Black God or Haashchʼééshzhiní

Introduction

According to Navajo mythology, the Black God is the creator of the stars and the fire that burns in the universe. Although some accounts claim that he didn’t create the constellations, all agree that he did create fire and the light found in the stars.

According to a story, the Holy People saw the Hard Flint Boys also known as the Pleiades attached to the ankle of the Black God when he entered the Hogan. When they asked him why the constellation was there, he started to stomp his feet, and the stars moved up towards his head. He was then allowed to place all of the constellations in the sky.

While he was completing this task, Coyote or M’ii came along and threw a few stars into the sky. These random non-clustered stars, which are different from constellations, are the reason why there are so many random stars in the night sky.

Physical Traits

The Black God is typically depicted as an old, slow, and helpless creature who is incapable of heroic acts. He is also often portrayed as a trickster who passes himself off as poor in order to receive monetary assistance from the people. The Black God is commonly depicted with various objects such as the crescent moon on his forehead, the Pleiades on his temple, and a full moon for his mouth. He also wears a buckskin mask made out of white paint.

Family

It is said that the Black God was fathered by Fire and nurtured by his mother, a Comet.

Other Names

In the local tongue the Black God is referred to as Haashchʼééshzhiní.

Powers and Abilities

The Black God is said to be the personification of fire and the creator of the fire drill. Apart from creating the various constellations and the Milky Way, he is also attributed to the practice of witchcraft.

Modern Day Influence

Despite his importance in the creation of objects, such as stars, the Black God rarely appears in Navajo rituals. The only time he is involved is during a healing ceremony known as the Nightway. During this nine-day ritual, a man appears as the Black God on the ninth day.

Usually, the Black God is portrayed by an old man wearing traditional clothing, such as a fox skin mask and black body paint. He carries a fire-drill, which he uses to ignite shredded bark to demonstrate his pyromancy.