Mochila Arhuaco 'El Rayo', Ritual Space

This unique mochila was woven in 100% raw pure wool in the Sierra Nevada of Colombia. Holding within it's design the prayer of the lightning. 

Size: 33cm high, 21cm diameter. 

Life for the Arhuacos is inspired and led by their belief and reverence for the Great Mother Earth and their ultimate commitment and responsibility as guardians of the world. 

Within this deeply spiritual culture, each word and action is imbued with significance and value. 

Each stage of making a Mochila is a moment of connection for the woman to her ancestry, to the ecology of her territory and home, and to the sacredness of life.

As the great mother spun the world into being, so the woman spins her thoughts and dreams into her Mochila. They more than just a bag, they are a living prayer!

The distinctive geometric designs of the traditional Arhuaco mochilas are symbols of their surrounding landscape and beliefs. The complex patterns are an expression of femininity.

The cylindrical shape of the mochila represents the creative force of fertility, the mochila is sometimes referred to as being like the womb.

It takes between 4 to 6 months to create each Mochila. From the collection of the raw materials (wool or fique) to the spinning of the Uso (yarn) and the single stitch weaving of each bag.