Latin American Art Gallery

An Online Gallery of Beautiful Art and Crafts from Latin America and Mexico

Huichol

Huichol Native Gods, Deities and Symbols as Represented in Their Art – Snake and Scorpion

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For the Huichol, who live in Mexico and call themselves Wixáritari (Huichol pronunciation: /wiˈraɾitaɾi/), life and religion are intertwined.  Their deities are honored in their ceremonies and represented in their art and are part of daily life.  As Carl Lumholtz, the original ethnographer and explorer who studied the Huichol society, said, “All phases of their lives are prayer – the planting, harvesting, peyote pilgrimages – all art, weaving, bead work, face painting, and yarn paintings embody prayer within symbols.”  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 Snake and Scorpion and show them in Huichol art pieces.

Huichol Deities Serpiente (Snake) and Tortuka (Scorpion)

In the physical world snakes are appreciated by the Huichols because they eat the rodents and pests in the corn fields.  The Huichols believe that rain is milions of snakes.  They fall from the Rain Goddess who is depicted as a massive circular, coiled snake.  The snake deity also instructs shaman to become healers and are the communicators between the spiritual and physical world.

Serpiente

Here is a snake figure, fully beaded with tiny beads.  Clicking on the image takes you to our store where there is a longer description.

On the elephant is a yellow scorpion and red snake on its front leg.

Tortuka

Scorpions are both esteemed and feared.  Their sting kills many every year.  But the scorpion spirit is also considered a protector and ally to fight off demons and bad luck.  They also are thought of as protectors of the peyote.  In the Huichol art they are often placed close to the peyote, as in the bowl below.

In this lizard and bowl see the red and light blue scorpions.  Clicking on the images takes you to our store where the art is described in more detail.

 

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

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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 Prayer Bowl Creation – Day 3

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It’s day three 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.

Campeche Spread Inside the Bowl

Here the beading of the bowl is begun.  The artist starts in the center by placing beads to create a wonderful star (peyote) design. The second bowl contains the start of a deer figure, deer being one of the most important symbols for the Huichol.

Join us tomorrow for day 4 where the beading continues.

Huichol Native Prayer Bowl Creation – Day 2

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It’s day two 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.

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

Here a bit of beeswax mixture, called campeche, is kneaded and spread on the surface inside the bowl to make a thin, consistent layer into which the beads will be placed.

Join us tomorrow for day 3 where the beads start being place.

Huichol Indian Prayer Bowl Creation – Day 1

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We hope you enjoy this description of the making of this very amazing Huichol Indian art from Mexico.

Here is a progression of the creation of Huichol Beaded Prayer Bowls, or jicaras. This art is made using smaller beads, often called micro beads, that are not so available in Mexico. As a result the art is extremely detailed and amazing. The bowls themselves are the bottoms of gourds. To see beaded bowls that are available go to https://latinamericanart.gallery/store/beaded-prayer-bowls/

First. the bowl is cut from the bottom of the gourd, dried thoroughly and the inside is made smooth.

Check back tomorrow for the progression of this bowl making!