Extraordinary beauty of the nierika

Extraordinary beauty of the Wixarica nierika

 
Gateway to the soul, mystical portal and a gust of wind in a storm make up the essence of the nierika. Conceived as an instrument of ancestral communication, the nierika hides under its kaleidoscope of colors the very spirit of the art huichol. 

The production of this delicate handicraft has transcended generations and stands as the most important most representative symbol of the ethnic group that will never die.

For the Huichol people, nerikate (plural) are ritual tools. Magical objects rooted in the spirituality of the indigenous group that inhabits the states of Nayarit, Zacatecas and Durango. A nierika is elaborated with threads (stamens) or beads (chaquiras) strung symbolically around a wooden wheel or large canvases. The preparation of a nierika takes about 2 weeks of hard work. The materials are obtained in the same region of Nayarit and surrounding municipalities of the state.

The term Huichol also refers to a mirror that seeks divine revelation, the message of the ancestors. Round mirrors about 4 inches in diameter are used, with a metal back support. The nierika is used by the mara'akate (shaman masters) when communicating with the deities. On one occasion a Huichol member said, "The mara'akame's telephone is nierika."

For the guardians of peyote, the nierika also symbolizes important elements of nature. It becomes, in its most technical sense, a weave of loops that seeks to reach the blue deer. Thanks to their oval structures, these mystical instruments symbolize certain aspects of an ancestor and their corresponding prayers. The nierikate are modern indigenous art sighs today. Their elaboration no longer depends only on the mara'kames but now passes into the hands of various Huichol artisans who seek the preservation of their traditions.

The production of this delicate handicraft has transcended generations and has become the most representative symbol of the ethnic group that will never die"?

The Nierikate (plural of Nierika) are one of the few living expressions of modern indigenous art in the world, as the Huichol are one of the few indigenous groups in Mexico that have managed to preserve their traditions, but at the same time seek new artistic forms to perpetuate their vision of the world.

A nierika is the link between the past and the present, a lure that invites the traveler to join the wisdom of the universe.