Editing Nagual (section)

== Beliefs ==
[[File:Jaguarnagual.jpg|thumb|upright|A pre-Columbian [[Chatinos|Chatino]] stela possibly depicting a nagual transforming into a jaguar. His name is inscribed in [[Mesoamerican writing systems#Zapotec writing|Zapotec glyphs]] on his abdomen and translates to "Five Alligator".]]

Naguals use their powers for good or evil according to their personality.{{sfn|Stratmeyer|Stratmeyer|1977}} The general concept of nagualism is Mesoamerican in origin. Nagualism is linked with pre-Columbian shamanistic practices through Pre-classic [[Olmec]] and [[Toltec]] depictions that are interpreted as human beings transforming themselves into animals. The system is linked with the [[Mesoamerican calendars|Mesoamerican calendrical system]], used for divination rituals. Birth dates often determine if a person can become a nagual. Mesoamerican belief in [[Tonal (mythology)|tonalism]], wherein every person has an animal counterpart to which their life force is linked, is drawn upon by nagualism.{{sfn|Stratmeyer|Stratmeyer|1977}}{{sfn|Kaplan|1956}}

However, modern scholars have struggled to grasp the ever-evolving and contentious meanings associated with Mesoamerican Nahua terms like nahualli and tonalli. This includes their derivatives, such as nahualismo and tonalismo. Hence, it's recommended to use clearer, descriptive language. For instance, instead of discussing nahualism, we can talk about the belief that certain individuals, often in influential social roles, possess specific spiritual abilities. These abilities allow them to transform into animals or even natural phenomena like lightning, wind, clouds, or fireballs, enabling them to perform remarkable feats while in these "disguises."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-20 |title=Nahualismo y tonalismo |url=https://arqueologiamexicana.mx/mexico-antiguo/nahualismo-y-tonalismo |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=Arqueología Mexicana |language=es}}</ref>

The nagual trait is acquired at birth, along with other characteristics associated with a person's birth day. Each day is associated with an animal that has strong and weak aspects. A person born on "Dog Day" would have both strong and weak 'dog' aspects. In Nahuatl the word ''[[tonalli]]'' is used to refer both to a day and to the animal associated with that day.

The nagual is considered different; where the tonal is the day spirit itself, the nagual is the [[familiar spirit]] of the day. It is probable{{cn|date=May 2021}} that the tonal represents the daytime aspect and the nagual the nighttime aspect of the tonalli, 'the things of the day'. Practitioners of powerful magic were normally born on days related to animals with a strong or harmful aspect. They would have specific tonals such as the [[jaguar]] or [[Puma (genus)|puma]]. In [[Aztec mythology]] the god [[Tezcatlipoca]] was the protector of nagualism, because his tonal was the jaguar and he governed the distribution of wealth.

In modern rural Mexico, ''nagual'' is sometimes synonymous with ''brujo'' ("wizard"); one who is able to shapeshift into an animal at night (normally into a [[dog]], [[owl]], [[bat]], [[wolf]] or [[turkey (bird)|turkey]]), drink blood from human victims, steal property, cause disease, and the like.

In some indigenous communities the nagual is integrated into the religious hierarchy. The community knows who is a nagual, tolerating, fearing and respecting them. Nagualli are hired to remove curses cast by other nagualli. In other communities the accusation of nagualism may result in violent attacks on the accused by the community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-15 |title=Celebrando la Vida del Abuelo Domingo Choc Che y Exigiendo Justicia por su Asesinato {{!}} Cultural Survival |url=https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/celebrando-la-vida-del-abuelo-domingo-choc-che-y-exigiendo-justicia-por-su-asesinato |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=www.culturalsurvival.org |language=en}}</ref>

The Western study of nagualism was initiated by archaeologist, linguist, and ethnologist [[Daniel Garrison Brinton]] who published ''Nagualism: A Study in Native-American Folklore and History'',{{sfn|Brinton|1894}} which chronicled historical interpretations of the word and those who practiced nagualism in Mexico in 1894. He identified various beliefs associated with nagualism in modern Mexican communities such as the [[Mixe people|Mixe]], the [[Nahua peoples|Nahua]], the [[Zapotec peoples|Zapotec]] and the [[Mixtec]].

Subsequently, many studies have described nagualism in different Mesoamerican cultures such as the [[Zoque people|Zoques]] and the [[Jakaltek people|Jakaltek]], [[K'iche' people|K'iche']], [[Q'eqchi' people|Q'eqchi']], and [[Tzeltal people|Tzeltal Maya]]. Among the Jacaltek, naguals reinforce indigenism by punishing those who collaborate with non-indigenous [[Ladino people|Ladinos]].{{sfn|Stratmeyer|Stratmeyer|1977}}

In 1955, Gustavo Correa suggested nagualism is not [[pre-Columbian]], arguing that it was wholly imported from Europe, where he compared it to the medieval belief in [[werewolves]].{{sfnm|1a1=Correa|1y=1955|2a1=Correa|2y=1960}} However, [[shapeshifting]] folklore is not limited to Europe, nor to the Middle Ages; for example, some of Earth's oldest literature, the [[Bronze Age]] Eastern Semitic [[Epic of Gilgamesh]], and East Asia's [[Huli Jing]] (origin of this folklore is of unknown date, but eighteenth century at the latest), contain shapeshifters. The werewolf ([[lycanthropy]]) is neither the only nor the earliest form of folklorical [[Shapeshifting|therianthropy]] (shapeshifting from human to animal, or vice versa).{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

Kaplan concludes that, in Oaxaca, the belief in naguals as evil, shape shifting witches is common in both indigenous and Mestizo populations. According to Kaplan, the belief in animal spirit companions is exclusively indigenous. This is certain for some groups and communities, but for others, such as the Mixes, Chinantecos, Triquis, or Tacuates, those who can control their nahual or alterego are protectors of the people, natural resources and culture of the community, highly revered, but also feared.{{sfn|Kaplan|1956}}

The nagual was popularized in [[shamanism]] books by author [[Carlos Castaneda]].