11. The Hopi tell a story of a Spider-Woman who mixes her saliva with dirt to create living things whose only instruction is to respect all of creation.
The Hopi creation story begins with Taiowa, the only creator. Taiowa decided to create Sotuknang, whom he referred to as his nephew. Sotuknang’s purpose was to create the nine universes. He accumulated matter from the vastness of space to establish nine new worlds. Taiowa instructed Sotuknang to gather water to make the sea on the solid worlds, and air to make winds. The last and final act of creation Taiowa instructed Sotuknang in was that of humanity. Rather than create the entirety of the human race himself, Sotuknang created the Spider Woman.
The Spider-Woman took dirt and mixed it with her saliva and with this mixture formed two beings. She sang a creation song and they came to life. She instructed them to go forth and create land and vibration so that the energy of the earth resonated with the energy of the creator. After this instruction, the Spider-Woman created plants, trees, and animals. Her final creation was man. She mixed her saliva with yellow, red, white, and black earth and formed four men and four women. Their only instruction was to respect Taiowa and all he had created.