Huichol Shamanism
Huichol Item 313
$725.
2ft. x 2ft.
Hand-twisted yarn, archival wax on board.
2007
Narrative
This scene takes place during the nighttime and at some homestead. A shaman is seen curing a sick child by sending one of his arrows to kill the evil spirits which have possessed the boy. The evil spirits are seen with an arrow in their mouths. This arrow represents a shamans powers to make persons ill. This arrow was made by another shaman to infect the child. The night sky is comprised of the moon, star and clouds. The child lays by the fire on some cloth. The seven black dots represent the bad-spirits that the shaman is extracting. The ceremony begins when it becomes dark and after the shaman has eaten peyote. It lasts throughout the night. The scorpion are abundant during the nighttime. The tigre represents the shamans powers. The serpent below represents the power of the muvieri. Around the fire are two seats, peyote a tobacco pouch and a bottle of spirits to keep the shaman alert. Above the shaman is a bule of teguino with a candle inside - which he will consume after the ceremony is over. Note that the shaman always receives his teguino accompanied with a candle. The following morning, the cured child will eat the atole that is seen by his feet. The vessel of atole is depicted with an arrow inside. This magical arrow, which the shaman made, will transfer powers to the atole which when consumed by the child will prevent future illness. At the lower-right corner is seen the ririki. Inside are found a rattle, gods eye, drum, muvieri, arrow, and deer head. These object are stored in the temple when not in use. Also seen depicted is a basket of tortillas, a molcajete of salsa, atole and frijoles. After the "cleansing" the shaman, child and family members will eat. To the left of the shaman's staff is a tobacco plant, a substance smoked by the shaman.
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