Category Archives: Toltec/Tolteca

TOLTECAYOTL, Step 1

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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 

MAKE ART

LOS SIETE PASOS DEL CAMINO TOLTECA

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La Dinámica Del Camino, Un Modelo

El camino tolteca de la sabiduría conduce al guerrero a través del humo de las ilusiones de esta vida y las duras realidades que nos trae y lo encamina hasta las maravillas del propio infinito. Tal camino requiere estructura, un modelo para seguir.

Si te perdiste algunas de los Cinco Principios que dan fondo a los Siete Pasos, tenemos artículos funcionalmente cortos:  Emancipación, Equilibrio, Experiencia, Muerte y Ancestros.  Cierta conciencia de los cinco principios filtrará tu apreciación de los Siete Pasos.

Los Siete pasos son simultáneos.

Todos moviéndose, siempre, dinámicos, al ritmo.

Al principio los tomamos en algún orden, pero una vez que un paso es funcional, continúa evolucionando para siempre. Un enfoque más circular se desarrolla con el tiempo. Aparte debes saber que dentro el toltecquismo hay mucho que discutir acerca del tiempo.

Para este altar tolteca la sabiduría llegó a través de la lengua náhuatl (na-wat), hablada por los aztecas y muchos otros indígenas del suroeste. No puedo exagerar el poder de usar lenguajes originales en el trabajo metafísico. El conocimiento en forma original hace magia, así de simple.  Nombrar tu actividad de los Siete Pasos*, en náhuatl, antes de comenzar o cuando termines, traerá, por lo menos, algo de pulido a tus esfuerzos.

*Guía de pronunciación.  Todas las vocales se pronuncian como los conoce un lector del Español. El acento siempre está en la penúltima sílaba. No pronunciar la “l”, en el sufijo “tl”, “t” es siempre el último sonido. La calidad de tu pronunciación no importa tanto como tus intenciones. Decir la palabra en náhuatl llama a la profundidad de la tradición a estar contigo.

Pulir nuestras habilidades hacia la perfección es también un rasgo importante del toltecquismo, así como el objetivo del arte tolteca: hacer cualquier cosa y todo al nivel del arte más alto. Y también debemos mencionar la elección de tomar acción por encima de todas las otras opciones.

Hay demasiado sobre los Siete Pasos para cubrir en un artículo corto, así que adelante hay una lista de probaditas, pistas, para susurrar lo suficiente, para ver si quieres más:

Los Siete Pasos:

Toltecayotl – Cosas de los toltecas

Nawatilli – El orden de la vida, sus convenciones y deberes

Teochiwa – La divinidad interior y la devoción en general

Chipawa – Purificación, preparación, salúd

Teomania – Meditación, trance, ensoñar

Nawallotl – Chamanismo, y el objetivo final de la “maestría” tolteca

Yekoatl – Movimiento físico disciplinado, una dinámica diaria

Se encuentra lógica en los pasos, nada fuera de este mundo: Paso 1 – aprender el tema, 2 – poner las cosas en orden, 3 – aprender sobre ti mismo, 4 – preparar para la tarea, 5 – hacer el trabajo, 6 – alcanzar el dominio y 7 – cuidarte físicamente, siempre. Pasos funcionales, comunes.

Lo poderoso es que la dinámica de cada paso se ha repetido infinitamente a lo largo de miles de años. Podemos aplicar esos mismos pasos de un millón de maneras diferentes por el poder que da repetir patrones exitosos. Mira las artes marciales o el yoga, modelos antiguos que funcionan hoy en día, literalmente, para millones de humanos.

Trabajas con cada paso de maneras que se aplican a tu vida, tal como la vives en este momento.  Traduces el paso a tu vocabulario.  Esto te ayuda a hacer un inventario y ajustar lo necesario, sabiendo lo que tienes y lo que te falta.

