In the mythological or spiritual universe there is a concept that is the teriomorphism or therianthropy . It consists of the supposed ability of some special human beings to change shape and take that of an animal. In Supercurioso we talk about the The Navajo skin-walkers, the forerunners of the J.K. Rowling and this time, following your suggestions, we wanted to get closer to the figure of nahual, the sorcerer who could become an animal of Mesoamerican cultures.
The nahual
The concept of nahual or nagual is diverse since it does not coincide exactly in all Mesoamerican cultures. We will try to collect the features that are common to most. The nahual is the person who has the ability, whether physical or spiritual, to take the form of an animal . Usually it is a shaman or sorcerer and uses his power in a beneficial or negative according to his personality.
He nahualism would be the transforming capacity of the nahual and it is a skill that lies in the spiritual essence of those people. Currently the term nahual is also used as a synonym for witch or magician, but always when it is believed that that person has the ability to become an animal. The transformation usually occurs at night and the chosen animals are preferably dogs, owls, bats and wolves. In the Mesoamerican tradition the nahual used to become a jaguar, puma or wolf.
In general, the communities that believe in nahualism fear the nahuales. If their character is malefic, they attribute actions such as causing disease, stealing and even drinking the blood of their victims. If they are beneficial, although feared they are tolerated and respected because they protect natural resources, the culture of the community to which they belong and defend the people.
However, Legends about nahuales are usually terrifying . Here is an example of a story about one of them that is explained in the state of Tlaxcala in Mexico . Legend has it that a group of hunters walked through a dense and dark forest when night fell without having found their way back to the village. Suddenly, in front of them appeared a huge dog that looked at them and barked at them with great aggression. The dog moved and fearing that it would launch on them, one of the hunters shot him hitting him in the leg. The dog fled and disappeared into the thicket. They continued on their way and ran into a cabin. They opened the door and found in it a man who looked like a peasant, but lived surrounded by great riches. They asked him the way back, but not before noticing that he had a wound in his leg. Back in the village, they commented what they had seen in the cabin and the villagers explained that he was not a peasant, a nahual that became a dog to attack the careless travelers and steal their belongings.
The term nahual sometimes it also applies to an animal or protective spirit. There are some traditions that affirm that each one of us at the moment of birth he has an animal assigned which is the one that will guide and protect you throughout life. It can appear in dreams or manifest itself as a protector through an animal with which one has an affinity. The belief is that sorcerers and shamans can establish a real and special connection with their nahual and use their skills.
Did you know what a nahual ? Do you know more information about them? Share them with us!
Images: Jaguarnagual.jpg , Original file