Maya Symbols and Mythology

Codex, Flying Gods, Snakes and Turtle Shells

2011-10-28T12:45:00.015-04:00

Lak'ech Ala K'in "I am you, and you are me." Maya Greeting

"This is a time of movement, changes, raising waters and
adjustments to Mother Earth."

Maya Elder - 2012 is not the end of the Maya Calendar.

Códices – Codex – Books

- The Maya books (Códices) were made in an accordion style, with tree-bark paper called Amate. An offering of tree bark was a symbol of knowledge.
The Amate paper was made by pounding the bark and using different minerals to change the color; then leaving it several days to dry.

The Maya registered all their knowledge and history, but, when the Spanish conquered México, the monks burned almost all of the Códices.
These are the most important Codex that survived;
Dresden Codex, the Madrid Codex and the Paris Codex.
In the 70's another Codex was found in a cave in the State of
Chiapas, in México and the Colombino in México City.

Códice de Dresden

- Now in Dresden, Germany, this wonderful codex has 39 leaves written on both sides with elaborated work of art that includes almanacs, eclipses, the Venus Cycle Charts and astrology.
It contains an illustration with the picture of the Underworld or Xibalbá: on top, it has a representation of the flood.
There is also warnings of disasters, end of a cycle and planets aligned. The Maya tracked the movements of Mars, Mercury and Jupiter.
This incredible book shows the importance and the extraordinary knowledge of the Venus Cycle, which was associated with war.

Katún 2 - ""for half there will be food for others misfortune; a time to unite."

Códice de Madrid

- Now in Madrid, Spain, has more than one hundred pages divided into the Troano and the Cortesianus. It is thought it is the product of one scribe.

Códice Paresianus

- Paris, France – Contains prophecies, zodiac, calendars and references to the T’úns and K’atún. It is in a very poor condition.

Some of the prophecies in the Codex are of hope, some are warnings.

One of the prophecies says that our world, as we know it, will come to an end in the 13th. Baktún (2012).

Códice Tudela

"While the Spanish clergy appreciated the therapeutic use
of the sweat baths they called it an "abominable custom",

"if one was sick he would go to bathe in this oven that had water inside,
and it would happen that many men and women would enter this bath,

and there, inside in the heat, - men with women, and women with men,
and men with men-would use it illicitly."

Commenting on Aztec steam bathing, Diego Durán remarked that,

"mingled and naked as they are, there cannot fail to be great

affronts and offense to our Lord."

Symbols and Writing

- Linked with sacred and magic, the Maya used symbols, animals, and different pictographs to represent their story.

Hieroglyphs in rows or columns are read from left to right and from bottom to the top.
Maya Human Representation INAH

Well defined head with Maya profile
Body shown frontally with well defined arms and legs
Legs shown frontally or in profile, with feet in profile

Popol Vuh - Sacred Maya Book

- Describes the creation of Mother Earth by the forces of sea and sky.

According to this book, Mother Earth was created and destroyed three times before this world was made.

It contains the mythological version of the creation of the world intertwined with historical facts, creation stories, cosmology, and the adventures of Hunahpu' and X'balanque, the Maya hero twins.

According to the Popol Vuh, man was created with the help of Ixpiyakok and Ixmukane.

Human beings were created and destroyed several times until, finally, the Creator made them from maize. After consulting with each other, the creator gods, decided to limit the vision and scope of human creatures.

First Mother Earth had animals, then, wet clay, after the clay, the earth had wood.
The creation of the first ‘abuelos’ (elders, grandparents) didn't last long: they were made of clay.
Then, came the man made of wood; it didn't work, he didn't praise the gods.

The god got very angry at his creation and cut off his head. He sent a terrible flood to Mother Earth to destroy all his creation.

Then, he made man from maize dough, the man of corn. He was happy with his creation.

The first father of men was Hu'Nal'Ye.
He was killed by the "lords of X'ibalbá" (Underworld). They buried him under a ball game, which is the representation of death and re-birth.

Hu'Nal'ye had twin sons: H'unah'Pu and X'balanqué. These two semi-gods outsmarted the Lords of the Underworld: not by force.

They went into X'ibalbá and took out their father's head, after they accomplished and suffered doing different tasks. Hu'Nal'ye, resuscitated from the *crack of a turtle when his sons brought him back from X’ibalbá.
He was the one that created our world.

*In the Maya symbols and legends we find flying snakes or dragons and flying turtles. Deities being "born," coming out of these creatures or being transported by them is very common.

Maya Creation Date

- The date of the Creation of the Maya world was day 4 A'hau 8 Kumku which corresponds to our date of August 13, 3114 B.C. (Gregorian calendar).
This date is very important to Mother Earth. "Light didn't exist until this day."

"Hu'Nal'ye organized the stars and wrote in them everything he did, so that
in the future, man could read it and never forget."

He made a cross. At the top was ZAC (North), he painted it in white.
At the bottom KAN (South) in yellow.
At the right was CHAC (East), and he painted it red.
At the left of the cross was EK (West) and he painted in black.
The center of the cross was green, and he called it YA’AX.

Chilam Balam of Chumayel and the Five World Trees

- The Sacred Maya Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel relates the collapse of the sky and the erection of the Five World Trees:
four world trees in the corners and a main one in the center of the Earth.

San Bartolo, Petén Region North of Guatemala and northeast of Tikal

- The mural in San Bartolo has a Principal Bird Deity seated on top of each of the four world trees, which, according to the Chilam Balam, were re-erected after the collapse of the sky. Each of the world trees was associated with specific birds.

Four world trees also appear in the Mexican Borgia Codex. The shooting of the Principal Bird deity is one of the main episodes of the Hero Twins myth. The main characters, the twins H'unah'pu and X'balanque, defeated a bird demon and won many battles with tricks but never with force.

"11 Ahau was when the mighty men arrived from the East.

They were the ones who first brought disease here to our land,

the land of us who are Maya, in the year 1513."

Book of Chilam Balam de Chumayel

GODS (Deities) and Priests

- The gods are credited to giving the knowledge to the Maya.

The Maya had sophisticated calendars and advanced knowledge of astrological cycles. They were great urban planners and architects and mastered writing and mathematics, among other advanced studies.

In their mythology, the pyramids were designed as mirrors of the sky.

Some of them were constructed by “giants” and some, by Aluxes or dwarfs. Many of their cities are aligned and designed astronomically with the exact layout of planets and stars.

Kinich A'Hau I'Tzamná

I'Tzamná, the principal God-creator, "first priest, creator of mankind and the universe."
The "god that could fly" was one of the gods of medicine, patron of the arts and inventor of agriculture and writing.
I'Tzamná is the God of knowledge, inventor of science, of wisdom.
The flying god that came from the East to teach the humans.
The god that could fly is represented in many of the temples of Tulúm, Quintana Roo, México.

He gave the knowledge to the Maya Civilization and was considered the father of their Culture.

“The Flying God,” resides in the sky, created the Maya and came to their aid to teach.
He taught them about the crops, maize, cacao, and medicine; all about herbs, trees and the most important teaching; the respect and love to the Cosmos, Mother Earth and every living being.

