The wisdom's face. The worst of male and female Otomies healers in the Northern Sierra of Puebla

Abstract

The following photographic exhibition has its theme in the Sierra Norte de Puebla, in the municipality of Pantepec, belonging to the community of Ixtololoya. The objective of the present is to show, through the ritual work of Mary, the work of the Otomi healers, who are recognized as wise all over the sierra. For the Otomi, the body (jäi), is the first world reference. This appears as a microcosm of the universe, also carries multiple functions and hosts several vital energies; in other words: it is the motor-center of the world. The great knower of the jäi (body), within the Otomí culture, is the bädi (healer). Galinier (1987) points out that the bädi is "the one who knows".