Eso es lo que todo tolteca ha hecho: poner su atención en estos principios y crear experiencia en carne y cuerpo.  Hablaremos más sobre cada paso en los próximos meses, comenzando la próxima semana con el Paso Toltecayotl.

HACER ARTE

THE SEVEN STEPS OF THE TOLTEC WAY

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The Dynamics of the Way, A Blueprint

The toltec path of knowledge, the way, leads the warrior through the smoke and mirrors of life, and its hard lessons, and then leads the warrior on to the wonders of infinity itself. Such a path needs structure. 

If you missed some of the Five Principles of the toltec way, the principles leading to the  Seven Steps, in functionally short articles, can be found here:. Emancipation, Equilibrium, Experience, Death and Ancestors. Some awareness of the five principles will percolate your appreciation of the Seven Steps.

The Seven are concurrent steps.

All moving, all the time, dynamic, in rhythm.

At first we take them in some order, but once a step is functional, it evolves forever. A more circular approach develops as time passes. And, you should know, in toltecquism, there will be much discussion of time.

For this toltec altar the wisdom came through the Nahuatl language (na-wat) language, spoken by the Aztecs and many other indigenous tribes of the Southwest. I can’t overstate the power of using original languages in metaphysical work. Invoking knowledge in original form makes magic, simple as that.Naming your activity from the Seven Steps*, in Nahuatl, before you get started or when you finish, will bring, at the very least, some polish to your efforts.

Polishing our abilities toward perfection is also a major trait of toltecquism, as well as the goal of toltec art – doing anything and everything to the level of the highest art. And we might as well mention choosing action over all the other choices.

Impossible to cap the Seven Steps in one short article, so we bring a list of teasers, a hint at this amazing treasure laying before you, to whisper just enough, see if you want more:  

The Seven Steps:

Toltecayotl – Things of the toltecs

Nawatilli –  The order of life, its conventions and duties

Teochiwa – The divinity within and devotion, in general

Chipawa – Purification, preparation, health

Teomania – Meditation, trance, dreaming

Nawallotl – Shamanism, and the ultimate goal of toltec “mastery”

Yekoatl – Disciplined physical movement, a daily dynamic

*Pronunciation guide. All vowels are pronounced as short vowels for English speakers. Accent is always on the second to the last syllable. Don’t pronounce the “l,” in the “tl” suffix,“t” is always the last sound. The quality of your pronunciation doesn’t matter near as much as your intentions. Saying the word in Nahuatl calls the depth of the tradition to be with you.

The logic of the steps, nothing out of this world: In layman terms: Step 1 – learn the subject, 2 – put things in order, 3 – learn about yourself and your ability, 4 –  prepare for the task, 5 – do the work, 6 – reach mastery and 7 – take care of yourself physically.

Not so crazy, is it? Common sense stuff, common sense path. Functional. See for yourself.

What makes it so powerful is that the dynamics of each step have been repeated infinitely over thousands of years. We can apply those same steps in a million different ways for the power that rises in repeating successful patterns. Look at martial arts or yoga, ancient patterns that work now, literally for millions of people.

You work with each step in ways that apply to your life, as you live it right now. You translate the step into your vocabulary. This helps you inventory and adjust accordingly – knowing what you have, what’s missing and how to fill it all in.

That’s what every toltec has ever done: place their attention on these principles and create experience by living it. We’ll talk more about each step in the coming months, starting next week with the Toltecayotl Step.

MAKE ART

The Jaguar At The Altar

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The Healer’s Password

One day a Mayan Medicine Man came from his village in Yucatan, Mexico, to share the wisdom of their traditional shamans, the Mayan Day-keepers, with us hungry to hear it. It was around 2012 so having an elder around to affirm indigenous understanding of this date was helpful.

We spoke of their practice, how they work with patients, and deal with the government and the church. The conversation came around to some of the special considerations needed when working on another healer, witch or even a light bringer of some sort. 

