The Maracame ˇ
The Maracame, the name by which the Huichol ancient wizard is known, is not a mere medicine man; he also has other responsibilities. In some cases he serves as spiritual guide of the group…Sometimes he is the depository of the historic and mythic memory of his community…Priest and religious figure…He even undertakes civil positions and acts as representative authority within the complex hierarchy that rules the social and cultural life of the Huichol communities.
Like many indigenous American groups, Huichols have traditionally used the peyote (hikuri) cactus in religious rituals. And it is the Maracame who guides thae community through these rituals. They involve singing, weeping, and contact with ancestor spirits.
Each year members of the Huichol community travel some 300 miles from the area where they currently reside (in the Sierra Madre Occidental range, in the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Durango and Zacatecas) to “Wirikuta” or San Luis Potosí, their ancestral homeland.
This pilgrimage takes place annually as a desire to return to where life originated and heal oneself. The Huichols assume roles of gods along the trail that they usually take by foot. Upon arrival in Wirikuta, the hunt begins and the first peyote cactus that is found is shared among everyone. Then they harvest enough peyote for the year (since they only make the trip one time every year).
Through the use of Peyote the Maracame is able to speak to the gods and ensure the regeneration of the Huichols’ souls.
The Maracame is revered by the community for his supernatural ability to communicate with the forces of nature and bring needed rain to the crops through unique ceremonies.
As an acknowledgment of the dedication and the cultural importance of his character, Tequila Supremo has named their prize tequila after him.
