The Mapuche People's Spiritual Beliefs

The Mapuche people’s spiritual beliefs is closely linked to their natural environment. Their religion is guided by the Machi. The Machi are spiritual leaders that are typically women, the also can be men. Their job is to communicate will the celestial family to maintain the harmony and to combat the powers of evil. With the sacred Kultrun, a drum, the Machi’s use their supernatural powers during their religious ceremonies to chase away evil and to ask for wellbeing. Some Machi’s jobs are only spiritual while others are in charge curing their people any from illnesses by using their supernatural powers and knowledge of medicine. They believe that no man, animal or even an insect can live without the will of the great spirit. They have great respect for nature and must ask permission and give thanks to Mapun Kuse-Fucha when they receive nature 's

When chosen, the person will live with a Machi for no less than six months in order to learn the needed skills to become a Machi. Machis also help in communities that have people who are using supernatural powers to do harm to others. When one is found they perform a ritual to cleanse the evil out of that person. They would lie the patient down on a sheepskin mat at the base of a cinnamon tree. The cinnamon tree was used as a connection for the Machi to the spiritual world to find out information on the patient 's condition. The Machi drum is hung from the tree and a lamb is tied to the tree. The Machi has other women help her by playing drums and singing while she sacrifices the lamb. The heart of the lamb is cut out and put on the tree. The Machi would repeatedly suck the blood from the heart and blow smoke over the patient’s stomach and chest. Then she would cut the patient’s chest and stomach to release the