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instance, instead of discussing nahualism, we can talk about the belief that certain individuals, often in influential social roles, possess specific spiritual abilities. These abilities allow them to transform into animals or even natural phenomena like lightning, wind, clouds, or fireballs, enabling them to perform remarkable feats while in these "disguises."
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Kaplan concludes that, in Oaxaca, the belief in naguals as evil, shape shifting witches is common in both indigenous and
Mestizo populations. According to Kaplan, the belief in animal spirit companions is exclusively indigenous. This is certain for some groups and communities, but for others, such as
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of the day. It is probable that the tonal represents the daytime aspect and the nagual the nighttime aspect of the tonalli, 'the things of the day'. Practitioners of powerful magic were normally born on days related to animals with a strong or harmful aspect. They would have specific tonals such as
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In some indigenous communities the nagual is integrated into the religious hierarchy. The community knows who is a nagual, tolerating, fearing and respecting them. Nagualli are hired to remove curses cast by other nagualli. In other communities the accusation of nagualism may result in violent
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However, modern scholars have struggled to grasp the ever-evolving and contentious meanings associated with
Mesoamerican Nahua terms like nahualli and tonalli. This includes their derivatives, such as nahualismo and tonalismo. Hence, it's recommended to use clearer, descriptive language. For
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The nagual trait is acquired at birth, along with other characteristics associated with a person's birth day. Each day is associated with an animal that has strong and weak aspects. A person born on "Dog Day" would have both strong and weak 'dog' aspects. In
Nahuatl the word
171:
186:
Naguals use their powers for good or evil according to their personality. The general concept of nagualism is
Mesoamerican in origin. Nagualism is linked with pre-Columbian shamanistic practices through Pre-classic
287:, which chronicled historical interpretations of the word and those who practiced nagualism in Mexico in 1894. He identified various beliefs associated with nagualism in modern Mexican communities such as the
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the Mixes, Chinantecos, Triquis, or
Tacuates, those who can control their nahual or alterego are protectors of the people, natural resources and culture of the community, highly revered, but also feared.
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The
Nahuals described in the Borgia Codex, metamorphic creatures capable of changing their physical form into any other animal form or even into human forms at will.
812:
Stratmeyer, Dennis; Stratmeyer, Jean (1977). "The
Jacaltec Nawal and the Soul Bearer in Concepcion Huista". In Helen L. Neuenschander; Dean E. Arnold (eds.).
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In
English, the word is often translated as "transforming witch," but translations without negative connotations include "transforming
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408:. Use of these medicinal herbs were said to unlock powers of perception and insight in those performing the nagual rituals.
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357:(origin of this folklore is of unknown date, but eighteenth century at the latest), contain shapeshifters. The werewolf (
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depictions that are interpreted as human beings transforming themselves into animals. The system is linked with the
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199:, used for divination rituals. Birth dates often determine if a person can become a nagual. Mesoamerican belief in
203:, wherein every person has an animal counterpart to which their life force is linked, is drawn upon by nagualism.
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folklore is not limited to Europe, nor to the Middle Ages; for example, some of Earth's oldest literature, the
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was the protector of nagualism, because his tonal was the jaguar and he governed the distribution of wealth.
969:
949:
618:"Celebrando la Vida del Abuelo Domingo Choc Che y Exigiendo Justicia por su Asesinato | Cultural Survival"
326:. Among the Jacaltek, naguals reinforce indigenism by punishing those who collaborate with non-indigenous
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592:
90:
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Bloodsucking
Witchcraft: An Epistemological Study of Anthropomorphic Supernaturalism in Rural Tlaxcala
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Subsequently, many studies have described nagualism in different
Mesoamerican cultures such as the
30:
337:, arguing that it was wholly imported from Europe, where he compared it to the medieval belief in
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The nagual is considered different; where the tonal is the day spirit itself, the nagual is the
462:
196:
47:
319:
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Herbs That Madden, Herbs That Cure: A History of Hallucinogenic Plant Use in Colonial Mexico
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315:
713:. New Orleans: Middle American Research Institute Publications, Tulane University: 37–104.
8:
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The Western study of nagualism was initiated by archaeologist, linguist, and ethnologist
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is tied to the belief one can access power and spiritual insight by connecting with the
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stela possibly depicting a nagual transforming into a jaguar. His name is inscribed in
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722:. New Orleans: Middle American Research Institute Publications, Tulane University.
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252:("wizard"); one who is able to shapeshift into an animal at night (normally into a
151:, an indigenous religious practitioner, identified by the Spanish as a 'magician'.
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272:), drink blood from human victims, steal property, cause disease, and the like.
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Kaplan, Lucille (October–December 1956). "Tonal and Nagual in Coastal Oaxaca".
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is used to refer both to a day and to the animal associated with that day.
