Vihó-mahsë, the 'snuff-person', is the Desana personification of vihó, the hallucinogenic snuff made from the resin of Virola trees. Created by the Sun-Father, he lives in the 'blue zone' of the Milky Way in a state of permanent trance. When a Desana shaman (paye) takes earthly vihó he ascends in vision to this region and must first make contact with Vihó-mahsë, who then serves as the intermediary through whom the shaman may consult the other divine beings such as Emëkóri-mahsë, Diróa-mahsë and Vaí-mahsë. He thus governs the whole apparatus of visionary communication between the human and supernatural worlds.