Brenda's Bicycles

In late September of 2011, my young friend Isaias made a deep committment — a committment to himself, a committment to follow his heart, a committment to follow in the traditions of his ancestors. He began studying to be a Mayan Sacerdote.

In English, we typically use the word “Shaman” when refering to indigenous people who choose to be a leader in the traditional ways. Here in the Mayan culture of Guatemala, the preferred term is “Mayan Sacerdote” or, directly translated to English “Mayan Priest.” I often hear people referring to these Sacerdotes, preceeding their name with the title “Tata.” For instance, a well known Mayan Priest in this area, whose name is Pedro, is often called “Tata Pedro”. But Isaias tells me the proper term has no “a” on the end … that it is just “Tat.”

On June 1, 2012, I had the privilege of being present at the magical graduation fire ceremony for my dear young friend as he completes his training. Gathered on the sacred hill above San Marcos were many Mayan Sacerdotes from all over this region, as well as other teachers, leaders, and friends. Of special note, something that I can only guess does not happen very often, is that a handful of “westerners” were also invited to this sacred graduation ceremony. Since Isaias is also Keith’s long term worker, he has built deep friendships with many people from foreign lands.

That Friday morning ceremony was perhaps the most magical indigenous ceremony that I have ever had the privilege of attending — with several hours of deeply devoted spiritual ceremony, intermingled with beautiful music, dance, and tradition.

Following is a small collection of the hundreds of photos that I took during the ceremony. I was not going to take photos … but when I saw many of the indigenous Mayan people taking their own photos, I joined in. Once I started, I could not stop.

A Pre-Gathering

Prior to the ceremony, Isaias’s friends began gathering at a local hotel at around 7:00 a.m. in the morning. I was privileged to be among them…

This is a beautiful fire pit adjacent to the dining area of the hotel restaurant where we all gathered. My beautiful friend Terry, owner of this hotel, has lived in San Marcos for almost twenty years. Being an avid student of the Mayan calendar and Mayan beliefs, Terry built this Mayan calendar around the fire pit. Each of the little glyphs around the circle represent one of the Mayan “naguales”, or one of the twenty months, each of which has thirteen days. My nagual is “IX” (pronounced “Ish”) which means “Jaguar.” My full birthday is “10 IX” … which means the tenth day of IX.

This is a photo of the glyph for “IX” … my nagual.

At first there was only a small group of us waiting for the ceremony. This young woman playing the flute is the daughter of another Mayan Sacerdote. I really enjoyed the music.

The whole family was playing in their own little magical band. The father (and Mayan Sacerdote) is the one sitting on the right, with his head showing between the two small tree trunks.

About an hour later, the rest of the group showed up … including Isaias’s teacher and an entire entourage of beautiful people … musicians … friends … and more Mayan Sacerdotes.

Of special interest to me was what they brought with them … a large Marimba. In this photo it is hidden under blankets, behind the man on the right.

A Marimba is a large hand-made wooden Xylophone — a very traditional instrument here in Guatemala. I have had the privilege of being in the home and workshop of one Marimba maker, located in the remote mountains just a couple of hours from here. It is a very tediouis and complicated art.

My friend Terry, playing the guitar. I spent two months studying with her during my Hollistic Healing course in the fall of 2010. She has several sacred Mayan fire circles on her property, and I have had the honor of participating in a few of those ceremonies.

Ceremonial Setup

After the whole group finally gathered, we all helped carry things up to the top of a sacred nearby hill — the same hill where Pyper and I went hiking in late April. I was shocked that even the Marimba was carried up that steep and slippery trail.

The woman in the right-center, dressed in blue, just above and to the left of the fire pit is Isaias’s teacher — a devoted Mayan Priestess. Prior to today, I have had the privilege of participating in two other fire ceremonies with her, both in her home village in the mountains. My last trip to see her was with Isaias and Pyper, in late April.

Note, I am intentionally not mentioning her name, nor the names of very many others — all in an attempt to preserve privacy.

I was quite surprised to see that several large bundles of pine needles were carried up the hill. Soon, I understood why. Several men soon began to cover the entire ceremonial area with a blanket of these pine needles. I do not know the significance of such a tradition, but it gave me a feeling of deep sacredness … as if they were creating a very sacred space for a very sacred ceremonial purpose.

 

Soon, even the Marimba was set up, and these men (and boy) provided us with beautiful traditional background music as the preparations continued.

