For those actually interested in what the Maya

[nadinbrzezinski]

Elders are doing tonight...

No, not preparing for the end of the world. I leave that for Western folks new age types.

Nope.

They are offering sacrifice mostly of smoke and not incense, but it would work as to the smell.. As well as prayers,.to the four cardinal points as well as having some ritual meals.

They are setting themselves for the end of the old world and the Birth of the next one...

But the end of the world? Not so much.

They are deeply spiritual people connected to the land, in ways that most of us can barely imagine. Oh and they are probably laughing at all these ladinos using the Aztec sun stone...that is if they are even aware of it.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Thanks for the info!

I appreciate hearing what's really happening instead of all the silly talk.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Tonight is a deeply spiritual night

And if I could I would not mind being in a pueblo sharing with them.

And I am all but religious.

[FVZA_Colonel]

2. It really does bug me to see so much misrepresentation of the beliefs of the Maya and their

ancestors, when the actual truth is right there, ready for review.

I've seen some news pieces on the actual beliefs of the classical Mayan civilizations, as well as the Maya of today, regarding the supposed 'end of the world,' but not nearly enough.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Yup, plenty of prayers and offerings to the ancestors

And the spirits of the land as well.

Tonight is a deeply spiritual night, and moment.

[2naSalit]

5. Thank you.

It is true that most of the indigenous cultures have very different perception of reality and the value set is much different from the mainstream/dominant culture here.

I have spent the majority of the past week and will during the next week be participating in such activities myself... actual practices vary with tribal culture. And I am praying for the rest of humanity to get it together and find respect for our planet and all the life within and upon it, including respect for ourselves.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. You welcome

I was honored when I was invited, as a ladino, to be part of the renewal and cleansing ceremonies that some of the Maya living in Tijuana carried out one year. I know tonight is as intense as any spiritual night can be.

[Raksha]

12. I'm going to be doing a simple salt-water purification ceremony

from the Western esoteric tradition, neo-pagan in this case, but it's part of a common tradition. It's described here:

http://starhawksblog.org/?p=788

I'm by myself and don't have time to work out anything more elaborate. My daughter belongs to Starhawk's group and will probably be at the beach with her. Wish I could be there!

[dballance]

6. Have any Good Links to the REAL news stories?

I'd love to read/watch them as I'm sure lots of people here would.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Let me see if the Mexican news media is doing more than touristy stuff

You'd think they'd know better.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Here

Tonight they are lighting the new fire

http://www.famsi.org/reports/01082/01082PerezNegrete01.pdf

This speaks of the Mesoamerican period, but a lot of this has not changed.

[nenagh]

10. Thank you, Nadin...

[zappaman]

11. thank you for this

You truly are the Indiana Jones of DU.
There is nothing you haven't done and nothing you do not know.

[a la izquierda]

13. I hope that the're snickering a little,too.

You know, their beliefs weren't "good enough" for westerners 500 years ago, yet the world is in a tizzy now...

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Somewhere in his grave a very particular monk

Is cursing the Holy Office for not doing it's job.

[a la izquierda]

16. Lol...

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. I know, I know...a little inside baseball humor!

[azurnoir]

14. +1