Everything in the Hopi world--plants, animals, forces of nature, human beings--has a spirit. The Hopi strive for a peaceful and harmonious existence by honoring the spirits of all beings, thereby entering into the right relationship with these spirits and making the world harmonious, balanced, and peaceful. The manifestations of spirits, the katsinas, are of supreme importance to the Hopi.

The summer solstice marks the beginning of the katsina ceremonial season, a time when the katsinas visit the Hopi and participate in important ceremonies. On those occasions, the katsinas may leave gifts for the Hopi children. The most special of these gifts, tihu, are dolls made in the images of the katsinas, and are considered to be a form of the spirit itself.

Whether katsinas appear as hilarious and outrageous clowns or as beautiful butterfly katsinas, all are powerful spirits who connect the Hopi with the reality behind the everyday, visible world.