other deities in Navajo mythology, including her sister White Shell Woman and her offspring Monster Slayer and Born for Water.
Epithets: Other names for Changing Woman include Asdzą́ą́ Nádleehé, Estsanatlehi, and Etsanatlehi.
Equivalents: Changing Woman has equivalents in other Native American cultures, such as White Painted Woman in Apache mythology and Iatiku in Keresan mythology.
Iconography: Changing Woman is often depicted in connection with natural elements and symbols of fertility and growth.
Worship Beliefs and Practices of Changing Woman
Changing Woman, also known as Asdzą́ą́ Nádleehé in Navajo mythology, is one of the most revered deities. She embodies the power of life, fertility, and the ever-changing seasons.
Core Beliefs
Creator and Nurturer: Changing Woman is considered a creator and nurturer in Navajo mythology. She is believed to have created the Navajo people by taking old skin from her body and using her mountain soil bundle to create four couples, who are the ancestors of the four original Navajo clans. She is also associated with the creation of the sky and the earth.
Symbol of Transformation: Changing Woman represents transformation and the cyclical nature of life. She continuously changes but never dies, growing into an old woman in winter and becoming young again in spring. This symbolizes the power of life, fertility, and the changing seasons.
Mother of Heroes: Changing Woman is the mother of the twin heroes Monster Slayer and Born for Water, who were fathered by the Sun. These heroes play a significant role in Navajo mythology, clearing the earth of monsters and protecting the people.
Attributes and Significance
Depictions: Changing Woman is often depicted as a beautiful woman who transforms with the seasons. She is associated with natural elements such as the sky, earth, and vegetation.
Symbols: Common symbols associated with Changing Woman include the sky, earth, and plants. These symbols are used in rituals and ceremonies to invoke her presence and blessings.
Cultural Hero: The stories and depictions of Changing Woman are passed down through generations, maintaining their significance in Navajo culture and mythology. She embodies the qualities of transformation, fertility, and nurturing.
Practices of Worship
Rituals and Ceremonies: Devotees perform various rituals and ceremonies to honor Changing Woman. These include offerings of food, chants, and other goods to seek her favor and protection. Rituals often take place in natural settings, such as forests and rivers.
Sacred Sites: Temples and shrines dedicated to Changing Woman can be found throughout regions with Navajo populations. These sites are often located in places of natural beauty and significance.
Offerings: Offerings to Changing Woman typically include food and items related to her symbols, such as plants and representations of the sky and earth. These offerings symbolize gratitude and the desire for protection and blessings.
Festivals and Traditions
Kinaaldá Ceremony: Changing Woman plays a major role in the Navajo Kinaaldá ceremony, which marks a young girl's change into womanhood. During the ceremony, the girl impersonates and becomes Changing Woman, participating in activities that are important to the role of women in the Navajo tribe.
Cultural Celebrations: Changing Woman's story may be included in cultural celebrations and festivals that honor Navajo heritage and traditions. These gatherings often include music, dance, and storytelling.
Prayers: Devotees pray to Changing Woman for protection, fertility, and the successful practice of their spiritual beliefs. Traditional prayers often invoke her role as a creator and nurturer.
Changing Woman's role as a creator and nurturer embodies the core values and beliefs of Navajo mythology, emphasizing the importance of transformation, fertility, and the interconnectedness of all life.
Narratives
The Birth of Changing Woman:
Changing Woman, also known as Estsanatlehi, was discovered by First Woman (Atse Estsan) near a mountain. She was fed on pollen and grew to womanhood in 18 days. Changing Woman has the unique ability to rejuvenate herself, becoming young again whenever she begins to age.
Changing Woman and the Sun:
Changing Woman met a young man in the woods every day, who turned out to be the Sun. They became lovers, and Changing Woman gave birth to twin sons, Nayenezgani and Tobadzistsini. These sons became important figures in Navajo mythology.
Changing Woman and the Creation of the Navajo People:
Feeling lonely, Changing Woman created companions from pieces of her skin. These companions became the ancestors of the Navajo people. In another version, she brushed dust off her breast and made a meal from it, placing it under a blanket. Two humans arose from the blanket and became the ancestors of the Navajo.
Changing Woman and the Seasons:
Changing Woman represents the changing of the seasons and the resulting changes in the lives of the people. Her dress changes colors as the seasons change, symbolizing her connection to the natural cycles of the earth.
Changing Woman and the Sacred Weaving:
Changing Woman taught the Navajo people the art of weaving, showing them how to create intricate patterns and designs. This practice became an important cultural tradition, emphasizing the connection between creativity and spirituality.
Changing Woman and the Ceremonies:
Changing Woman is honored in various Navajo ceremonies and rituals, including those marking important life milestones such as birth, coming of age, weddings, and house blessings. Her presence in these ceremonies underscores her significance in Navajo culture.
Sacred Texts: Changing Woman is mentioned in various Navajo oral traditions and stories.