First Man directed the construction of the first hogan after the Emergence, shaping the sacred dwelling to face east and embedding cosmic order into its forked-stick frame.
When a person dies inside a hogan, the chindi saturates the dwelling beyond cleansing — the structure must be abandoned, its entrance sealed, and a hole broken in the north wall so the ghost may depart.
Skin-walkers drop Corpse Powder through the Hogan's smoke hole at night, violating the sacred dwelling's sanctity to poison sleeping victims.
Hatałii perform healing ceremonies within the Hogan, creating sand paintings on its floor and directing sacred chants within the dwelling's concentrated spiritual space.
The Yeibichai ceremony takes place in and around the Hogan, with sand paintings created on the sacred dwelling's floor and dances performed outside.
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