The Huichol Peyote Legend
The elders tell us a long, long time ago in the Sierra Huichol, the grandparents met to discuss their situation.
The people were sick, there was no food, no water. There was no rain, and the land was dry.
They decided to send four young people from the community to hunt, with the task of finding food and bringing it back to the community to share. Each hunter represented an element, fire, water, air and the earth.
The next morning the four young hunters began their journey each carrying their bow and arrow. They walked for days until one afternoon out of the bushes jumped a big fat deer. They were tired and hungry, but when they saw the deer, they forgot everything and began running after him without losing sight. The deer looked at the young hunters and felt compassion. He let them rest for the night, the next day he aroused them to continue the chase.
Medicinal Herbs of the Huichol Peyote Legend
Weeks went by before arriving in the Wirakuta (desert of San Luis Potosi and the sacred path of the Huicholes.) The hunters were on the pathway up the hill next to Cerro de las Narices (hill of noses), where the spirit of the land dwells. They saw the deer leap, then he was gone again, they were sure they had seen the deer but now could not find him. One of the young hunters fired an arrow into the air where it fell a big deer figure appeared shaped from peyote plants in the ground. In the sunlight the plants sparkled, as emeralds do. The young hunters were confused by what had happened, they decided to cut the plants that formed the deer figure (Marratutullary) and take it to the elders in the village.
After days of walking, the young hunters arrived at Huichola Mountain where the people were waiting. They told the elders of their experience. They began to hand out the peyote (Hikury) to everyone. The sick were cured, the hungry fed, the thirsty quenched.
Since this time, the Huicholes worship the Peyote that at the same time is their deer, their corn and their spirit guide. Every year they make the pilgrimage keeping the route alive, from the Huichola Sierra to Wirikuta, to ask God for rain, food, and health for the people.