Pilgrimage to Broken Mountain: Nahua Sacred Journeys in Mexico's Huasteca Veracruzana

Pilgrimage to Broken Mountain is an ethnographic study based on decades of field research that explores five sacred journeys to the peaks of venerated mountains undertaken by Nahua people in northern Veracruz, Mexico. The book contains detailed descriptions and analyses of ritual procedures, translations from the Nahuatl of core myths, chants performed before decorated altars, and statements from participants. It emphasizes the role of sacred paper figures that are produced by the thousands for each pilgrimage and reveals the monist philosophy that underlies Nahua religious practice. The ritual practices of Nahua religion show one way that people interact effectively with the forces responsible for their own prosperity and the survival of humanity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 478 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2023
Publisher: University Press of Colorado

Based on extensive field research spanning decades, Pilgrimage to Broken Mountain delves into five sacred journeys undertaken by the Nahua people residing in northern Veracruz, Mexico. These pilgrimages, punctuated by elaborate ritual offerings dedicated to the forces responsible for rain, seeds, crop fertility, and the well-being of all people, represent the pinnacle and most intricate form of Nahua devotion. They unveil a sophisticated religious philosophy that establishes an intimate connection between human beings and what Westerners refer to as the forces of nature. Alan and Pamela Sandstrom, the authors, have documented these remarkable journeys for the younger Nahua generation, many of whom are drawn away from their communities by wage labor in urban Mexico and the United States. Pilgrimage to Broken Mountain offers a wealth of detailed descriptions and analyses of ritual procedures, along with translations from the Nahuatl of core myths, chants performed before decorated altars, and statements from participants. Special attention is given to examining the role of sacred paper figures, which are produced in thousands for each pilgrimage. The book includes drawings of these spirit entities and hundreds of color photographs that illustrate their usage throughout the pilgrimages. Through the analysis, it becomes evident that Nahua religious practice is rooted in a monist philosophy, where altars, dancing, chanting, and the paper figures themselves serve as direct pathways to the sacred.

In the context of their pilgrimage traditions, the ritual practices of Nahua religion demonstrate a unique way in which people engage with the forces that govern not only their own prosperity but also the survival of humanity as a whole. This magnum opus on Nahua religion and religious practice stands as a testament to the depth and richness of the Nahua spiritual tradition.

Weight: 1758g
ISBN-13: 9781646423507