The Hopi Prophecy of Emergence to The Fifth World: An Interpretation
Updated: May 27
The Native American “myth” of Emergence into the Fifth World is more of a prophecy than a myth. This prophecy does have functions of myth included, as they fall within apocalyptic prophecy and spiritual insight. This prophetic myth is incredibly unique and modern, as it focuses on the present day and our fate residing on Earth. When beginning research on the intricacies of the tale, you discover how deep it truly is. Philosophy, destruction, death, rebirth, lessons, evolution, spiritualism, theory, and balance shape the entire story. At surface level, the myth tells us that America will be destroyed by nuclear war, in which only those who reject materialism and division by ideology will survive, along with the Hopi tribe, as their land becomes the center for refugees during the war. This war will signify the end of the Fourth World, emerging us into the Fifth World. (Leeming 81). Though, the prophecy not only warns us, but teaches invaluable lessons. Ultimately, this Native American prophecy tells us to accept the complexities of life on Earth, to accept the idea of balance, as good cannot exist without bad, but also that we must reject materialism and attachment to ideological division, because if we desire to be reborn with the world, we must lay to rest mindsets belonging in the past.
For background, the prophecy describes how the destruction of The United States will signify death of the Fourth World to the birth of the Fifth World. This event will be considered WWIII, begun by those who originally received divine wisdom (India, China, Islamic nations, countries within Africa), who will practically nuke America into oblivion. According to myth, it will be destroyed by “guards of ashes,” creating “boiling rivers, no grass for many years, and disease without cure” Only the Hopi’s and their homeland will be preserved, along with any surviving refugees. Though, the only people to survive will be those who reject materialism and ideological division, no matter their race or other factors. (Emergence to the Fifth World- A Hopi Prophecy). The myth also states that attempting bomb shelter from this war is faulty, as only materialistic people would seek shelter from the war. “Those who are at peace in their hearts already are in the great shelter of life. There is no shelter for evil. Those who take no part in the making of world division by ideology are ready to resume life in another world, be they of black, white, red, or yellow race. They are all one, brothers” (Leeming 80).
The statement, “They are all one, brothers” is imperative to how this myth encourages us to see the world, but is only the beginning of the complexities of perspective encouragement the story provides. This tells us, that if we all continue to see another as opposers, but not co-inhabitants of life, destruction will fall upon us, functioning both literally and metaphorically. According to ancient Hopi myth that presides the emergence of the Fifth World, the First World was destroyed by fire, the second by ice, and the third by flooding (Alchin). The Hopi tribe was saved from the great flooding in the Third World, emerging into the Fourth World, along with other races. These surviving groups made a sacred agreement to The Great Spirit to never turn their back to it. So, The Great Spirit made a sacred set of stone tablets, called Tiponi, containing teachings, prophecies, and warnings. The Great Spirit gathered the leaders of the four different tribes, and placed four different sizes and colors of corn, telling them to pick their food for their people in this World. The Hopi chose to wait, getting the last, and smallest, ear of corn. “You have obtained the real corn, for all the others are imitations in which are hidden seeds of different plants. You have shown me your intelligence… I will place in your hands these sacred stone tablets, Tiponi… I am the First and I am the Last” (Emergence to the Fifth World- A Hopi Prophecy). The Hopi were also told by Great Spirit that the white man will attempt to steal their land and tempt them to evils, but they must hold their ancient language and religion, but by never using violence. If they succeed through this, their people and land would be a center from which the “true spirit would be awakened” (Emergence to the Fifth World- A Hopi Prophecy). Not only does this aspect of the ancient myth tell us that patience and wisdom can allow opportunity, but how they can replace violence as a means of fighting oppression.
According to The Fifth World and the Hopi Apocalypse by Daniel Pinchbeck, the Hopi are thought to be some of the original, if not the original, inhabitants of the North American continent. Along with that, Shamanism, and the philosophies that structure seem to be essential to the deeper understanding not only this myth, but many Indigenous cultures. “I have found myself living in two worlds simultaneously—the world of Western rationalist discourse with its empirical and materialist emphasis, and the shamanic realm… The shamanic realm is one in which human consciousness is not an epiphenomenon or dualistic byproduct of a purely physical evolution, but an inseparable aspect of the world, intertwined with reality at every level. It seems that quantum physics has attained a perspective that is similar to the shamanic view, acknowledging a direct relation between the observer and observed… Much of Hopi culture and thought, both religious and secular, revolves around an attention to balance and harmony in the forces of nature” (Babcock and Pinchbeck).
