Huichol Shamanism and Christian Syncretism in Wirikuta, Mexico: A Cross-Cultural Study
The Wirikuta valley is located in the state of San Luis Potosí, in north-central Mexico. It is a sacred territory for the Huichol population and culture, not only for its long history, but also because of its active role in the expression of their religion through a particular shamanic practice, one...
| Authors: | ; ; |
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| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Molnar & Kelemen Oriental Publ.
2018
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| In: |
Shaman
Year: 2018, Volume: 26, Issue: 1/2, Pages: 41-56 |
| Summary: | The Wirikuta valley is located in the state of San Luis Potosí, in north-central Mexico. It is a sacred territory for the Huichol population and culture, not only for its long history, but also because of its active role in the expression of their religion through a particular shamanic practice, one that is immersed in a dynamic syncretism with the popular Christian spirituality. The Huichol (Wixaritari) tribe is best known for its traditional medicinal practices and rituals involving the use of peyote (Lophophora Williamsii), a hallucinogenic cactus native to northern Mexico and the southern USA. In this desert land a constant exchange of gifts for the peyote spirit takes place; nevertheless, contemporary Huichol religious practices maintain a significant relationship with Christian popular practice. Moreover, the increasing and constant presence of globalization has deeply marked the Huichol population, triggering conflict situations as a result of foreign predation in the region. In this context, the global dynamics in the twenty-first century take on a negative role for the Huichol, particularly since these parameters have contributed to the invasion by foreign mining corporations throughout the Huichol land, with the Mexican government selling sacred and ancestral territory, resulting in the displacement of the Huichol population. |
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| ISSN: | 1216-7827 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Shaman
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