The three monuments are dedicated to our ancestors and future human life on earth in hopes that the healing process from the past will continue.

From the top, the geode represents the spiritual eye of the creator, facing the ancestors. Beneath the geode, there is a circular hole (horoope), which allows one to escape to earth’s purity, as cogstones, sunstick disks, and discoidals are pouring out to earth. All of these reflect a bygone era of rituals performed for ceremonial events by the Tongva people. The holes in the sunstick disks are left to place ceremonial sunsticks for summer and winter solstice ceremonies, carrying on the traditions of our culture. The passerby may see trails of ochre, shell, feathers, and dried flowers and leaves on the ground following Tongva ceremonies.

From the top, there is a large hole allowing the light from the sun to pass from east to west. As the seasons change, the shadows reflect on nature’s evolving landscapes: the earth, water, animals, plants, birds, and sea life. The small, pecked holes around the large hole reflect the complexities of our mind, radiating our thoughts and dreams. The medium size holes outline our physical body (taaxaw), as ochre pours out from the holes, cleansing our mind, body, and spirit.

The focus of this monument is the constellation of the Pleiades (taraxesho-t). The larger three blue glass holes beneath the geode reflect part of the constellation Orion, forming Orion’s belt, a winter constellation shining brightly in a southern direction of our sky. The Tongva term for this is (paahe-sheshi-iyot), “the three sisters.” The geode, with a small opening in its center, allows the sunlight to flow through, signifying a safe journey without obstruction for the ancestors who were displaced during Playa Vista’s development. The four small holes in which black stones with elongated tails are inserted honor our ancestors as they travel through the constellation and heavens (tokuupa). The two medium glass green holes represent Rigel and Betelgeuse, the final elements of Orion.