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
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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
que poco a poco iba carcomiendo sin piedad los recuerdos.
Gabriel García Márquez
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.
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
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
From the sweet side of the Moon
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 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”.
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.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
In Ilhuicatl Inkualli Tlanezi! Desde el cielo una hermosa mañana!
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!
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".
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
Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl ahorita no tiene libros en venta. Les informaremos si obtenemos libros para venta. La mayoria de estos libros recomendados estan agotados y algunos son de coleccion. Por el momento no contamos con libros de venta y si algun lector desea vendernos libros por favor comuniquense con nosotros. correo: teokalliteoyolotl@gmail.com
Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl does not have any books for sale. We will inform you if we do. The majority of these books are collectors items and can not be found. We do not have any of those books and if a reader wants to sell to us pls get in touch with us. Please e-mail us: teokalliteoyolotl@gmail.com
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
Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl does not have any books for sale. We will inform you if we do. The majority of these books are collectors items and can not be found. We do not have any of those books and if a reader wants to sell to us pls get in touch with us. Please e-mail us: teokalliteoyolotl@gmail.com
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
Sunday, November 29, 2009
A JOURNEY WITH AN ABUELO (Part I) by Quiahuitl
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!”
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!”
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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
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