Machi

Machi are shamans from Mapuche myth. Machi are differentiated from Kalku by their benevolent nature and roles in society. The Machi and Kalku balance each other representing good and evil respectively. Machi are most commonly women, though this refers to gender and its presentations rather than biological sex. Gender is relatively fluid among Machi and is judged on different standards, being anatomy, positioning in sexual contexts, and ritual presentation. Machi are often stigmatized as witches or sexual deviants in modern society and are frequently subject to bigoted beliefs. They are known to use familiars and will become possessed by these familiars to navigate the spirit world. Their job is to mediate the spirit world and physical world and communicate with the gods. Sometimes they are called to negotiate with spirits on the behalf of others. Machi are often thought to have a seductive nature towards the spirits they communicate with. It’s thought they can navigate the spirit world with spirits called a Machi Püllü, a specific spirit for a Machi, or a Filew, an ancestral spirit. They have the ability to divine, assist spirits of various forms, and gain power from Ngünechen. Sometimes to be initiated, a Machi must mount and ride spiritual horses in their dreams. They ride these spirit horses during visions to go heal others, though they may ride atop pillar-like structures called Rewe or Rehue. They act as warriors in spiritual worlds, using a variety of weapon, and often use objects called Chueca sticks to assist them. They are capable of transforming their familiars into snakes or predatory birds to fight Wekufe, and this is thought to be the only way to kill Chonchon. They can also enchant weapons to this end as well. They dedicate their lives to training to fight evil and heal people. They have powers over good and evil which allows them to heal the sick and dying. Along with their powers, they also practice holistic medicine. Machi can marry their Machi Püllü or a Filew and be exclusively committed to them. Jealous spirit spouses may cause sickness to their Machi partner. Filew spouses are sometimes known to possess their Machi partner.

Citations:

Bacigalupo, Ana Mariella. Shamans of the Foye Tree: Gender, Power, and Healing Among Chilean Mapuche. N.p., University of Texas Press, 2010.

Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.

Porterfield, Jason, and Brezina, Corona. Chile: A Primary Source Cultural Guide. United States, Rosen Publishing Group, 2004.