1. NAVAJO SANDPAINTINGS

29. Authentic Navajo Sandpaintings According to the Navajo religion, the Universe is a very delicately balanced thing. If this balance is upset, some disaster - usually an illness - will follow. To restore the balance and harmony means performing one of the many Navajo chants or ways. These complex ceremonies involve the use of herbs, prayers, songs and sandpaintings. The sandpainting is done in a careful and sacred manner, according to the ancient knowledge of the art. As the patient is seated atop the completed sandpainting, the medicine man bends to reverently touch a portion of a figure in the sandpainting, then moves to touch the patient, transferring the medicine as power. As this is done, the sickness falls from the person and harmony returns. Then, before the sun sets, the sandpainting is erased with a sacred feather, and the person rises to walk in beauty once again.