KALPULLI TEOKALLI TEOYOLOTL

2010-02-09T20:21:00.000-08:00

Con el permiso de nuestro gran dador de vida, les mando saludar a ustedes y a sus corazones. El es Dios!

Me llamo Quiahuitl. Soy danzante y sargento del Grupo de Danza Azteca Xochipilli. Nuestra danza es un aspecto o mas una pequeña parte que pertenece nuestro Kalpulli o Familia. Nuestro Kalpulli se llama Teokalli Teoyolotl que es la Casa Sagrada del Sagrado Corazon. Parte de mi trabajo como danzante es ir a Puebla, Mexico para estudiar nuestras tradiciones para nuestro grupo o Kalpulli. Nuestro grupo de danza aprende la danza Mexika, la filosofia que es el Mexicayotl, y la disciplina de nuestros Abuelos en las tradiciones ancestrales.

Nuestro grupo esta alimentado por los corazones de muchos de nuestros hermanos en Mexico! Les doy las gracias de parte del Grupo Xochipilli por todo lo que han compartido. Estamos muy agradecidos a nuestra Capitana Tonantzin Fernandez por su instruccion, por su amor y por su carino. Estamos agradecidos a ella por todo que ella ha compartido con nosotros, para todas las personas que ella me ha presentado, y sobre todo por las puertas que ella ha abierto en mi vida.

Por Nuestra Capitana yo ha tenido la opportunidad de conocer y convivir con muchos de los danzantes de su grupo, Tonantzin Coatlicue….Nikan Ka! Muchos de los danzantes me han instuido y me han guiado en muchos detalles de nuestra Danza Mexika. El trabajo de nuestra Capitana se refleja mucho en los danzantes de Tonantzin Coatlicue. Danzan muy fuertes y poderosos. Sus pasos son muy limpios y bien markados. Fluyen como viento, en movimientos poéticos y majestuosos.

Sin querer gastar mas tiempo, les quiero presentar unos de los danzantes del grupo Tonantzin Coatlicue: Acatzin Arenas Fernandez. Como integrante del grupo, aparte de ser danzante tiene otra responsabilidad. Acatzin es el Huehuetlaka mayor del grupo, o el hombre del tambor oficial. El maneja el ritmo del grupo atravez de los pasos de todos los danzantes. Me ha notado del gran corazon que tiene Acatzin por medio de nuestras platicas y lo que ha compartido con nuestro grupo. Ha visto el corazon de Acatzin en todas las danzas en que yo tenia el honor de estar presente con el. No hay cualquier comparación entre todos los Huehuetlaka como el. Acatzin hace su trabajo, que es algo muy fuerte, con todo su corazon, llevando el ritmo de un grupo hermoso.

Quiero compartir con ustedes lo que es la Danza Mexica por medio de un articulo que escribio Acatzin. No tengo palabras para explicar lo que el comparta con nosotros algo muy hermoso. Tlazokamati Acatzin por tus palabras. El es dios!

-Quiahuitl, Grupo de Danza Azteca Xochipilli

2010-02-09T20:14:00.000-08:00

La desidia de la gente contrastaba con la voracidad del olvido,

que poco a poco iba carcomiendo sin piedad los recuerdos.
Gabriel García Márquez

Y así, el hombre se volvió pez de un solo charco, pájaro encerrado en jaula de oropel...

Confundido por el remolino del tiempo, harto de su desamparo, cansado de ser como es, hundido en una cultura que no comprende y en la que intenta encajar con frustrados esfuerzos.

Así es como el hombre y la mujer de Anáhuac se transformaron hasta casi desaparecer.

Largo proceso de destrucción y despojo de nuestros pueblos, hoy, la historia se repite de una manera tan absurda que parece una burla de la ironía. Su incongruencia es reflejo del fuego con que quemaron los libros sagrados, del acero que perforó la tierna piel del Cemanahuac.

El danzante, guerrero de tantas conquistas, está vencido por la incongruencia de sus actos. Se ha ladinizado tanto que ahora es él el que mira con indiferencia a los pueblos indígenas, legítimos herederos de la cultura de los antiguos habitantes de Anahuac.

Con sus manos trabaja la flor, con sus vísceras la marchita.

Con su voz eleva el dulce canto de la veneración antigua, pero lo quiebra con su vanidad, indisciplina y debilidad por los excesos de occidente.

Hoy el danzante ha desamparado a su madre, estéril en la soledad que provoca su incongruencia.

Así, el hombre y la mujer toman la cultura rescatada, la adaptan, la deforman, la ponen al día haciendo de la tradición negocio, y del negocio una tradición de aquellos que la miran confundidos por siglos de cínica insistencia.

Y allá, a lo lejos, esperan las flores. Esperan con un dejo de tristeza los pies que las volverán camino. Camino florido, camino espinado.

No queda mucho tiempo. Estén alertas. Dentro de poco el hombre común será parte de una encrucijada de sentimientos. Odio, intolerancia y sus violentos hijos, que, cansados de ser siempre los culpables, tomarán forma humana para no volver jamás al día en que decidieron nacer.

Pero hay esperanza. Nuestros cantos, nuestras flores deberán ser esparcidas con el amor del ejemplo.

Que el respeto no sea meta sino camino. Que la veneración sea guía, el compromiso menos, la conciencia más y que los hombres y mujeres rezumben como latido de un mismo corazón.

Que el colibrí que nos amanece cada día lo haga sin la tristeza de quien ve a sus hijos enfermos de codicia.

¿Qué verá el Sol que mañana nacerá? ¿Qué será de aquellos que viven en la tierra?

“Al menos dejemos flores, al menos dejemos cantos”. Nosotros somos la flor, la vida, el canto. ¿Qué canto dejaremos al irnos?.

Si como bellas rosas compartimos el destino de florecer y marchitarnos, apresurémonos a aprender y transmitir la vida florida: la cultura de nuestros abuelos.

¡Mexicanos! Descansen el chimalli y la filosa lanza de obsidiana. Empuñen el espejo humeante y dejen que les muestre la cara de su incongruencia. Que águila y jaguar se sumerjan en la batalla de la introspección. Que se desprendan del parásito que les envuelve la conciencia. Aquel al que alimentamos con nuestra mentira, crueldad, ambición y deslealtad, néctar de la desarmonía.

Huehuetlacatl, toma con amor los ritos del pasado. Trata con cariño y veneración al Huehuetl que se pudre en el latir de un ritmo que no es el suyo.

Popocihuatl, eterna princesa de luz: nunca el fuego inhalará malas miradas. Que nunca más muera evocando, entre suspiros, la gloria de mejores tiempos. Tú eres guía, tú eres luz, eres tea. Nunca te has de apagar. No te obscurezcas.

Danzantes, nuevos guardianes de la tradición, no nos estanquemos en el recuerdo del esplendor de primaveras pasadas. Es hora de que el Sol nuevo vea sus collares de jade, sus plumas preciosas cuidando y venerando a su madre para que fructifique, respetándose, y en humilde silencio entonando sus manos al son del trabajo y la disciplina.

Es momento en que el Sol vuelva a la risa, al sueño viendo que su sangre, su retrato se esfuerza por dejar atrás el polvo, la basura.

Sudemos limpio, seamos luz, jade brillante, pluma preciosa, tea incansable. Que los excesos regresen de donde vinieron. Que la tradición que es para nosotros gran tesoro, que es jade, que es turquesa, nunca se acabe ni deje de parir hijos dignos y puros.

Y al final, el hombre y la mujer de Anáhuac, todos por igual, cola y ala, mano y pie, decidieron regresar al origen -antes lo hicieron, después lo volverán a hacer-, desatando nudos, quitando velos, “festejando el cuerpo”. La dualidad.

Tan sólo somos flor de un sólo día. Seremos jades, seremos anchos plumajes de papagayo, azules guacamayas luciendo sus corolas, preciosos colibrís que, al final, no dejaran mas que su palabra, su flor y su canto.

Luis Acatzin Arenas Fernández
Calpulli Tonantzin Coatlicue
Calpulli Anahuacayotl
Tlaxcalanzingo, Puebla
aca_capi9@hotmail.com

From the sweet side of the Moon

2010-01-13T20:01:00.000-08:00

by Ana Lara

In the last year, I have been learning about how the connections between traditional values and practices and the demands of the U.S. society’s values and expectations go hand in hand, and how they challenge each other.

On our way to Tepejic, Mexico for the Moon Dance in September 2009, my madrina said to me, “Just like you’re in a PhD program for your studies, all the work you are doing in the kalpulli is like being in a PhD for your spiritual development.” And it’s so true. I finished my first year of the Moon Dance in September 2009 and my first semester at Yale December 2009. And, I’m going to speak to what I have learned in the first leg of my journey, as someone who values and centralizes traditional ways and also recognizes the importance of managing the structure of the society in which we live.

The world we live in is fast paced, existing more and more on the computer and cellphone: texts, emails, Facebook, ipods, etc. take up a lot of our time. Living in the U.S. means living in a society that teaches us to give greater value to material gains, individualism, and black-white thinking than to spiritual integrity, community well being, and working with both the heart and mind. Whatever we believe and no matter how rooted we are in our own traditional or other cultures, we are all also strongly influenced by the greater society’s values, and so we have to learn to live alongside them, even and especially as our own traditional values and practices become stronger. I feel this to be true, and am learning a lot about how to do this.

In 2009, I started in “two PhDs” – one at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut and one at Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl in Austin, Texas. Under the guidance of my primera and segunda palabras, Tupina and Acatzin, I made a difficult decision between leaving the community I love and was working for in Austin, Texas and going to pursue a PhD at Yale, which had offered me a five year fellowship to study, but which was far from my community. Going to Yale would essentially put me in the heart of a system that reinforces the values of materialism, individualism and either-or thinking, going against my own personal value system and the traditions I am walking in. At the same time, it was a very unusual opportunity for anyone, and maybe, just maybe taking this opportunity would mean bringing more resources to my community. So, after asking the Creator for greater guidance, I decided to go.

How then, to bridge these very different worlds – because I’m part of both of them – and stay strong on my path? This is the core class of the Kalpulli “PhD”.

