Midwestern tribes such as, (), that are indigenous to North America have been utilizing peyote for its spiritual and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Peyote usage is deeply embedded into the culture and religion of many Midwestern Native American groups, one of the best of these examples coming from the Huichol tribe who live in the Sierra Madre Occidental range in central-western Mexico. Although Huichol is what they are generally referred to as in the general scientific community as well as the world at large, in their own language they call themselves, “Wixáritari” or in English, “The People” (); therefore, these terms can be used interchangeably. The Wixáritari have an annual ritual in which they trek some 300 miles from their
…show more content…
Additionally, Tatewari was also the deity that initially led the (at the time some 9,000) Wixáritari to the sacred Hikuri which was in the vastly distant land of Wirikuta. It is still an annual tradition among the Huichol today to embark on a nearly 300 mile trek to this sacred land in which Hikuri are plentiful. It is still believed that each time a Shaman guides the groups of ten to fifteen participants, that he is being vicariously possessed by Tatewari so that they are being guided to Wirikuta by Tatewari, just as it was the very first time the Wixáritari were shown the Hikuri at Wirikuta. During the pilgrimage, the participants usually, “take on the identity of deified ancestors” so that they can, “find their life” …show more content…
At this point in their travels, the participants stop and ritualistically cleanse and wash themselves and on another with water. As this second purification process is taking place, the participants also pray for both fertility and rain. Amidst this ritual, the shaman begins to chant and pray which consequently initiates the, “dangerous crossing into the Otherworld” () which has two gateways. The first, is known as the gateway of Clashing Clouds while the second is entitled the Opening of the Clouds. Although nothing actually happens with the clouds in real life, there are significant psychological changes that occur within the minds of the participants at this time (). The first mental state is one of turmoil and chaos, which ultimately resolves itself in the second state which consists of bliss and
Additionally, Tatewari was also the deity that initially led the (at the time some 9,000) Wixáritari to the sacred Hikuri which was in the vastly distant land of Wirikuta. It is still an annual tradition among the Huichol today to embark on a nearly 300 mile trek to this sacred land in which Hikuri are plentiful. It is still believed that each time a Shaman guides the groups of ten to fifteen participants, that he is being vicariously possessed by Tatewari so that they are being guided to Wirikuta by Tatewari, just as it was the very first time the Wixáritari were shown the Hikuri at Wirikuta. During the pilgrimage, the participants usually, “take on the identity of deified ancestors” so that they can, “find their life” …show more content…
At this point in their travels, the participants stop and ritualistically cleanse and wash themselves and on another with water. As this second purification process is taking place, the participants also pray for both fertility and rain. Amidst this ritual, the shaman begins to chant and pray which consequently initiates the, “dangerous crossing into the Otherworld” () which has two gateways. The first, is known as the gateway of Clashing Clouds while the second is entitled the Opening of the Clouds. Although nothing actually happens with the clouds in real life, there are significant psychological changes that occur within the minds of the participants at this time (). The first mental state is one of turmoil and chaos, which ultimately resolves itself in the second state which consists of bliss and