TRACING THREADS OF TRADITION Symbols in Navajo rugs

Regions on the Navajo reservation developed distinct styles. The Two Grey Hills area in New Mexico is known for geometrical designs woven from undyed black, gray and brown wool. Rugs from Teec Nos Pos in Arizona have bold borders, and those from Ganado, Ariz., have red backgrounds. They share symbols.
Cross: Stars. With boxes, Spider Woman, a deity who taught Navajos weaving.
Diagonal lines: Feathers.
Hook: Borrowed from Asian design.
Sacred plants: Corn, tobacco, beans, squash.
Sand-painting designs: Inspired by dry paintings made of colored sand for healing ceremonies.
Storm pattern: Center box (the universe) connected by zigzagging lines (lightning bolts) to boxes representing mountains that guard the Navajo Nation -- Blanca Peak (east), Mount Taylor (south), the San Francisco Peaks (west) and Mount Hesperus (north).
Terraced steps: Cloud or mountain.
Tree of Life: Birds (messengers) on a cornstalk (life) growing from a medicine basket (healing) to depict creation.
Triangles: Dynamism, vitality or fertility. With arrows, the Monster Slayer Twins, who used lightning bolts given by their father, the sun, to turn enemies into stone.
Whirling logs: Everything positive -- the four seasons, four directions, four winds.
Yei rectangular figures facing forward: Sacred deities. Round heads are male, square heads female.
Yei-be-chei figures: Deities' protective grandparents or human representatives, often in profile.