The red serpent

Size: 80x150cm 2.6x5ft

Dyes: Cochineal dyes, tagetes lucida and pomegranates. 

Dyers: Leonor Lazo and Mario Bautista 

Weaver: Reynaldo López

The Diamond pattern comes from the skin of the rattle snake and represents knowledge, power, wisdom and medicine. 

This rug depicts a stylized version of the eye of Bealguie'æ (Eye of the Plumed Serpent); this nested diamond pattern is known colloquially in our weaving community as shiísh, the pineapple. The scales make a diamond pattern found on the skin of the rattle snake; this diamond represents the balance of the four directions, the four elements and the four types of awareness found in the human experience: nahual (dreams, intuition), tonal (language, logic), snake (earthly) and bird (spiritual). Our ancestors carried out snake rituals where the bit of  snake would produce the most powerful visions on earth. In our tales and stories, snakes are great teachers often working with woman to save humanity. In our matriarchal culture women are the keepers of knowledge, medicine and power. In our language, the word for sister is my snake, Bealàa, my sister. This rug brings some of that snake medicine to your space and ceremonies. We recommend using this rug to meditate or lay down to connect with ancient snake knowledge.