When I decided to accept the offer to go to Yale, I did it with my elder’s blessings, which sounded like this: “You will confront greater darkness than you have in your current work, and you will have to be courageous and conquer that darkness.” And “Yale will make you stronger and give to you what you need to do the work that you are here to do, with greater strength.” These were two very powerful blessings for me. For what they were telling me was that I would be getting stronger, and that all the tests and lessons I would be confronting at a place like Yale would serve to strengthen the work I do for my peoples. And because my elders are wise, they weren’t going to send me to do this work unprepared. Because of their commitment, my own commitment to this path was made even stronger.
I wouldn’t be doing these “two PhD’s “if I didn’t have the understanding that both are necessary to do the work of service for my people. I also wouldn’t be doing this work if other people around me – like my primera and segunda palabra, like the PhD admissions committee - didn’t think I was ready for this work. Both kinds of work require great discipline, rigor, commitment, integrity and ability. At Yale this means reading and preparing for my classes, showing up to class and following through on my work, engaging with my professors with respect, and demonstrating my ability through the quality of my work. At the Kalpulli, this means having a very open heart, a deep respect for my elders, working continuously to shed that which detracts from well-being, speaking honestly and truthfully as well as humbly with all others, following through on my word, and maintaining the practices of thousands of years of tradition.

Guess which one demands more of me?

The main difference is that the work at Yale is only for five or six years, but spiritual work – this road – is for life. And whereas if I mess up on a paper for one of my classes and get a bad grade, that will only affect me. If I mess up in my spiritual work, all the people around me suffer. The Kalpulli exige más que un PhD because you are not just an individual making a path for yourself – you are a part of a larger community making a path for your people. For me as a Taina, my sense of responsibilty is multiplied. I am a representative of Taino people when I am with Mexica, and showing respect for a tradition that is teaching me is also about showing respect for my Taino ancestors. When I go out in the world for work, Yale will be on my resume. But the work of the Moon Dance, of the Kalpulli, will be what shows when I walk.

Because PhD’s generally engage the mind, without attention to the heart, I have to be very vigilant and disciplined about my spiritual practices, because the spiritual work suffers if the mind and heart are disconnected. Learning to walk in a world that values the mind above all else, that values the individual above all else, that values material gains above all else requires that I connect, on a daily basis, what I am being encouraged to disconnect. This is my journey on the road of the Mexica PhD. By making my body, mind, heart and spirit a bridge between these two value systems – these two worlds - I hope to have much to share as I grow stronger in this work. By bringing these two worlds together, I hope to use all that I am learning to do the work of serving all of my many people, so that our Mother Earth –Tonantzin Coatlicue (Atabey in Tainey) - can be healed of all that has hurt her, of all that has been wrong.

In Ilhuicatl Inkualli Tlanezi! Desde el cielo una hermosa mañana!

2009-12-09T22:17:00.000-08:00

A unos cuantos dias de la celebracion de Nuestra Amada Tonantzin queremos hacer una pequeña refleccion acerca de la fecha de la Guadalupana. Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl rendira homenaje con flor y canto "In Xochitl In Cuicatl" como recordatorio para nuestra gente del significado de esta hermosa celebracion en varios lugares de Austin Texas. De antemano agradecemos a todos sus corazones por su invitacion, por su participacion y su disposicion para cumplir como danzantes y miembros de este Kalpulli.

Hoy en dia en este pais asi como en otros paises las fechas importantes en el calendario Gregoriano se "acomodan" convenientemente o se "recorren" para celebrar acontecimientos en los cuales era de suma importancia presenciar lo que sucedia en "tal" dia en todo su esplendor en el firmamento. Afortunadamente seguimos recordando pero a veces no sabemos ni porque y lo hacemos en las fechas que realmente no son las adecuadas.
Que sucedio el dia 12 de Diciembre de 1531? fecha que comunmente se acepta como el dia en el cual la Guadalupana hiso su aparicion en el Tepeyac.
De acuerdo al Nikan Mopohua (texto que habla de 4 apariciones de la Guadalupana al indigena Juan Diego en el cerro del Tepeyac), la aparicion Guadalupana ocurrio 10 años despues de la invasion de Mexico y conversion violenta al cristianismo. Al aceptar el 12 de Diciembre de 1531 se olvida un hecho muy importante.
En 1582 el Papa Gregorio El Grande mando hacer una correccion al calendario en uso (Calendario Juliano) porque este ya acumulaba un error de 10 dias. El Papa aumento de golpe 10 dias en ese año y desde entonces el calendario fue llamado Calendario Gregoriano y ese calendario es el que utilizamos oficialmente como poblacion (aunque algunos de nosotros tratamos de observar el calendario Mexika). Este hecho significa que todas las fechas anteriores a 1582 tienen ese error de 10 dias y por lo tanto al ser 1531 anterior a 1582, resulta que la aparicion Guadalupana en el calendario Gregoriano debia de ser el 22 de Diciembre de 1531. Esta fecha corresponde al solsticio de Invierno del año 13 Akatl fecha de suma importancia en las celebraciones de los Mexikas en la cual el cerro del Tepeyac era el lugar sagrado en donde los indigenas veneraban a Tonantzin Coatlicue que significa "Nuestra Venerada Madre la de la Falda de Serpientes".

Pongamonos los lentes Mexikas y disfrutemos de esta fecha dentro del contexto de la cultura Nahuatl. Tonantzin Coatlicue para el Mexika es simple y sencillamente el simbolo de la Tierra como Generadora de Vida, la que generosamente alimenta a todos los seres vivientes que vivimos de ella y al morir regresamos a ella. Si tratamos de entender el evento del solsticio de Invierno con el espiritu y la vision cosmica de nuestros antepasados nos daremos cuenta que el llamado "Mito de Coatlicue" es un mito cosmico, una metafora de lo que ocurre en el sistema solar. Todos los dias al salir el sol con su potente luz hace desaparecer a las estrellas, y la luna despues de aparecer totalmente llena va a pareciendo cada vez mas mutilada como Coyolxauki. En la imagen esta el Sol detras de la Guadalupana y ella lleva en su manto las estrellas del firmamento y esta parada sobre la Luna. Sobre su tunica aparecen jeroglificos del cerro del Tepeyac adornados con flores simbolizando a la tierra como generadora de vida. El niño aguila bajo la luna simboliza el Sol recien nacido Huitzilopochtli. Es por eso que el dia dedicado a su celebracion es el solsticio de invierno. El niño esta sosteniendo con sus manitas los colores rojo y azul verdoso del manto que puede significar que se esta llevando a cabo la metafora del Atl-Tlachinole en la cual el rojo simboliza la fuerza del calor del sol y el azul verdoso la fuerza del agua de la lluvia.
Y asi podemos seguirle y seguirle porque hay mucho mas que descubrir de todo el conocimiento y sabiduria que esta plasmado y resguardado en simbolos, piedras, imagenes, historias, mitos, colores, flor y canto, codices, arqueologia, eventos cosmicos, fechas clave, tradiciones y danzas, que han resistido la invasion violenta y por consecuencia la forzada conversion al cristianismo. Solo somos unos mas unidos en este esfuerzo para preservar nuestro tesoro tratando de abrir los ojos y el corazon para entenderlo, vivirlo y transmitirlo.
Nuestro agradecimiento para todos aquellos que han contribuido y siguen trabajando para transmitir este conocimiento a base de su persistencia, su sudor y sobre todo su corazon. Gracias a Zitlalxochitzin por su permiso de utilizar sus escritos con el fin de continuar en este aprendizaje sin esperar ningun reconocimiento. Gracias a todos los autores recomendados en este espacio porque gracias a su trabajo contamos con este conocimiento para formar las bases solidas y fuertes de este Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl y su grupo de danza Xochipilli en Austin, Texas. Sobre todo gracias a todos los abuelos de la tradicion que nos han transmitido su sabiduria esperando plantar la semilla en tierra fertil. Nuestro trabajo y dedicacion les hara saber que estamos regando la semillita y creciendo poco a poco con fuerza y conviccion sabiendo que lo que hacemos nos traera todo ese hermoso proceso de la vida misma.
Tlazokamati en especial a nuestra Capitana de Danza Azteca-Chichimeca, Tonantzin Fernandez quien nos regalo y dedico el libro titulado "Catecismo Guadalupano" de Zitlalxochitzin mejor conocido como El Filo y Guardian de la Piramide Guadalupana en Huitziltepec, Puebla Mexico. Las palabras que la Capitana Tonantzin nos escribio en la dedicatoria de este hermoso y preciado libro nos recuerda el gran compromiso y responsabilidad que tenemos ya que ella nos pide que "unamos nuestros esfuerzos para devolver a nuestra Madre Tierra y a todos sus Generadores de Vida su verdadero rostro ante nuestro pueblo Mexicano." Gracias Capitana Tonantzin por su apoyo y su rezo con el cual termina su dedicatoria "elevo mis oraciones para que el Gran Espiritu les de la luz y la energia para ser guias de un camino lleno de sabiduria." Sus palabras nos dan esa luz y esa energia especialmente cuando nuestras debilidades nos hacen flaquear y como una ramita que el viento acaricia y la hace tambalearse nos volvemos a levantar listos para servir a nuestro pueblo. Celebremos a Tonantzin Coatlicue ofreciendo lo mejor de nosotros con nuestro corazon abierto palpitando con el sagrado huehuetl y nuestros pies ofrendando nuestro calorcito abrazando a nuestra Madre Tierra!

Tupina y Acatzin

Books For Sale-Libros en Venta

2009-12-09T12:27:00.000-08:00

Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl tiene los siguientes libros en venta. Por favor comuniquense por medio de este correo: teokalliteoyolotl@gmail.com para mandarles la lista con los precios para ordenar sus libros. Algunos de estos libros estan agotados y no contamos con un inventario grande solo son pocos libros para aquellos que estan realmente interesados en la Mexicayotl. (los libros son nuevos)

Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl has the following books for sale. Please e-mail us: teokalliteoyolotl@gmail.com to send you the list with the prices to order your books. Some of these books are not in existance on book shelves anymore and we do not have a large inventory just a few books for people who are really interested in the Mexicayotl. (the books are new)

Lienzo de Zacatepec (Metodo Galarziano) por Lic. Andres Fernandez Gatica
Esplendor de la Cultura de Anahuac por Miguel Angel Mendoza
Tlapohualiztli Principios de la Matematica Ancestral por Arturo Meza Gutierrez
Tezcatlipoca por Arturo Meza Gutierrez
Al otro lado de las sombras por Arturo Meza Gutierrez
La incognita del nombre de Mexico por Arturo Meza Gutierrez y David Wood Cano
ToPoual Nuestra Cuenta por Arturo Meza Gutierrez

A JOURNEY WITH AN ABUELO (Part I) by Quiahuitl

2009-11-29T21:14:00.000-08:00

Con el permiso de nuestra madre, padre creador les saludo a ustedes y a sus corazones! Ometeotl!

