Huichol

Related Terms

{{ask: [[Is a related term::Huichol]]}}

Notes

The following is excerpted from "Huichol People: An Ancient Unbroken Lineage of Healers."

The Huichol People are rare when it comes to North American shamanic traditions. Unlike most indigenous populations of this region, which have undergone some degree of death, transformation or fragmentation post-Columbus, the Huichol maintain an unbroken lineage which extends back to the earliest roots of their tribal heritage.

The Huichol People refer to themselves as the Virarica, which roughly translates as “the healing people.” They are a small tribe of approximately 35,000 who live in central western Mexico in the Sierra Madre mountains. They are said to be the last remaining tribe in North America to have maintained their indigenous practices, though today they face numerous threats to their culture. Until recently, their choice to live in seclusion in a remote and rugged location, as well as their commitment to a nature-based lifestyle have kept them protected from outside cultural influences. Today they face struggle with the Mexican government and land possession, pressures to switch from corn farming to tobacco farming, and the incessant influence of missionaries attempting to convert them. Still, thousands of Huichol remain in their birth place, living and practicing in the ways of their ancestors, fighting to keep the flame of their lineage alive.  Amazingly, the Huichol have no history of war. They are a peaceful people who have sustained themselves for generations in harmony with themselves and the land.

The wisdom teachings of the Huichol boils down to a simple yet deep reverence for nature and a ceremonial way of life that connects them to the spirit world. The purity and wisdom of the Huichol have made their influence on many Westerners seeking deeper healing and meaning in their lives. Several books by Westerners have been written about their personal experiences and journeys with the Huichol, including Tom Pinkson’s book The Shamanic Wisdom of Huichol. In it he recounts his life-changing transformational time spent with the Huichol, learning from the sacred peyote plant and the wisdom imparted to him by the Huichol shamans.

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Peyote (hikuri in Huichol) is the primary plant sacrament that Huichol use in their ceremonial prayer.

Peyote is a small cactus with psychoactive alkaloids, specifically mescaline, which in large quantities produce colorful and vivid hallucinogenic visions. For the Huichol, peyote plays a principle role in their cosmology, serving multiple functions within the tribe. Ceremonially, it acts as a gateway to the spirit realms, where they can commune with the gods. But peyote also has a long lineage of use as a traditional or “folklore” medicine and is commonly used by traditional people’s for things like influenza and diabetes. The Huichol are known to rub the juices of fresh peyote into wounds to prevent infection and to promote healing. Its profoundly alkalizing effect on the body makes it useful as an herbal application to help prevent and support the healing of various illness.

Once a year, the Huichol make a journey to Wirikuta where they go each year to collect peyote. Their pilgrimage takes place annually as a desire to return to the origins of life and seek healing and restoration. Upon arrival they begin their hunt, and when they find the first cactus it is shared by everyone in the tribe. They then harvest enough peyote for one year. This is the only trip they make for the whole year to supply their needs for peyote. They then ingest large amounts in ceremonial settings, where they can commune with ancestors spirits and deities, sing, heal, pray and weep.

Additional Reading

• Huichol People – An Ancient Unbroken Lineage of Healers
• Peyote Hung: The Sacred Journey of the Huichol Indians.

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