Made from earth & wood, the hogan is based on the
first Navajo dwelling, built for them by Beaver & Coyote.
A form of sacred architecture, the Hogan represents the
universe. Like the homes of wild bees & some birds,
the entrance faces East to accept the warmth of the rising Sun. Support logs are raised towards the north, south
& west sides of the building. Besides stabilizing the structure,
they represent female, male and two spirit (non-binary) energy. Mud & pieces of wood make up most of the structure,
with some crystals embedded for spiritual protection.
A ceremony is performed upon the completed house: those who will live there & those who helped in its construction honor the sun with a clockwise march
around the building while chanting "The Blessing Way,"
which describes the making of the Hogan & honors ancestors.
