As they created intricate geometric patterns out of thousands of tiny beads, Native American women would intentionally string a wrong-colored bead into an otherwise perfect pattern. This was called the spirit bead. The spirit bead was placed in an otherwise flawless piece of art as an act of humility, a way of recognizing the inherent imperfection of humans. Presuming that a human could create something perfect would be an affront to the true perfection of the gods.As a white woman (pioneer, pilgrim, Australian, and European ancestry) who married a full-blooded Navajo man, I find myself bridging two cultures. I grew up on the Oregon coast and later settled down to raise my family in Utah. It turned out to be more adventurous than trading the ocean for mountains. Utah is much more conservative and family-oriented. My experiences have helped me to speak to a wide variety of people, "translating" so others can understand.
Despite this success, I struggle. My husband lovingly refers to me as his Spirit Bead.
