The Wixcan religion is an indigenous belief system practiced by the Wixaritari people, also known as the Huichol, who reside in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range in western Mexico. This religious tradition has deep roots in the culture and history of the Wixaritari community. At the core of the Wixcan religion is the concept of shamanism, which encompasses spiritual healing and guidance through connecting with the spirit world. Central to their beliefs is the notion that the physical and spiritual realms are interconnected. Wixaritari shamans, known as marakames, act as intermediaries between the community and the gods, utilizing various rituals, ceremonies, and offerings to establish this connection. One key aspect of Wixcan religion is the veneration of nature and the belief in the divine presence within it.
It’s worth mentioning here that this being a veritable buffet of delicious grub for insects, we encountered a number of mosquitoes. Make sure you have thoroughly doused yourself in repellent prior to the tour. And you might want to wear longer clothing if the mosquitoes love you as much as they love me.
Each chocolatier is developing their own magic in every bar, truffle, molded candy or chocolate drink they prepare as part of our island s burgeoning local food system production. From growers to processors, to the careful hands that make the delicate treats, a passion for the legendary plant and its artisan-created flavors permeates each chocolate operation in Hawaii.
One key aspect of Wixcan religion is the veneration of nature and the belief in the divine presence within it. The Wixaritari consider all elements of the natural world, from animals and plants to mountains and rivers, as sacred beings with their own spirits or deities. They believe that by showing respect and performing appropriate rituals, they can maintain harmony and balance with the natural world.
5th Annual Chocolate Chocolate! Celebration
Chocolate. Just the word can get our taste buds eager for a silky, rich delicious experience. Yet so much more than taste is involved in a chocolate bar, or truffle, or mousse. In Hawaii, we are fortunate to have innovative growers, who cultivate thousands of brightly colored red and yellow cacao pods every year, and creative chocolatiers, who turn the beans held in those pods into delicious chocolate products. Each year, to celebrate Hawaii growers’ and chocolatiers’ accomplishments, One Island’s sustainable living program hosts Chocolate Chocolate! as a fun and festive farmer and artisan-to- consumer direct tasting experience.
For 2013 the popular event comes to North Kohala and will be featured at the Buy Local Block Party on November 30 th in Hawi. Tasting tickets are available in advance online to provide you with the many flavors of Hawaii cacao. Bars can be purchased on site at the event for holiday gifts and excellent Yum.
In addition to exploring the sweet side of cacao, Chocolate Chocolate! will also have a Mole Enchilada dinner plate available with two enchiladas, beans, rice and salad. Delish! Provided by the Kava Kafe, 5-7pm. Reserve tickets online.
Ever wonder where your chocolate comes from? What type of plant does it come from? How ecologically is it grown? Who are the pickers and processors and how does chocolate impact their quality of life? What imparts the most memorable flavors to chocolate? And who thought up the shapes, textures, and ingredients that we experience when partaking in this magical Theobroma, which translates as ‘food of the gods’?
Let’s learn about Hawaii chocolate and meet the chocolate makers who have been part of Chocolate Chocolate! events since 2009.
Hawaii is the only state in the country growing cacao and the chocolatiers who have emerged to turn these beans into delicious delicacies are certainly bold explorers on a new frontier of specialty foods destined to carve a distinctive niche in the global chocolate market. From growers to processors, to the careful hands that make the delicate treats, a passion for the legendary plant and its artisan-created flavors permeates each chocolate operation in Hawaii. Commercial cacao orchards are growing beans for chocolate in North Kohala, Hamakua, Puna and Kona, encircling the island with an evolving industry. Some growers shorten the preparation process by focusing on dried, raw cacao nibs that are enjoyed as a super food supplement in smoothies, for toppings and as energy snacks. Others are developing closely guarded recipes for chocolates unique to their location and brand. (Rule of thumb, when it is on the tree or being fermented and dried, it is cacao. As soon as it is roasted, ground and mixed with other ingredients, it becomes chocolate.)
Meet Your Farmers and Chocolatiers
Meet Bonnie Perata of Earthly Delights Farm down in Honaunau. Bonnie and her husband Bacci cleared and planted a lush diversified organic farm in Honaunau over eight years ago and now produce a line of Big Island chocolate products that they process, prepare, and distribute right from their own farm and at local farmers’ markets.
Up the mountain in Captain Cook, nestled between traditional Hawaiian agricultural rock wall fields, Kuaiwi Farm owners Una Greenaway and Leon Rosner are growing and making organic molded chocolate delicacies on a beautiful farm and present very enjoyable how-to chocolate workshops for budding growers and curious chocolate makers. Across the island in the North Hilo area, Tom Sharkey has been developing a distinctive line of chocolates incorporating vanilla from vines winding right up his cacao trees. He molds small bars and star shaped chocolates that are sold at the astronomy visitor center on Mauna Kea.
