Kokopelli is a figure commonly found in petroglyphs and pottery throughout the southwest. He is regarded as the universal symbol of fertility for all life, be it crops, hopes, dreams, or love. Some legends suggest that Kokopelli was an ancient Toltec trader who traveled routes between Mexico, the west coast, the southwest, and possibly even as far as eastern areas of the U.S. Kokopelli was said to play a flute as he traveled to pronounce his arrival to the villagers and it was considered the greatest of honors to be the women he chose to be his “dreamtime companion” for his duration of time in the village as many of these women apparently bore children from these unions.
Kokopelli Hopi legend tells us that upon their entrance onto this, the fourth world, the Hopi people were met by an Eagle who shot an arrow into the two “mahus,” insects which carried the power of heat. They immediately began playing such uplifting melodies on their flutes that they healed their own pierced bodies. The Hopi then began their separate migrations and each “mahu” would scatter seeds of fruits and vegetables onto the barren land. Over them, each played his flute to bring warmth and make the seeds grow. His name — KOKO for wood and Pilau for hump, the bag of seeds he carried on his journey. He has come down to us as the loving spirit of fertility — of the Earth and humanity.