He said the key to working with practitioners was Ek Balam, Black Jaguar. He explained that everybody in the healing industry, the midwife in a back alley and the surgeon at MD Anderson alike, had to pass through the Jaguar.

In our culture the Jaguar is ancient and powerful. In the stories of the Five Suns that came before, the Ocelotl, Jaguars, were the dominant “people” of the third Sun. The cats are associated with fire, the night, predatory instincts. In this Sun they help us with seeing in the dark, things we can’t normally perceive, finding courage, for one. Jaguars certainly have a presence on all our ancient sites, temples, pyramids and the like. Recognized in tribal ritual and ceremony from Mexico all the way to Chile, Ocelotl is what they’d call a universal totem/power animal. 

A past incident popped in my mind the moment the daykeeper said, “pass through the Jaguar.”  I figured, if he is right about that, which I now believe fervently, the level of fear we experience forms part of our passage, whatever gesture we may be having with the big feline. 

I found my password many years ago. In the still of the night, left in camp as the one too young to go out hunting with the rest, I was expecting something; I didn’t know if it would be terrible or wonderful, but something. The silence was, as they say, deafening, and, to top it off, I couldn’t see anything either. Things got quieter and darker when suddenly I hear the growl of a mountain lion. I swear I caught a drift of her scent and I thought she was certainly at my ear. The sound filled my being, and the whole world, for all I knew. I heard it in every inch of my body, but still, there’s more than fear in that growl. 

That kind of fear gets your attention, but when one endures the moment, there’s more than just fear in the encounter with Ocelotl. There’s power in it, too. One experiences a power that can devour you or propel you, depending, again, on you. One of those powers is seeing in the dark, or she can teach you how to hunt, or how to get your promotion, name it, it’s about doing anything and everything in the dark. That’s cat medicine. 

Isn’t that something like life? Did you ever feel like you were walking in the dark? Did you ever marvel at how cool the big cats are?

We then consulted the Jaguar every time we had a healer or a spiritual practitioner at the altar. In other words, no matter what the patient was feeling, no matter how different the patient and we may be, we had something in common. We both know the Jaguar on some level, and that is the  entry point to where the healing can be found.

Jaguar is medicine, from the medical profession, from the lady on the corner. We apply that medicine to heal, to have, to access. The big cat is Earth medicine. 

MAKE ART

El Jaguar Sobre El Altar

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La Contraseña Del Sanador

Un día, un curandero maya vino de su pueblo en Yucatán, para compartir la sabiduría de los chamanes tradicionales, llamados los guardianes del día, con nosotros hambrientos de escucharlo. Era alrededor de 2012, por lo que fue útil tener un anciano para afirmar la comprensión indígena de esta fecha relacionado con el calendario maya.

Hablamos de su práctica, cómo trabajan con los pacientes y como tratan con el gobierno y la iglesia. La conversación giró en torno a algunas de las consideraciones especiales necesarias cuando se trabaja en otro sanador, bruja o incluso un portador de luz de algún tipo.

Dijo que la clave para trabajar con los practicantes era Ek Balam, la Jaguara Negra. Explicó que todos en el trabajo de la curación, la partera en un callejón trasero y el cirujano del MD Anderson, por igual, tuvieron que, y tienen que, pasar por el Jaguar.

En nuestra cultura el Jaguar es antiguo y poderoso. En las historias de los Cinco Soles, los Ocelotl, Jaguares, eran el “pueblo” dominante del tercer Sol. Los gatos están asociados con el fuego, la noche, los instintos depredadores. En este Sol nos ayudan a ver en la oscuridad, cosas que normalmente no podemos percibir, controlando el coraje y otras emociones, por ejemplo. Los jaguares ciertamente tienen presencia en todos nuestros sitios antiguos, templos, pirámides y similares. Reconocido en rituales tribales y ceremonias desde México hasta Chile, Ocelotl es lo que llamarían un tótem universal / animal de poder.