On Oahu, Madre Chocolate is the new prince of chocolatiers and are sagely developing both a Hawaii- sourced line of chocolate bars and a Meso-american / Caribbean line of bars – all with unusual flavors including local lilikoi, lavender and Christmas berry. Madre’s 2013 line includes cacao grown in Hawi, Kona and Hamakua.
In Keauhou, the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory has a beautifully packaged line of locally grown chocolate bars, nibs, and molded chocolate plumeria flowers made in their pioneering factory that launched the local chocolate industry.
Kona Origins Chocolate is hard at work in Honaunau maintaining a second generation cacao orchard and making a chocolate bar with the unusual trace of light, fruity banana in the flavor profile, yet no banana is added to the bar.
The flavor variations between these products are perfect evidence of unique attributes that result from each cacao orchard’s setting – water, sun, soil, surrounding plants and microbes – and the processing steps – fermentation, drying, roasting, grinding and combining with flavors, sweeteners or stablizers. Each chocolatier is developing their own magic in every bar, truffle, molded candy or chocolate drink they prepare as part of our island’s burgeoning local food system production. Madre Chocolate and Kuaiwi Chocolate offer great how-to workshops that reveal the many steps involved in the bean-to-bar process. The best way to learn about their different products is, of course, to taste them!
Come taste examples of Hawaii’s artisan chocolates at the 5 th Annual Chocolate Chocolate! being sponsored by One Island at the Buy Local Block Party hosted by the North Kohala Merchants Association on Saturday, November 30th, noon-7pm. Adding to the chocolate wonders, the Kava Kafe will be hosting a delicious chocolate Mole Enchilada dinner plate plus there will be locally made fudges available from the Kohala Coffee Mill.
Find your chocolate heaven and great holiday gifts at Chocolate Chocolate! in front of the Kohala Coffee Mill in the heart of Hawi.
For 2013 the popular event comes to North Kohala and will be featured at the Buy Local Block Party on November 30 th in Hawi. Tasting tickets are available in advance online to provide you with the many flavors of Hawaii cacao. Bars can be purchased on site at the event for holiday gifts and excellent Yum.
Another essential aspect of Wixcan religion is the use of peyote, a small cactus with hallucinogenic properties. The Wixaritari believe that through the consumption of peyote during special ceremonies, they can communicate with the gods and gain insights into the spiritual realm. Peyote is seen as a sacred plant and is highly respected within their religious practices. Rituals and ceremonies play a significant role in the Wixcan religion. These events are often community-led and involve singing, dancing, and chanting, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of drums. The ceremonies are performed to honor the gods, seek their blessings, and ask for guidance in everyday life. Wixcan religion also has a strong emphasis on communal living and collective decision-making. The Wixaritari community relies on consensus-based decision-making processes, with the marakames playing a vital role in providing spiritual guidance and advice in communal matters. Overall, the Wixcan religion is a complex belief system deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of the Wixaritari community. It incorporates elements of shamanism, nature worship, communal living, and the use of peyote. The religion serves as a foundation for the spiritual well-being of the Wixaritari people, connecting them with their ancestors, gods, and the natural world..
Reviews for "The Role of Women in Wixcan Religion"
- John - 1 star - I found the definition of Wixcan religion to be extremely lacking and unclear. It didn't provide any substantial information about its beliefs, practices, or history. I was hoping to gain some insight into this religion, but this definition left me with more questions than answers. Overall, a disappointing and unhelpful resource.
- Emma - 2 stars - The Wixcan religion definition didn't provide enough depth or detail to truly understand what it's all about. It felt like a superficial overview that barely scratched the surface. If you're looking for a comprehensive understanding of Wixcan religion, I would suggest seeking other sources. This definition left me wanting more.
- Michael - 2 stars - I was looking for a clear and concise definition of the Wixcan religion, but unfortunately, this definition fell short. It lacked coherence and failed to explain the key beliefs and practices of the religion. It was confusing and didn't provide the clarity I was seeking. Overall, I would not recommend relying on this definition for a proper understanding of Wixcan religion.
- Sarah - 1 star - I was disappointed with the Wixcan religion definition provided. It was vague and repetitive, not offering any substantial information about the beliefs and practices of this religion. I was left with more questions than answers and had to search for additional resources to gain a proper understanding. This definition was a waste of time and didn't provide any educational value.
- David - 2 stars - The Wixcan religion definition provided minimal information and lacked depth. It didn't offer any insights into the cultural and historical context of this religion. Overall, this definition felt shallow and unsatisfying. I would suggest looking for other sources to gain a better understanding of Wixcan religion.