Discovering the Huichol Culture

Living in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, in harmony in healthy communities that could serve as models in a troubled world, their cooperative lifestyle is rooted in a native spirituality that is reflected in their inspiring colorful dress, diverse art forms, ancient shamanic practices, and mythical ceremonial traditions.

One of these ceremonial traditions is the “Peyote Ceremony”, which focuses on ingesting a hallucinogenic cactus called peyote. These sacred ceremonies are held while under the influence, however under prescribed conditions and rules of behavior. The quest to find peyote is considered a hunt and the Huichol people seek spiritual guidance from the blue deer, an animal that is a major deity in their cosmology.

In addition to the blue deer, which is portrayed recurrently in their artwork, the other major deities found in the religion of the Huichol are maize, the eagle and the sacred plant, peyote.

The artwork of the Huichol is extremely detailed, rich with vibrant color and symbolism. The spiritual beliefs of the Huichol are interwoven in their colorful yarn paintings, intricate beadwork and embroidered textiles.

In some areas the traditions are still strong. In other areas, the voice of the wind and the teachings of the deer have become echoes of the past.