Whole Pots Full of Idolatrous Powdered Herbs

Research suggests that peyote (Lophophora williamsii) may have played an unexpected role in New Mexican history, particularly among the Tewa curing society and possibly during Popé's visionary experiences at Taos Pueblo. While historical records are scarce, the study proposes that visual phenomena associated with peyote—such as red and yellow hues—could provide new insights into its ritual use by prehispanic Southwestern Pueblo peoples and Spanish colonists before the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. The analysis draws on Popé's reported vision of figures emitting 'fire' in a kiva, offering a potential link between peyote use and historical accounts.

Snow, D. H. (2016). Whole Pots Full of Idolatrous Powdered Herbs. Kiva, 82(2), 117–136. https://doi.org/10.1080/00231940.2016.1166543