Sometimes life has a mysteriously beautiful way of sharing its special gifts with us. We never know what to expect and when to expect it. Many times we are unaware when we are living that gift; that special moment that we are being allowed to experience. Sometimes we realize the beauty of such moments at a much later time in our lives if we look back to remember and reflect. Nothing is more beautiful than that realization when you are living the moment it is happening
I am part of a family, in Austin, Texas. The family is Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl. Our family lives the ancient traditions of our Mexihka ancestors. My main connection to the Kalpulli is Danza Azteca, apart from the various ceremonial aspects that our family or Kalpulli shares in. Our commitment to that tradition is Danza Xochipilli. Our Danza is under the instruction of our Capitana, Tonantzin Fernandez, who lives in Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla. It is from her that we receive our danzas and instruction. We have received the blessing of being able to go there and learn from her so that we can take on more responsibilities to preserve our tradition of Danza.

Quiahuitl with our Capitana, Tonantzin Fernandez, taking the Paso de Cortez.
Volcano Popocatepetl is on the background.

In September, 2009 I was granted permission by the Jefes of our Kalpulli to go to Puebla. The mission was two-fold. To bring more instruction from our Capitana in the form of Danzas and to receive a new heartbeat for our group in the form of a Huehuetl, a drum. To us the Huehuetl or Huehuetzin, is a grandfather or abuelo. We call him abuelo because he is just that in his original form, a tree. The trees to us are abuelos; ancient grandfathers whose feet or roots are firmly planted into the Great Mother Earth and whose arms are outstretched towards the cosmos praising the opportunity of every passing day. It is from the abuelos that we receive the air that we breathe, the breath that gives us life. It is from these abuelos that our heartbeat or drum comes from.

My stay in Puebla was almost a month. I had to stay that long in order to wait for the carver to finish the drum. The wait was worth it! It allowed me to accompany our Capitana and be a part of various ceremonies, danzas, and velaciones. Three weeks had passed when Capitana took me to her parents’ home where the huehuetl was dropped off. He is beautiful! He carries the symbols our Kalpulli represents and more specifically who our Danza venerates: Señor Xochipilli; guardian of medicinal plants! Every detail was carefully carved out of a pine trunk. Xochipilli sits upon an altar bearing all the medicinal plants on his body. The other side of the huehuetl shows a sacred house (Teokalli) with a sacred heart (Teoyolotl) in the sky. Both sides of the Teokalli are protected by Mayahuel, the maguey. I couldn’t wait to take the abuelo back to our family in Austin so that they could see the beautiful work the carver put into our new heartbeat!

As life would have it, I did not have enough money to make the journey home. I ran out of money paying for our drum! I knew that I would be left with little money and decided I would jump on an idea I got from our Capitana in one of our conversations. She told me how she used to hitchhike with truckers to Mexico City when she had little or no money to meet her obligations at the various Danzas there. I really had no choice but to jump on that. She told me that just down the street is a small stand that serves food where truckers stop to eat. Maybe I can ask one to get an idea of how difficult this venture may prove.

Life is beautiful and without coincidence because everything happens for a reason. That day I met Gerardo Acosta, a trucker, who agreed to take me up north from Mexico City. I just had to make it somehow from Puebla to Mexico City. I would meet him at the Central de Abastos where the traileros load their trucks to make shipments. I planned everything out so that I could make it there by Sunday. That left me only four days to make all the necessary arrangements!

The next day, which was Friday, I saw the veneration of the huehuetl at danza practice with our Capitana’s group. The abuelo stood among the other abuelos during the entire danza. Our Capitana presented the huehuetl to the entire group making it clear that he would not be used until he reached his destination in the north. He would simply be there to receive the energy of every danza offered during the practice as well as the energy of the abuelos so that the connection we have with them in Puebla is established. At the end of the practice I had to carry the drum to each of the four directions. I chose to hold the abuelo upright in my arms and not on my shoulder so that he would be standing.

When it was time for me to present him to the Cosmos, I was surrounded by the group. I was on my knees hugging the abuelo against my chest. Capitana instructed me to hold Abuelo up as she resounded La Invocación al Padre Sol. It seemed to last forever: her words echoed throughout the building shaking the walls with a determination that resonated in my heart with confidence. I had to be as strong as her words, with my arms stretched to the sky holding abuelo up by his feet. Capitana’s sahumadora, Mazatl Quiahuitl, blessed the abuelo with the sacred smoke of copal as I brought him down for the final invocation that would finally reconnect him to Mother Earth. The ceremony ended as every danzante formed a line to give the grandfather drum a blessing in the form of a hug or a kiss. Several other danzantes kneeled to one side and offered him cantos. He now carries the energy and blessings of our Capitana and her group, Tonantzin Coatlicue, so that we share it wherever we take him in our Danzas!

Now it was time to return to the north in Texas where a new home awaited grandfather. Saturday afternoon I wrapped the abuelo in several blankets and placed in his hollow body 5 pairs of ayoyotes that our Kalpulli bought. I also placed several poster boards that contained patterns to make our trajes. He weighed even more! It was then that I realized that the abuelo was going to put me to work in a journey I would never forget! With some extra cash Capitana lent me, I took a bus to Mexico City Sunday morning. I got there around 7 am and immediately took a taxi to the Central de Abastos where I would meet my new friend, Gerardo. I only wondered how the trip would be to Monterey in the state of Nuevo Leon. I prayed that everything would fall in line as I would imagine it, but I knew that was asking too much!

The taxi driver dropped me off at the warehouse where he said I would find the loading dock. The Central de Abastos is a market place open to the public where truckers unload or pick up goods to be shipped throughout Mexico. Gerardo had told me to meet him at Warehouse X, where I would find loading dock 86. There I would see many trailer trucks bearing the name of the company that he works for: Hertrucks. I wasn’t told that the loading dock would be at the end of the giant building that seemed to extend at least one mile. I made that walk with the abuelo, passing all the fruit stands and tiny restaurants, as he pierced my shoulder and bent my collar bones. I took breaks and let him rest in between the sweats I kept breaking. Halfway through I found a small restaurant where I ordered a juice. I savored every drop of juice as if it was going to be my last. I explained my situation to one of the men that worked there. I told him I only had to find a trucker that was in the other half of the marketplace. He agreed to watch over the huehuetl and my tote bag. It was time to track Gerardo down.

I called Gerardo from a payphone to let him know I made it. “I’m already in Monterey,” is what I heard on my end of the payphone, “they sent me on an emergency shipment last night!” He told me not to worry. If I would give him the numbers of the trucks bearing the company name at the loading dock, he would call one of them to see who would take me up north. I waited half an hour and called Gerardo back. He told me, “Go to the driver of truck 47! His name is Jose Alberto, we call him Takexi. He’s short and chubby and looks almost like this Japanese man in a TV show. I told him you’re my friend and he agreed to take you to with him to Monterey!” I told him “Thank you Gerardo,” and hung up the phone.

I found a group of men wearing t-shirts that read Hertruck. They stood in a circle talking and laughing near their trucks. When I approached them, I greeted them in the friendliest manner possible. “I’m looking for Jose Alberto,” I asked. Sure enough a short stocky man spoke up. I put my hand out to offer him a handshake. He studied me up and down. I could tell he was wondering what type of a person he would be taking on the road. I introduced myself to all of them, as “un Tejano Danzante Azteca”. I wanted them to understand that I was on a mission with the huehuetl for our danza group and that I was not some freeloading “bum” out for an adventure only! I know they got a kick out of me judging by the looks on their faces. After some conversation with ‘Takexi,” as they called Jose Alberto, I went back for the huehuetl and my clothes bag. I thanked the workers at the restaurant and let them know I found my ride.

Jose Alberto Ramirez, “El Takexi” from Mexico City, Distrito Federal

When I got to Takexi’s truck he let me load my things in the sleeper cabin. Abuelo was happy: he was able to lay down and rest on the mattress in the sleeper cabin! I sensed some inconvenience on Takexi’s part and noticed a bothered look on his face. I offered to pay for his lunch. I want him to know I wasn’t going to freeload. I had to be on my best behavior and better be one hell of a good road companion. I didn’t want to be a nuisance in any way so I started thinking of good conversation topics for the road! We went back into the Central to meet up with the rest of the guys. Lunch lasted over an hour before it was time to hit the road. I couldn’t wait for the ride!

We climbed into the giant truck and Takexi started the engine. The truck growled smoothly as he pushed buttons and turned his CB radio on. I stared at all the gauges on the instrument panel wondering what they could be for. I looked out the window at the cars that passed by below us. I felt I was on top of the world! He shifted into first gear and the truck pulled on its trailer hard, ‘We’re off!’ Takexi weaved through the Mexico city traffic like nothing. He had the confidence that no one dared to get in his way. Who in their right mind would like to have their car thrown aside by several tons of steel and cargo? We got onto the freeways and finally made our way out of the city.

After an hour or so on the road, I began to feel the pressure of all the water I drank. I had to use the bathroom! I only wondered when Takexi would make a stop! That has always been a problem for me. My bladder does not serve well for holding back whatever I drink for extended periods of time. Just as the feeling began to intensify, Takexi pulled over on the side of the highway. He stopped! What a blessing! I knew I was cruising with the right man because Takexi had to use the restroom just as often as I did! It seemed as if we were synchronized. Every time I had the urge to use the restroom he stopped to use the restroom as well.

It was in Hidalgo that I realized most of the other traileros were on the same route to Monterey. We stopped at a small restaurant-truck stop to eat together with his friends that were on the same route. The restaurant was called “El 99.” It’s a humble restaurant owned and operated by a humble family trying to make a living. The men work outside washing the trucks and the trailers while the women work in the kitchen serving the food. We stayed there at least 2 hours eating, drinking coffee, and smoking the time away. I got to know the other guys more intimately as they shared their stories. I rolled tobacco for them to smoke while they recounted adventures in their travels. A couple of them even lived and worked in the U.S. We exchanged experiences about the hardships of working in construction. They stayed and worked in various cities I visited and eventually found their way back to Mexico in the trucking business.