His teachings included the Sacred Calendars and their Writing.
Tonacatecuhtli is the corresponding deity in the Aztec culture and Quetzalcóatl of the Mexicas, also known as Kukulcán, the feathered serpent, in the Maya Ancient Culture.
I'tzamná, god of Heaven, was the god of day and night and the main God of the Maya Pantheon.
He also was the patron of A'haw, the principal day of the 20 Maya day Calendar.
He was the one that named each one of the regions in the Yucatán Peninsula.

Usually represented as a toothless old man, I'tzamná was the son of Hunab'Ku and the father of B'acab, a god that lives inside the Earth.

He had thirteen sons with the Goddess I'xchel.

The 13 sons of I’tzamná, does not only represent a magical number, it also represents the 13 worlds that are inhabited in their universe.

“Mother Earth is the 13th. child, we are the youngest.”

Maya Elder

Quetzalcóatl - Teotihuacán, México - Foto INAH

KUKULCÁN – K’UKUL K’ÁN - QUETZALCÓATL - GUKUMATZ

Represented as the feathered snake that ascends to the heavens, he had a human and a feathered serpent form.

He could fly when he was inside the "feathered serpent," and he could also slither as a snake.
Described as a six foot tall man when standing, with long white hair, white skin and blue eyes, he would get inside the feathered snake to fly.
Known as Quetzalcóatl by his Náhua followers, he is the equivalent to Gukumatz or Kukulcán, also feathered serpent, in the Mesoamerican region.
After teaching the Maya medicine, agriculture and how to run civilization, he spent some time on Earth and later returned to the ocean.
He told the Maya that he would return. When the Europeans arrived, the locals saw them as the second coming of their god. Many people think he came from the lost city of Atlantis.

There is a very interesting and remote part of México, in a town where the locals say, the "flying sandals of Kukulcán were buried.” They don't allow outsiders and there is no road to get there. The Plumed Serpent Quetzalcóatl traveled with Xólotl to the Underworld. Quetzalcóatl was associated with Venus.

"11 Ahau was when the mighty men arrived from the East. They were the ones who first brought disease here to our land, the land of us who are Maya, in the year 1513." Chilam Balam
Ah’Puch

- God of death, "Lord One," also known as H'un A'hau and Y'um Cimi, had his place in the deepest part of the underworld where all dead arrived. Related to the owl, it appears as a skull with small rattles around his neck, wrists and legs. He was a good god that could be deceived by tricks.

Sun and Moon

“El Sol” - “La Luna,” were the patrons of the Venus cycle; gods of the weather and the crops.
I’Xchel

The light one, medicine goddess, also the goddess of the moon and midwifes. Wife of I'tzamná' and was associated with water. The “protector of pregnant women” was visited by priests, kings and shamans from far away places. Common people went to see visit her temple in Cozumel, México, at least one time in their lifetimes.

I'xtab

- Goddess of suicides, or "cord", was the protector of people that committed suicide. Hanging from a Ceiba tree, the sacred tree of the Maya, she took them to the land of pleasures.

Cha'Ac - Chaak

- God of rain, thunder and lightning was the most venerated god in the dry regions and was represented as a big stone mask with huge nose. You can see it in many of the temples and pyramids.

Bolon D'zacab - Bacabs

- God of lightning and the Bacabs, the deities of the underground, terrestrial water, and thunder were all related.

Ek Chu'Ah K

- God of merchants and patron of cacao, he was in charge of protecting the crops.
Tezcatlipoca

- Patron of the night and of Shamans, the God Tezcatlipoca was represented holding a smoked mirror, a symbol of their power to see everything. He appears as a jaguar, monkey, coyote or skunk.
Tlaltecuhti -"Lady of Earth" - Náhuatl
Discovered in Tenochtitlán, Templo Mayor, México City, October 2006
The monolith represents a feminine figure but it is also represented as masculine one: duality. The Deity of Earth is life giver, but devours the corps of the death, receives the death and in exchange gives life. Tlaltecuhtli is also described as a sea monster who dwelled in the ocean after the Fourth Era or Fourth Great Flood; the raging chaos before the Creation. The flying snakes deities of Quetzalcóatl and Tezcatlipoca tore her in half. When they tore her in half, they created the sky and stars, the other half became the land of Mother Earth. She is associated with Cihuacóatl, Tonantzín and Tonatiuh.

Xólotl - "Patron of Sorcerers"

- Xólotl, the god of twins and duality, was associated with the hairless dog of the Aztecs. He was the god of monsters and then changed to the god of duality.
The Xóloitzcuintle, the dog of the god Xólotl, accompanied him to Mictlán, the dark underworld.
Itzcuintly is the name of the hairless dog.

Xóloitzcuitli

- Xólo from the God Xólotl and Iticuintli or Itzcuintli, dog.
Xólotl with his hairless dog would accompany the souls of the dead to the underworld.

Yum Ka'Ax - Yum Kaax

God of Maize - corn, represented prosperity and abundance.
He wore a cob of corn as a head-dress.

Priests or AJ'KIJ

Apart from writing, the fundamental knowledge of the Aj'kij was astronomy, astrology, arithmetic's and calendars.
They observed the sky and learned the cycles of the moon, sun and Venus, Orion and Sirius. They controlled the population by fear; they could predict eclipses and droughts, they knew when to plant and harvest.
They had to know astronomy in order to know about cycles.

They had sophisticated knowledge in different subjects that the flying god had given them.

“They were selfish and kept the knowledge. They liked to control.”

Maya Elder, referring to the Aj'Kij or Priests.

I will be writing more about the 13 Heavens and the 9 Xibalbá or 9 Underworlds that is in a stelae in México: 9.13.0.0.0.

Teotihuacán, México - Foto INA

Mica
Mica has been found under many pyramids in the Yucatán Península. There has been a great discovery in Teotihuacán, where huge sheets of the Mica mineral were found under passages and in between levels of the pyramids.
"Mica is used by the electronics industry in capacitor construction, thermal and electric insulation, acts as a moderator in nuclear reactions." Used by the electrical industry, in capacitors for high frequency and radio frequency." It is used to build computers and by the NASA.

King Pakal's Tomb - Palenque, Chiapas

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Difference with their calendar and ours is only of 1/10th of a second

2011-07-09T20:20:00.010-04:00

"The difference between the Maya calendar and ours is only of 1/10th of a second."

AhMe'En - Maya physician
The physician Ah-Me'en was, and has remained, a member of the priestly hierarchy, and a product of inherited position and training. It is known through Bishop Landa's writings that . . .

'the sciences which they taught were the reckoning of the year,

the omens of the days, methods of divination,
prophecies of events, remedies for sickness,
their antiquities and the art of reading and writing.
'When the training of the physician was completed

his final acceptance in the profession was celebrated
by participation in a ceremony during the month Uo.

Vaticanus Codex - Francisco Guerra

Ek'Balam - Península de Yucatán, México

-M.O.Baum

Ajaw - Ahaw

Ajaw is the owner of everything, the superior being.

Ajmac

Transmutation, warrior, experience.

Ajq'Ij - Aj´kijs

Guardians and Priests of the sacred fire. They were the people that inherited the old Calendar
Akabal

Change; balance, morning and night.

