Peyote Symbolism

Huichols appreciate corn, as it feeds them and provides life. The third symbol, peyote, serves as the focal point of Huichol rituals and religious culture. Peyote is referenced in their artwork and represents knowledge. Huichols view peyote as a divine gift, which allows shamans to communicate with their gods and ancestors. The knowledge the shamans attain is then shared and spread throughout the society. Peyote also represents the physical manifestation of the spirit world and the sole means of communication between the two. These three symbols (the blue deer, the corn, and the peyote) form a holy trinity that represents unity between the gods and the people, referring to a time when the two realms were not separated. Lastly, the eagle represents …show more content…
Fire is used to represent Grandfather Fire (Tatewari) the oldest of the gods, patron of all shamans, and God of peyote. Grandfather Fire is said to aid shamans in curing the sick and assisting in game hunting. Fire was given to the Huichol people by Grandfather Fire and prized as the most valuable of gifts from the gods because of fire’s vital importance in the daily functions of Huichol society. Huichol art featuring Grandfather Fire often depicts Him with peyote growing on his hands and arms symbolizing his prominence among the gods in addition to his connection with …show more content…
This story has been passed down orally for thousands of years within the Huichol people. The Huichols believe that humans walked out of the sea and through the desert on a long, dark night. A group of people was chosen by the gods to search for the “Mountain of Dawn,” the place where the sun would rise and give light to the people. Many of those who made the journey died and became elements of nature, such as water, maize, and animals. Four men were then selected by tribal elders to search for food; these four men symbolize a bow and arrow and each of the three elements (earth, air, fire, and water). As the story goes, the men were unsuccessful in finding food or water until they reached Wirikuta, where a deer revealed itself to them. The men tried to hunt the deer but could not catch it, until an arrow struck a hill of plants. This plant was peyote. They brought the peyote back to their people who realized upon eating the plant that it not only nourished them and quenched their thirst, but also healed the sick. The search by those four men is the basis of the Huichol pilgrimage