I am not sure if it will work, because I do not often post video clips in my blog, but clicking on the following link should give you a few-second video sampling of their music.

(Note the video is just over 6 seconds long, and is 8.1 megabytes in size. The only way I was able to watch it from my blog (slow internet link) was to right click on this link, select “save target as,” and then to click on the actual file later.)

H2 – Jun 01, 2012 – Isaias Graduation Setup (6)

Isaias and his beautiful young wife, posing while participating in the preparations. Isaias has obviously not yet changed into his ceremonial clothing.

 

Preparing the fire pit. What they are placing as the base of the fire are some type of incense, mixed with flamable materials. As with all the Mayan ceremonies I have witnessed in Guatemala, they do not build their fires with wood. They use incense discs such as these, along with lots of candles. The fires burn hot, for a very long time.

Seated on the bench, in white is Mark — a beautiful man that has deeply researched the Mayan calendar and traditions. The other man seated, and the one standing to the left are a couple of people I know from chocolate ceremonies (names omitted for privacy).

Isaias’s teacher, and others, rushing around to make preparations.

Continuing to work on the fire pit …

More ongoing preparations.

These women are busily removing the corn husks that are used for packaging little tiny chunks of incense. They are placing the incense discs into baskets, for later use in the ceremony.

Angela (center) and another beautiful woman that I know from Keith’s chocolate ceremonies.

Soon, extending due east from the fire pit, an assortment of candles is arranged …

The man in back (red shawl) is a well-known shaman (priest) from the area. He works primarily with foreigners, introducing them to Mayan traditions. His name is Tata Pedro.

Standing around … watching and waiting …

Another view as this man continues the setting up of this sacred area between the candles. Sorry, I would love to explain further, but I do not know the sacred symbolism or significance of anything I am witnessing …

And another photo of the same general area.

More eager anticipation … my friend Terry on the right

Another photo op with Isaias and his beautiful wife.

The young man with the camera (on the left) came to San Marcos to do a little filming for a documentary. Since then, he also began doing a lot of filming about Keith and what he does on his porch … including an interview with me that I wrote about in my blog.

Today, Isaias has gotten special permission for him to film the ceremony. As I understood it, no one else was supposed to used their camera during the actual ceremony, but when almost everyone was doing so, I joined in too …

Gradually, the fire pit becomes more and more prepared. In this photo, a small container of honey is being poured onto the fire base.

The candles are all mounted atop metal railings that have many little looped rings. In this photo, tiny ceramic mugs have been placed in all of the looped rings on the outside of the candles, and now, small muffin-like pieces of baked bread are being placed in the inside rings.

The man in white is carrying an incense burner filled with glowing hot charcoal, that is smoking with copal incense. He is doing a traditional energetic cleansing using the incense smoke — doing so on Isaias’s beautiful teacher who is kneeling on the ground in front of the fire pit (directly behind the man in white).

Isaias’s teacher kneeling before the fire.

I cannot interpret the symbolism, but in this photo, Isaias’s teacher is holding and waving portions of the ceremonial clothing that will later be placed on Isaias, as if cleansing the clothing in the aura of the ceremonial area.

The man with the incense burner, cleansing the ceremonial area using copal incense.

More sacred preparations …

Isaias’s teacher, and the man in white, standing in front of the ceremonial area …

Two little boys who sat next to me. If they were not so darn cute, I might have been annoyed by them as they kept standing up and walking in front of me, blocking my views.

Doing more incense cleansing of major participants …

Cleansing the energy of the band members…

Another photo of the marimba band. The man at the far left (not visible in the thumbnail image) is one of the many Mayan Sacerdotes present. I love his apron with all the colorful Mayan glyphs on it.

A woman and her baby, observing the surroundings.

A closer view of the Mayan Sacerdote with the Mayan calendar glyphs on his apron … and his two daughters on his right.

Another photo of the same.

 

This large container of a traditional Mayan soup shows up quite late. Someone told me the name, but I cannot remember. Each of the tiny mugs on the outside of the candles is soon filled with a scoop of this drink/soup. It is a very thick, creamy mixture that tastes as if a large ingredient is corn … I wish I remembered what it is called …

Continuing to pour the hot, creamy, steamy, soup-like mixture into the mugs.

The Graduation Ceremony

The setup itself has been quite fascinating, but finally, it is time to begin.

