Rare visit & talk by Toltec-Mexica elder October 22nd in Berkeley, CA
On October 22nd, esteemed elder and Sundance chief, Tlakaelel from Teotihuacan, Mexico, will make a rare appearance in the Bay Area. Tlakaelel has been teaching about the great Meso-American cultures for over 50 years.
He will be speaking about 2012, Myth and Reality at the Ohlone Center of Herbal Studies in Berkeley. For more information, see our Circle of Ancestors website.
Mexica New Year is March 12, 2011
From Carlos Aceves, www.xinachtli.com
We are entering Nemontemi, five days of reflection and rest before Yancuic Xihuitl Matlac-ome-uan Acatl (twelve-reed) which arrives at noon on March 12, 2011. This is the year before our Teoxihuitl begins, the Sacred Cycle of 26,000 years.
Next year, thirteen obsedian knife, the first celestial manifestation of Teoxihuitl begins thirteen days after the March 20, 2012 Spring equinox when the seven stars of the Pleiades will align with Venus.
Twelve is community, thirteen are the stars said those who came before us. Reed is symbolic of the state of Creation in which there is always more space than form. The obsedian knife is a symbol of cutting through darkness to expose truth. By that meaning, this coming year is one which our community reflects on the vastness of what we need to learn.
As stars are symbols of consciousness and next year is the time to “cut through the sky and reveal Her truth.” The era of Tlaolli (tlayolli-that which gives life) or Corn will come to end. An era, a civilization, a way of Life that began on August 13, 5,124 years ago will give way.
There is much preparation for a New Era, a New Sun. For this the ancestors told us “restore the ceremonies, renew the convenants, return to the sacred places,” to which an elder once added “and follow the story in the sky.”
Yolohuitzcalotl
www.xinachtli.com
A day of limpias
A few weeks ago, I hosted a day of limpias with Mexican curandera Estela Roman. A limpia is a spiritual cleansing that is based in the philosophy and practice of traditional Mexican healing, or curanderismo. To perform a limpia, the curandera uses herbs, flowers, prayers and songs to help purify the client’s mind, body and spirit.
One essential tool of the limpia is the egg, el huevo, which is held and passed over the person’s body to absorb any negative energy. Sometimes the egg picks up so much energy and heat that it will be partially cooked. Some curanderas will, after the limpia, crack open the egg into a glass of water and “read” the egg. This egg reading is a way of both divination and diagnosis to give more insight into what is going on for the person receiving the limpia.
Another essential element of the limpia is the smoke of the copal, which is also used for cleansing and protection. Copal is a tree sap that is used in many different Mexica ceremonies.
During the day of limpias at my house, Estela saw people in a back room of my house. I was in the kitchen preparing food and tea. After their limpias, people were given a hot cup of herbal tea and lots of yummy food to eat. A few women who also practice curanderismo came over to assist. After receiving their limpia, each person was taken care of by other expert healers. While limpias were going on in the back, many of us sat around the table eating, drinking tea and laughing all day long. There was a really good feeling that day.
Later, I realized that this is exactly the kind of HEALTH CARE that I would like to envision. Health care based in ancient healing traditions; health care that is really about CARING for the human being; health care that builds community; health care that honors and works with the healing power of Mother Earth.
I will continue to hold this vision and prayer in my heart.
Tags: Curanderismo, limpia
