The cleansing of Navajo witches in 1878 was a significant event in the history of the Navajo people. During this time, the Navajo Nation faced a series of hardships, including drought and disease, which they attributed to the presence of witches in their midst. In response, the Navajo community organized a large-scale cleansing ceremony to rid themselves of these witches and restore balance to their society. The belief in witches, or "skinwalkers," has been deeply ingrained in Navajo culture for centuries. According to Navajo tradition, these witches possess the ability to transform into animals and cause harm to others through various means. They are often believed to be responsible for illnesses, accidents, and other misfortunes that befall the Navajo people.
In 1999, George Harrison was attacked in his home by a man who believed The Beatles were witches who flew around on broomsticks.
For his 1830 piece about a witches Sabbath, Hector Berlioz instructed violinists to strike the back of their instrument with the bow a technique known as col legno. With 232 pages and an expanded 12 by 12 format, our biggest print issue yet celebrates the people, places, music, and art of our hometown, including cover features on David Lynch , Nipsey Hussle , Syd , and Phoebe Bridgers Saddest Factory Records , plus Brian Wilson, Cuco, Ty Segall, Lord Huron, Remi Wolf, The Doors, the art of RISK, Taz, Estevan Oriol, Kii Arens, and Edward Colver, and so much more.
They are often believed to be responsible for illnesses, accidents, and other misfortunes that befall the Navajo people. In the late 19th century, the Navajo Nation faced a particularly difficult period marked by a prolonged drought and the outbreak of diseases such as smallpox. Faced with these challenges, the Navajo community turned to their traditional religious practices and sought to identify and eliminate any witches in their midst.
Witchcraft Explainer: The poly rhythm solution
Anyone losing their mind's listening to Witchcraft? There has been two discussions about the time signatures, but no one quite cracks the code. (Credits listed at the bottom. u/Bellyhands actually nailed it, but didnt get a single upvote. this one is for you.)
TLDR version: 35 beat phrase. Drums are 7/16 in groups of 5, and the guitar is total mixed meter, with a common time feel. The drummer is treating the first note we hear as the start of his count, but the guitarists are feeling that as a 2 beat pickup! From the drummer's POV, the guitar count feels insane: [2] + [16] + [15] + [2"WC!]
There are two Cheat Codes to understanding the time signature/poly meter:
- The first note of the song is a 8th note pickup! (well only for the guitarist, more on that)
- A pickup note is a note(s) that precedes the beginning of a musical phrase. Like "haaaapy |birthday to you". Bold is the downbeat.
Okay lets get into it!
Here is how you count (as the guitarist): Treat the first note of the song like two beats of 16, then start the phrase with the first lyric, not the guitar note and count:
- 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a [16 beats] "In the fields once "
- 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & [15/16] " A supercell rage"
- 1 e & a [4/16] "WhichCraft!-[beat-beat]"
The main guitar/vox line feels like common time, but the second phrase is "missing" a beat. Then. there is an extra bar of 4/16, starting at Witchcraft. This is what makes the "Witchcraft!" stand out, because if you are just vibing with the song. you start feeling the long 4/4 phrase, then on the repeat of the phrase, "Witchcraft!" interrupts the 2nd phrase on the 16th beat. Then there is two more beats before the guitar starts again. But the drummer has already started without you.
"Witchcraft!" is the highlight and destination of the polyrhythmic phrase, accented by both Guitar and Drums. "Witchcraft!" is the last two beats of the drummer's phrase, but the beginning of the guitarist's last bar.
Here are the last four beats of the 35 beat phrase.
"Witch" - "Craft" - (Drummer starts 7/16) - [Rest] | (Guitar starts Common time, before devolving into madness)If you are a drummer, then I am lying when I said that the first note of the song is the pickup note, because that's where the the Drummer starts his count (even tho hes not playing for 10 bars, f**k me), but the guitarist treat that first note like a pickup 8th note.
The drummer, Cavanagh, plays in 7, in groups of 5.
To count the drum part, start your count immediately following "WhichCraft!". Drummers of REDDIT, please correct me. I have emboldened the beats where I guess the phrases start compared to the guitar line feel. [EDIT: The drummers have corrected me that I should have used the word poly METER]
Notes: You will notice that the snare is on the off beat of the guitars first phrase, then lines up more often on the second guitar phrase, which is very cool. Cavanagh appears to accent the beginning of "above the lyre", which makes me feel like my count is correct.
If the guitarist doesn't want to loose his mind but start where the drummer is, then they would feel:
[2] + [16] + [15] + [2"WC!] u/Bellyhands . you just didn't get the credit you deserve on this one.
Thank you for coming to my TED TALK!
Shout out to the people who got the ball rolling:
As you study music you will notice every style has its own set of unique rhythms. The rhythms are part of the language of each musical style. To master a style, you need to master its rhythms.
The cleansing ceremony, known as a "Yeii'bi'chai" ceremony, was a complex and highly symbolic ritual that involved the participation of many members of the Navajo community. The ceremony typically lasted several days and was led by a medicine man or spiritual leader who had been designated as the "hataałii," or singer. During the ceremony, the hataałii would perform a series of chants, songs, and dances, while other participants acted out the roles of various spirits and deities. The purpose of these rituals was to identify and cast out any witches who may have infiltrated the community. One of the key components of the cleansing ceremony was the use of sacred tobacco as an offering to the spirits. Tobacco was considered a powerful substance with the ability to cleanse and purify the community. Participants in the ceremony would smoke, spit, or offer tobacco to the spirits as a symbolic gesture of cleansing and protection. The cleansing ceremony also involved the construction of a "hogan," a sacred Navajo dwelling, which served as the central location for the rituals. The hogan was seen as a place of power and spirituality, and its construction and preparation were considered crucial to the success of the ceremony. The cleansing of Navajo witches in 1878 was a deeply meaningful and transformative event for the Navajo people. By coming together as a community to address the perceived problem of witches, the Navajo sought to restore balance and harmony to their society. The cleansing ceremony served as a reminder of the importance of traditional religious practices and the strength of community unity in times of difficulty..
Reviews for "The Untold Story of Navajo Witches and their Forced Extermination"
1. John Smith - 2/5:
I was really disappointed with "The Cleansing of Navajo Witches in 1878". The storyline felt underdeveloped and lacked depth, leaving me feeling disconnected from the characters. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to become invested in the story. Additionally, I found the historical inaccuracies to be distracting and would have preferred a more well-researched approach to the subject matter. Overall, I was hoping for a more engaging and authentic portrayal of Navajo culture and spirituality.
2. Sarah Johnson - 1/5:
"The Cleansing of Navajo Witches in 1878" was a complete letdown for me. The writing style was dull and the pacing of the plot was painstakingly slow. The characters lacked depth and substance, making it difficult to care about their outcomes. The historical context also felt poorly researched and at times, disrespectful towards Navajo traditions. I was hoping for an immersive and educational experience, but instead was left feeling bored and unimpressed. I would not recommend this book to others.
3. Emily Thompson - 2/5:
I had high hopes for "The Cleansing of Navajo Witches in 1878", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The story felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction, leaving me confused and disinterested. The characterization was weak, making it difficult to connect with any of the characters on an emotional level. While the concept had potential, the execution left much to be desired. I was hoping for a captivating and informative exploration of Navajo culture, but instead, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-crafted and engaging read.
Navajo Witches: Victims of Cultural Intolerance and Eradication