Aluxes - Aluxor "Duende" (Dwarf)

In the Maya Mythology, the Aluxes were the first human beings on Earth. Considered "very intelligent little people," they were the ones that built the pyramids and the great cities. Destroyed by a flood, they are on earth like “beings of energy” living in caves, Cenotes and pyramids, but, can also be visible if they want. The Aluxes can communicate to help or bother a family, a community or part of the world. The legend says that they throw rocks at you when you are visiting a sacred site or pyramid if you do not respect the sacred ground, or if you didn't ask permission when entering the site. Before exploring any archaeological zone, workers and visitors have to respectfully ask permission to enter. Workers, archaeologists and local people still do.
"The Aluxes could cut and move huge rocks by using vibration that they produce by whistles." Uxmal Pyramids and the Puuc Route

INAH - Teotihuacán, México

Animals and Plants Associated with the Underworld

Jaguar, snakes, toads and crocodiles
Water Lily, associated with the entrance to the underworld and the connection between our physical world and Xibalbá or Underworld
Cacao tree, associated with fertility, with the water lily, jaguars and snakes. In order to be able to go inside the Cacao tree, the Maya had to drink cacao while alive
Copal incense was burned inside the caves as an offering to their Gods

Ball Court - Ball Game

Symbol of death and rebirth, the game is described in the Sacred Book of Popol Vuh. The court representing the world, and, the rubber ball "U'lamá", had to go through a stone circle. The U'lamá represented the sun or moon: the battle between light and darkness, rebirth and death. The court was perfectly aligned and measured to represent a cycle and the rebirth of the new cycle; their message of transformation and renewal.

Batz

Creation, the thread of life and time; represented by a monkey.

Cacao

Associated with fertility, water and the jaguar. The dead, when they enter the Underworld, they must go inside a cacao tree. In order to be able to go inside, they should drink cocoa during their lifetime.

Caves and Cenotes

Sacred Caves or Cenotes were the center of the origin of the sun, water, darkness, corn and mankind. Considered the entrance to the Maya Underworld or “Xibalbá,” they were used by the ancient Mesoamerican civilizations as:

Considered to be the source of life
Sources of drinking water; in some regions of the Yucatán, the Cenotes are the only source of water, as all the rivers in the area are underground
Shelter and places of refuge
Sacred places where rituals of passage were performed, rituals of communication with the "abuelos," or wise old-ones (grandfathers)
Sacred places for burials, cremations and gathering place to invoke the dead
Sacred places where astronomical ceremonies were performed. Also used as astronomical observatories
Extraction of minerals and clay for pottery, abrasive stone for polishing, points of the stalactites and stalagmites were used to produce artifacts
Sacred entrance to Xibalbá - the underworld. Mythical underworld mentioned in the Sacred Book of the Popol Vuh as Xibalbá. The Lords of Xibalbá, lords of life and death, together with the spirits of water and earth, live inside the caves. In the sacred book of Popol Vuh, H'un H'unah'pú and Vucub H'unah'pú entered to the Underworld to confront the Lords of Xibalbá, but are defeated and killed. Later, their sons, X'balanque and H'unah'pú, are called when they played ball and annoyed the Lords with the noise of their ball game: "the earth was shaking." The shaking sound disturbed the Lords who called them into the cave, inviting them to play, so that they stop making noise. The twins descended into Xibalbá inside the Mother Earth where there are different houses. The twins had to experience different challenges during seven days and seven nights. (7-magic number) Inside the different houses they had challenging tasks. Some of the challenges were: crossing a river of blood without drinking water, crossing valleys with thorny trees, crossing roads and paths. Walking through four roads; red, yellow, white and black. (All symbols and magic numbers). The black is the entrance to Xibalbá. Some of the houses were Quequmaq Ha (darkness), Xuxulim H'a (Jaguars), Zotzhi H'a or house of Bats, Chayim H'a (house of Knives) and others, like crocodiles, snakes and toads.
Some of the caves and Cenotes have ceremonial artifacts, decorations, glyphs and hieroglyphic texts on the walls
Places of pilgrimage and offerings, rituals and prayers
Pyramids were built over caves or caves were built under the pyramids as a form of respect to the underworld. Like in Teotihuacán, Xochicalco, etc.
In other parts of México, caves were known as Óztotl, Náhuatl for cave. In Teotihuacán, near México City, clay and volcanic materials are found in nearby caves and were used for the construction of their pyramids and temples. However, in the Yucatán, where there are no volcanic rocks, the minerals, in the caves or Cenotes, were used to manufacture ceramic and as a polishing agent. In some, pottery and skeletal remains have been found and are still being found
Bows for the 13 Tzuultaq'a (gods of the mountains and valleys) are offered together with incense, pom(copal incense), candles, cocoa beans, ceramic offerings and prayers for health, rainfall and harvest
Several groups, like the Aztec, Chichimeca and Toltec, believed their civilization originated in a cave. They also believed that a sacred place called Chicomoztoc, "place of seven caves," was where the center of the origin of the world is. See the Chicomoztoc section in San Miguel de Allende. The Xibalbá or Underworld can only be entered by the Sacred Caves or Cenotes. It has spirits and deities of water, fertility, disease and death.

The Cenotes, in the Yucatán,

San Miguel de Allende.

Ceiba Tree, the Sacred Tree of Life - Cotton Silk Tree

The Sacred Ceiba or "Tree of Life," represents the connection between the Celestial gods or Cosmos (branches), and the X’ibalbá or "underworld" (roots). Some of the sacred Cenotes have a stalactite-stalagmite shaped as a Ceiba tree that was used as an altar. The tree was thought to stand at the center of Mother Earth connecting the terrestrial world and the Cosmos or spiritual world above. The tree represents the upper, middle and underworlds.

The trunk represents the human life or physical world
Roots represent X’ibalbá or "underworld"
Branches are the spiritual world that consisted of 13 layers. These layers were in the upper world or Cosmos and were manifestations of the creator god HUNAB KUN or ITZAMNÁ, "The God that could fly."
The self-pollinating Ceiba tree, can grow up to 198 ft. tall. The seeds are rich in oil and protein and the wood was used to make canoes. The long thick vines hanging down provided a connection to the heavens for the souls that ascended them.

Chaac - Cha'Ac
Rain god - God of Water, a very important deity represented in many sites in the Yucatán, as there is no rivers above ground.

Chak Ek’

Venus - “Great or Big star”

Chamán - Scha- Knowledge

Individual that has the capacity to modify the collective perception of reality. Some of the attributes of a Chamán are:

Communicating with souls
Visionaries: foretelling the future and knowing the past of someone, a place or an animal
Healers.

Chilam

Chilames were the priests who interpret the ancient books to extract from them the prophecies and the knowledge of future events; the interpreters of the messages from the gods, prophets and interpreters.

Chilam Balam

Sacred Maya Book - Balam means "jaguar "or "witch" and is a family name. The texts of the Chilam Balam have predictive, mythical and symbolic significance.

