Xochipilli

Xochipilli : The Flower Prince

Xochipilli is the lord of flowers, love, maize, beauty, fun, games, music, art, dance, shamanism, and prophecy. He is the patron of all life’s pleasures; the very essence of creative potential and masculine beauty, responsible for sexual lust and desire. If you lack libido and desire, ask him to provide the spark. Xochipilli radiates the warm, fertilizing powers of the sun. If you lack any kind of creative energy, he can provide that, too. Xochipilli breaks artists’ creative blocks.

Xochipilli rules sexuality. His rituals incorporate sexual fasting: prescribed periods of celibacy. He punishes those who anger him with boils, hemorrhoids, and venereal disease. He can heal these ailments, too. Xochipilli protects souls of dead warriors who return to Earth as hummingbirds.

Pronounced:

Sho-CHEE-pee-lee

ALSO KNOWN AS:

Macuilxochitl

ORIGIN:

Aztec

FAVOURED PEOPLE:

Warriors, dancers, singers, florists, artists, those who create beauty

ICONOGRAPHY:

A fifteenth-century statue of Xochipilli was unearthed on the side of the volcano Popocatepetl near Mexico City. He sits cross-legged on a pedestal, mouth half open, and eyes up-tilted: he appears entranced. The base of his pedestal is ornamented with images of flowers, including tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), Ololiúqui (Turbina corymbosa), Sinicuichi (Heimia salicifolia) and possibly cahua xochitl (Quararibea funebris). One flower remains unidentified. Psilocybe aztecorum mushrooms are also depicted.

Consort:

Mayahuel

ATTRIBUTE:

His scepter has a string of hearts attached

Spirit allies:

Tlaloc, Cinteotl, and especially his twin sister, Xochiquetzal

Time:

High noon

PLANET:

Sun

Bird:

Hummingbird

Plants:

Xochipilli rules shamanic, potentially psychoactive plants and mushrooms, including tobacco; Ololiúqui, a species of morning glory; and Sinicuichi also known as the Sun-Opener.

OFFERINGS:

Devotees ornament their bodies with tattoos of flowers.

SEE ALSO:

• Ahuiateteo
• Huitzilopochtli
• Mayahuel
• Xochiquetzal
• Xochitl

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by : Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.