The Hopi are an ancient Pueblo people who live in northern Arizona in the southwestern United States. The word ‘Hopi’ means ‘one who behaves, who is mannered, civilised, peaceable and polite’.
The wisdom they received over 1,100 years ago from Maasaw, the ancient caretaker of the Earth, is known as the Hopi Spiritual Ark and it contains the following instructions:
MAKE CAREFUL AND WISE CHOICES.
For this you need a pure heart, so that clear and wise choices can be made without confusion.
AVOID TEMPTATION.
Rise above the desires that pull us down.
AVOID PITFALLS.
Easy lifestyles often lead us astray. Modern concepts will not help balance the natural order on Earth and in the universe.
LISTEN TO YOUR ELDERS.
There is much to be learned from Elders and teachers. It is wise to listen and adapt their advice to the current age.
BE SELF-SUFFICIENT.
Let your communities be self-sufficient so that you are not dependent upon artificial means for survival.
PREPARE IN ADVANCE.
Take time to review what has happened and think about what might happen during the coming year. Pray for guidance.
USE ANCIENT TEACHINGS AS A GUIDELINE.
Our ancient teachings are a guideline in order to avoid downfall for our mistakes. The old ones say that we have gone through at least three world catastrophes and each time the world was destroyed by the same error in man.
PROTECT THE LAWS OF NATURE AND SPIRIT. RESPECT ALL LIVING THINGS.
We are destroying the link between Nature and Man. The signs of warning are evident in many parts of the
We have learned that we cannot communicate with Nature unless our existence and behaviour are in harmony with the will of the great Spirit, and also that he who knows his heart will also find his way in the future.
DON’T TRY TO CONTROL OTHERS.
Trading blame drains our planet of spiritual energy and causes great harm to all land and life. Don’t try to control others. The spirit dwells within all of us.
BE SATISFIED WITH THE PATTERN OF LIFE GIVEN TO US BY OUR GREAT CREATOR.
Be satisfied with the order of our great Creator, whose light brightens the road, so that we can absorb its great wisdom and live like humans.
Photography by EDWARD S. CURTIS