Choal’Kij - Tzolkin
Still guarding the sacred fire in the south of México and in Guatemala. The Ajq’ij is the guide, who not only reads the calendar, but also decides what offering should be made. The Ajq’ij is responsible for reading and interpreting the sacred fire and the messages from the ancestors so that we can understand the abuelos, (elders or grandparents) the old men of knowledge, and interpret what they want to say.
Colors

White – Purity, white corn, color of life, sperm, egg, seed, air, breathe of life, bones
Red - Sun, blood, strength, red corn, fire
Black - Black corn, darkness, death, bad ideas, night
Yellow - Q'anil, maturity, core, seed, wealth, sickness, if the seed does not germinate, sterility, must make payment to the Q'anil that we can find on the skin and in the muscles
Green - Plants, nature: we have to ask permission for everything we take from nature
Blue - Sky, space, water.

Copal – Pom or Po’om

Sacred resin. Incense used for sacred ceremonies. Beads were made using Copal for high rank officials, priests and kings.

Cosmography

For the Ancient Maya, there were three planes in their Cosmography: Celestial, Terrestrial and the Underworld. (3 magic number)

Cosmogony

Studies the formation of the universe which starts from the conception of the Maya. The Popol Wuh or Popol Vuh, tells how the universe was built and how the human being was created from corn (maize).

Cross

Maya Cross - Symbol of direction, orientation and cardinal points. The four faces of the moon. The Maya cross represents the four cardinal points of the Mother Earth.
The Four Gates or Cardinal Points of Mother Earth: One, wore a sea shell on its back, Spider Web, Turtle Shell and a Spiral Shell. There are Gods of Beekeeping and part of the YunTzilOb, the spiritual beings .

Crystal

Symbol of glory, it was used in rituals, jewelry and sacred articles. Crystals are considered an "all purpose healing stone for the body and soul". The famous Crystal Skulls are made of Quartz, a semi-precious gemstone; a crystal that develops an electric potential upon the application of mechanical stress. "Recovering the erased memory of our past is done by using crystals."

Dead

Life and death for the ancient Maya were linked one with one another and were complementary. For the ancient Maya, the soul of the deceased went into a journey to the Underworld where he had to defeat the deities that live there. Once in Xibalbá or Underworld, the person was reborn as a heavenly creature. Caves and Cenotes were the entrance to the Maya Xibalbá. This journey has been depicted as taking place in a canoe. Another Maya belief was that dogs served as guides to the Underworld. Funerary rituals were very important since they protected and prepared the dead for their dangerous journey. It included placing food, beverages, weapons, tools and other objects used by the dead while he was alive. Personal adornments made of jade and shells, together with ceramic vessels were placed alongside the corpse. – Mérida Museum, México

Ek' Chua

God of trade. Tribute was paid in commercial interchanges.

Fire - Sacred Fire

Fire is very important in their ceremonies and is of vital importance in human life. The sacred fire is the direct communication with the deities. The fire is lit with Pom (copal), the sacred resin. Before lighting the fire, the Maya pray to the East, which is the place where "the god who flies" arrived from. After sending a kiss to Father Sun, with the palm of the hand, they kiss one by one their fingers, representing the cardinal points.

Giants - Quinametzin (Náhuatl)

The Maya believed that a race of giants populated the world. The Quinametzin were created during the Era of the “Sun of Rain”, and its ruler was Tlaloc. His rule ended when Quetzalcóatl, the feathered snake or flying serpent, made “rain fire” and the Quinametzin burned to death. At the arrival of the Spaniards, the Tlaxcaltecas said that they fought against the last Giant before their arrival. This "Giant" that in their mythology constructed Cholula, Tula (Tollan) and Teotihuacán, resembles the Maya God Itzamná, “the god that could fly.”

Grandparents “Abuelos” – Elders, the Old Ones

In many cases, the “abuelos” are not related, but, they are elderly, dead or alive, who have experience and knowledge. They may be in another plane, but even if they are dead; they come when they are called to help the living.

Guardians

"We all have guardians and we have to take care of them by acknowledging, respecting or feeding them." Maya Elder - There are several types of guardians;

Kamawiles: Invisible beings that are the masters of the altars
Kaculjas: Elemental beings that interact in all ceremonies. They are divided as follow:
Nina Kaculjas: Salamanders, fire
Raxa Kaculjas: Aluxes (tiny beings) or earth energies that protect the farmlands and the archaeological sites
Cips Kaculjas: Waves, energy of the water
Hura’Kan Kaculjas: Energy of air; invisible beings of the air

Hun

Creator and the one that gives life to all the worlds.

H’un Abku

Creator sun.

Human Sacrifice

Represented the offering of life to the gods.

Feminine represented as a jaguar; magic and intuition.

Jade

Symbol of life of renewal. Used in jewelry, dental incrustations and rituals. Jade was considered a precious stone with renewal properties.

Jaguar, Copal and Temascal

One of the most venerated and feared animals, the Balam or jaguar was represented either realistic or with stylized or anthropomorphic features. Because of its speed, night vision, hunting ability and strength, the jaguar was associated with caves, the night, and the underworld. Favored and feared because of its power and strength, the jaguar skin was used Kings and priests. Gods were represented wearing jaguar skin. Humans could be transformed into animal companions.

Ajaw (Lord) partially transformed into a jaguar
The word jaguar: “Balam”, was included in the names of places and important people; Ah’Holtun Balam, Seňor de Chichén Itzá, or Ek’ Balam, the Black Jaguar
It is the glyph of the word “way”
Hu’un or “book” also contains the spots of the jaguar
Many of the deities have features of jaguars
The Shamans, in their spirit-journey usually transform into jaguar
The principal animal - form of the god Tezcatlipoca is a jaguar
Venerated by many cultures, the 'A'hau' or Maya Priests related the Jaguar with the Copal resin.
The Copal, burnt like incense, was used for their sacred rituals; Shamans still do. Referred to as Copalli, (Náhuatl), and as "Po'om" or "Pu'us". This sacred resin comes in three different colors, as the jaguar in the jungles of México and Central America.
Tradition says that "three different color Jaguars came to the Lord of the Maya with three different presents; Copalli in three different colors." (3 times 3) (See Temascal and Maya Symbols).

Kat

Energy that surrounds all living things.

Kan

Represented as a snake; creation, sexual energy and spiral.

Kej

Represented as a deer. Fifth element and the four corners of the universe.

Keme

Death, portal or door that allow humans to interact between the worlds of living and death.

K'Inich A'Hau

The light of our mother earth and our sun.

Lotus

Maya Symbol of creation and regeneration. Water Lily or Lotus is associated with the entrance to the underworld and the connection between our physical world and Xibalbáor Underworld. In the Maya Legend of the sacred Cenote Nicté-Há, Chacdziedzib, a Maya prince (nightingale) was in love with the daughter of the guardian of Nicté-Há, a Cenote known as Lotus Flower. “The Lord of the Waters entered the cenote, and changed Nicté-Há’s inert body into a beautiful lotus. The Lord of the Birds stood over the prince’s heart, and changed him into a nightingale full of love.” "The Lotus grows out of the mud and becomes this beautiful white, pure flower. It gives us hope of becoming something pure." - Maya Elder
Masks - Architectural Masks

"The corners of buildings in the Chenes region were decorated with masks representing a long-nosed deity, whose identity is still a matter of dispute. Some specialists say he is the Mountain God and that the temple itself represents the entrance to the depths of the underworld. Others believe that the masks are images of the godItzamnaaj or I’tzamná, the deity who created the Maya world and one of the most important in Maya cosmology. Miramar, Campeche, Late Classic." (AD 600-900) Museum of Campeche.

