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Huichol Native Gods, Deities & Motifs As Represented in Their Art – The Corn Goddess & Peyote

February 15, 2018 by Latin American Art Gallery

For the Huichol who live in Mexico and call themselves Wixárika, life and religion are intertwined. Their deities are honored in their ceremonies and represented in their art and are part of daily life. They ask the deities for rain and sun for the crops, successful deer hunts, healthy children and protection from natural and supernatural dangers. Here we introduce the Peyote and Corn and show them in Huichol art pieces.

Huichol Deity Tatei Niwetzika and Hikuri (Peyote)

Tatei Niwetzika (Mother Corn)

Mother Corn is intertwined with the life of the Huichol people. Each depends on the other for survival. The people sow the seed which becomes Child Corn and then Mother Corn. The people are sustained by her; they grow and are themselves able to reproduce. The natural cycle continues. Mother Corn is integral to all of Huichol life, from the peyote desert ceremonies during the pilgrimage to Wirikuta to other spiritual aspects of their lives.

Hikuri (Peyote)

Hikuri, the traditional Huichol name of peyote, is a desert cactus that is collected on the annual pilgrimages to Wirikuta, which is some 300 miles from their homes. Wirikuta is the sacred desert and is the homeland of their ancestors. These pilgrimages are central to their culture and religion. Directed by the Mara akame, or shaman, ingesting the peyote allows communication with their deities and ancestors, gaining wisdom and spiritual connection. Healing is also an important part of the ritual. Peyote is also collected and taken back with them for the coming year’s ceremonies.

Following are representations of the Corn Goddess and Peyote in a Huichol Prayer Bowl. The yellow corn surrounds the central peyote. Eagles sit between the corn. Click on it to see more information on this piece.

Below, the view of the beaded cat on the left shows the corn symbol on its haunch. On the right, the peyote can be seen below the cat’s head.

Huichol Native Gods, Deities & Motifs As Represented in Their Art – Sun and Eagle

January 9, 2018 by Latin American Art Gallery

For the Huichol who live in Mexico and call themselves Wixárika, life and religion are intertwined. Their deities are honored in their ceremonies and represented in their art and are part of daily life. They ask the deities for rain and sun for the crops, successful deer hunts, healthy children and protection from natural and supernatural dangers. Here we introduce Father Sun and Mother Eagle and show them in Huichol art pieces.

The Huichol Gods Tayaupa and Werika Wimari

Tayaupa – Father Sun

The Huichols believe Tayaupa gives warmth and light and power to every living thing and guarantees healthy crops and life. His wife is Werika Wimari, Mother Eagle, mother of the sky and goddess of all living things. The holy trinity of Peyote, Deer and Corn descend from Father Sun. Tayaupa is seen in the design below, taken from a yarn painting by Fidencio Benitez.

Here is the artist’s description:

Tatawari, the ancient fire god, appointed the Sun to govern the Earth. Tayaupa, the Sun, assigned four deer deities to this duty: Kauyumarie, the East, Ushikuikame, the South, Watemukame, the West and Narihuame in the north (four figures with antlers in the upper half of the circle). Through a hole drilled in a stone disc, set in the wall of the temple, Tayaupa looks at the world and his rays enter the temple and bring fertility to all the people. (End artist’s description)

Every year the Huichol pilgrims travel to the eastern desert which they call Wirikuta, where the Sun was born, to collect the sacred peyote cactus “hikuri” which is the embodiment of the deer and with the use of it in many ceremonies the well being of all the people and the animals is assured.

(The design taken from the art described above adorns t shirts created and printed by a family in Puerto Vallarta. Clicking on the picture below takes you to them in our store. The Huichols themselves love to get the shirts and give them as gifts to friends and family members.)