Behind all that conversation I kept wondering about crossing the border. I don’t have a passport because I can’t afford one. Last I heard was that they were enforcing passports on American Citizens who wanted to reenter the United States at any of the several border checkpoints along the U.S./Mexico border. I didn’t want to verify that: I would try to cross playing ignorant to the government’s rules and regulations. How was I supposed to know?! One of the lines I was preparing to use was, “I don’t watch TV or listen to the radio, and I never received any notification by mail!” Let’s see how that gets the customs agents at the bridge. That was fear trying to seep inside. I gave up. I will let our Creator decide if I can cross with Abuelo.

I pushed that to the back of my head and kept talking with my new friends. When they were advised that their trucks had been washed we made ready to leave. Takexi paid for my coffee. It was good to know that it was the same price regardless of how many cups one drinks! We hung out outside the restaurant and chatted a bit. I took out my camera and used the last two frames left on pictures of me with the traileros. I knew that this would be an unforgettable journey and I wanted to save the faces of my new friends on film.

At “El 99” in the state of Hidalgo.

We were back on track. Hours passed on the road as Takexi calmly shifted gears and passed the slower cars. Every now and then he pulled the CB microphone down to check in with the other drivers. Everyone was doing well and we were rolling on time.

We crossed several states quickly. He’d tell me, “now we’re in Queretaro,” or “now were in Guanajuato…” We stopped for gas in the middle of the desert. I didn’t have a clue as to where in Mexico we were at. He came back with a pack of cigarettes, gum, and sodas for both of us. One of the other drivers gave him a large bag of grapes from the trailer of his truck. All the drivers were carrying fruit and produce in the refrigerated trailers that would eventually find their way to the markets of Monterey.

On the road, Takexi and I talked about life and about our families. He shared a beautiful story of the memories he has about his father who had passed away. It made me think about my family and the time I still have with my father. How crazy would my dad see me if I were to tell him that I hitched a ride through Mexico in a diesel truck, carrying a drum for the group of Danza Azteca that I belong to? “Jefe, soy Danzante Azteca. Como la vez?” I won’t tell him any time too soon! But I will tell him that if it wasn’t for Takexi’s words, I would not be counting the blessings to have my Dad around. I told Takexi how I had an obsession with diesel trucks when I was a child of only 6 years old. I thanked him for this experience because now, 30 years later on the eve of my 36th birthday, I got to ride in one! He wished me a happy birthday and shifted into another gear.

En el desierto de San Luis Potosi.

I’ll never forget it: turning 36 on a highway in the State of San Luis Potosi! The moon colored the desert in silver. The shadows of mountains lined the horizon in the distance. Inside the cab of the roaring truck me and Takexi smoked cigarettes and chewed gum endlessly. The soundtrack to the ride included Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, Javier Solis, and Vicente Fernandez. I had the window down and the cold desert air bathed my face. I could only take deep breaths, refusing to blink, while recording the comfort of the desert’s solitude. Have you ever experienced a moment where you have to step out of what is going on all around you and pinch yourself to make sure you are not dreaming? You have to wake yourself up and realize that what is happening IS happening! I better commit this passing moment to memory, never to forget it because it may never happen again. Tlazokamati Takexi! You and the experience you made possible are not forgotten! Keep on rolling through the night upon the highways. Keep passing the cars my friend while I turn the volume up on the rancheritas!

…To be continued!

Part II “From Monterrey to the Border, and Home sweet Home!”

2009-10-13T22:20:00.000-07:00

Empezo la danza and I noticed….

Tiawi mexicas tiawi

As Natalie danced I could see
The white cloud
Coming from her skin
As she danced to fuego.

Tiawi mexicas tiawi

She glowed
With the flow
As she moved
To what we know as Danza Xochipilli.

Tiawi mexicas tiawi

She continued to dance
And the white glow continued
Following her with her movements
All angles in synchronicity.

Tiawi mexicas tiawi

So all at the Kallpulli
Will also continue to grow
With the flow
As we all will show
With our own glow.

Tiawi mexicas tiawi

Bob Acosta II
October 13, 2009

La Abuela Xochicuamatzin/Grandmother Xochicuamatzin

2009-03-22T22:18:00.000-07:00

El segundo año de la Danza de la Luna, estaba yo al lado de el Abuelo Cenyaotl apoyando a las danzantes de la luna y le comentaba yo “Abuelo, que fuertes son estas mujeres! Yo me estoy muriendo de frío y de sueño y mire ellas como andan como si nada.” Era ya casi la tercera ronda y todavia faltaba tiempo para que amaneciera. En mi mente aun quedaba lo duro del año anterior con la lluvia, el frio, la dureza del viento, y el abuelo me contesto “mmhm mira y señaló hacia el circulo cuando iba pasando la fila de la abuela y entre ellas iba la abuela Xochicuamatzin y me dijo “sabes cuantas operaciones tiene ella?” Y me dijo, “ella tiene al menos 7 operaciones y mirala”. Yo le dije “deveras? pos que le paso?” El Abuelo dijo, “tuvo un accidente.” Y yo le conteste bromeando “O sea que ya es como una mujer biónica.” El se rió y me vió como diciendo “ay Daniel el travieso” porque asi me decia. Y dijo “es por eso que debemos de estar aquí y no pensar en el frío ni querer irnos a dormir, si no pues a que venimos? nomas voltea a verlas y te llenan de fuerza.” Esto me hizo valorar mas el trabajo que un hombre tiene que hacer en la danza de la Luna para fortalecer no solo a su mujer sino a todas las mujeres y ayudar y apoyar con el servicio, con la sonrisa y con los animos. “Y mira, luego dicen que la mujer es el sexo débil pero de débiles no tienen nada”. En eso las volvimos a ver dando otra vuelta y se expreso de la abuela Tonalmitl con muchisima admiración, amor y cariño, y de nuevo platicamos de la abuela Xochicuamatzin admirando su voluntad, su entrega, su fortaleza, y su todo sabiendo que para ella dar un paso era mucho mas duro. No necesité preguntar que tipo de operaciones había tenido solo me cautivó mucho el saber que una persona como ella pudo superar sus dolores físicos y si algún mensaje puedo expresar, ese mensaje sería dirigido para todos los guerreros apoyando en la danza de la luna. El mensaje sería que pusieramos mas atención en ese tipo de ejemplos que nos dan cada una de las mujeres que estan ahí adentro porque al final de cuentas no sabemos cuanto cargan ahí en el circulo y una de ellas representa ese ejemplo para que nosotros los hombres honremos a guerreras como la abuela Xochicuamatzin respetandolas mas en la vida diaria en el mundo. La abuela se ha ganado el respeto y la admiración de guerreras y guerreros y algunos le llaman “La abuela sonrisas”. Y gracias a esa sonrisa cada vez que ella pasa frente a mi me llena de fuerza cuando levanta su brazo y nos bendice con su bastón respondiendo al grito de “tiahui Mexicas!! tiahui Cihuas!!” inconfundible entre las sombras con su sombrerito de lana y su paso tan bello y poderoso lleno de esa luz y amor que irradia su sonrisa . Le agradecemos a la abuela por ser esa fuerza para nuestros cuerpos débiles que sentían el sueño y el cansancio y estaban a punto de desfallecer. Que recuerdos Abuelas, que recuerdos!
Antonio Acatzin

The second year of the Moondance, I was next to Grandfather Cenyaotl, supporting the Moon dancers and I was talking with him saying “Abuelo, these women are so strong! I am really freezing and want to go to sleep! but look at them, like as if nothing.” It was almost the third round of the night and it was still a long time before dawn. In my mind I kept thinking about the previous year that was so hard, with lots of rain, the cold, the harshness of the wind, and abuelo answered “mmhm look” and he signaled to the circle when the line of grandmother Tonalmitl was passing by and amongst those women was grandmother Xochicuamatzin. He said, “do you know how many surgeries she has had?” and continued, “she has had at least 7 surgeries and look at her.” I responded, “really? What happened to her?” The grandfather said, “she had an accident.” And I answered jokingly “So she’s like a bionic woman?” He smiled and looked at me like saying “Ay Dennis the menace” because he used to call me like that. And he said, “that’s why we have to be here and not think for a minute about the cold weather or wanting to go to sleep, if not what did we come for? Just turn around and watch them all and they fill you up with fuerza.” This made me value more the work that a man has to do in the Moondance to strengthen not only his woman but all the women, and how men can help with their support, their service, their smiles and su animo. Grandfather continued saying, “and then people say that women are weak, but that is not true.” At that time we saw them again as they were making another turn and he saw his duality Abuela Tonalmitl and expressed all his admiration, his love, his cariño for her. We continued talking about Abuela Xochicuamatzin admiring her will, her commitment, her fortitude, and her everything, knowing that for her, making each step was harder. I did not need to ask what kind of surgery she had because what captured me was knowing that she was able to overcome all that physical pain and if I can express any message it is a message directed to all the guerreros who have a woman Moondancer, or even if there are warriors out there who go and support all the women. My message is to pay attention to these examples that each one of the women give us because many times we do not know how much they are carrying in the circle and each one of them is an example for us men to honor them as women warriors like grandmother Xochicuamatzin respecting them in our daily life in the world. Abuela Xochicuamatzin has earned the respect and admiration of the men and women warriors and she is called “grandmother smiles.” And thanks to her smiles, each time she goes around and I see her in front of me, she fills my spirit with so much strength when she lifts up her arm and blesses us all with her sacred staff responding to my gritos de “tiahui Mexicas!! tiahui Cihuas!!” She is unique in between the shadows of the night, with her particular sombrerito de lana and her beautiful and strong step full of that light and love that her smile irradiates. We thank you grandmother Xochicuamatzin for being that strength for our weak bodies that feel sleepy and tired and almost give up. Ah, memories, sweet memories! Antonio Acatzin

La Organizacion Politica en los Pueblos de Anahuac

2009-03-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

El ilustre investigador e historiador Mexicano Doctor en Derecho Don Ignacio Romerovargas Iturbide, en el ano de 1957 presento como tesis para obtener el doctorado en Derecho en la Escuela Nacional de Jurisprudencia de la Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico el tratado "La Organizacion Politica de los Pueblos de Anahuac" de cuyo tratado escribio una magnifica sintesis que denomino "Los Gobiernos Socialistas de Anahuac". En estas dos obras, en las cuales resplandece la verdad historica de Mexico nos basamos para explicar como estaban organizados politicamente los pueblos de nuestra patria Anahuac, hoy Mexico, en la epoca anterior a la invasion.
La estructura politica tenia las siguientes denominaciones
El Calpulli (Calpul-li)
El Icmuyotl de Calpontin
El Huey Tlahtocayoti
La Federacion de Pueblos de Anahuac

Lic. Andres Fernandez Gatica
Calpulli Anahuacayotl, Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla

Mexica Teachings

2009-03-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

Kualli Yohualli Guerreros y Guerreras

Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl wants to share the knowledge behind the Mexicayotl. Our intention is to share with you and send you weekly information that will be posted on this blog. We will open a day of the month for teachings to come over and explore the information presented to you. We will use dialogue, lecture, and different teaching methods to extend to all the learning styles present. Some people learn best by reading, some by listening, some visually, some by talking, some by writing, some by experiencing and some doing a little bit of everything that's why we feel it is important to have several methods of teaching present. These teaching methods along with the practices of the ceremonies is essential for any warrior of the Mexicayotl. It is important to have both el espiritu y el "conocimiento".
Knowing that one of our worse enemies of today is TIME, we know that we are running around like "caballos desbocados" as my grandma would say and it is a big effort on our part and on your part to use some of our limited time to share, learn, teach, explore.
We challenge you to use some of your time to be part of Kalpulli Teoakalli Teoyolotl Calmecatl. And ironically we will refer to the account of time (cuauhpohualli) and the tonal machiotl frequently because a lot of the knowledge and wisdom comes from the study of TIME.
We will meet for the first time March 21 after the temazkal and after we eat and clean up. It will be a day full of teachings and experiences and celebration. Those of you who are planning to come be ready to relax afterwards and enjoy the sharing on our day of Spring Equinox.

