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The rugged mountains and remote villages of the Sierra de Nayarit north of Guadalajara are the homeland of roughly ten to fourteen thousand Huichol Indians. These were among the last tribes to come under Spanish rule, and their religion still is essentially pagan, revolving around several important agricultural deities. Deer is the most sacred of all animals, its blood a symbol of fertility. Corn is the source of all life, for it was Nacahue, mother of all gods, who gave corn to the first man for planting, and from it was born the first Huichol woman. Peyote is a means of communication with the gods, and the consumption of peyote by the Huichol people is a deeply religious experience. The unity of these three elements - deer, corn, and peyote - is the absolute core of Huichol beliefs.

The Huichols express these feelings through their art, which is made not from the standpoint of decoration, but to give profound expression to deep spiritual beliefs. This makes traditional Huichol art, whether it be meticulous beadwork, yarn paintings, wooden masks, or striking embroidered and woven personal adornments, beautiful not only from its aesthetic standpoint but from the psychological as well.

They have preserved their traditional practices, spiritual beliefs, and their sacred art for centuries. They believe they are the caretakers of the Mother Earth. Their art has a distinctive style, representing their reverence and connection to the natural environment. The beaded eggs, gourd bowls, jaguar heads, masks, lizard and other animals are all sacred symbols and each represents a deep connection to the spiritual realm.

Early works were completed by hollowing and drying gourds, which were then decorated with bits of shell, seeds and stones to use as offering bowls to the gods. When glass beads were introduced by Spanish missionairies, the Huichol began beading other items which they used in religious ceremonies and as offerings, such as animal figures, jaguar heads, masks, and other items. Today, wood, ceramic or other materials covered in a combination of wild bees wax and pine pitch. Each bead is then meticulously hand placed into this pitch, thus minor variations are common and considered part of the artwork.

The various designs have the following meanings - Deer: A messenger of the gods Serpent/Snake: God of the ocean Mountain Lion/Jaguar: Messenger of the God of fire Wolf: Knowledge & wisdom Sun: Power Moon: Fertility Eclipse/Sun & Moon together: Union between man & woman Two headed eagle: Duality of the Gods Peyote (both as flower/button and plant): The symbol of life, success Eye of God: Protection for children Scorpion: Protector of the peyote Iguana/Lizards: Adviser of the future, eyes of spirits Birds (other than eagle): Freedom Corn/Maize: Health and prosperity Turtle/tortoise: Assistant of the rain Goddesses Candle: offering to God Salamander: God of rain Muwieri/Arrows: The most important tool of a Shaman Keri: a Hallucinogen plant People/person: usually a shaman or medicine man