Description
To connect with spiritual forces during a ritual, shamans wear masks and headdresses. Originally brightly painted, the headdress of this man is in the form of a composite beast, with a bat’s face and a jaguar’s fangs, referencing some of South America’s most awe-inspiring animals.
This shaman is about to inhale hallucinogens, initiating a ritual during which he aimed to communicate with animal spirits and mediate his community’s needs. The crocodile-like tail affixed to his belt may reflect the belief that spiritually powerful people can transform into animals.
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