MICTLÁN

Dark underworld

Mother Earth

Great respect was given to Mother Earth. Several festivities were made so that there would be balance and Mother Earth would be happy. Numerology was a very important part of the Maya knowledge; NUMBER SEVEN, the number of Mother Earth.
N’Ajt - Great Spiral

Leads the way to all the planets.

N'Awal (see KAT)

N'awal is the animal counterpart of all men. In the Maya belief, N'awal is a sacred energy, a transparent aura in the form of an egg that surrounds all living things. Rocks are considered living things too. Depending on the kind of energy and force of their N'awal, the person will be weak or strong, healthy or sick, alive or dying. A sick person has a weak N'awal. Represented like half man, half animal, or a line surrounding a person, the N'awal can be cleaned and restored.
Noj

Knowledge - represented by a cave. Occult powers, knowledge of Mother Earth and the eternal truths of the Universe.

Offerings and Ceremonies

Flowers - Offerings

Flowery Water - Agua Floral - Used to clean the negative, to purify. The water is painted in different colors depending on the need of the individual. Flowers are left in water and the water is used to purify before the ceremony. A Chamán gave me 7 vials with 7 different colors to be used during 7 days

Aguardiente - To quench the thirst of the grandparents or Elders that were not physical beings. Medicinal use

Pom - Made of tree resin, is used as an offering

Sesame Seed - Symbol of Abundance. It is given to the Tz'ikin when there is need of economic help, hardships. Used as an offering to elders, Rulers and Priests.

Sugar - To sweeten the bitter, to balance

Cinnamon - Take away the bitterness, to balance the sugar. (Now we know that cinnamon is good to balance the sugar)

Tree Bark - Used as an offering. Important, as it was used to make the amate paper by pounding the bark and using different minerals to change the color; then leaving it several days to dry. Codex’s, the ancient Maya books made in an accordion style, were made with this tree-bark paper. An offering of tree bark was a symbol of knowledge

Cocoa Chocolate - A priced commodity used as offering for special favors. Everyone had to drink cocoa to be able to enter Xibalbá

Fireworks - Modern fireworks are used by the modern Maya to invoke the spirits of the grandparents (abuelos)

Cuilco -A form of penitence. A daily reminder of a sacrifice by giving an offering to priests in front of the N'awal each passing day until the twenty Nawal. It can be money, food, or something that the Shamans, Priests or Rulers can use. Feathers and shells were often used as money

Egg - Still used to clean the energy that involves humans; the aura. Some Shamans in the South of México and Guatemala still use the egg. After cleaning the energy or aura with the egg, mixed with some praying and chanting, they break the egg into a glass of water. They read the past, present and future by looking at the egg, then dispose of it in running water

Incense - Considered an offering. It pleases the Ajaw by helping him go to a different level

Honey - Sweetens the things that are bitter and restores health. Used as medicine or as an offering

Mirra - To order forces to clean the negative. Used as an offering to Priests and Rulers, it was a priced commodity together with coal incense and honey

Cigarettes - It is now used as an offering to consult the abuelos (grandfathers)

Candles of 9 colors - The magical number nine - the number of creation and of heavens. Candles are used in the South of México and in Guatemala. Depending on the number, color of the candle, or Saint, is the favor you will receive from “papá dios.” (papá-father; dios-god)

Herbs - Are used to clean energy; laurel, and chamomile are still used

Popol Vuh – Maya Sacred Book.

Tries to explain the origin of the Maya civilization and the things that occur in nature. Contains hieroglyphics, mythology and stories.

Prophecy - The Art of Prophecy

According to Alfonso Arellano Hernández, a UNAM researcher, “for the Maya, the art of prophecy was possible because they believed that time was a series of cosmic cycles and events, and that, according to these cycles, events could be repeated. Thus, the Chilames were considered as interpreters of the messages from the gods. Moreover, the term Balam means "jaguar "or "witch" and is actually a family name. The texts of the Chilam Balam have significant predictive content, mythical and symbolic significance is considerable, and thus its interpretation is complex. About the Popol Vuh, he said, it is a story that tries to explain the origin of world civilization, and the various phenomena that occur in nature.”

Q'Nil

Fertility; seed and semen.

Quinto Sol - Fifth Era

In the Aztec Calendar, the world has been created and destroyed four times; destroyed by jaguars, fire, wind and water. We are in the era of vibration, adjustment and earthquakes. Compare the Aztec and the Maya Calendar. The Maya Elder Don Alejandro stated that On March 31, 2013, "the Papá Sol (Sun) will be hidden for 60-70 hours; this is when we shall enter the period of the Fifth Era, the Fifh Sun." However, the Aztec Calendar tells us we are in the Fifth Era. Other Maya Elders point to December 22, 2012, as the beginning of a new era, an era of peace and compassion.

SACBĖ – SA - White, Cbé or Ché- path

Pedestrian Maya road made of shells, lime, sap of the Zapote tree, and stones. The sacbés are pedestrian raised roads that connected the city with other Maya sites. The Maya traveled at night to avoid the heat, and, by using shells on the roads, the light of the moon reflected on them. Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia INAH

Sacred Proportions - Geometry of Art and Architecture 1:1.618

Like modern Shamans, the priests of ancient times were probably the keepers of these sacred proportions, which they had originally observed in the shapes of nature. According to Powell, the flowers and shells depicted so often in Maya religious art represented perfect examples of nature's geometry. Within the petals of flowers the Maya found natural triangles, squares, pentagons, and octagons. Within seashells and the human form they found the golden mean proportion of 1:1.618. Adding to Powell's original thesis, we are now discovering affinities between the geometric designs of the temples and their alignments to the sun and moon." Maya Exploration Center - Palenque Guide

SHAMANS, MEDICINE MAN, CHILAM, A'HAU or PRIESTS

The Shamans, in their spirit-journey usually transform into jaguars, the principal animal-form of the god Tezcatlipoca. Some Shamans were also priests in charge of the temples and had great power over the people. Feared and respected, the Chilam, A’hau or priest, had visionary powers, talked to the Gods, and were the direct link between them and Mother Earth. A ritual was done before the journey or trance that consisted in piercing different parts of their body to draw blood; penis, earlobes, etc. Shamans used, and still use, different medicinal herbs, teas, hot baths and vibration to cure. There were three ways to become a Shaman;

By inheritance
Coming back from death
Having a spiritual experience of being called by the gods, flying towards them, and returning to Mother Earth
The Medicine Man is able to travel the different levels of the Tree of Life, the upper or spiritual level (branches), the human level (trunk) and the underworld (roots).
Drums, shells and chanting were used as a vibration tool, usually mixed with diet or plant-drugs, to help the travel
Guided by the spirit of a dead person or animal, that shows them where the "answer" is, they also can become one with an animal. By becoming that animal they can travel, get the courage, experience and knowledge from that particular animal, and become one with them

SHELL, SPIRAL or Womb
Represent the zero or protectiion

SKULLS – ELONGATED SKULLS

Many Ancient Civilizations all around the world, believed that gods had elongated skulls. In parts of Africa, in Egypt and in Asia we can find representations of gods with elongated skulls. The Maya believed that elongating the skulls would make their children more intelligent and more "like their Gods." In their mythology, their gods had elongated heads when they came to Earth. Not all the children were chosen by the priests to have their skulls elongated. Wood boards were used to elongate the skull of a new born as soon as the Chilam or priest chose the child.
SMOKED MIRRORS and TOHIL "OBSIDIAN"

Smoked mirrors made of tohil (obsidian), a volcanic glass rock, were used by priests and Shamans in rituals. By concentrating on the mirrors, they traveled through time and space, finding answers and communicating with other levels of existence. Not only the priests had direct communication with the gods, they also had with animals, plants and every living thing including stones. The rocks or stones, because of their vibration, were considered alive.

