Our Bak’tun recently had the opportunity to observe and participate in a Mayan ceremony. We traveled to the ruins of Iximche, which is near Tecpàn, Chimaltenango. The surroundings were very beautiful and peaceful.

When I walk around sites like these, it reminds me that people have lived on the earth for thousands of years, and even though there might not be striking physical reminders of that in my everyday life – there certainly weren’t any ancient stone pyramids around the pool at my apartment in SLC – people still existed there before me, and people will continue to exist after me, which makes it even more important to care for the only earth we have for the future generations, who may never know or acknowledge the efforts, but will reap the benefits, or harm, of my actions.

Our ceremony started with the Mayan spiritual leader carefully setting up what would be our offering. Everything was oriented on the cardinal directions, and each cardinal direction has its own color, with candles and flowers of each color placed in each direction. North-White, East-Red, South-Yellow, West-Black (but we use purple flowers to represent black). Additionally, there was honey, sugar, incense, and rolled tobacco. To start off, the spiritual leader lit two center candles, one blue to represent the sky and one green to represent the earth. With these, she lit the four main cardinal candles. After that, she went through each of the Nawales (spirits) and asked for blessings upon us and gave offerings of gratitude, with things like sugar, sesame seeds, liquor, and beer.

In Mayan tradition, the day you were born carries a significance which has the name, Nawal. Nawales are spirits who guide and protect the person, but are also characteristics of that person’s character; that person embodies the spirit. Because of the significance of positioning of Nawales during this particular ceremony, we were all told our Nawales before the ceremony. I am 2 B’atz’ which is represented by the monkey. Generally, my Nawal symbolizes a time of development, evolution of human life, the umbilical cord, or the beginning of new life, infinite time of intelligence and wisdom, cosmic phenomenon and the origin of all wisdom. It is the thread that weaves together the past, present, and future, and creates the fabric of human interaction and life. When they told me this I felt very humbled. Whether you believe in certain mythologies or not, having other people believe that of you is a great responsibility and honor. Regardless of my level of belief in ancient Mayan practices, I am going to aspire to realize through my service the potential my Nawal carries, looking to its meaning for inspiration and motivation. It’s an absolutely profound and beautiful tradition and I hope to reflect the honor of these traditions with the people whom I will have the privilege of working.

Until next time, KEEP CALM AND GUATEMALA ON!