As Hurricane Sandy looms on the east cost of the US, I started noticing spirals everywhere.
Scott Skeets petroglyph ring
Spiral
The spiral is one of the oldest symbols used by humans. It appeared thousands of years ago in southwestern Native American tribal areas on cave walls and on ancient pottery.
Spirals to the Zunis and Puebloans represent water, wind and creatures associated with water such as snails and serpents.
It also represents man’s “ journey in search of the center”.
From Petroglyphs about Keams Canyon, Hopi Mesas, Arizona:
“It is a decoration of great frequency and consisting of single and double spirals. The single spiral is the symbol of Ho-bo-bo, the twister who manifests his power by the whirlwind. The myth explains that a stranger came among the people, when a great whirlwind blew all the vegetation from the surface of the earth and all the water from its courses. With a flint, he caught these symbols upon a rock, the etching of which is now in Keams Canyon. It is 17 inches long and 8 inches across. He told them he was the keeper of the breath. The whirlwind and the air which men breathe come from this keeper’s mouth.”
The spiral also symbolized a way of planting, starting at the center and moving out in circles as they planted. In Navajo it was called ha’oolmaaz
Native American Jewelry Tips 
Yes…the idea of spirals was certainly present in ancient times and in peoples long since past. In the realm of bolo tie construction, there are few and far between examples of really good work employing this concept.
That’s true. It is funny but on my TO DO list today are about 30 bolo ties hanging next to my desk………..I’ll look to see if any have spirals.
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I am impressed with your explanation of the spiral. We used your words to explain our spiral logo for the use of a conference. We will add your link as a reference for your definition of the legend of the whirlwind/spiral. Hopefully we can promote another reason to order your beautiful jewelry. Thank you.
Thank you Nancy !
Hi would you know who signs their silver Navajo pieces with a snail pictograph as hallmark?
I’m devoting this blog to full length articles on topics related to Native American jewelry and artifacts.
To ask a question about hallmarks, I recommend one of the groups on Facebook.
Paula at Horsekeeping
http://www.horsekeeping.com