Soon, Isaias returns in his ceremonial clothing. The young man with the incense burner is cleansing Isaias with a large dose of copal incense..

Isaias and his young wife then walk to the ceremonial area to greet his teacher.

Isaias kneeling on the ground, his teacher standing behind him.

Isaias glancing up at his teacher …

Isaias stands proudly in front of the crowd …

Isaias with his teacher …

Beginning conversation … sharing words of wisdom with isaias.

A delightful mix of worlds … Isaias kneeling on the ground while his gorgeous young wife checks her cell phone (I’m guessing a family member was late and trying to communicate).

A beautiful young woman looking on while holding Isaias’s precious baby.

More ceremonial beginnings …

Isaias and his wife have been presented with huge orange candles. I am not sure of the significance, other than I know that white candles are often used for single people, and orange are given to married or formerly married people. Isaias’s young wife is quite emotional, wiping her eyes …

Heart-to-heart sharing with family members. This is quite difficult, because most of the Mayan people are now either Catholic or evangelical … and returning to the old ways is seen by many of them is akin to me having left my own childhood religion. It is seen by some as an act of betraying the family and being lost into an evil (non-Christian) path.

Beginning a slow walk around the ceremonial area …

The procession is about half way around the circle …

Slowly completing a march around the ceremonial area.

Oops … I spoke too soon. They are walking around again … doing so with a traditional Mayan step … the same one that I witnessed with Pyper during a beauty-pageant-like ceremony as women from all over the area danced down a runway in traditional clothing and fabulous head wear … during the Feria at San Marcos in late April.

Almost around for the second time …

I love how the marimba band plays during the ceremonial stroll. It provides a festive feeling mixed in with the beautiful sacred event that is occurring.

Standing back in front of the ceremonial area.

Isaias approaching front and center…

More of the marimba and its talented players …

A closer view of some of the hand-made traditional artwork on the marimba.

During the traditional part of a Mayan fire ceremony, the 260 days of the Mayan Tzolkin calendar are counted off. There are twenty months (naguales) with each containing thirteen days. In this photo, Isaias is preparing to throw thirteen small pieces of incense (the ones the women unpacked earlier) into the fire, each representing one of the days from one of the naguales that is presently being honored.

And into the fire they go…

In this photo, Isaias’s teacher holds out a beautiful flag. I do not know the true significance, but I can guess that the four colors around the outside (red, yellow, black and white) represent the four colors of corn, the four cardinal points of the compass, and the four races of humanity. I cannot speak for the blue diamond in the middle that seems to unite them all together.

This flag looks very similar to a mural I saw painted on a wall in San Juan when Pyper was here in April.

Oh … and I forgot to mention that somewhere in the previous few minutes, Isaias was given his traditional headwear and belt — brilliant colors dominated by yellow. Each Mayan Sacerdote has his own colors. I do not know the significance of those worn by Isaias. Perhaps it has to do with his birth Nagual … perhaps it is his choice … but I am sure it has deep significance to him.

Isaias kneeling before the fire…

I cannot remember what they are holding in their hands …

Continuing their count of the 260 days in the Mayan Tzolkin calendar. In the baskets are more of those tiny chunks of incense.

 

Another look at this portion of the ceremonial area … showing how it now looks when fully adorned. I love the little mushroom-like things in the middle. These are more of those ceramic mugs, filled with the drink, and covered with little pieces of round bread.

Continuing to count through more of the 260 days in the calendar. Note, the Mayan Tzolkin calender is sometimes called the short count calendar. It covers a period of just under nine months — and is believed to parallel the human gestation period (of the length of a human pregnancy). There are two Mayan calendars. The long-count calendar (can’t remember the Mayan name) is not used at all in this region. That long count calendar is the one that archeologists interpret … the one that predicts the date Dec 21, 2012.

Preparing to throw something else into the fire. Note how bright and hot the fire burns with just incense and candles…

I am not sure what Isaias is holding in this photo.

You cannot see it in the thumbnail image, but a straw mat (called a petate) has been placed on the ground to Isaias’s left. I am eager to see what it is for …

Soon, Isaias is asked to lie down on the ground. Note, the beautiful and ornate wood-carved ceremonial staff that Isaias’s teacher is holding in front of her. The center of the staff is a lighter brown color … and the snake-like coil that winds up the outside is much darker brown.

