Last week, I reviewed all of my images from Monument Valley since I first stepped foot on one of my favorite places. As I looked through them, I relived my love for the place and I will be posting a few images from there this week. The first time I visited the valley was in 2005. I felt I was transported to a very beautiful but alien place. I remember remarking to my son that we had landed on Mars. After spending time there then and few times since then, I realize that the true benefits of the valley are beyond the landscape opportunities. The experience being exposed to and learning about the Navajo culture and traditions were priceless. The Navajo name for the valley is Tsé Bii’ Ndzisgaii meaning "Valley of the Rocks". The structures in this image "Yei Bi Chei" on the left and "Totem Pole" on the right hold deep spiritual meaning for the Navajo. “Yei Bi Chei” means Navajo spiritual gods and is viewed as a formation of dancers emerging from a Hogan. A dance called the Yei Bi Chei dance originated in the valley and is performed for healing purposes in a very sacred nine day ritual called the Night Way Ceremony.