Focus: Mexica Philosophy

Some of you have read this information but it is a different experience to dissect it in a circle of conocimiento. We invite you to read it, and bring your questions or experiences or comments to the circle to learn more about it.

Mexica Somos y en el camino andamos!
but do we know what it is to be Mexica?
Let's start with the basics

Mexica philosophy was created based on natural phenomena. Mexica philosophy is profound, intelligent, deep, wise, intense, beautiful, because it deciphers everything about life, present and future. (Concept of time being cyclical)

The name of this Continent is Ixachilatlan (different citations have different ways to spell the name) and it means INMENSIDAD immensity
The original population of Ixachilatlan was AUCTOCTONA autoctonous, that is they did not come from other continents. They were native to Ixachilatlan. (attention to the chronology)

Chronology of the roots of our culture (what is time?, here we go again with time)
In our present measurements coming from the European calendar, time is linear. For our ancestors time is cyclical and it appears time after time. The chronology of our roots is very important because if you know and understand the chronology you will be able to speak the truth and stand up tall in front of the lies and abuses that sometimes we go through when it is pretended that we as Mexicas are less than or inferior to.
Olmeca -------Florida and Tabasco
Maya-------Southeast of the country Tabasco, Guatemala, Honduras
Teotihuakatl ------Meseta Central
Toltekatl--------Tollan
Mexikatl ------7 last pueblos
Pueblos
1st Xochimilco
2nd. Akolhua-Lake Texcoco
3rd. Tekpanekatl- (azkapotzalko-northeast)
4th Xalko
5th Tlaxkalan (east)
6th Tlahuika (tepoztlan)
7th Aztekatl Metzciko-

Metz de Meztli (luna) Xi -Xiktli (ombligo) Ko- lugar
Los Mexicas vivian en el centro del lago de la luna
The Mexica Pantli and its symbols.
the penasco = solid base
the nopal = immortality
el aguila = majestic, value, noble
the serpent???? which serpent? there was no serpent!!! The symbol is........

Come and explore these symbols with us March 21, 2009
Temazkal at noon
Please arrive at 11 am to prepare
Pot luck
Approximate time to eat after the temazkal 3pm to 4pm
Clean up time 4pm to 5pm
Teachings 5-7pm If you cannot make it for the temazkal and you can come for the teachings that's ok. Just let us know
tlazokamati
Rosa Tupina and Antonio Acatzin
Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl
Austin, Texas

Palabras de la Capitana Tonantzin Marzo 12, 2009

2009-03-15T22:17:00.000-07:00

OME TEOTL

A todos mis hermanos Mexicas les envio un breve y sincero saludo para celebrar este dia en que estamos dejando la energia de un pedernal y retomando otra nueva energia de un año matlactli calli es decir un año diez casa, el numeral diez simboliza la integracion de nuestras dos manos pudiendo lograr en este nuevo año mucha creatividad,habilidades ,equilibrio y sabiduria. Nuestros abuelos Toltecas nos enseñaron que la energia que acompaña al numeral diez es la de TEZCATLIPOCA es decir todo lo relativo a la memoria incluyendo la memoria genetica y ancestral que habita en nuestras venas, permitiendo nuestra visita hacia dentro de nosotros mismos para acrecentar nuestra conciencia,nuestras sensibilidades,nuestra intuicion,y nuestro desarrollo interno; El tecolote sera el ave presente por todo este año y nos permite ser reflexivos, sabios y lograr una mejor concentracion en nuestros actos y se nos facilitaran los trabajos de meditacion a traves de la paciencia.
El signo CALLI de este año es el signo de un recinto sagrado o nuestras casa por ejemplo nuestro cuerpo es el venerable recinto de nuestro espiritu y nuestra esencia de la cual nosotros somos los unicos responsables de como lo tenemos y lo mantenemos,tambien tendremos la oportunidad de iluminar ,limpiar y habitar con felicidad nuestro hogar y a nuestra familia,y seria muy bueno que veneraramos juntos a nuestra casa comun que es nuestra madre tierra las personas que nacen en un año calli son seres creativos,hogareños y muy productivos,tambien son personas estudiosas,trabajadoras y previsoras y procuran no pasar privaciones ;pero aun cuando no hallamos nacido en un año calli todas estas caracteristicas y energias estaran presentes por todo este año asi que los invito a que las aprovechemos y las disfrutemos.
Les comparto que algunos miembros de nuestro grupo TONANTZIN COATLICUE realizamos nuestro primer dia NEMONTENI viajando a nuestro interior enfrente de un gran fuego sagrado ,visitando lo profundo de nuestra madre tierra en dos temazcales ,uno al anochecer y otro al amanecer y meditamos a la interperie por toda la noche guiados por nuestro hermaño TETEZCA . Fue una experiencia muy bella cuando en otro gran fuego de la purificacion,limpieza y barrimiento quemamos nuestras cargas emocionales.Asi entre menos cargas llevamos mas altos vuelos alcanzamos.
No olviden su propio TECATLIPOCA ni el numeral diez que es integracion y creatividad ni hacer de su propio cuerpo un recinto venerable y digno de ustedes mismos para juntos poder honrar a nuestros ancestros y ellos nos manden una sonrisa acompañada de su bella luz cosmica.
NI NEMI ILHUICAC IN TLALTIPAC NO YOLOCOPA IN XOXOHUQUI XICALTZINTLI
Yo vivo en el cosmos ,sobre la tierra al lado de mi corazon en la gran jicara azul
su hemana de siempre TONANTZIN

Celebrating The Mexica New Year

2009-03-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Since last Friday March 6Th the celebrations began in many part of this Continent called Ixachilatlan many moons ago and now known as America.

Thanks to the efforts of many of our ancestors, our elders, our wise men and women, the knowledge of the "cuentas del tiempo" has been preserved. We pray at this moment for all our people whose lives were taken due to all the acts of genocide and for defending the Mexicayotl with their blood. We honor them in these 5 days.

The preservation of amazing, incredible and fascinating work to understand the time and not only understand it but feel it with all our senses is the work of many men and women who came before us. We are very fortunate to live these experiences of celebration of the times and passing on the knowledge to our loved ones so they can learn to love it and respect it.

In spite of differences from some scholars that correlate the "cuentas" in one way or another, (there's various reputable methods available with differences), the essence of honoring the Mexica year is present today and that is important. There is still plenty of room for scholars to come together and debate and do more studies on the Tonal Machiotl. That in itself shows us that it has taken years of study to be able to understand the surface of the magnificent Mexica calendar considered the most precise measurement of time and space.
What does this mean?? Wow! to me I'm just without words! Me quedo sin palabras!
That's why this is a time of reflection, specially the 5 days prior to the new year.

The Nemontemi days are the 5 days that are observed before the new year enters. That is, from the 7Th to the11Th of March.

Time is the cosmic perception of what our ancestors used to live, in harmony, in communion with the Ometeotl, the Tloque Nahuaque, the essences, the forces, the generators of life, the elements, everything that is, transferred into a material form, a stone sculpted to capture the movement and preserve the knowledge!
We are very fortunate because we have inherited this wonderful legacy, treasure. I can't even find the words to describe what I feel at this moment as I am trying to share my reflection of the past days.

Nemontemi days, we have been told by the elders that it is a time to reflect upon the life we have lived the previous year, the year 9 tecpatl in this case.

The reflection is done with the purpose of transition to the new year. Individually each person needs to know what changes he/she needs to make for the collective purpose to let go and to begin.

The new Mexica Year 10 Calli will begin at 12 am on the 12 Th of March

Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl wishes you and your community a Happy Mexica Year!
Felicidades!

We have been in reflection these days and serving our community to reinforce our commitment as a Kalpulli and we have chosen to celebrate it maintaining a sacred fire and with the Council of women of Alma de Mujer on Sunday 8Th with a sacred temazkal and we will end the celebration with another temazkal for the group of Men from the local TAASA (Texas Association Against Sexual Abuse), marking our upcoming work with circles for men and circles for women at Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl. We thank the community of Austin for opening the doors so the work can continue and so that the preservation and love of the Mexicayotl grows.

Tlazokamati to all our brothers and sisters observing these days and celebration as well!
Nos unimos a sus rezos!

Ometeotl
Rosa Tupina y Antonio Acatzin
Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl
Austin, Texas

Danza Xochimeztli Oct. 2005

2008-12-13T15:42:00.000-08:00

Abuela Tonalmitl y Rosa Tupina

2008-12-13T15:38:00.000-08:00

Writings by Grandmother Tonalmitl

2008-12-13T15:32:00.000-08:00

THE EFFECT OF THE MOONDANCE ON WOMEN

The Moondance is a spiritual work that has profound repercusions in the internal lives of women. The invocation of the natural feminine forces causes certain capacities that women have, to grow exponentially. The Moondance has the marvelous capacity to increase feminine energy, augment the acceptance of women of their own feminine essence, raise their self esteem, but also sharpen their perceptive capacities and their profound comprehension. Physiologically it regulates and normalizes their menstrual cycle and it incredibly increments their fertility.

