in navajo emergence stories, coyote's actions often lead to significant consequences. his theft of water buffalo's children, for instance, causes a great flood that forces the people to move into the fourth world, which is the world the navajo currently inhabit. this act of disruption, though seemingly malicious, is a key event in the transition through the worlds, aligning coyote with the transformative processes that shape existence. moreover, coyote is involved in creating the lunar phases and the passage of time by advocating for the complexity of the world rather than a simplistic scheme of day and night. this speaks to his role in bringing about balance through chaos, ensuring that the universe operates with the intricacies and cycles needed for life to function. coyote's moral ambiguity is evident in stories like "coyote and the changing bear," where he transforms a bear into an evil being, leading her to kill her brothers. in this story, the moral is to avoid being like coyote, whose selfishness and deceit lead to harm. yet, in other stories, coyote's cunning and wit are portrayed positively, as in "coyote and the giant," where he cleverly defeats a giant by tricking him. the navajo coyoteway ceremony further emphasizes coyote's significance, as he serves as the tutelary spirit of this healing ritual. here, coyote symbolizes the balance between chaos and harmony, representing the need to restore equilibrium with offended beings when illness strikes. the singer in the coyoteway acts as a mediator, emphasizing coyote's connection to both disruption and healing.
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