Shalako and Crow Mother Hopi Kachina by S. Miguel - 1K15M

If you wanted to direct the rains or the snow to every mesa you would climb to the highest heights and petition the Shalako Taka. The Shalako people are cloud deities and can be either male or female. Artist S. Miguel chose to paint the moccasins of this Shalako turquoise indicating that this Shalako is male. The cloud deities are abundant and essential to the Hopi who lived traditionally in a very dry place. Almost all Hopi ceremonies center around the bringing of moisture be that rain or snow. The high altitude (depicted by the fact that the Shalako has ascended the highest peak) encourages us to view this Shalako as a member of the snow clan. Check out the three arrows that appear on this magnificent headdress that adorns the top of his crown! It's as if the arrows are directing the clouds to appear above all three of the Hopi mesas. Symbols of clouds and lighting in the headdress connect this Shalako to the rain. Perhaps the most wonderful aspect of this incredible carving is th