It was on one of the delivery missions that Tahquitz flexed his evil muscle, killing the innocent who had been sent there to nourish him. The chief in his charitable manner would still have food brought to Tahquitz, not wishing for his once close friend to starve. The tribe encountered a period of peace after the shaman’s absence but the serenity would not last. The shaman cursed the tribe, and promised to destroy them.

The action only enraged Tahquitz and made the demons within him healthy with hate and darkness. It’s clear that the chief must have thought that this exile would shorten the shamans reach from the tribe, but to his horror it did not. The shaman was transforming into a monster, the chief knew that he had to take action, and banished the once valued shaman to the canyon that now bears his name. He then took his pranks to new levels, and was accused of murdering fellow tribal members while on an excursion to hunt for food. Trickery was his focus, deception his game. Tahquitz would enjoy scaring little children, taking on different disguises before revealing his true identity. Over time the shaman took his powers too far, and the magic that he possessed once used for good, he was now using for his own evil purposes. Tahquitz, had knowledge of plants that would help the ill, as well as magical powers. One of these wise men was the great shaman Tahquitz. The chief, like many in positions of leadership, had a counsel of sorts, who he would turn to for advice. The tribe was led by a brave chief, who was a trusted and well regarded leader of his people. They were a peaceful tribe living off the desert land, protecting, respecting and nurturing it. It all started with the Agua Caliente Cahuilla Indians who have been in what is now the Palm Springs area for over 3,000 years. The story about the famous Tahquitz Canyon is over 2,000 years old and has produced much speculation, curiosity and fear over time. This is not your typical broom touting, green skinned, pointed hatted witch… or is it? If you look at the famous Tahquitz Canyon at certain times of the day, the shadow cast upon the mountain will beg to differ. With Halloween just around the corner, there’s nothing better than a creepy local tale of a legendary witch.

Beware the shadow you cast