Werika Wimari – Mother Eagle

Werika Wimari is the goddess wife of Tayaupa. She is the Eagle, Mother of the Sky, Queen of the Heavens and goddess of all living things. She also represents the communication bridge between god and men. Eagles themselves are important to the Huichol because their feathers impart power to the shaman, who are called mara’akame. They create muwieries (sacred prayer arrows) using eagle or hawk feathers. Without them they would not have power. The shaman uses the muwieries in his or her rituals. Here is a nierika, or yarn painting which features an eagle, corn, peyote deer, snake among other sacred symbols.

Werika Wimari is also represented as a double-headed eagle. This is a beaded prayer bowl, or jicara, with a beautiful double-headed eagle. It also has corn, scorpion and peyote sacred symbols. It is available in our store and is a fantastic piece. Click on it to see its description.

We continue describing other gods, deities and sacred symbols in coming posts.

Huichol Native Gods, Deities & Motifs As Represented in Their Art – Part One

December 11, 2017 by Latin American Art Gallery

For the Huichol, who call themselves Wixárika, their religious life and physical life are the same; life and religion are intertwined. Their deities are honored in their ceremonies and represented in their art; and so are included in the daily interactions of life. They ask the deities for rain and sun for the crops, successful deer hunts, healthy children and protection from natural and supernatural dangers. The oldest gods are Takutsi Nakawé, Grandmother of Growth and Germination, who created the world, Tatewari, Grandfather Fire and Kauyamari, the Deer Spirit. The Huichol are said to have over 100 deities which include sun, rain, wind, ocean, earth, and corn. Their art manifests the deities as motifs in the work. As you can imagine, with so many deities, their art overflows with them!

Here we explore the Huichol’s oldest gods and goddesses and show their manifestations in Huichol works of art. These can include their very detailed embroidery, gourd bowls, masks, jewelry, face painting, yarn paintings, ceremonial pieces and more. In later posts we will continue illustrating the many deities and motifs in their art. According to ancient traditions the gods brought offerings or votives with them when they came from the chaotic sky world into the new world. The votives, or sacred art, must be replenished to maintain the world. This is why the creation of the Huichol art is so central to their lives.

Peyote (called Hikuri), which is a desert cactus, plays a central role in Huichol life. It’s halocenogenic properties allow communication with the gods through colorful, amazing visions. These visions are often captured in the art. Peyote is considered a sacred gift for which they make pilgrimages each year in order to collect it in Wirikuta.

The Huichol Gods Tatewari, Takutsi Nakawé and Kauyumaki

Tatawari – Grandfather Fire

In this yarn art piece by Jose Benitez Sanchez the gods are welcoming the “nierica” (mandala) of fire. They surround it and greet it. A “nierica” is a circular entrance to another world.

The Huichol say the sacred fire is called Tatewari – he is the shaman of ancient times, the patron of all shamans: he is the one that burns the fields ready for planting corn, who cooks our food, who helps us to hunt deer and he is the peyote.

Takutsi Nakawé, Grandmother of Growth and Germination, who created the world

Takutsi Nakawe came through the tunnel of light from the chaotic sky world with the other gods and goddesses. The sun, moon, stars, animals and the landscape are created. Afterward, Watakame, a lonely man who works everyday on his milpa (rural place he lives), realizes that the trees he has cut down are again standing. He finds Takutsi Nakawe, who has stood them upright with her cane, and she tells him of the coming flood. They build a boat in which they are saved from the flood. This yarn painting captures the great flood where Takutsi Nakawe and Watakame are saved from the flood, along with his black female dog, Tusi. She gives him seeds to keep safe until the waters recede. After the flood, Takutsi Nakawe recreates the plants, animals and trees. She shows Watakame how to plant the seeds. Watakame and Tusi, who has turned into a woman, marry and have children that are the Huichols, or Wixáritari.

Kauyumarie Offers his Life which is the Peyote which Gives Vision and Energy

In the Huichol creation story, Kauyumari, the Deer Spirit, led the other gods and goddesses through a tunnel of light leading to this world from the chaotic sky world. Kauyumari left green disks on the desert floor, which are the peyote. The gods learned that if they could perform the proper rituals and ingest the peyote it would fill them with Kupuri, divine light, so they could see their way in the new world and remember where they had come. Kauyumari also left peyote trailing from the tunnel of light for those who came through so that they could make their way to the center of the new world.