The effects that the Moondance produces is the same for all ages, only that younger women (younger than 16 years of age) are still not completely formed in their feminine essence, but they can still be allowed to Moondance and to come out at any moment that they feel they need to come out because their will has not developed yet. Nevertheless, their Moondance is not counted, but they are allowed to participate knowing that the Moondance will strengthen their feminine essence.

Pregnant women up to 2 months of pregnancy have attended the Moondance and have not presented any problems during the Moondance, after the Moondance or in the delivery. They are asked not to fast because it is important to take care of the baby. It has been observed that the exposure to the Moon rays and the energy of the Moondance helps in the calcification of the bones and the healing of fractures, therefore it is very probable that it also enhances the development of the baby.

Nevertheless, it is important to observe the context of the feminine problems, because due to cultural implications, women have been mistreated and abused, which provokes in them an enormous variety of physical illnesses and emotional problems. So it is very important to highlight that yes, the Moondance gives women the opportunity to access powerful feminine forces of nature, but it is also true that if a permanent personal desire and effort does not exist and is not realized throughout the year to resolve bad past experiences, forgiving others and herself in a true desire to liberate herself forever from the past, the Moondance will not provoke the benefitial effects it produces and a severe critical condition of the internal physical and emotional problems can occur. So it is good to be very alert to these situations and to be ready to resolve them letting the past go.

The Moondance is beneficial for women who suffer from cancer because it allows them to expel what they have inside, resolve the internal conflicts that have caused the illness, and enter into a healing process of their moral issues. The Moondance can provoke a severity of their condition, that is why it is recommended to attend with their necessary medicines. In cases of light hemorraghe, they can remain inside of the circle, dancing or resting in the south area of the circle. There is no guarantee that the cancer will be cured, and the sick women who attend must do it under their own risk, because their healing depends first and foremost on their discipline and their effort they use to clean and sweep their past.

All this information is based on actual happenings and it is the result of more than ten years of experiences in the Moondance.

Escrito por la Abuela Tonalmitl

2008-12-13T15:14:00.000-08:00

EL EFECTO DE LA DANZA DE LA LUNA EN LA MUJER

La Danza de la Luna es un trabajo espiritual que tiene profundas repercusiones en la vida interior de las mujeres, la invocación de las fuerzas naturales femeninas hace que éstas potencien ciertas capacidades que las mujeres poseen. La Danza de la Luna tiene la maravillosa capacidad de incrementar la energía femenina, aumenta la aceptación por parte de las danzantes de su esencia femenina, aumenta su autoestima, pero también agudiza sus capacidades perceptivas y de compresión profunda. Fisiológicamente regula y normaliza el ciclo menstrual, además de incrementar increíblemente la fertilidad.

Los efectos que produce la danza es el mismo para todas las edades, únicamente que las jovencitas (menores de 16 años) aún no están debidamente formadas en su esencia femenina, pero aún así se les permite ingresar a la danza y salir en cualquier momento que ellas sientan la necesidad, ya que su fuerza de voluntad aún no se ha desarrollado. Sin embargo la danza no se les cuenta; pero se les permite participar sabiendo que la danza les fortalecerá su esencia femenina.

Han asistido a la danza mujeres embarazadas de hasta 2 meses de embarazo y no han presentado ningún problema ni durante, ni después de la danza, ni en el parto. Pero si se les pide que no realicen ayuno porque nos parece importante cuidar del bebé. Por cierto que se ha observado que la exposición a los rayos de la luna y a la energía de la danza fomenta la calcificación de los huesos y la curación de fracturas, así que es muy probable que también fomente el desarrollo del bebé.

Es sin embargo importante observar el contexto de la problemática femenina, ya que por herencia cultural la mujer ha sido desde siempre maltratada y abusada, todo lo cual provoca en si misma una enorme variedad de enfermedades físicas y problemas emocionales, así que es importantísimo señalar que si bien la Danza de la Luna da la oportunidad de acceder a las poderosísimas fuerzas femeninas de la naturaleza, también es cierto que si no existe un deseo y un esfuerzo personal permanente realizado durante todo el año para resolver las malas experiencias pasadas, perdonando a otros y a si mismas, un verdadero deseo de liberarse para siempre del pasado, la danza no sólo no provocará los benéficos efectos que posee, sino que incluso puede ocurrir un severo agravamiento de los problemas internos tanto físicos como emocionales, así que hay que estar muy atentas a estas situaciones y estar muy dispuestas a resolverlas dejando ir al pasado.

En las enfermas de cáncer, la danza es benéfica ya que les permite expulsar lo que traen dentro, resolver los conflictos internos que le han causado la enfermedad, y entran en proceso de curación de sus problemas morales. La danza puede provocar agravaciones de su estado, por lo cual es recomendable acudir con los medicamentos necesarios. En caso de presentarse hemorragia ligera, pueden permanecer dentro del círculo, ya se danzando o en reposo en la parte sur del centro del círculo. No existe ninguna garantía de que el cáncer se cure, y deberán las enfermas asistir a la danza bajo su propio riesgo, ya que su cura depende ante todo de la disciplina y el empeño con que cada una de ellas limpie y barra su pasado

Toda esta información está basada en hechos vivénciales y es resultado de más de diez años de experiencias en la Danza de la Luna.

2008-12-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

La abuela Tonalmitl en la danza de la Luna Xochimeztli Oct. 28, 2007. Grandmother Tonalmitl at the Moondance Xochimeztli.

Somos Guadalupanos?/Are we Guadalupanos?

2008-12-12T16:56:00.000-08:00

We are about to celebrate the day of the Virgin of Tepeyac, and the question comes out. What is it to be a Guadalupano? Am I Guadalupano?
Ahora que estamos por celebrar el dia de la Virgen del Tepeyac, la pregunta se escucha a nuestro alrededor. Que es ser un Guadalupano? Soy Guadalupana? Soy Guadalupano?
I would love to share something from my heart.
Quisiera compartirles algo que nace de mi corazon.
(english will be in blue and you can scroll down for the blue portion. it is much easier for me to do it in spanish first and then translate to english).

