Introduction

Once a year, the Huichol Indians of the Southwest United States and northern Mexico make a kind of pilgrimage across hundreds of miles to gather the peyote they use in their religious ceremonies (Schaefer & Furst, 1997). The trek is led by an experienced “mara'akame” or shaman, who is in contact with God-ancestor Tatewari (grandfather-fire). Tatewari, also known as Hikuri, is personified with peyote plants on his hands and feet. Upon arriving within sight of the sacred mountains of Wirikuta, the shaman begins the ritual cleansings and chants that will initiate the dangerous crossing into the Otherworld, facilitated by peyote. The shaman supervises preparation of the hikuri plants as the fresh cacti are grinded into a pulp on a metate, with each drop of liquid oozing from the pulp collected in a gourd. Participants are served the peyote and sing songs that praise peyote for its protection of the tribe. During the many hours of the religious rite while they are intoxicated with peyote, the participants see visions, receive guidance, and experience a religious form of ecstasy that enriches them spiritually and sustains them emotionally as they go about the rest of their lives.