Shamans used the sacred obsidian mirror of the God Tezcatlipoca to travel to other worlds; other dimensions. With the help of hallucinogenic substances, like the peyote cactus, the toxins of toads, mushrooms, seeds of the morning glory plant and other types of plants and barks, they would go into a trance and travel to the different levels.
Only priests were allowed to get hallucinogenic substances.
The Aztecs made the “Tohil smoke mirror” in honor of the god Tezcatlipoca, who was called "Smoking Mirror" in Náhuatl
Tezcatlipoca, "Lord of the night sky, winds, hurricanes, obsidian, divination, jaguars, sorcery, and war,"is represented in black and yellow stripes with his right foot replaced with an obsidian mirror or snake. Tezcatlipoca lost his foot in a battle with Mother Earth. The Jaguar was his N'awal, that is, his animal counterpart.”
The Popol Vuh, describes the Tohil (obsidian)
Different tools, decorative objects and weapons like blades and arrows, were also made out of obsidian.

SNAKES

Symbol of fertility.

SPIRITUALITY

Is expressed in the Sacred Fire and in songs. During the Sacred Fire days no one should be angry, everything must be in harmony. There must be balance so that it is reflected in Mother Earth, in the fertility of the land, animals and men. The Nawal, protector of nature, must also have harmony so that the fields, valleys, mountains, rivers, lakes, seas and winds, which are protected by the Nawal, may have balance, and "re-accommodate" back on Mother Earth.

SPIRALS

Protection, sun movement, ascension towards the Cosmos.

STAR

Five Pointed Star – TULÚM, Quintana Roo, México – Inside the "Templo del Dios Descendiente," the Descending God or Flying God Temple, the Five Pointed Star is painted in the wall. I'TZAMNÁ, God and Creator of the Maya Civilization, the God that could fly, is carved in the door of the Temple. He has wings and his head is looking down towards the floor in a flying position. You can't enter this temple anymore, unless you get a special permit in Cancún or in Chetumal, Quintana Roo. On the inside of the room, opposite side where the Descending God is, there is a figure of a star. This star is aligned with a small window on the opposite side of the room towards the sea. Legend says that it points directly to where the Flying God came from. Bimini or Atlantis? Some speculate that is aligned to the stars so that the priests would know when the Spring Equinox was, the time to plant corn. So was it an astronomical calendar? Or is it the VENUS cycle? We now know, that when one cycle of Venus ends, it forms a five pointed star. This is from Michael Meyer "Venus"; Because Venus rotates one-hundred and eighty degrees on its polar axis between inferior conjunctions, at each superior conjunction Venus shows Earth the face that during the inferior conjunction faced the Sun, while the side that was facing the Earth during the conjunction now faces the Sun. But this is not the most extraordinary feature of the Venus cycle. When one plots the cycle of any important turning point of the cycle of Venus for five or more consecutive cycles, a remarkable pattern forcefully emerges — a five-pointed star!

TATTOOS

Symbolic representations, protection and identity used in the Maya Culture in form of tattoos. The tattoos were made by using the Sap of the CHECHEM tree. The CHAKA tree is used as an antidote to remove tattoos.

TEPEITZCUINTLE

Tepez "stones" and Itzcuintli "dog", is a rodent that lives and hides in the stones.

TEZCATLIPOCA
Patron of the night and of Shamans, the God Tezcatlipoca was represented holding a smoked mirror, a symbol of their power to see everything. He appears as a jaguar, monkey, coyote or skunk.
TIJAX
Principle of self-image, represented by a smoking mirror or an obsidian knife that opens the veils and the doors to other realities.
TONAL and N'AWAL
Every human has an animal form, an animal protector. The Náhuatl word Tonal is the animal form and the word N'awal is the secret ability to change into an animal or human as they please. Everyone has a Tonal and everyone can learn how to be a N'awal. N'awal is also the energy that surrounds us.
TOJ

Principle of purifying fire; the T'ojil or sacred offering
TRIANGLE

Upward; Maize, male fertility, Cosmos, Sacred Mountain that unite human life with life in the Cosmos. Downward; female fertility, underworld.

THE TRIAD or THREE PLANES of EXISTANCE

U'kux Kaj - Cosmic forcewith 13 levels
U'kux U'lew' - Earth that has 4 elemental forces
U'kux Xibalba - Underworld with 9 levels

THE TEMPLES WERE ALSO DIVIDED:

Tolán Kaj' - Cosmic Temple
Tolánes - Maya pyramids
Tolán Ku - Underworld Temple

TOJ
Offerings that the grandparents place on the top of mountains and hills. There are different ceremonies depending on the timetable or needs.

TOLTEC – “women and men of knowledge”

For the Toltec, the word NAGUALES had a different meaning; they were the Masters. The Toltec’s were students at Teotihuacán, the magical city near México City. Teotihuacán’s translation is “Where Man Becomes God”. Don Miguel Ruiz, a Toltec, tell us in his wonderful book "The Four Agreements,” that – 3,000 years ago, a medicine man dreamed that he saw his own body. He heard his own voice say; “I am made of light; I am made of stars.” He realized that the light creates the stars and that everything is made of light; the space in-between is NOT empty. Light is the messenger of life; it is alive and contains all the information. He realized he was in-between the stars and not made of stars. So he named the stars “Tonal” and the light in between “Nagual”. The space in between the two is LIFE or INTENT.
Turtle Constellation - ORION

Until recently, we learned that Orion is where the stars are born. The Ancient Civilizations in Mesoamerica knew that. To them, a "flying turtle came from the TurtleConstellation; from the Turtle shell, people descended." Archaeologist Antonio Benavides, explained that one important constellation is the Turtle, known as Orion. “For ancient Maya the turtle was an original animal. It is said that when the maize deity fought the underworld men and was defeated at the Ball Game, he was reborn from the turtle’s shell”. “The Turtle constellation is important because it represents the original burner, the original domestic oven.” Contemporary Maya farmers always place 3 stones to form a burner, the element from where everything came from,” concluded the INAH Archaeologist.
TURTLE SHELL AND SNAKES

After the death of their father, the hero twins of the Popol Vuh, H'unah'Pu and X'balanque, went to the underworld to retrieve his head. When they climbed to safety, he resuscitated when he came back rising from the carapace of a turtle shell. Turtle shells in the sky, with snakes crawling out of them are common in myths and legends in Mesoamerica. In different representations, the snakes have people traveling inside them while the turtle shells are flying in the sky. Snakes were the means of transportation from the sky to the earth. I'tzamná, "the flying god," Tonacatecuhtli and Quetzalcóatl, "the feathered snake," and many others came through portales - portals - and were transported in turtle shells.