Though this statement was given from an interpreter of the prophecy, the author (Pinchbeck) personally visited the Hopi and is immersed in Shamanism, and it provides crucial understanding. This directly gives us an example of how to perceive the world, life, spirituality, and all that exists from our understanding. In our current world, there are two different worlds, both conflicting another, but to emerge into the Fifth World, one must rid. The one we must lay to rest being the Western rationality and materialism focused perception. There are three worlds we have yet to experience: The World of Taiowa, the World of the Creator, and the World of Sotuknang. Given that, our current understanding of life is not linear from birth to death, but in comparison, circular from death to rebirth. Due to this, along with consciousness being inseparable from life, the concept of ridding “Western” focuses on materialism and rationality is not bad, nor something necessarily shaming for those who fit within those focuses. Instead, the concept is inseparable from fate, and must be that way. In each world, a new focus will arise, as evil and benevolence are not unfair towards their given perpetrators or victims. Lessons must be given to all, for all, considering that for humans, “They are all one, brothers” (Leeming 80). Simply, the Western based ideologies have more of a tendency towards ideological destruction, of which will have no place in the Fifth World. We can see this present day, as The United States of America faces political division so severe that citizens turn their nose up at others who disagree with them, even if the disagreements are not based in reality or are exaggerated, people are so immersed in the divisiveness that they have blinded themselves.
There is a television series called “Designated Survivor” that I believe shows the basic conflict in this prophecy closely. In the show, during a State of Union address, Congress was blown up in a tragic terrorist attack. Thomas Kirkman, the designated survivor for the night, was immediately sworn in as President, as he was the only known survivor at the time. Only 3 members of the federal government survived the attack, but they were thought to be dead when Kirkman was sworn in. The conflict truly roots in the fact that he was sworn in during an era of political division and severe corruption, and because he was an Independent instead of Democrat or Republican, it was incredibly hard for him to make productive change as President. People weren’t comfortable with having an Independent President, and on top of that, the entire government had been practically destroyed. Throughout the show, we see his tribulations as an Independent President, and how surprisingly difficult it is to value balance whenever the people around you do not actively consider it important. This series shows an idea of death and rebirth of American Government as we know it, and how balance is difficult to obtain and value whenever people (the citizens and 2 other remaining representatives) have yet to detach themselves from divisive mindsets. It was unbelievably hard for President Kirkman to even attempt to do the right thing, as even though he valued unity, people were so attached to previous understandings that they questioned his authority in fallacious manners. The series ended on a cliffhanger, as Kirkman was approaching re-election and made a morally questionable decision, but from his perspective, his intentions were morally correct. The ending of the series, in my interpretation, fits within the understanding of balance, of good vs bad, evil vs benevolent. Kirkman was an extraordinarily great man, but when faced with inner conflict, made a decision that he normally wouldn’t, based on fear, but also the understanding that ideological division will lead to more destruction. This shows the basis of the Hopi myth, that conflicting sides within reality exist together, but the lines between good and bad are blurred, as everything lies on a spectrum, not everything is black or white.
To conclude, the prophecy of emergence into the Fifth World could either be literal or metaphorical, but holds significant lessons nonetheless. Whether or not China, India, or said countries use nuclear weapons against The United States, whether the Hopi will be the center of refuge or not, our Western fixation and immersion in divisive nature will ultimately end in the destruction of the World as we know it. Throughout history, it is proven that when conflicts get too intense, last too long, and harm many peoples, a new understanding must be put in place in order for balance to maintain. The myth also highlights the importance of Indigenous culture and understanding, as they have been oppressed and silenced for too long. The understanding of the unexplained is key to this, as America stands on their land, we must value their ancient knowledge to avoid destruction, at least within our generation. This division only continues to harm the Natives, as the more we worry about fallacious concerns, the more we neglect the people who have understandings and intelligence that we cannot afford to ignore or silence. This prophecy should speak to us all, as regardless of your interpretation or belief of its literalness, it is common knowledge that division and lack of balance leads to annihilation, but more specifically, ruin towards those feeding and nurturing the divisive natures.
The Earth is tremendously complex, as is life, and to defeat division, we must value those complexities, because balance cannot exist without complexity. Possibly, if we look inward, if this prophecy is not set in stone, we can elude complete destruction, and achieve rebirth of life as we know it in a more peaceful manner. Though, all we can do is value the focus on self-change, the rebirth of ourselves as individuals, especially if we hope to make it to the Fifth World, considering the prophecy is true.
Babcock, Jay, and Daniel Pinchbeck. “‘The Fifth World and the Hopi Apocalypse’ by Daniel Pinchbeck (Arthur, 2005).” Arthur Magazine, 11 Oct. 2021, arthurmag.com/2011/03/04/the-fifth-world-and-the-hopi-apocalypse-by-daniel-pinchbeck-arthur-no-14jan-2005/.
“Native North America (Hopi): Emergence to the Fifth World.” The World of Myth: An Anthology, by David Adams Leeming, Oxford University Press, New York, 2019, pp. 80–81.
unknown. “Emergence to the Fifth World- A Hopi Prophecy .” Https://Www.aaanativearts.com, Aaanativearts, www.aaanativearts.com/emergence-to-the-5th-world-a-hopi-prophecy.
Waters, Frank. Book of the Hopi. Penguin Publishing Group, 1963.
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