Experiencing the Highlands

Last week was fantastic. All weeks here are fantastic, but last week during a week of immersion in a small town outside and well above Xela, the opportunity to participate in a Mayan spiritual service was offered. There were three participants and the Mayan priest.  Normally, the entire service would be in Quiche--one of the twenty two Mayan languages still spoken in Guatemala. Since only one other person in the service understood Quiche, the priest kindly translated between each part of the service. Here traditional clothing has almost entirely fallen from use amoung men and now is only frequently worn by women. The mayan priest wore regular western wear except his head covering--a piece of red cloth doubled over and tied in the back.

I was aware before that Mayans love colors--particularly bright colors, but when the priest began organizing all the different items including the candles of brillant red, blue, green, black, white, beige, and yellow, I had sufficient evidence to back up that knowledge.

The priest dug a flat square into the side of the steep hill revealing the muddy effects of the rainy season. He covered the bottom of the square with dry dirt. Then he drew a large circle divided into 4 parts with sugar on the dry ground. In each part of the circle he put a spot of sugar. On his lines of sugar he placed balls of pine resin. After, he filled in the entire circle with the pine resin balls. Chocolates and Candies were added for the ancestors believed to be in the woods with us, candles to represent the cardinal points, and the movement of the sun. In the center were candles of blue and green for God and the land--the two most important factors in Mayan Spirituality.

Each of the participants were handed six candles to represent themselves which we held for a large portion of the service. We were blessed with them, and after we gave our candles a kiss, they were thrown into the fire. We faced each point of the sun and prayed for health, prosperity, love, and peace each time counting to thirteen to represent the thirteenth day of the Mayan 20 day month-- The Day of the Woman.

We were handed two pieces of pine wood to rub over our body to cleanse us of our sin. These pieces were then were thrown into the fire in the shape of an X. Nearing the end of the service, the priest sprinkled us with a piney smelling liquid. We threw in a handful of sesame seeds to represent love and money.  The distinct crackling sound of the burning seeds filled the air as the service continued.

The enitre service lasted about and hour and a half. Through the whole service I wore a smile and held a great sense of peace within myself knowing that my God heard my prayers.