Guatemala - We sustain our lives by sustaining Mother Earth, Chichicastanengo

16th July 2012 - Chichicastanengo, Guatemala

  I left Antigua early yesterday morning on a bus to a busy market town called Chichicastanengo on the way to Laka Atitlan to meet up with my friend Michelle. In Chichi I hung out with a Spaniard called Joseph, saw some churches built on top of temples in the busy central market then climbed a mountain shrouded in pine forest to a Mayan prayer offering site. I saw a Mayan DayKeeper perform a fire ceremony and stood in the cleansing pine smoke. Amongst the offerings I noticed a stone cross and was pleased to learn that the Mayans revered the cross as a sacred symbol long before the introduction of Catholicism by the Spanish. The Mayan cross reflects the 4 cardinal points, the 4 stations of the Sun during the day and the year and the 4 colours (Red, Yellow, Black & White) as divine powers and they are invoked as if they are divinities. The message from the Fire Ceremony is that we sustain our lives by sustaining Mother Earth. Indeed, this is what I believe the purpose of life is: 'to sustain our existence by sustaining mother earth'. Offerings are burnt as payment for our personal wrong-doings and the resin that burns attracts the gods and encourages them to give good health to all present.

I feel the sacredness of the fire, the top of the mountain, the moment. I give a word of thanks to whatever the 'greater energy' is, I don't know what to call it yet, but I can feel it. I am feeling bettter, stronger and more capable. The healing power of the smoke sweeps over me. I turn to head back down the mountain into the town and towards the lake, feeling like something has changed.

 

Guatemala - Meeting Mike and masses of wisdom

So, one day, I meet Mike (Misha) Pinot. He is a Guatemalan with a french grandfather. We walk in the Parque Central (central park), we tour the Cathedral ruins, eat street food and he shares his learnings from a Mayan priest with me. Hi words fall on my ears just at the right time, it seems to be just what I need to help me on this personal growth journey I am taking. Each time he shared something new with me over a hot chocolate or some local food, I would hold on to it through the day, as I walked the cobble stone streets and lived the day and I saw how each lesson plays out in front of me, in thought and in action. I now share them with you:

Wed 10th July 2012 - Antigua, Guatemala
"Let go of pocessions, people and beliefs (judgements) not so your hands are empty but so you can receive".

"Learn the lessons from your mistakes or the mistakes of others (that effect you) so that you do not have to repeat it again".

"With dark come light. They are dependent on each other. The Mayan's recognised this and built two temples facing each other; one for joyful worship and celebration and one for the dark side of life".



A church built on top of a Mayan temple rises above the market square at Chicicastanengo. Another temple faces this one across the centre.

"Forgive those that have hurt you because it is a poison inside your body and it hurts no one but yourself". According to Mike, doing this is cleansing (purifying) for the soul. It reminds me of a Buddhist philosophy that my friend Kate posts on fb around the same time "To be angry is to let others' mistakes punish yourself. to forgive others is to be good to yourself". This demonstrated to me that often the very lesson we need is right in front of us, listen and look - it may even come across your path twice!

Healing Meditation: "See those that have caused you pain as a beautiful flower and imagine the very best for them and send them love".

"Freedom comes from releasing attachment. When we see that people do not belong to us, we can release suffering".

"Everyday when you get up, plant a beautiful flower (a kind thought for someone) and one day you will wake up in a beautiful garden".

If you ever go to Guatemala, let me know and I will hook you up with Mike. Mike tells me that the Mayan god 'Heart of Sky and Heart of Earth' has blessed me and guided me on my journey. Now I share what I know to help bring health, light, peace and joy of the soul to all those that need it and help show how we are destroying the Earth and indigenous cultures with our shortsighted exploitation of the Earth. For all this, I give deep heartfelt gratitude and credit to Heart of Sky and Heart of Earth. With every breath. Thank you.

I find this little worry doll on the cobble stone streets. I look at her dirty face and the activity around me. Already I can feel my worries leaving me, trailing away and dissolving.