The Winter's Healing Series
Basis
The Winter’s Healing painting series by Daniel A. Walters is
based in the traditional healing concept of the Navajo. The imagery usually
consists of a spiritual figure, called “Yei”, set before a collection of aspen
trees, misty clouds and a blue bird. Yei are also referred to as the “Holy
People” of the Navajo and the term “Yei-Bi-Chei” is a man portraying a Yei. The
YeiBiChei or Night Chant ceremony is a healing rite used by the Navajo during
the winter months. Healing through the Night Chant involves all aspects of the
patients life; health, family, financial, etc.
The Paintings
Walters illustrates the idea of Yei, a spiritual being.
There are no human physical characteristics attached to the Yei in the
painting. The Yei is donned in a mask above a wreath of spruce branches about
the neck and a blanket that drapes into the background. Attached to the mask is
a hollowed out gourd to create the beak of the mouth, long hair and symbolic
designs are painted on the mask. The Yei has at least two eagle feathers
attached to back of the mask. The Yei carries a large gourd rattle in his right
hand and a cluster of sage in the left.
The Meaning
The mask is painted with a corn stalk in center with 5 ears.
The corn represents man and woman, according to the Navajo Creation Story people
were created from white and yellow corn; the 5 ears represent the fingers of
the hand. The zig zag lines represent the clouds which bring water in the form
of rain to nourish the corn. The entire
figure represent the spiritual healing present and the blue bird is the link
between the spiritual and physical. It is important to understand that the
Winter’s Healing painting is not an actual representation of the Night Chant,
not is it to be used as an interpretation of the complex and quantified ceremonial
rite. It is the artist’s personal experience he wishes to share.
The Personification
As a young child walking to school, Walters experienced a
Yei among a cluster trees. This is the inspiration for the paintings.
The Winter's Healing Series is the illustration of the Navajo Yei. It is entitled Winter's Healing because the Yeibichei Ceremony is conducted in the winter months, and it is for healing.
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