ABSTRACT
For Navajo weavers, the concept of hozho describes a dynamic of order, beauty, balance, and harmony that exists in a cosmos that is constantly in motion. This concept guides the Navajo way of life within a cultural framework that stresses individual autonomy as a means of creating a universal harmony within one's community. This chapter examines hozho as it is realized through the art of weaving, in particular through analysis of the classic Navajo blanket as a physical manifestation of this belief. The Classic period in Navajo weaving is generally considered to extend from 1800 to 1864, a time when many battles were fought among Native Americans, Spanish Americans, Mexicans, and European Americans for control of the western territories. The spiritual importance of weaving as a divine gift is essential to understanding both the weaver's practice and the role weaving plays in Navajo society. Navajo believe that forces outside of a weaver guide her in the creation of her designs.