Mi Abuelita Maria, campesina, de raices Indigenas, crecio dentro del sincretismo del "Catolicismo Mexica". Hasta podriamos decir que era "Mexicatolica". En su rancho, lugar de origen, Carretas Chihuahua, se practicaban las velaciones, las peregrinaciones, las fiestas de los santos, las mayordomias, y muchas costumbres derivadas de ese sincretismo que amamos y odiamos a la vez. Yo soy un producto de ese sincretismo y creci amando ser Guadalupana!
La fiesta en honor de la virgencita morena la llevo muy por dentro de mi ser ya que uno de los miembros de nuestra familia tenia a su "cargo" la fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe. Humberto el hijo de mi tia Chayo, quien era prima hermana de mi abuelita adquirio ese "cargo" de familia y hasta la fecha lleva a cabo la celebracion de la Virgen del Tepeyac en Chihuahua. Esa era la forma de preservar que nuestras familias emplearon desde hace muchisimos anos. Las "obligaciones" espirituales eran transferidas de los ancianos a los jovenes, de los padres a los hijos, de los compadres a las comadres. A este sistema de preservacion que es el fruto de la Consigna de el Abuelo Cuauhtemoc debemos esta preservacion de historia, cultura y tradicion. Obviamente mi abuelita era un pilar de la familia y de las celebraciones de los santos que ahora reconozco, representaban diferentes momentos cosmicos dentro del calendario agricola. Gracias infinitas por esa labor de preservacion. Yo creci entre celebraciones en donde no faltaba el "tesguino", el mole, los frijoles, el arroz, las tortillas, el champurrado y los tamales; entre altares llenos de flores, papel de china de colores, flores de papel, manteles bordados de flores, velas, cirios, rompope, jerez y aguas frescas. En ese tiempo solo entendia la cuestion de fe y amor. Yo no entendia las cosas "cosmicas" y "astrologicas", las cosas scientificas y academicas. Yo solo era una nina embelezada con toda esa belleza siguiendo a su mayor tesoro, su abuela, su guia, su maestra, su todo. Gracias de nuevo abuelita Maria, mujer sabia, mujer de antano, mujer medicina, mujer de fe, mujer de fuerza, por ensenarme a valorar nuestras raices.
Ahora despues de los anos, despues de discernir y encontrar verdades, despues del estudio y los libros, despues de seguir el camino rojo, andar aqui y andar alla, despues de platicar con los abuelos y las abuelas, platicar con el abuelo fuego, y la abuela Meztli, entiendo solamente un poquitito mas acerca de lo que pasa en el cielo, en el firmamento el dia o cercas del dia en el cual veneramos a La Virgen de Guadalupe. Y recuerdo los cantos que aprendi de nina:
"En el cielo una hermosa manana, la guadalupana bajo al Tepeyac"
"In ilhuicatl in kualli tlanezi totlazotlanantzin in tepeyakatl"
mas no sabia en aquel tiempo que en esa hermosa manana (o antes o despues) se encuentra Venus con la Luna y en el sereno se dibuja una silueta de la virgen rodeada de estrellas que solo a veces se pude dislumbrar a ciertas horas antes del amanecer; Todo un acontecimiento cosmico que marcaba el movimiento y anunciaba la proxima "gestacion" de la tierra; de suma importancia para grupos agricolas.
Es hermoso saber que mi amor hacia la virgen nacio asi nada mas por fe. Y ahora con mas conocimiento mi fe se afianza mas y mi corazon se llena de gusto! Es por eso que cada ano esperamos la llegada de Tonantzin Coatlicue, Nuestra Madre del Cielo para honrarla, para venerarla.
Para los Mexicas ser Guadalupano significa venerar la armonia del Universo y la imagen de la Virgen de Guadalupe significa el simbolo de dignidad y rebeldia de un pais que lucho por su independencia llevando el estandarte de la virgen como bandera de su causa. Otros grandes y respetados "rebeldes" la han tomado como su simbolo de libertad, emancipacion, voluntad, fuerza, poder, Jose Ma. Morelos, Emiliano Zapata quien lucho por tierra y libertad, y hoy en dia la marcha de la dignidad indigena del EZLN y la marcha del color de la tierra quienes llevan el estandarte de la Guadalupana. El amor hacia Guadalupe, Coatlicue, Tonantzin no tiene nada que ver con el catolicismo y sus dogmas. La imagen tan popular hoy en dia lleva todo ese amor y esperanza de los pueblos.
Es por eso que hoy en dia es tiempo que reconozcamos cuales son nuestros simbolos y creencias que nos dejaron nuestros antepasados y como ellos tuvieron el valor de arriesgar su vida y esconder los simbolos originales bajo otras imagenes, con la poesia y los cantos que se convirtieron en alabanza religiosas y lo que hicieron fue cubrirlos de flores como simbolo de nuestra admiracion y respeto.
Es por eso que les invitamos a celebrar este dia de Guadalupe con todo su amor y su fe y su conocimiento por nuestra cultura por nuestra Mexicayotl que no perecera!
Ometeotl
Rosa Tupina
My grandmother Maria, farmworker, indigenous woman, grew up in the syncretism of "Mexica Catholicism". We could even call her "mexicatolica".
In her "rancho" or rural area where she was born and raised, Carretas Chihuahua, vigils, pilgrimages, feasts of saints, "mayordomias", and many other customs were practiced that came out from that synergy or "sincretismo" that we love and hate at the same time. I am a product of that and I grew up loving to be "Guadalupana"! The feast in honor of the brown skinned virgin I carry it and I keep it inside of my heart inside of my being. One of our relatives had the "cargo" or responsibility to carry on "la fiesta" of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Humberto, the son of my aunt Chayo, who was sister-cousin of my grandma acquired that responsibility for the familia and up to this day he still celebrates it in Chihuahua. This was the form to preserve the spiritual "obligations" that were passed on from generation to generation, from mother to children, from father to children, from the elders to the younger generations, from the compadres to the comadres. This system of preservation is the results of the last words of our Grandfather Cuauhtemoc and thanks to his "Consigna" we have been able to preserve our true history, our culture and our tradition.
Obviously, my grandmother was a pillar in the familia and in the celebration of the saints, that now I recognize, they represented different cosmic moments in the agricultural calendar. My greatfulness to the max for this labor of love to preserve all that we have now. I grew up in those celebrations where there was always "tesguino", mole, beans, rice, tortillas, champurrado, tamales; in between altars full of flowers, china paper, paper flowers, embroidered tableclothes full of fowers, candles, "cirios", rompope, jerez and fruit drinks better known as "aguas frescas". At that time I just understood the essence of faith and love. I didn't understand this cosmic and astrological forces, or scientific explanations and academics. I was just a little girl mesmerized with all the activity and beauty and color and joy, following my biggest treasure, grandma, my guide, my teacher, my everything. Thanks again grandma Maria, wise woman, woman of age, ancient woman, medicine woman, woman of faith, woman of strength, for showing me how to value our roots.
Now after the years have gone by, after discernment, after finding some truth, after studies and books, after following the red road, walking here and there, after talking to the grandpas and grandmas, after talking to the sacred fire, and grandmother Meztli, I just understand a little bit more about what happens in the sky, in the "heavens above", the day or close to the day when we honor the Virgin of Guadalupe. I remember the songs I learned as a child:
"En el cielo una hermosa manana, la guadalupana bajo al Tepeyac"
"In ilhuicatl in kualli tlanezi totlazotlanantzin in tepeyakatl"
At the sky a beautiful morning our beloved mother earth is at the summit of the mountain.
but I didn't know at that time that in that beautiful morning (days before and days after) Venus meets with the Moon and in the mist you can find the silohuete of the virgin surrounded by stars that sometimes can be seen by the naked eye a few hours before dawn. Quite a Cosmic event that was a marker of movement and announced the next gestation of the earth, of great importance for agricultural people.
It is beautiful to know that my love for the virgin was born out of faith. And now with more knowledge my faith is strengthened and my heart is full of joy! That's why each year we wait for Tonantzin Coatlicue, Our Mother of the Sky to honor her. For Mexicas to be Guadalupano means to honor the harmony of the universe. The image of the Virgin of Guadalupe means a symbol of dignity and rebellion of a country that fought for its independence taking the flag of the virgin for their cause. Other great and respected "rebels" have taken it as a symbol of freedom, emancipation, will, strength, power, Jose Ma. Morelos, Emiliano Zapata who fought for land and freedom, and nowdays the march of indigenous dignity of the EZLN, who carry the flag of the Guadalupana. The love for Guadalupe, Coatlicue, Tonantzin, doesn't have anything to do with Catholic Dogma.
The popular image carries all that love and hope of the pueblos. That's why it is time to recognize which are our symbols and beliefs that our ancestors left behind for us and how they had the courage to risk their lives and hde the original symbols, with poetry, and songs that became religious chants and what they did was to cover them with flowers as a symbol of our admiration and respect. That's why we invite you to celebrate the Feast of Guadalupe with all your love and your faith and your knowledge for your culture for our Mexicayotl that will not die.
Ometeotl
Rosa Tupina

Los Abuelos de la Danza de la Luna/The Elders of the Moondance

2008-12-06T23:39:00.000-08:00

La Abuela Tonalmitl y El Abuelo Cenyaotl
Hace 5 años en Septiembre del 2004, nos llegó el llamado del Atekokolli para atender la Danza de la Luna Xochimeztli entre San Martin de las Piramides y San Antonio Teotihuacan, Mexico. La Danza a cargo de la Abuela Tonalmitl -Guadalupe Retiz, se ha llevado a cabo por 13 años hasta esta fecha.
La Abuela Tonalmitl y su dualidad el Abuelo Cenyaotl quien ya esta en el Mictlan desde Nov. 2007 se dedicaron por muchos años a rescatar y preservar la Mexicayotl. Sus enseñanzas merecen todo nuestro respeto. Su dedicación al estudio de códices, del Tonalamatl y de las Danzas Mexica y de la Luna nos cautivó. Ellos se convirtieron en nuestros modelos de pareja dentro de la Mexicayotl. En Octubre 2005 ellos nos hicieron el honor de dirigir nuestra ceremonia de Amarre de Tilma durante la Danza de la Luna. La Ceremonia fue algo inolvidable que llevamos en la memoria y en el Corazón como ellos nos lo pidieron ya que no se nos permitió tomar fotos y respetamos muchisimo sus recomendaciones. El hecho de no tener fotos de nuestra ceremonia nos ha hecho valorar aun mas cada momento vivido y nos hace hablar acerca de cada detalle y escucharnos el uno al otro y repetirlo para no olvidar. Sus enseñanzas como pueden ver, nos han dado animo y nos han impulsado a seguir adelante, a prepararnos, a trabajar y a entregarnos a la Mexicayotl. El primer año de la Danza mi experiencia, mas bien nuestra experiencia fue algo maravilloso y transformante. Digo nuestra experiencia porque La Danza de la Luna tiene efectos tambien para la pareja. Es muy recomendable que si la mujer que piensa participar en la Danza de la Luna tiene su dualidad, que ambos asistan y participen como les corresponda. La transformación como resultado de la Danza de la Luna es parte de la ceremonia. Después de mi primera ceremonia de la Danza de la Luna tenia muchas preguntas, inquietudes, emociones y me comuniqué con la Abuela Tonalmitl. Empezé a pensar en muchas mujeres mas que se podrian beneficiar con esta Ceremonia. En ese tiempo viviamos en California y yo trabajaba en una clinica de Oncologia atendiendo a pacientes de cancer. Le pregunte a la Abuela Tonalmitl “que efectos tiene la danza de la Luna en una mujer con cancer, en una adolescente, en una mujer con problemas emocionales, etc. ?“ Yo queria saber tantas cosa y La Abuela Tonalmitl me escuchó y me respondió y el siguiente escrito es parte de su respuesta. Ese documento forma parte de la información que la Abuela nos permite difundir por estos medios y traducir al ingles. Gracias Abuela Tonalmitl y Abuelo Cenyaotl su trabajo no ha sido en vano!
Grandmother Tonalmitl and Grandfather Cenyaotl
5 years ago in September of 2004 we received the calling of the Atekokolli to attend the Xochimeztli Moondance in Teotihuacan, Mexico in between San Martin de las Piramides and San Antonio Teotihuacan. Grandmother Guadalupe Retiz better known as Abuela Tonalmitl has been leading the Moondance for 13 years.
Grandmother Tonalmitl and her duality Grandfather Cenyaotl who already passed to the Mictlan since November 2007, dedicated themselves for many years to rescue and preserve
the Mexicayotl. Their teachings deserve all our respect. Their dedication to study the ancient codices, the Tonalamatl the Mexica Dance and the Moondance captured us. They became our role models as a couple of the Mexicayotl. In October 2005 we were very honored to have them lead our Mexica wedding ceremony called "Amarre de Tilma" or "Tying of the Tilma" during the Moondance. The ceremony was unforgettable and we keep it in our memory and in our heart as we were asked to do because we were not permitted to take pictures and we respected their recommendations. Not being able to have pictures of our wedding ceremony made us value more each moment lived and now it makes us talk about each detail and it makes us listen to each other as we repeat the experience lived and that makes us not forget about it. Their teachings as you can see have motivated us to continue forward to prepare ourselves, to work, to give ourselves to the Mexicayotl.
The first year of the Moondance my experience, or better said, our experience was a wonderful and transforming experience. And I say our experience because the Moondance has its effects for our partners too. It is recommended that if a woman attends the Moondance and she has a partner, that both attend. Transformation as a result of the moondance is a part of the Moondance. After my first Moondance ceremony I had a lot of questions and emotions and I called Grandmother Tonalmitl. I started thinking about many women who could benefit from the Moondance. At this time we were living in California and I used to work at an Oncology Clinic attending Cancer patients. I asked Grandmother Tonalmitl "what effects does the Moondance has on a cancer patient, on an adolescent, on a woman with emotional problems, etc.?" I wanted to know so many things and Grandmother Tonalmitl listened to me and responded and I have included here a writing she did based on this conversation. This document is part of the information that Grandmother Tonalmitl has passed on and we can disseminate and translate to English with her permission. Thanks Grandmother Tonalmitl and Grandfather Cenyaotl, your work has not been in vain!

