About Us
The Spirit of
the Blue Deer
An ancient Wixárika story passed through generations
After days of searching, tired and empty-handed, the young men encountered a great Blue Deer. They chased it across the desert, believing it might save their people. But the Deer moved with the mystery of spirit, drawing them onward. When the young men grew weak, the Deer felt compassion for them and allowed them to rest.
The next day they followed it into the mountains. One young man released his arrow, and the Deer quickly jumped out of the way and vanished behind the rocks. When they came closer, the Deer was gone, but the arrow had landed upon peyote cactus arranged in the shape of the Deer.
The young men carried the cactus back to the tribe and shared it with the people. Hunger and thirst eased, and the people were restored. Since then, the Huicholes honor the Blue Deer through the annual peyote hunt and vision quest, seeking guidance, spiritual cleansing, and connection with the ancestors.
Our Path
and Purpose
Why Spirit of the Blue Deer exists
Spirit of the Blue Deer exists to honour the living traditions of the Wixárika people and to hold a respectful space for seekers who feel called to learn, listen, and reconnect. This work is rooted in prayer, culture, land, and community. It is not about escape or spectacle. It is about remembrance, humility, and walking with intention. We are here to support.
Spiritual Awakening
We create space for inner clarity, reverence, and a deeper relationship with the sacred.
Healing and Integration
Respectful Cultural Connection
We encourage learning through humility. We honour the people, protocols, and places that hold these traditions.
The People Behind the Retreats
Jones (founder of spiritofthebluedeer
.com)
My journey changed after meeting a spiritual teacher in the mountains of California. Through his guidance, I found my path in the Blue Deer—a symbol of healing, transformation, and spiritual connection. A defining part of that journey was being sent by that teacher to Mexico to work with the Wixárika, where my connection to tradition, spirit, and inner transformation deepened in a lasting way.
Spirit of the Blue Deer was born from that path. Shaped by the road, the desert, the mountains, and a deep search for truth and meaning, this space is where I share reflections, stories, and insights from a life devoted to self-discovery, healing, and spiritual growth.
Don Lucio – Marakame (Huichol Spiritual Guide)
Don Lucio is a respected marakame (spiritual healer and guide) who has dedicated his life to preserving and sharing the ancestral traditions of his people. From a young age, he was immersed in the customs of his culture, learning by participating alongside elders, listening to sacred chants, and observing ceremonial practices.
He was guided by his parents and grandparents, and over time, continued learning from other elders as well as through his spiritual connection with Hikuri and Tamatsi Kauyumari. This lifelong path has shaped his deep understanding of healing, ceremony, and tradition.
Don Lucio has served his community for over 50 years, holding responsibilities within ceremonial centers and supporting the spiritual well-being of his people. For the past 20 years, he has also worked with people from outside his community, sharing these traditions as a way to build understanding and offer healing.
As a marakame, his role is to guide ceremonies through prayer and traditional chant, carrying forward the sacred knowledge passed down by his ancestors. His focus is on helping participants heal—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—so they may leave with clarity, peace, and renewed strength.
His work is rooted in core values of honesty, respect, and non-judgment. He believes that all people are human, all make mistakes, and all deserve compassion.
Don Lucio emphasizes that this is sacred spiritual work—a path of healing for the body and soul—not something to be misunderstood or reduced to recreational use. He invites participants to come with respect, openness, and a genuine intention to heal.
Xittiama
Xittiama supports and guides participants throughout the ceremony, caring for them during prayer, checking in on how they feel, helping them with purification rituals, and sharing stories about the culture. She wants every person to feel embraced, understood, and included, no matter where they come from.
Her path to this work has also been a journey back to her roots. Although she once felt distant from her culture, she later felt called back to her traditions and ceremonies. Through that reconnection, she found healing and experienced a deep inner transformation. She learned to forgive, not to judge, to listen, and to see life from a different perspective. As Don Lucio’s daughter, she now feels proud to help carry forward her family’s beautiful and ancient tradition.
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