The Maya Wormhole

TZI'

Law and justice; the "Karma" of life.

TZELTAL-TZOTZIL or TEMASCAL

Used for purification ceremonies by different Mesoamerican Cultures
Incense, jaguar skins and medicinal plants were used in the ceremony
These ceremonies are still performed in some parts of México and Guatemala without the skins of the jaguars that now are protected
The lodge has to have 3 important factors; cardinal direction, a Shaman or Ah’Meen or Medicine Man, and a special ritual to ask permission to Mother Earth for the construction materials and placement
The Aztec name of the sweat bath is Temascal or Temescalli and in Maya "Tzeltal-Tzotzil."
Palo Xiote (bark of a tree), Copal incense, honey, and different medicinal herbs, are still used today as they were by the ancient Maya
A tea made of hibiscus flower is taken before the ceremony to cleanse.
The Temascal, the ancient steam bath, is to "warm the body and blood, and take away the cold air and wind that causes sickness." By heating stones, adding herbs, and throwing water on top of them, they produce the cleansing vapor.

T'ZIKIN

Represented as an eagle, gave superior vision, connection between Sun and Mother Earth.
WATER LILLY - See Lotus

Associated with the entrance of the underworld, the entrance of the Sacred Cave or Cenote.

XAMAN EK
The North Star

XIBALBÁ

Underworld - See Sacred Caves and Cenotes.
XÓLOTL "Patron of Sorcerers" - Xólotl, the god of twins and duality, was associated with the hairless dog of the Aztecs. He was the god of monsters and then changed to the god of duality. The Xóloitzcuintle, the dog of the god Xólotl, accompanied him to Mictlán, the dark underworld. Itzcuintli, is the name of the hairless dog.
XÓLOITZCUITLI - Xólo from the God Xólotl and Iticuintli or Itzcuintli, dog. Xólotl with his hairless dog would accompany the souls of the dead to the underworld.
Yum Ka'Ax - God of Maize.

Sacred Caves and Cenotes
Crystal Skulls

Mathematics, Archaeoastronomy and Numerology

2011-02-16T22:04:00.009-05:00

Scribes, Mérida Museum - Yucatán, México

ZERO

The Olmec civilization created the mathematics, the Maya perfected it.

The Maya understood the concept of the zero and represented it as a seashell, spiral or womb centuries before the Hindus had it: 36 BC.

Numbers had meanings, they were magic and used by the priests.

2 - Number two was the polarity; their 2 heroes, the twins in the Creation Myth.

3 - Number of creation; representing the underworld, the world and the cosmos.

4 - Four roads in the underworld or Xibalbá; red, yellow, white and black. The black is the entrance to Xibalbá

7 - Seven was used by the Shamans and priests to represent the different celestial planes and the number of the Mother Earth, with 7 reflected in everything. They believed that humans have 7 layers. The twins, in the Popol Vuh, descended into Xibalbá and had to experience different challenges during seven days and seven nights. They also believed that a sacred place called Chicomoztoc, "place of seven caves," was where the center of the origin of the world is. 7 is still the number of our planet; 7 colors, 7 notes, etc.

8 - Balance, the way we should live.

9 – Magical number; the number of creation three times stronger. For the Aztec and Maya it was the 9 heavens that humans have to endure when we die. UNDERWORLD AND THE NUMBER 9 - The Maya believed that the underworld had 9 layers ruled by the 9 Lords of the Night or the Underworld; the Lords of Xibalbá.

13 Tzuultaq'a (gods of the mountains and valleys).

52 - Temples and pyramids were remodeled and rebuilt every fifty-two years in synchrony with the Maya Long Count Calendar, and their belief in resurrection and death; every time better than the last one.

Dot: represent number one •

Bar: represent number five —

Shell, spiral or womb, represent the zero

Geometry of Art and Architecture 1:1.618 - SACRED PROPORTIONS Like modern Shamans, the priests of ancient times were probably the keepers of these sacred proportions, which they had originally observed in the shapes of nature. According to Powell, the flowers and shells depicted so often in Maya religious art represented perfect examples of nature's geometry. Within the petals of flowers the Maya found natural triangles, squares, pentagons, and octagons. Within seashells and the human form they found the golden mean proportion of 1:1.618. Adding to Powell's original thesis, we are now discovering affinities between the geometric designs of the temples and their alignments to the sun and moon." Maya Exploration Center - Palenque Guide

Maya Cosmogony - Maya Art

Studies the formation of the universe which starts from the conception of the Maya. The Popol Wuh or Popol Vuh, tells how the universe was built and how the human being was created from corn (maize).

MEDICINE MAN or SHAMAN and CHILAM, A'HAU or PRIESTS

The Shaman, in their spirit-journey usually transform into jaguars, the principal animal-form of the god Tezcatlipoca.

There were three ways to become a Shaman;

By inheritance
Coming back from death
Having a spiritual experience of being called by the gods, flying towards them, and returning to Mother Earth

The Medicine Man is able to travel the different levels of the Tree of Life, the upper or spiritual level (branches), the human level (trunk) and the underworld (roots).
Drums, shells and chanting were used as a vibration tool, usually mixed with diet or plant-drugs, to help the travel.
Guided by the spirit of a dead person or animal, that shows them where the "answer" is, they also can become one with an animal. By becoming that animal they can travel, get the courage, experience and knowledge from that particular animal, and become one with them.

MICTLÁN

Underworld - dark place

MOTHER EARTH

N’AJT

Great Spiral - leads the way to all the planets.

N'AWAL (see KAT)

NOJ

Knowledge - represented by a cave. Occult powers, knowledge of Mother Earth and the eternal truths of the Universe.

OFFERINGS and CEREMONIES

Flowers - Offerings
Flowery Water
Aguardiente- To quench the thirst of the grandparents. (The grandparents or Elders were not physical beings). Medicinal.
Pom - Made of tree resin, is used as an offering.
Sesame Seed - Symbol of Abundance. It is given to the Tz'ikin when there is need of economic help, hardships. Used as an offering to elders, Rulers and Priests.
Sugar - To sweeten the bitter, to balance.
Cinnamon - Take away the bitterness, to balance the sugar.
Tree Bark - Used as an offering. Important, as it was used to make the amate paper by pounding the bark and using different minerals to change the color; then leaving it several days to dry. Codex’s, the ancient Maya books made in an accordion style, were made with this tree-bark paper. An offering of tree bark was a symbol of knowledge.
Cocoa (Chocolate) - A priced commodity used as offering for special favors. Everyone had to drink cocoa to be able to enter Xibalbá.
Cuetes - Modern fireworks are used by the Maya to invoke the spirits of the grandparents (abuelos).
Cuilco - A form of penitence. A daily reminder of a sacrifice by giving an offering to priests in front of the N'awal each passing day until the twenty Nawal. It can be money, food, or something that the Shamans, Priests or Rulers can use. Feathers and shells were often used as money.
Egg - Still use to clean the energy that involves humans; the aura. Some Shamans in the South of México and Guatemala still use the egg. After cleaning the energy or aura with the egg, mixed with some praying and chanting, they break the egg into a glass of water. They read the past, present and future by looking at the egg, then dispose of it in running water.
Incense - Considered an offering. It pleases the Ajaw by helping him go to a different level.
Honey - Sweetens the things that are bitter and restores health. Used as medicine or as an offering.
Mirra - To order forces to clean the negative. Used as an offering to Priests and Rulers, it was a priced commodity together with coal incense and honey.
Cigars and Cigarettes - It is now used as an offering to consult the abuelos (grandfathers)
Candles of 9 colors - The magical number nine - the number of creation and of
heavens. Candles are used in the South of México and in Guatemala. Depending on the number, color of the candle, or Saint, is the favor you will receive from “papá dios.” (papá-father; dios-god).
Herbs - Are used to clean energy; laurel, and chamomile are still used.

