An Axis to the Spirit World
The Rewe is a central altar in the spiritual life of the Mapuche people. It functions as an axis mundi, or cosmic axis, connecting the physical world of the living, known as Nag Mapu, with the upper world of spirits and ancestors, the Wenu Mapu. This connection is managed by the machi, a spiritual leader and healer who uses the Rewe to communicate with the divine. A machi can be a man or a woman and is called to their role through dreams and visions.
Each machi has their own personal Rewe, typically erected near their home, facing east toward the rising sun. The pole is usually carved from the trunk of a single sacred tree, often a canelo (Drimys winteri) or a laurel (Laurelia sempervirens). Into the trunk, a series of steps are cut—sometimes three, five, seven, or more—each representing a level of the cosmos. The number of steps can also signify the spiritual power and experience of the machi. The top of the Rewe is frequently carved with a human face, representing the spirits that the machi communicates with during rituals.
Rituals of Ascent and Community
The Rewe is the center of Mapuche ceremonies. During the machitun, a healing ritual, the machi enters a trance state and ascends the steps of the Rewe. This climb allows their spirit to travel to the Wenu Mapu to diagnose the spiritual cause of an illness and seek guidance from ancestors and guardian spirits called ngen. The machi is often aided by the rhythmic beat of their kultrun, a ceremonial drum, and may be assisted by a zugumachife, who helps interpret the messages received from the spirit world.
The Rewe is part of the Nguillatún, a large communal prayer ceremony that can last for several days. Entire communities gather to ask the creator deity, Ngenechén, for agricultural fertility, collective health, and protection from natural disasters. The ceremony involves prayers, dances, offerings, and sometimes the sacrifice of animals. The Rewe stands at the center of the ceremonial space, uniting the community in its appeal to the spiritual realm.