Masked Gods: Navaho and Pueblo Ceremonialism

by Frank Waters

Masked Gods is a vast book, a challenging and profoundly original account of the history, legends, and ceremonialism of the Navajo and Pueblo Indians of the Southwest. Following a brief but vivid history of the two tribes through the centuries of conquest, the book turns inward to the meaning of Native American legends and ritual—Navajo songs, Pueblo dances, Zuni kachina ceremonies. Enduring still, these rituals and ceremonies express a view of life, of man’s place in the creation, which is compared with Taoism and Buddhism—and with the aggressive individualism of the Western world.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, History, Anthropology, Native American, Native Americans

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Frank Waters was an American novelist, essayist, and cultural historian best known for his profound explorations of the American Southwest and Native American spirituality. Deeply influenced by his Cheyenne heritage and early experiences on the Navajo Reservation, Waters wove themes of indigenous identity, mysticism, and the clash between tradition and modernity into much of his work. His celebrated novel The Man Who Killed the Deer (1942) is considered a cornerstone of Southwestern literature, offering a powerful portrayal of a Pueblo man’s internal struggle with cultural dislocation. Over the decades, Waters produced an impressive body of work, including both fiction and non-fiction, such as Book of the Hopi, Mexico Mystique, and The Colorado, which blended mythology, history, and esoteric thought. A strong advocate for the arts, he held various editorial and academic positions and was honored with several awards. His legacy lives on through the Frank Waters Foundation, which supports writers and artists in the spirit of his creative vision.

Reviews

[Constance Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book many years ago and it has remained on my bookshelf untouched. Glad I finally decided to take it down and open it. The first half of the book has been intriguing with comparisons of the similarities between American Indian lore and Aztec, Inca beliefs with those of Buddhism and Oriental philosophies. Amazing how they are tied together.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool speculative anthropology.

[Mills College Library]

299.78 W329 1984