Soon, the staff is placed on Isaias’s body. Over the next while, the staff is moved four times, such that the top points in each of the cardinal directions. In this photo, the top of the staff is pointing east.

I do not know the significance, but in this photo (and the first four cardinal point movements) Isaias is on his back, looking at the sky. Then, Isaias is asked to lie on his stomach, and the staff is again placed on him, being moved four times, once for each compass direction.

A closer view of Isaias with the staff in the first direction.

When these eight positions are complete, Isaias is then guided to stand up, and to slowly walk around the circle with the ornate staff on his shoulders.

 

Continuing his walk around the circle, following his teacher, as they both do the same traidional Mayan two-step dance I mentioned earlier.

Once the circle is complete, Isaias stands in front of the crowd, with the staff still on his shoulders.

Suddenly, the ceremony shifts to one of colorful, cultural flare. Several young men enter from the far side, dressed in ancient traditional clothing, performing a small selection of traditional dance.

I do not understand the symbolism or significance of any of it … but it is beautiful.

More of the dancing. you can see the flames of the fire in the bottom left.

 

And more …

The beautiful show continues…

And one more photo of these two young men with their fancy footwork.

Observers in the crowd.

Another piece of Isaias’s traditional clothing is held over the sacred fire.

Isaias’s teacher, holding one of two beautiful doves that were a part of the ceremony. In this photo, she is holding the legs of the dove, cleansing it over the smoke of the sacred fire.

She then holds the beautiful dove above Isaias’s head.

And then places the dove on Isaias’s head…

The backs of the two cute little boys who frequently stood in front of me to block my view … especially near the end.

At one point, during many of the delightful musical interludes, Tata Pedro gets up to play the drum.

Isaias, doing another traditional walk/dance around the ceremonial area.

The marimba and drums continue to play as Isaias works his way around the circle.

Back in the front … Isaias was given a new incense burner for his use. It is filled with charcoal that is just beginning to burn.

Keith, who has moved closer to the ceremonial area near the end. He has spent much of the ceremony perched above the fire on a small nearby hill, taking photos from afar. Soon, he will need to return to his house to prepare for an afternoon chocolate ceremony.

Soon, Isaias is presented with some type of ceremonial pouch that is tied around is neck. I am not sure what, if anything, is being carried in the back. I can only assume that it is something sacred, related to his practice as a Mayan Sacerdote.

Continuing to tie the fabric pouch …

Isaias then completes another walk/dance around the circle.

Here he is walking by the marimba, as the music again plays with festive energy. If you look closely, you will notice that all of the candles in the middle have burned to the ground …

Continuing his walk. Note that he is holding his ornate wooden staff in his right hand, his beautiful wife holds the two large orange candles behind him, and his teacher follows up with a close third…

Continuing what I believe is his final ceremonial stroll around the circle.

I love this photo with Isaias and his wife (not visible in the thumbnail) kneeling in front of the fire … with Keith kneeling in the near background. Keith had become like a father to this beautiful (or should I say handsome) young man.

And another beautiful photo of the same scene. The smoke from the fire lightly clouds the clarity of the view. Note, the large white candle (smaller than the orange ones) is for their little baby boy.

And another similar photo …

Post Ceremony Hugs

Soon, the formal ceremony is over, and Isaias begins a round of hugs with those who are present … beginning with his beautiful teacher.

I love Isaias’s young wife …

I love this young Mayan girl looking on. It is unusual to see a young Mayan girl not wearing traditional clothing.

Such a gorgeous smile …

Posing for the camera …

And now it is my turn. I love my young friend … Tat Isaias.

And my favorite photo of all.

 Final Wrap Up

After a final round of hugs with the newest “Tat” in Guatemala, I hurry back down the hill to change clothes and scurry out to Keith’s porch for a Friday afternoon chocolate ceremony.

I am torn between two options. Most of the guests are staying for a yummy chicken dinner that will be served to them at the hotel where we first gathered. I have been invited to the meal, and am starved. I would love to visit more with the beautiful guests from around the area.

But alas, my heart guides me to go to the chocolate ceremony.

It has been such an amazing morning … such a magical ceremony.

I am so proud of Tat Isaias, my young Mayan friend, and now Mayan Sacerdote. There is no doubt in my mind that, as his life unfolds, he will be a powerful influence in serving the world, and those around him (as he is already doing).

Copyright © 2012 by Brenda Larsen, All Rights Reserved