Un incidente del pasado apareció en mi mente en el momento en que el guardian maya dijo: “pasar por el Jaguar”.  Pensé, si tiene razón en eso, que ahora creo fervientemente, el nivel de miedo que experimentamos forma parte de nuestro pasaje, cualquiera que sea el gesto que podamos estar teniendo con el gran felino.

Encontré mi contraseña hace muchos años. En el alambique de la noche, dejado en el campamento como el demasiado joven para salir a cazar con los demás, esperaba algo; No sabía si sería terrible o maravilloso, pero algo venía. El silencio era, como se suele decir, ensordecedor y para colmo, tampoco podía ver nada. Las cosas se pusieron más silenciosas y oscuras, cuando de repente, escucho el gruñido de un león de montaña. Juro que capté una deriva de su aroma y pensé que ciertamente estaba en mi oído. El sonido llenó mi ser, y el mundo entero, por todo lo que sabía en ese momento. Lo escuché en cada centímetro de mi cuerpo, pero aún así, hay más que miedo dentro ese gruñido. 

Ese tipo de miedo llama tu atención, pero cuando uno experimenta el momento, hay algo más que miedo en el encuentro con Ocelotl.  También hay poder en ello. Uno experimenta un poder que puede devorarte o impulsarte, dependiendo, de nuevo, de ti. Uno de esos poderes es ver en la oscuridad, o puede enseñarte cómo cazar, o cómo obtener tu promoción; nombrarlo, se trata de hacer cualquier cosa y todo en la oscuridad. Esa es la medicina felina. 

¿No es eso algo así como la vida? ¿Alguna vez te sentiste como si estuvieras caminando en la oscuridad? ¿Alguna vez te fasino lo hábil que son los grandes felinos?

Luego consultamos al Jaguar cada vez que teníamos un sanador o un practicante espiritual en el altar. En otras palabras, no importa lo que el paciente sintiera, no importa cuán diferentes sean el paciente y nosotros, teníamos algo en común. Ambos conocemos al Jaguar en algún nivel, y ese es el punto de entrada a donde se encuentra la curación.

Jaguar es medicina, de la profesión médica, de la señora de la esquina. Aplicamos esa medicina para sanar, para tener, para acceder. El gran felino es medicina de la Tierra. 

HACER ARTE

The Sexto Sol, Part 4

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“The way is shown, so that the way is not lost”

Dawn of the Sixth Sun reveals the entire Decree of the Sixth Sun, if you want to catch up with what we’ve been discussing. We Call It The Sixth Sun  talks about how the common people are the ones called to create this new Sun. And in The Sixth Sun Burns Now we speak to the importance of awareness regarding these difficult, yet simultaneously, quite promising times. Today, in the fourth article, we look at the story of how the Fifth Sun was created, and some of the creator gods, the “Primary Lords,” that participated in the creation of the Fifth Sun, the Sun now retiring.

This now ending Sun was created by the Primary Lords

Teccuzitezcatl, the Lord who created Moon

During the long night

From the Land of the Dead

The People have resisted 500 years

Scattered by circumstance

Yet from the oldest of Grandfathers

The way is shown, so that the way is not lost.

That’s how Cuahtemoctzin ordered it,

As we have done.

The Stories of the Five Suns of humanity are our story of creation. Each Sun designates a period of human history and the Fifth, of course, is the period we’re completing now. Some compare it to the receding of the Age of Pisces, giving way to the Age of Aquarius. Each Sun had its time over our lives and each period ended in major disaster that eventually opens to a new and better world, a new Sun. Most people around the world who believe in these things have their own way of interpreting all this – new Earth, the Ascension, the Great Awakening –  but I’m very sure we’re all in agreement that we are in that time of disaster/opportunity.  

“Creator gods” is the term we use to describe the characters in the above passage from the Decree. In the times of pyramid building some amazing work was done that we still don’t completely understand. Each creator god has some myth and some truth to their story. Whether these were some of the original angels on earth, or human-like beings from a very advanced planet, or human beings who made gods of themselves, we don’t know. We do know we are in the good and bad consequences of the Fifth Sun.  

