Things of the Toltecs

The Toltecayotl speaks to the culture, its sciences, arts and philosophies. This step corresponds to the Sex Chakra*, about two inches below our belly button. Aztec way, the chakra is called The Feather, Ihuitl.

*NOTE on chakras: Each of the seven steps corresponds to one of the seven chakras – seven wheels of power running from the base of your spine to the crown of your head. Their “power” comes in how you direct your energies to the world. Not wanting to quote any single chakra instruction, here’s a link to an Web MD article. Should the subject, rather the dynamic of the subject, interest you, there’s a lot out there. 

The word “toltec” has roots in Asia and the Americas with a basic meaning of “cultured person.” It’s meant as a spiritual achievement, however, not as being educated or polished. By the time the Spanish conquerors came the word simply meant “artist” in the pre-conquest society.

The toltecayotl step is where the warrior gathers that knowledge base that will fuel his passage, gaining knowledge about what she’s about to do. Try as one might, it’s almost impossible to narrow this topic, there are many things of the toltecs. Not only is it rich and plentiful in and of itself, it opens up to parallels and similar thoughts across the world, throughout the cultures. Knowledge is knowledge, regardless of the vocabulary being used, and when the knowledge is energized, it is indeed power. 

Practitioners of the toltec ways were considered tlamatinime – artists who make art of their life – and were well-respected in society. Toltecs filled roles on every level of society – warriors, statesmen, healers, merchants and many “common” men and women, as well.  When the Spanish came they would label our artists demons, and we all know of the genocide that followed that Spanish-Catholic play on words. 

Things of the Toltec

The toltecs, having had some previous experience with attempts to annihilate them, and like the tribes, threatened with their very existence, went underground. Evolved human beings, unfortunately, are shut down almost everywhere they show up. The tribes suffered the injustice and the toltecs accepted the challenge, went underground and reorganized. They found ways to hide, as they say, in plain sight, saved the best of the knowledge to save the People.

As for the one God issue, the following is a translated quote from Kinam: El Poder del Equilibrio (Kinam: The Power of Equilibrium), by Frank Diaz. It’s a partial explanation of the concept of God.

“The central power of the universe received the name Teotl. Aside from this root being like the Greek Theos, for the toltecs it was not a personal feeling, since they considered God an abstract being. The suffix Teotl was never used as a noun, it was a descriptor meaning: powerful, energetic.”

Like many cultures across the Earth the toltecs did have a theist point of view. They practiced deep reverence for this cosmic energy under a more personal name, Senteotl, one God, who was also known as Tlasopilli, the Prince of Love. 

The challenge of the genocide and the energy of God are both bits of toltecayotl, but they are but drops in a sea of treasures, not even close to an introductory blurb. The treasures of our history and the stories lead us to experience our own story. That’s a dynamic, since it’s a knowing that moves us, a knowing that comes off the page.

Speaking of stories, we have a great deal of respect for three authors, among others, enough that we list them first as references for you. Some of their work is on our BOOKS/LIBROS page. These authors can give you sound and varied ideas of what a toltec is: Don Miguel Ruiz, Carlos Castaneda and Sergio Magana are great sources to start your Toltecayotl step. More about them next installment.

The second of the Seven Steps will be Nawatilli – order. Meanwhile, get out there and 

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