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Shamanism and the Ancient Mind: A Cognitive Approach to Archaeology
816:. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics, Museum of Anthropology.
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Correa, Gustavo (1955). "El espiritu del mal en Guatemala".
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Nagual in the Garden: Fantastic Animals in Mexican Ceramics
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Nagualism: A Study in Native American Folk-lore and History
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361:) is neither the only nor the earliest form of folklorical
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The practice of Nagualism was often accompanied by use of
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Nagualism: A Study in Native-American Folklore and History
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365:(shapeshifting from human to animal, or vice versa).
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Wired For God?: The Biology of Spiritual Experience
333:In 1955, Gustavo Correa suggested nagualism is not
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747:(PhD). Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia
692:. Philadelphia: MacCalla & Company, Printers.
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182:on his abdomen and translates to "Five Alligator".
912:The Nagual Concept and the Collective Unconscious
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789:Nutini, Hugo G.; Roberts, John M. (1993).
814:Cognitive Studies of Southern Mesoamerica
276:attacks on the accused by the community.
66:Learn how and when to remove this message
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114:) is a human being who has the power to
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29:This article includes a list of general
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738:Frost, Melissa June (August 10, 2017).
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797:. Tucson: Arizona University Press.
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78:Mesoamerican shapeshifting sorcerer
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852:. Texas A&M University Press.
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35:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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720:El Espíritu del Mal en Guatemala
565:Stratmeyer & Stratmeyer 1977
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197:Mesoamerican calendrical system
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372:The nagual was popularized in
142:derives from the Nahuatl word
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886:Hoag Mulryan, Lenore (1996).
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248:is sometimes synonymous with
960:Aztec mythology and religion
762:Journal of American Folklore
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985:Maya mythology and religion
850:Rock Art of the Lower Pecos
686:Brinton, Daniel G. (1894).
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920:Pearson, James L. (2002).
915:. Sonoma State University.
871:. Hodder & Stoughton.
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91:Mesoamerican folk religion
995:Shamanism of the Americas
955:Aztec legendary creatures
848:Boyd, Carolyn E. (2003).
718:Correa, Gustavo (1960) .
548:Nutini & Roberts 1993
980:Maya legendary creatures
867:Foster, Charles (2011).
622:www.culturalsurvival.org
599:(in Spanish). 2018-11-20
593:"Nahualismo y tonalismo"
244:In modern rural Mexico,
975:Latin American folklore
707:Nativism and Syncretism
281:Daniel Garrison Brinton
50:more precise citations.
183:
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909:Mancilla, C. (1981).
173:
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597:Arqueología Mexicana
426:Latin America portal
402:psylocibin mushrooms
122:animal counterpart.
970:Guatemalan folklore
950:American witchcraft
924:. Rowman Altamira.
148:[naˈwaːlːi]
111:[naˈwaːlːi]
353:, and East Asia's
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965:Belizean folklore
901:978-0-930741-49-5
351:Epic of Gilgamesh
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658:Correa 1960
654:Correa 1955
580:Kaplan 1956
486:Skin-walker
466:(1982 film)
406:teonanácatl
359:lycanthropy
341:. However,
118:into their
48:introducing
944:Categories
670:Frost 2017
628:2024-04-20
603:2024-04-20
528:References
516:Werejaguar
476:Huay Chivo
464:Cat People
347:Bronze Age
339:werewolves
116:shapeshift
31:references
751:March 10,
698:465085853
533:Citations
511:Werehyena
404:known as
398:ololiuqui
374:shamanism
355:Huli Jing
156:trickster
138:The word
134:Etymology
124:Nagualism
734:Reprint.
521:Werewolf
471:Familiar
412:See also
384:Practice
320:Q'eqchi'
312:Jakaltek
310:and the
299:and the
237:the god
201:tonalism
144:nāhualli
107:nāhualli
832:4337155
506:Werecat
328:Ladinos
316:K'iche'
297:Zapotec
214:tonalli
176:Chatino
166:Beliefs
103:Nahuatl
44:improve
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394:peyote
322:, and
308:Zoques
301:Mixtec
295:, the
291:, the
270:turkey
246:nagual
227:jaguar
193:Toltec
158:" or "
140:nagual
99:nahual
95:nagual
33:, but
778:JSTOR
745:(PDF)
501:Wayob
491:Totem
293:Nahua
250:brujo
233:. In
189:Olmec
128:tonal
120:tonal
105:word
926:ISBN
896:ISBN
873:ISBN
854:ISBN
828:OCLC
818:ISBN
799:ISBN
753:2022
724:ISBN
694:OCLC
289:Mixe
266:wolf
231:puma
225:the
191:and
93:, a
770:doi
268:or
262:bat
258:owl
254:dog
229:or
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