Peyotism

Paper Summary:

This paper describes explicitly, based on Edward F. Anderson's book "Peyote: The Divine Cactus", a Navajo religious ceremony which uses peyote to communicate with God. The author points out that peyote had an influence on other tribes for over 400 years but did not impact the Navajo until the late 18th century. The paper relates that, although the peyote ceremony is one of the emblematic signs of Native American religion, opponents of peyote are apprehensive towards these ceremonies and have made efforts to control the use of peyote among Native Americans.

From the Paper:

"As the orange-red sun slowly sinks in the horizon, members of a peyote cult enter through the door of a hogan (a pentagon shaped hut in which Native Americans live) designed for their ceremony. The door faces the descending sun and is to the opposite of three men (the Road Man, Drummer Man, and Cedar Man) who are sitting in front of a raised crescent moon of earth. This raised crescent serves as an altar which has a peyote button resting on sagebrush. More members arrive and sit around the altar in a circle. When all the ceremonial devices are properly placed, the fire man, who is sitting east to the entrance, gathers hot coals and arranges them in the form of a "V" with the apex facing the Road Man."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Aberle, David F. The Peyote Religion among the Navaho. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982.
• Anderson, Edward F. Peyote: The Divine Cactus. 2nd ed. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1996.
• Stewart, Omer C. Peyote Religion: A History. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1987.

More papers on Peyotism:

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