Popol Vuh - Maya Sacred Book

Tries to explain the origin of the Maya civilization and the things that occur in nature.

Contains hieroglyphics, mythology and stories.

Fifth Era - Quinto Sol - Fifth Sun

2010-03-25T20:53:00.022-04:00

Chichén-Itzá, México - M.O.Baum

Toltec – “women and men of knowledge”

For the Toltec, the word NAGUALES had a different meaning; they were the Masters. The origins of this great civilization is not known, but we know it was a theocratic society that act on what they believed were the decisions of their gods. They were also warriors. We know that they dominated the state of Hidalgo, in México, and that the Aztec saw them as their predecessors calling themselves as "sons of Tollán," Náhuatl for Tula.

The Toltec’s were students at Teotihuacán, the magical city near México City. Teotihuacán’s translation is “Where Man Becomes God”.

T'Zikin

Represented as an eagle, gave superior vision, connection between Sun and Mother Earth.

Toj

Offerings that the grandparents place on the top of mountains and hills. There are different ceremonies depending on the timetable or needs.

Don Miguel Ruiz, a Toltec, tell us in his wonderful book "The Four Agreements,” that – 3,000 years ago, a medicine man dreamed that he saw his own body. He heard his own voice say; “I am made of light; I am made of stars.” He realized that the light creates the stars and that everything is made of light; the space in-between is NOT empty. Light is the messenger of life; it is alive and contains all the information. He realized he was in-between the stars and not made of stars. So he named the stars “Tonal” and the light in between “Nagual”. The space in between the two is Life or Intent.

Water Lilly

Associated with the entrance of the underworld, the entrance of the Sacred Cave or Cenote.

Writing

Hieroglyphs in rows or columns and read from left to right and from bottom to the top. • Linked with sacred and magic, the Maya used symbols, animals, and different pictographs to represent their story.

Codices or Codex

Sacred books made from bark in a form of accordion. The Maya registered all their knowledge and history, but, when the Spanish came, their books were burned by the Priests. We only know of three that survived; the Dresden Codex, the Madrid Codex and the Paris Codex.

Xaman Ek

The North Star

XIBALBÁ

See Caves and Cenotes.

XÓLOTL "Patron of Sorcerers"

Xólotl, the god of twins and duality, was associated with the hairless dog of the Aztecs. He was the god of monsters and then changed to the god of duality.
The Xóloitzcuintle, the dog of the god Xólotl, accompanied him to Mictlán, the dark underworld.
ITZCUINTLI
Name of the hairless dog.
XÓLOITZCUITLI
Xólo from the God Xólotl and Iticuintli or Itzcuintli, dog. Xólotl with his hairless dog would accompany the souls of the dead to the underworld.

YUM KAAX

God of Maize.

Difference with their calendar and ours is only of 1/10th of a second

http://www.azulmaya.com/bonampak/cap4.php

Archaeoastronomy

"Architectural analysis sometimes involves observations of the sky. Dozens of structures across the Maya world that served as observatories have been found. The Maya later recorded their observations of the sun, moon, and stars in hieroglyphic books and stone inscriptions. But, the most dramatic testament to their astronomical achievements can still be witnessed in their monumental architecture. Discovering the solar orientations of Palenque's temples, along with references to celestial phenomena in the texts and iconography, is leading toward a new interpretation of the architecture, art, and geomantic layout of the site." Maya Exploration Center

- Geomantic - Greek: γεωμαντεία, "earth divination" is a method of divination that interprets markings on the ground or the patterns formed; perspectives on place, space, and location.

MAYA

• In Sanskrit, the word māyā means illusion, dream: ma "not" and ya, "that".

• The Queen Maya of Sakya was the mother of Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama).

• The Tibetan SgyuMa translates Maya as magic, bubble, rainbow, mirage and dream.
• Maia is the eldest of the Pleiades in the Greek and Roman mythology.
• Maya in Persian means generous.
• Maya is a name of a group of Australians.
• Maya in Hebrew, is the short form of "ma'ayan," or spring.

THE MEANING OF "MAYA"

How did the Maya chose their name?

THE Maya Chronicles. Edited by Daniel G. Brinton AMS Press New York - Reprinted from the edition of 1882, Philadelphia - Library of Congress:

" Maya was the patrial name of the natives of Yucatán. It was the proper name of the northern portion of the peninsula. No single province bore it at the date of the Conquest, and probably it had been handed down as a generic term from the period, about a century before, when this whole district was united under one government.

The natives of all this region called themselves Maya uinic, Maya men, or ah Maya, those of Maya; their language was Maya than, the Maya speech; a native woman was Maya cħuplal; and their ancient capital was Maya pan, the Maya banner, for there of old was set up the standard of the nation, the elaborately worked banner of brilliant feathers, which, in peace and in war, marked the rallying point of the Confederacy."

Portals, Vortex and Pyramids

IZAPA, CHIAPAS, México – This ancient civilization knew exactly the equinox precession cycle of 26,000 years. (See PALENQUE and the "Tree of Life.") Until recently, the equinox precession was unknown to us. NASA announced the findings just a few years ago.

PERROSMEX

The Cenotes, in the Yucatán,

Crystal Skulls - Animals and Plants Associated with the Underworld

Geometry of Art and Architecture

http://www.azulmaya.com/bonampak/cap4.php

DÍA de la Mujer en la Cosmovisión Maya

Cueva de Balankanche - Foto
2012 Maya Predictions
Tzeltal-Tzotzil Ethnomedicine
Arqueólogos hacen ofrendas a duendes Mayas
Maya Crystal Skulls
The Toltec "Men of Knowledge"

2012 Maya Calendar - Prophecies, Cycles and Fear

The Maya Wormhole - Portals, Vortex and Pyramids

Tulúm - The Maya City of Dawn

Archaeoastronomy

2010-03-17T13:46:00.002-04:00

"Architectural analysis sometimes involves observations of the sky. Dozens of structures across the Maya world that served as observatories have been found. The Maya later recorded their observations of the sun, moon, and stars in hieroglyphic books and stone inscriptions.
But, the most dramatic testament to their astronomical achievements can still be witnessed in their monumental architecture. Discovering the solar orientations of Palenque's temples, along with references to celestial phenomena in the texts and iconography, is leading toward a new interpretation of the architecture, art, and geomantic layout of the site." Maya Exploration Center
- Geomantic - Greek: γεωμαντεία, "earth divination" is a method of divination that interprets markings on the ground or the patterns formed; perspectives on place, space, and location.