God's Chair

God's chair. Small. Cane and wood, fastened with pitch. Round ring base. Back supported by ends of forked stick. Seat of plaited straw.

The Huichols think that their gods are small in size, therefore all things offered to the gods are toy-like replicas of things of ordinary use. This god chair is a miniature representation of the large shaman's chair, in which the chanting priest sits all night as he sings the sacred myths of the tribes. Through these songs the singer communications with the gods. It is especially sacred because while the shaman sits in a large chair of this type for singing, the god is thought to sit in the small chair for hearing the prayers of the Huichols.