High up in the Sierra de Catorce near the mining village of Real de Catorce is an Indian sacred place El Quemado. Every spring, the Huichols, indigenous Indians, set out from remote places in Mexico on a long walking journey through the deserts and mountains to perform religious rituals on Mount Cerro Quemado. This ceremonial center, is situated at an altitude of 3000 m above sea level. Quemado, according to the beliefs of their ancestors, is the cradle of Tatewari, or the great-grandfather of fire. On the way here, the Indians collect hikuri, known as peyote, or psychotropic cactus which is sacred to them. Apparently, its consumption gives hallucinations and even revelations. The shaman, after consuming peyote, is able to speak to the gods and ensure the regeneration of the souls.
The interior of the ceremonial house on top of the mountain is almost empty. Here and there hang the square colorful God’s eyes, which are able to see and understand the unknown. From the ceiling hang the skins of wild animals and the skin of a snake. Candles leaning against the wall stand in disarray on the sandy floor. There is also an image of Our Lady of Guadeloupe. This is somewhat of a surprise as the Huichols are animists and have consistently rejected the influence of Catholicism since the arrival of the first missionaries.