Major global events were occurring in the age and among the myths that grew around the world to explain it all is our own Creation of the Fifth Sun. The Decree tells just a part of that story. Knowing how things went in the creation of Fifth Sun can hint at what we can expect. We are, after all, called to actually create the Sixth Sun.  

Teccuzitezcatl – a very elegant god, well dressed, rich. In order to become the Sixth Sun, he is called upon to sacrifice himself in the Sacred Fire. Since our handsome candidate hesitates, a god named Nanahuatzin, the Scaley One (since he had a kind of leprosy), made the leap right on time, and so Nanahuatzin became the Fifth Sun. 

Humiliated, Teccuzitecatl, jumped in the Fire afterwards. He went then to the Land of the Dead and passed through that odyssey to become the Moon, the Night Sun.

When the Speaker of the Decree talks about 500 years of resistance he’s talking 500 years in the future, or, now. Indeed, here we are, the indigenous people of this continent have resisted, scattered to the four winds, perhaps, but surviving still.

“Cuahtemoctzin ordered it,” The Honorable Descending Eagle, Cuahtemoctzin, was our last Speaker, “Chief” in the European vocabulary. He was as much flesh and blood human as you and I, not one of the “creator gods.” He decreed ways that set us up for the time we live now, about taking our traditions into our homes to protect them, and being ready for the Sixth Sun.

But how does one make a Sun? Will it be something like the Fifth? Will there be repentant cowards who look like heros and sick people who actually are heros?

MAKE ART

El Sexto Sol, Parte 4

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“Se muestra el camino, para que no se pierda.”

El Amanecer Del Sexto Sol revela todo el Decreto del Sexto Sol, si quieres ponerte al día con lo que venimos comentando. Le Llamamos el Sexto Sol  habla como la gente común, los macehuales, son los indicados para crear el nuevo Sol. Y en El Sexto Sol Arde Ya  hablamos de la importancia de la conciencia con respecto a estos tiempos difíciles, pero tiempos, a la vez, bastante prometedores. Hoy, en el cuarto artículo, analizamos la historia de cómo se creó el Quinto Sol y algunos de los dioses creadores, sea los “Señores Primarios”, que participaron.

Este Sol que ahora se acaba fue creado por los Señores Primarios

Teccuzitezcatl, el Señor que creó a la Luna

Durante la larga noche

Desde la Tierra de los Muertos

El Pueblo ha resistido 500 años

Dispersos por las circunstancias

Sin embargo desde el más viejo de los Abuelos

Se muestra el camino, para que no se pierda.

Así lo ordenó Cuahtemoctzin 

como lo hemos hecho.

Nuestras Historias de los Cinco Soles de la humanidad son nuestra historia de la creación. Cada Sol designa un período de la historia humana y el Quinto, por supuesto, es el período que estamos completando ahora. Algunos lo comparan con el retroceso de la Era de Piscis, dando paso a la Era de Acuario. Cada Sol tuvo su tiempo a lo largo de nuestras vidas y cada período terminó en un gran desastre que eventualmente se abre a un nuevo y mejor mundo. La mayoría de las personas que creen en estas cosas tienen su propia forma de interpretar todo esto: la nueva Tierra, la Ascensión, el Gran Despertar.  Sin importar como se llama el tiempo, todos sabemos que estamos en el momento de desastre – oportunidad.  

“Dioses creadores” es el término que usamos para describir a los personajes en el pasaje anterior del Decreto del Sexto Sol. En los tiempos de la construcción de pirámides se hizo un trabajo casi milagroso que todavía no entendemos completamente. Cada dios creador tiene algo de mito y algo de verdad en la historia. Si estos fueron algunos de los ángeles originales de la tierra, o seres humanos de un planeta muy avanzado, o seres humanos que se hicieron dioses a sí mismos, no lo sabemos. Si sabemos que estamos viviendo las consecuencias.

Algunos eventos globales estaban ocurriendo durante esos tiempos, y entre los mitos que crecieron para explicarlo todo, está nuestra propia Creación del Quinto Sol. El Decreto cuenta sólo una parte de esa historia. Saber cómo fueron las cosas al comienzo del Quinto Sol puede darnos una idea de lo que podemos esperar. Después de todo, estamos llamados a crear el Sexto Sol.  

Teccuzitezcatl – un dios muy elegante, bien vestido, rico. Para convertirse en el Sexto Sol, Teccuzitezcatl era llamado a sacrificarse en el Fuego Sagrado. Como nuestro guapo candidato vaciló, un dios llamado Nanahuatzin, el Escamoso (ya que tenía una especie de lepra), dio el salto a tiempo y así Nanahuatzin se convirtió en el Quinto Sol. 

Humillado, Teccuzitecatl, saltó después al Fuego. Fue entonces a la Tierra de los Muertos y pasó por esa odisea para convertirse en la Luna, el Sol de la Noche.

Cuando el Portavoz del Decreto habla de 500 años de resistencia está hablando de 500 años en el futuro, o sea, ahora. Efectivamente, aquí estamos, los indígenas de este continente hemos resistido, esparcidos a los cuatro vientos, tal vez, pero sobreviviendo aún.

“Cuahtemoctzin lo ordenó”, o sea, al Decreto y la urgencia de preparación. El Honorable Águila Descendente, Cuahtemoctzin, fue nuestro último Orador, “Jefe” en el vocabulario europeo. Era tan humano, de carne y hueso, como tú y yo, no uno de los dioses creadores. Nos mostró cómo llevar nuestras tradiciones a nuestros hogares para protegerlas, y quería que estuviéramos listos para el Sexto Sol. 

Pero, ¿cómo se hace un Sol? ¿Será algo así como el Quinto Sol? ¿Habrá cobardes arrepentidos que parecen héroes y enfermos que en realidad son héroes?

HACER ARTE

Hacer Arte Del Altar

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Apoyarse En La Práctica

Cuando los Reyes Católicos desataron todo el peso de la maquinaria religiosa y militar española sobre las Américas, se encontraron con la palabra:

tlamatinime

Las mentiras de los conquistadores crecieron rápidamente a su alrededor.

 “Es herético y es brujería”, dijeron, condenando inmediatamente a los nuestros con el título tlamatinime, asegurando que nuestro pueblo se convertiría en las víctimas más nuevas de la Santa Inquisición.

Ser tlamatinime significa que haces arte de tu vida, en cualquier papel o circunstancia en la que te encuentres, haces arte.  Algunos de los practicantes eran generales, otros eran artistas, algunos plomeros, curanderos y panaderos: los tlamatinime, los artistas toltecas, tenían todas las ocupaciones y los deberes posibles; y todos ellos practicaban su vida como un arte, como un tolteca.

El espíritu y el poder de los tlamatinime nunca se atenuaron, a pesar de la conquista. Su lucha exigió el precio final y, aunque el genocidio no ha terminado del todo, ha fortalecido el camino del arte en general. El espíritu y la práctica están vivos y fuertes.

Definir la palabra “arte” es como definir “amor”. Salen millones de respuestas, ninguna de las cuales cubre el significado total de la palabra. El autor motivacional, Seth Godin, ofrece una definición útil.

“El arte es el trabajo que hacemos donde no hay una respuesta correcta, y sin embargo, el viaje vale la pena el esfuerzo. Podemos hacer arte con un teclado, con un pincel o con nuestras acciones. Principalmente lo hacemos porque nos apoyamos en una práctica, confiando en que tenemos una oportunidad de marcar la diferencia. ” Enfatizamos la práctica porque es la práctica que realiza el arte. Para ser tlamatinime, para hacer un arte de la vida, uno debe actuar sobre ello, consistentemente.

La esencia de la palabra tlamatinime se derramó en nuestras vidas antes de que pudiéramos pronunciarla. Lo sabíamos, lo oíamos, lo buscábamos, sin saber de qué se trataba.

Metemos arte en el crear y operar un altar, haciendo un lugar donde los espíritus se mueven, donde las personas encuentran respuestas y curación, y donde, a veces, la Deidad nos visita. Fuimos grandes y pequeños, coloridos y sencillos, intrincados y simples. Todo lo que pusimos en el altar nos devolvió algo. Velas, plumas, piedras, estatuas, pieles de serpiente, calaveras, cruces, santos, budas y por supuesto, nuestras mejores palabras y nuestras mejores canciones.

Por supuesto, la sociedad, el gobierno y la opinión pública tienen otras ideas de lo que debe ser un “altar” y lo que debe ser el arte. Decidimos que nosotros también teníamos el derecho, siendo humanos, hijos de la creación, de basar nuestro altar sobre nuestra experiencia y en cómo elegimos hacer arte de ella.  La experiencia determina nuestra evolución. ¿Cómo no seguir su guía?

Cuando no sabíamos qué hacer, o carecíamos del poder para hacerlo, nosotros, como dice el Sr. Godin anteriormente, “nos apoyamos en una práctica”, la práctica de tlamatinime: hacer arte de la vida.

HACER ARTE

Making Altar Art

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Leaning Into The Practice

When the Reyes Católicos, the “Catholic Royals,” unleashed the full weight of the Spanish religious and military machine upon the Americas they encountered the word…

tlamatinime

And the conqueror’s lies grew quickly around it.

“It’s heretical and it’s witchcraft,” they said, immediately condemning those with the title, and assuring our people would become the newest victims of the Holy Inquisition.

To be tlamatinime means you make art of your life, in whatever role or circumstance you find yourself, you make art of it. Some of the practitioners were generals, some were artists, some plumbers, healers and bakers – the tlamatinime, the toltec artists, held all possible occupations and duties; and all of them practiced their life as art.

The spirit and power of the tlamatinime never dimmed, in spite of the conquest. Their struggle demanded the ultimate price and while genocide is not quite over, it’s strengthened the way of art over all. The spirit and the practice are alive and well.

Defining the word “art” is like defining “love”. It gets millions of answers, none of which cover the total meaning of the word. The motivational author, Seth Godin, offers a useful definition.

“Art is the work we do where there is no right answer – and yet the journey is worth the effort. We might make art with a keyboard, with a paint brush, or with our actions. Mostly we do it because we lean into a practice, trusting we have a shot to make a difference.“

We emphasize practice because it is practice that makes the art real. To be tlamatinime, to make an art of one’s life, one must act upon it, consistently.

The essence of the word spilled into our lives before we could pronounce it. We knew it, heard it, sought it, without knowing what it was.

We put the art into creating and operating an altar – a place where the spirits move about, where people find answers and healing, and where, sometimes, Deity visits. We have been large and small, colorful and plain, intricate and simple. Everything we put on the altar gives us something back. Candles, feathers, stones, statues, snake skins, skulls, crosses, Saints, Buddhas and of course, our best words and our best songs.

Of course, society, government, public opinion and so forth, have other ideas of what an “altar” should be, and what art should be. We decided we too had the right, being human, sons of creation, to base our altar in/on our experience and on how we choose to make art of it. Experience determines our evolution. How can we not follow its guidance?

When we didn’t know what to do, or lacked the power to do it, we, as Mr. Godin says above, “leaned into our practice,” the practice of tlamatinime – making art of one’s life.

MAKE ART

The Sun Dance And The Quetzal

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Myth Of Transformation And Transmutation

Regarding the origin of sacred dance, as told by, Atezcatl, Water Mirror:

Young Teoyotzin loves the Sun, loves to watch it rise and set, loves its colors and loves the life it gives Earth. This love is so deep, Teoyotzin is moved to offer Grandfather Sun the most beautiful dance an ordinary man can possibly achieve.  But since he has no idea how to start he makes the long walk from the village to visit Old Man Dancer.

When Old Man Dancer finally speaks, he says, “Some say there’s easier ways to reach the Creator, but danza bestows balance, in rhythm with the measure and movement of the Stars, the Earth and the Sun.”

The Old Man’s words insert a beat in Teoyotzin’s heart and will, a rhythm, perhaps a sacred one. Old Man Dancer continues with a fervor Teoyotzin didn’t know the old man had in him.

“Dance to Spring, to Summer, to Fall and to Winter. Dance to the Water, Earth, Fire and Air. Dance between you and me, Snake; between you and me, Eagle. You are they and they are you. Dance like the Puma, the Possum, the Tiger, the Deer, Bees, Fishes and the Birds! Dance in colors; in Feathers.”

Teoyotzin experiences danza in the old man’s word, in the power of his palabra. He hears the Drum and the Rattles, and the feet of the dancers moving in the dirt and making the grass fly. Teoyotzin knew then the stories about Old Man Dancer were true.

He asks, “Honored one, is it true you gave your Sun dance to a brother?”

Old Man Dancer looks at him, a youthful light dancing in his eyes, “Dress your Rainbow, young dancer, make your intention pure so your rattles, drum and song, along with your silence and stillness, can be heard through the clouds and the wind, to the Tata Sol, our Father Sun.”

Heeding the Old Man’s instructions, Teoyotzin places his perception on both the movement and the stillness around him, enjoying the hand of Sun in all Creation, while imitating the animals, leaves, shadows and light, to the best of his ability, again and again.

Anteater shouts at him, “Fight your fatigue, Teo…only then can you offer a suitable dance to the Sun.”

A Bee asks, “Do you know what you’re doing?”

Teoyotzin says, “I think so.”

Bee advises, “Only control and discipline will fly you to the Sun.”

“Patience,” offers Turtle, “is the art of rhythm.”

“Happiness and joy,” says Rabbit, “must be first.”

“Smooth,” hisses Snake, “just so.”

“Bold,” insists Jaguar, while Peacock sings of elegance.  

One day while Teoyotzin rehearses, he notices a beautiful and most graceful bird, with plumage like the Rainbow that Sun makes after the thunder, flying in the pink of the setting Sun, as if master of the Sky. He watches until the magic bird disappears into the Stars.  

Very few ever see the Quetzal in flight with the Sun. Teoyotzin wonders if perhaps this Quetzal is Old Man Dancer’s brother.

After the dancer sees the Quetzal, the Villagers notice his practice more than they had before. Most think he’s crazy and ignore him, but a few wonder quietly what it means that flashes of light come from the meadow where he rehearses.

Since Teoyotzin’s vision of the Quetzal, he’d also been experiencing the lights, and feels “Light moving in strong” at the most physically challenging moments of his rehearsals. As more light goes in, he grows farther from the Villagers, knowing his true family lives somewhere in Father Sun.

One evening before a New Moon, Owl flies out to Teoyotzin’s meadow. Being the fine messenger Owl is, she says, “It’s time to make the Regalia for your Dance.”

Teoyotzin jumps, “Old Man Dancer said?”

Owl is already gone after a mouse, but Teoyotzin wastes no time. He spreads opens his Medicine Bundle, the items with power special to him – from the Animals, his Teachers, and the Earth. Then he dances with his heart-to-the-Sun like never before. Knowing his time is near, he weaves and stiches his Regalia, loving it into form, waiting.  

The Villagers alive at the time say Teoyotzin danced four days and nights, then flew into the sky on the fifth day. No one’s seem him after that, but the villagers who are lucky to see the Quetzal say there are two now, flying into the Sun.

MAKE ART