TATEWARI

by José Benítez Sánchez

In this picture the gods are welcoming the “nierica” (mandala) of fire. The 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.

He stands beside the shaman when he is curing a sick person, and his messengers are feathers. Like the feathers of the shaman’s wand, the “muvieri” they are imbued with life, they have feeling, they move around and are capable of speech and action.