Lord Peyote

    Article

    Peyote, a hallucinogenic cactus that grows primarily in Texas and Mexico, is a sacramental substance used in ceremonies conducted by the Native American Church, a synthesis of Christian and traditional indigenous beliefs. When ingested, peyote produces psychoactive visions, and the plant is believed to be a messenger of God's or Christ's spiritual power. Although the cactus is revered for the divine qualities associated with it, research did not uncover a direct reference to the term "Lord Peyote." The phrase may be a colloquialism invented by Tony Hillerman to refer to the transcendent power of the plant and the associated perception of spiritual intervention its consumption provokes.

    Photo Credit

     
    "Peyote on a Huichol altar to the dead, November 2, 2005" by Christian Frausto Bernal is licensed under CC BY-SA.

    Published Works
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    References

     
    Aberele David, R.
         1966   The Peyote Religion Among the Navaho. New York: Wenner-Gren Foundation for
             Anthropological Research, Inc.