Big Fly

    Article

    In some versions of Navajo ceremonial traditions, Big Fly, known as Do'tsoh in Navajo, and what Hillerman sometimes refers to as Sacred Fly, or Little Winds, is the guardian of Navajo sandpainting and oftentimes will hover near or land on a person's shoulder while the painter is working. When he sits on the shoulder, Big Fly answers questions sent down by the elders. In this, the Navajo Big Fly shares many similarities with the Zuni dragonfly character, who, similar to Big Fly, manifests as a liaison between the people and their spirit ancestors.

    Photo Credit

     
    "Fly, July 3, 2010" by Hafiz Issadeen is licensed under CC BY.

    Term Type
    References

     
    Campbell, Joseph
         1991   The Power of Myth. New York: Anchor Books.

    Haile, Berard
         1943   Origin Legend of the Navaho Flintway. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

    Reichard, Gladys Amanda
         1950   Navaho Religion: A Study of Symbolism. New York: Bollinger Foundation.