2008-12-04T19:40:00.000-08:00

Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl is blowing the Sacred Atekokolli in the four directions calling on the Generals, Captains, and Palabras of the Mexicayotl groups, Conchero groups, Kalpullis, organizations and individuals devoted to preserve the ancient teachings to come together and create flowers with our prayers, our danza, our songs, our traditions and our beliefs! Come and pay respect to our venerable Mother Tonantzin Coatlicue, La Virgen Morena, La Virgen de Guadalupe!
When? Dec. 12, 2008 starting at 12 midnight at Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl in Austin, Texas.
We are thankful for your offerings of flowers, copal, cedar, sage, tobacco and fruit. Tlazokamati

2008-12-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

Por los cuatro rumbos se escuchan los toques del Sagrado Atekokolli llamando a los Generales, Capitanes y Palabras de los grupos de la Mexicayotl, Concheros, Kalpullis, organizaciones e individuos dedicados a preservar las antiguas enseñanzas para unirnos y crear flores con nuestros rezos, nuestra danza, nuestros cantos, nuestras tradiciones y nuestras creencias! Vengan a honrar a nuestra venerable Madre LA VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE, La Virgen Morena, TONANTZIN COATLICUE

Cuando? Diciembre 12, 2008
A que horas? Empezaremos a las 12 media noche terminando la celebración a las 12 media noche del siguiente dia.
Donde? Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl en Austin, Texas
Se agradecen sus ofrendas de flores, tabaco, hierbas, copal y fruta

2008-12-02T20:13:00.000-08:00

Nuestra Capitana, Tonantzin Fernandez del gupo de danza Tonantzin Coatlicue de Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla. Our Captain Tonantzin Fernandez

2008-12-02T20:10:00.000-08:00

Acompanandonos en la Peticion de la Luz, nuestros hermanos Juan y Yoyotzin y la Regidora Rocio, del grupo de Danza Tonantzin Coatlicue de Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla
The Ceremony to request The Light with our brothers and sisters Juan, Yoyotzin and Rocio.

2008-12-02T20:06:00.000-08:00

Antonio Acatzin

2008-12-02T20:04:00.000-08:00

Ceremonia de la Peticion de la Luz, Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla. Ceremony to request The Light.

2008-12-02T20:01:00.000-08:00

Rosa Tupina en la peticion de la Luz, Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla

2008-12-02T19:59:00.000-08:00

Antonio Acatzin en la ceremonia de la peticion de Luz en Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla

El nacimiento de el grupo de Danza Azteca-Mexica Xochipilli

2008-12-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

Estamos felices de compartir con ustedes que las semillas plantadas en nuestro corazon desde hace tiempo ya dieron fruto a un nuevo grupo de Danza Azteca-Mexica al cual le pusimos por nombre Xochipilli. Queremos darle las gracias a la Familia Fernandez de Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla, Don Andres Fernandez, su sra. esposa Don~a Tlahuis, su hija Tonantzin Fernandez y su nieta Tonantzin quienes nos recibieron en su hogar por primera vez en Septiembre del 2003 y nos llenaron el corazon con su sabiduria y su amor. Gracias tambien a nuestro hermano Hugo Maldonado Quitl de Cholula, Puebla ya que gracias a el fue posible ese encuentro. En ese tiempo andabamos en busqueda de conocimiento con bases solidas y sinceridad del corazon. De ahi vienen nuestros lazos de union con la familia Fernandez. Ellos nos abrieron los ojos a el conocimiento ancestral con su dedicacion y deseo ferviente de promover y preservar nuestras raizes conociendo primeramente nuestra verdadera historia. La familia Fernandez ha sido pionera defendiendo nuestra verdadera historia a traves de los an~os. La semillita fue plantada y por fin en Julio 2008 acudiendo al llamado del Atekokolli, recibimos la visita de Tonantzin Fernandez en Austin, Texas para inaugurar el Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl e iniciar el trabajo de la Danza Azteca. En Octubre 08, 2008 viajamos a Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla en donde dias despues se realizo la ceremonia para pedir la luz y conformarnos como grupo de danza Azteca-Mexica bajo la palabra de la Capitana Tonantzin Fernandez y su grupo de Danza Tonantzin Coatlicue de Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla. Nuestro mas humilde deseo es poder servir en nuestra capacidad como Kalpulli ofreciendo la danza como parte de nuestra expresion ceremonial. Tlazokamati Abuelos queridos!

We are happy to share with you that the seeds that were planted in our hearts a long time ago germinated into a new Danza Azteca-Mexica group that we named Xochipilli. We want to express our thanks to the Fernandez family from Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla , Don Andres Fernandez, his wife Don~a Tlahuis, their daughter Tonanzin Fernandez and their grandaughter Tonantzin. They received us in their home for the first time in September 2003 and they filled our hearts with wisdom and love. Thanks also to our brother Hugo Maldonado Quitl from Cholula, Puebla who made that encounter possible by taking us there to meet the Familia. At that time we were on a quest for knowledge from solid basis and sincere hearts. That's how we formed those strong bonds with the Familia Fernandez. They opened up our eyes to the ancestral knowledge with their dedication wishing to promote and preserve our roots knowing first our true history. The Fernandez family has been a pioneer defending our true history throughout the years. The little seed was planted and finally in July 2008, attending to the calling sounds of the Atekokolli, Capitana Tonantzin Fernandez arrived in Austin, Texas to help us inaugurate our newly formed Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl and initiate the work of Danza Azteca. In October 08, 2008, we traveled to Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla and days after our arrival, the Ceremony to Request the Light to be part of the familia of danzantes took place. In that ceremony we requested permission to form our Danza Azteca-Mexica group under the word of our Captain Tonantzin Fernandez and her group Tonantzin Coatlicue from Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla. Our most humble wish is to be able to serve in our capacity as a Kalpulli offering danza as part of our ceremonial expression. Tlazokamati dear abuelos! Gracias Capitana, Gracias abuelo Fernandez, desde el fondo de nuestro corazon les expresamos nuestro amor y les damos su reconocimiento como guerreros de la Mexicayotl.
Thanks Captain, thanks abuelo Fernandez, from the bottom of our hearts we express our love and we recognize you as warriors of the Mexicayotl.

Carta a Nuestra Comunidad

2008-11-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

Hola hermanas, hermanos, Compadritos y Comadritas y apoyo de la Danza Azteca- Mexica, Danza de la Luna, la Danza del Sol y otras Ceremonias. Hemos juntado esta lista de correos electronicos para invitarlos y mantenerlos informados de nuestras actividades del Kalpulli. Si ustedes sienten que no quieren ser parte de esta lista por favor informenos para borrarlo de la lista. Por otra parte si siente que esta lista resultara en algo bueno para usted pues comuniquenos su sentir.

Al estar haciendo esta lista nos dimos cuenta que no estamos tan solos como a veces tendemos a sentirnos en nuestro nuevo hogar. El Gran Espiritu nos trajo a AUstin y en cuanto llegamos aqui abrimos las puertas como Kalpulli porque sabiamso de antemano lo que es nuestro camino. El Creador nos dio esta oportunidad y es un hermoso regalo pero tambien es un gran trabajo que requiere de toda nuestra energia y nuestro amor. Como todos sabemos, cuando recibimos regalos espirituales, significa responsabilidades y trabajo, trabajo, trabajo y trabajo! La mayoria de ustedes conoce nuestro trabajo y es por eso que nos gustaria mantenerlos informados y contar con su amor y su apoyo. Tambien sabemos que hemos plantado semillas en nuestro camino y nuestras amistades y familias son prueba que esas semillas germinan y crecen.

Algunos de uds. viven en los EU, algunos en Austin Texas, Canada, Sudamerica y algunos en nuestro Mexico querido! Pero la razon por la cual queremos mantenerlos informados es porque de una manera u otra estamos conectados, ya sea por medio de la Danza de la Luna, o la Danza del Sol, o la Danza Azteca-Mexica, o las ceremonias, o curaciones, talleres, clases, o amistad y familia, sentimos esta coneccion y por medio de esta coneccion ustedes son parte de nosotros tambien.

Algunos de uds. nos conocen desde hace muchos an~os y algunos de uds. apenas nos conocen, pero una cosa es por seguro, todos uds. representan circulos diferentes con los cuales hemos cruzado en nuestro camino y apreciamos sus energias.

Al mandarles esta informacion acerca de nuestros temazkales de la luna y nuestra practica de Danza-Azteca Mexica, y usted piensa "no soy danzante" o "no estoy en Austin para ir", por favor no descarte la idea de ser parte de nuestro apoyo espiritual en donde ud. este. SUs rezos son nuestros rezos y nuestros rezos son sus rezos.

In-Lakesh, Oh Metakuyasin, Ometeotl, El es Dios! Compadritos y Comadritas.

Rosa Tupina Yaotonalcuauhtli-Orta & Antonio Calli Acatzin Orta

Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl

Letter to Our Community

2008-11-13T08:03:00.000-08:00

Hi sisters, brothers, Compadritos y Comadritas and supporters of the Danza Azteca-Mexica, Moon dance, the Sun Dance, other Ceremonias. We have compiled this list of e-mails to invite you and maintain you informed of all our Kalpulli activities. If you feel you do not want to be part of this list please let us know and we will erase you from our list. On the other hand if you feel this is going to be a good list for you please let us know.

As we compiled this list we became aware that we are not alone as sometimes we may feel in our new home. We were brought to Austin by the Great Spirit and as soon as we arrived here we opened up our Kalpulli knowing very well what our path is. Creator has given us this opportunity and it is a very beautiful gift but it is also a job that requires all our energies and love overall. As we all know when we receive spiritual gifts, the meaning is responsibilities and work, work, work, work! The majority of you know of our work and we want to keep you posted and count with your love and support. We also know that we have planted seeds along our path and our friendships that we have for years and our familias are proof that those seeds germinate and grow.

Some of you are in the U.S., some of you in Austin Texas, Canada, South America and some of you in our dear Mexico! but the reason why we want to send all this information to all of you is because in one way or another we are connected, whether it is through the Moon Dance or the Sun Dance or Danza Azteca-Mexica, or Ceremonias, or healings, workshops and classes, or friendship and/or familia, we feel this connection and through this connection you are part of us too.

Some of you we have known for years and some of you we have barely met, but one thing is for sure, all of you represent different circles that have crossed our path and we appreciate your energies.

As we send you this information about our upcoming moonlodge and our weekly Danza Azteca-Mexica practice, and you think "I am not a dancer" or "I am not in Austin to attend", please do not discard the idea of becoming our spiritual supporters wherever you are. Your prayers are our prayers and our prayers are your prayers.

In-Lakesh, Oh Metakuyasin, Ometeotl, El es Dios! Compadritos y Comadritas.

Rosa Tupina Yaotonalcuauhtli-Orta & Antonio Calli Acatzin Orta

Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl