Unificacion Maya 2010: Lake Peten Itza
The fourth ceremony of Unificacion Maya 2010 was held on the power vortex at the east end of Lake Peten Itza, presided over by the Cerro Cahui (Crocodile Mountain).
Tata Mariano is known throughout the Mayan ceremonial world as the most proficient “burner” … he has been known to ceremonially smoke over 50 cigars in a day!
Because so many of us are just learning the Mayan glyphs and their place in a Mayan Fire Ceremony, Tata Pedro has had posters made up, and two “helpers” take turns displaying the poster with the name and qualities of the glyph that is being called. In this case, it is No’j.
When No’j, which means “mental clarity” is being called, each participant receives a handful of copal granules that are held to the head during the prayers to stimulate mental clarity.
Then each person carefully sprinkles their copal granules on the fire.
Tata Pedro is lighting his cigar from the cigar of Tata Mariano.
Tata Chus is sprinkling sugar, then pouring honey, on the Sacred Fire to bring sweetness to our lives.
Each participant with a particular glyph is asked to make an offering to the water.
Terry plays her guitar.
Nana Louisa offers prayers.
Tata Chus blows the conch shell.
This ceremony was also a special dedication to Morning Star, who was tragically killed during a drum-making workshop earlier in the year. Several of her personal things, along with some of her hair and ashes had been sent to us for this special memorial ceremony.
After offering prayers for Morning Star, Tata Pedro offered some of her ashes to the Sacred Fire …
and then he offered some of her ashes to the waters of Lake Peten Itza. The rest of her ashes and her other personal effects would be interred later in the week in the Bird Sanctuary.
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After the ceremony at the lakeside, we adjourned to the Ix-canaan Women’s Center for an excellent tipico lunch of tamales, bean salad and tostadas.
Adelaida was in charge of taking numbers for snacks and lunches all during the week.
Some of the participants (left to right): Frederick Bernal Lim, Sarah and Salvador, and Geordie Numata
Francisca Cruz, Veronica Solis, Armando Cruz and Kirstin Reed
Tata Sebastian Cac, Tata Pedro Cahuec, Tata Roberto Pop Ical and Nana Feliciana Cortes
Tata Marcelino Sacol and Nana Maria Marcelina Chen
Thomas Gentile, Thomas Nash, Geoffrey Hurley
Nana Louise Rothwell, Tata Pedro Cruz, Tata José Soc, Tata Chus Landa, and Dahi Dahi