Piotr Grzegorz Michalik: Die abgehangten Beine. Nagualismus und Hexerei in der Folklore der Nahuas aus der Sierra Zongolica

Abstract. – The article presents an example of research in a micro- comparative perspective. It describes the complex of beliefs associated with mythical beings called xihuimeh, held by indigenous Nahuas from Sierra Zongolica, Mexico. The xihuimeh are described by some as guardians of community. Others depict them as malevolent witches. Variants of these beliefs are found among Nahuas inhabiting other regions of Mexico. They include mythical beings such as dwarfs, atmospheric phenomena, animal guardians, etc. All of these different features attributed to xihuimeh overlap the characteristics of naguales. Thus the xihuimeh complex proves to be a distinctive variation in pattern of nagualism – a Mesoamerican belief system associated with parallel beings and human-to-animal transformations. [Mexico, Nahuas, witch beliefs, nagualism, micro-comparative analysis]