A Basic Description of Huichol Native Sacred Art

November 12, 2017 by Latin American Art Gallery

Huichol Native Art from Mexico

Many people are familiar with Huichol Native art from their travels to Mexico or seeing pieces that have been brought home from there. It is striking because of its wonderful colors and figures and the unique ways it is created. All the art has roots in the Huichol culture and religion. Its various forms are described here along with the techniques used in their creation. Future posts on this blog will go in depth into the symbolism and history of the Huichols and their art.

Art is an important part of the traditional Huichol way of life. Through art they express materially their innermost feelings. The designs, which are meticulously embroidered on a shirt or brightly colored bag, or woven into a wide wool belt, are symbols representing their gods and the sacredness of nature.

Huichol Beaded Art:

The beaded art is created by applying a beeswax mixture, called campeche, onto the surface of a carving, ceramic piece or gourd. The beads (chaquiras) are applied one by one with a needle. This piece below includes scorpions and a double headed eagle on the forehead, a white deer on either cheek, round peyote on either side of the mouth and a lizard on the chin.

Huichol Indian Mask with Deer — Huichol Indian Mask is created with tiny beads and covered with deer, eagle, peyote and lizard symbols.

Huichol Yarn Art or Nierika:

Yarn art uses the same beeswax mixture which is applied to the surface of a board. Then yarn is layed into the wax with the help of a needle, bringing to life a detailed story.

Huichol Goddess Grandmother saves Watakame from the Flood — Goddess Grandmother saves Watakame from the Flood

Embroidered Clothing and Bags:

The Huichol clothing is created by a family member. It too is full of symbolism central to the Huichol culture and religion. Notice the extremely tiny stitches!

Huichol Embroidered Man's Clothing — Huichol Clothing and Bag with Traditional Embroidery

Huichol Man's Embroidered Shirt — Traditional Embroidered Huichol Men’s Shirt With Many Figures

Ceremonial Pieces:

Ojo De Dios

Ceremonial Arrows

Huichol Shaman Headdress

Huichol Indian Shaman with Headdress — Feathers and Beaded Figures Cover the Huichol Shaman’s Headdress

Huichol Native Prayer Bowl Creation – Day 5

October 22, 2017 by Latin American Art Gallery

Thanks for visiting our posts the last few days on how the bowls are made! Look for other posts about the Huichol Native art and other wonderful Latin American folk art.

Here are some finished bowls by another Huichol artist and a bowl being made. It is covered with green peyote symbols and small arrow symbols are placed between them. Notice the detail around the rim of the bowl.

To see over 20 beaded bowls and other fabulous beaded art in our store follow this link: https://latinamericanart.gallery/store/beaded-prayer-bowls/ or contact us through the website to see bowls and other Huichol art locally here in Portland.

Huichol Native Prayer Bowl Creation – Day 4

October 19, 2017 by Latin American Art Gallery

It’s day four of the creation of Huichol Beaded prayer bowls, or jicaras. This art is made using smaller beads, often called micro beads, that are not as available in Mexico. As a result the art is extremely detailed and amazing. The bowls themselves are cut from the bottoms of gourds.

To see beaded bowls that are available for purchase click here where you will see a good selection, each one of them wonderful and unique.

First, the bowl is cut from the bottom of the gourd, dried thoroughly and the inside is made smooth. Then campeche, a beeswax mixture, is spread thinly on the surface of the inside of the bowl. The application of beads is now progressing.

The two bowls can be seen together, still unfinished but with all the main symbols in place. Then more beautiful beading is done between them. All the beads are placed at the same level which makes a smooth surface and no beeswax will be visible. Sometimes folks think the design is painted until they realize they are beads! The artist is shown with seven of his large bowls. Each symbol has meaning to the Huichols and the pieces tell a story. His artistry and skill is truly unsurpassed!

Join us tomorrow for day 5 where the beading continues.