Mad Jesus: The Final Testament of a Huichol Messiah from Northwest Mexico

9: The Magical Way to Peyoteland

52 | Matsiwa, still panting, went back to work on the painting.The women and children sat around us giggling and laughing. Jesús sat down and continued on as if nothing had happened. “It was then that grandfather told me that I must go to Wilikuta,” Chucho said.“Grandfather told me I had to fly to Wilikuta with the other children.He was going to assist Shiraulime.He was going to take us on the mythical journey to the Magic Peyoteland right there in the kaliwey. He would lead us to Wilikuta right there in the kaliwey. It would be a magical journey. “We were all gathered there in front of the Kaliwey; it is called a tuki in Huichol. Shiraulime, the mara’acame, came out with grandfather and Pablo.They had made paint, usha, for our faces, and everyone helped us to paint our faces.Mother painted peyote flowers on my face and Shiraulime’s sister had the‘Rivers of our Mothers’inTeakata painted on hers. Shauleme had the ‘Eye of the Deer’ painted on his face. Everyone else also had bright yellow patterns painted on their faces just like the real pilgrims who go to Wilikuta. Shiraulime, old Pablo, and grandfather then took their movielis and brushed each of us from head to toe before taking us into the Kaliwey. They did this to clean us and to be sure that we were prepared to see Grandfather Fire in the Kaliwey.Then they brought each of us into the center of the Kaliwey where the fire burns. The fire was just smoldering and grandfather began to sing. He ix The Magical Way to Peyoteland began to sing toTatewali. He askedTatewali to help us on our journey to Peyoteland.He gave us each a small candle,and we lit them.He sang to Tatewali, but Tatewali did not answer him. Shiraulime and Pablo began to sing to Tatewali.Then grandfather told us to call on Tatewali and he gave us things to feed the fire.We all called out,‘Tatewali, we have things to feed you!’We all began to call out to Tatewali together and we threw our things into the fire. The fire began to smolder and then it leapt forth. Grandfather said Tatewali was there. He was in his seat there in the Kaliwey on the ridge pole above the fire.That is where Tatewali sits so that he can watch that we all do the proper things. Grandfather said thatTatewali asked him,‘What do you want?Why do you call me?’ ‘We have these little ones here.We have these young eagles, these little hummingbirds, these hawks, these butterflies who wish to go to see the Land of the Blue Deer,’ grandfather said. ‘It is a long and dangerous journey to Wilikuta,’Tatewali said.‘Are they going to make the trek afoot?’ he asked. ‘They want to fly with us there to the Land of the Blue Deer,’grandfather replied.‘They want you to guide them through the dangers on the Path to Wilikuta.’ ‘Is that why you have called me from my home, from my shiriki, from my place inTeakata, to lead them to the Land of the Sun and the Land of Life? I am busy,’Tatewali replied. ‘I led the first ones, but there are others who can lead these little birds better than I. I will call out to them and I will search them out for you,’Tatewali said.‘Kauyumali!’ he called out. There was no answer. . . . He called out twice more.‘Kauyumali!’‘Kauyumali!’ . . . There was still no answer and they told us to call out.‘Kauyumali!’ we all shouted. There was still no answer. ‘He is sleeping,’ said Tatewali.‘I will fly to where he sleeps and call him to lead you toWilikuta.I will fly to the Hill of the Dawn inWilikuta and call him out, but you must all call him too.’ IX | The Magical Way to Peyoteland| 53 Grandfather passed us the horns and the rasps the peyoteros use and told us that he would tell us when to use them.We had to helpTatewali awaken Kauyumali.Shiraulime and Pablo would make the drum speak. They sat in front of the drum. There was no answer and grandfather told us to blow the peyotero’s horns and call out to Kauyumali.We did this and shouted and made all kinds of noise. ‘What is...