Kachina: Eagle
For the Hopi, the eagle is an all-important bird. This majestic raptor represents strength and is an important part of the Hopi spiritual world. The Eagle Kachina, also known as Kwahu, acts as an intermediary between the physical world and the spirit world. For this reason, other Native Americans have chosen eagle feathers as a symbol of what is highest, bravest, strongest and holiest. These people believe that the eagle is the perfect intermediary to embody the spirits of their ancestors and deceased relatives.
Kwahu, the Eagle Kachina, appears most often with Mudheads in the Kiva or in the Repeat Dances of early March. The dances are a conscious effort by the Hopi to duplicate the actions and motions of eagles and they are a prayer for an increase of eagles.
The Hopi eagle “prayer feather” symbol is believed to have powers that guide the mind and body of humans in a direction of hope, courage, and strength. It is known as a symbol of friendship. The Hopi friendship is meant to symbolize two hands clasping: each hand connecting with another.
In some Native American tribes, the Eagle Dance, also known as the War Dance, is a ceremonial dance that was used to prepare for battle. That said, it was also used when meeting with other nations to negotiate for peace. For the Cherokee nation, for example, it symbolizes the strength and the commitment of the warriors to their people. The eagle dance is an extremely popular spiritual dance that is frequently performed among the Hopi and other Pueblo tribes. Other non-Puebloan people have adopted it as well.
Native American tribes started performing the “eagle dance” as they believed that the eagle could soar between heaven and earth because of how high it can fly.[1] Native American tribes believed that eagles had supernatural powers; the ability to carry messages to the gods, and the ability to control weather such as rain. The eagle was considered powerful among tribes and was often admired and worshiped as a “god” would be.
This dance is meant to represent and replicate the movements of an eagle when it is flying or hunting. It is meant to represent an eagle’s life from birth to death.
According to the shamanistic symbols of the eagle, the fierce spirit animal is a symbol of clairvoyance and freedom. They’re called birds of prey and predators of the air. Eagles are animals that seem to live above the earth, far from humans and their everyday problems. But from their position high in the sky, this spiritual guide watches over the world with piercing vision.
[1] https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/edu/object/hopi-eagle-dancer
