To Make of Oneself a God

Teochiwa translates as devotion, but the word lays out:  teo – God, then chiwa – to make. It’s not devotion as the western world sees it, as pure worship and prayer. This is more about using energy to make oneself the best one can be. This third step links to our Heart chakra, Xochitl, the Flower.

*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.

Long before the Catholic Church we had baptism, communion, confession, marriage and death rites. While some of the rites have parallels with Catholic rites, there are some marked differences. For instance, we have no belief in original sin. Sin is something, after all, that can be cured. And as you may imagine, our relationship to death and the ancestors, two of the five principles, are also different. This is the Devotion that built the pyramids.

Not devotion to an outward being or deity, but devotion directed within, to make of oneself a god (small g), to actualize one’s potential. The toltec way developed in an imminently mystical environment. Instead of wars and wealth, the toltec turned to wonders inside, explored the hidden archive of consciousness and extracted an enormous amount of information. For a toltec who believes deeply in the unlimited potentials of humanity, this is infinitely practical information.

The emphasis on practical functionality makes this devotion more about using energy wisely than about seeking deities for favor or succor. Indeed, if you walk in Step 3, Teochiwa, you’ll wind up seeking, learning and mastering various states of conscious for optimum performance in your role of warrior-artist.

MAKE ART