MESO-AMERICAN
Quetzalcoatl
The Feathered Serpent
WAYS OF THE AZTEC
WARRIORS OF THE SPIRIT
When I am asked to explain my religious beliefs I often have very little to say. That is not to mean that the Aztecan and
Toltecan ways are shallow or simplistic, it is only to mean that traditionally, there are no teachers or guidelines or set practices
that constitute this religion. It is in no way based on belief of any kind, nor is it based in faith. Everything a Mexica wise man
needs to know, he learns from nature, or directly from the great Spirit, the Mystery. I say it is not based in belief or faith
because what it is based on is experience. When a person becomes truly learned in these ways, he no longer has any need for
faith, he has seen the powers of the Spirit with his own eyes. He sees as the earth mother provides her children with food and
shelter every day, he sees as the father of all, the sun, warms us and protects us, and he speaks to them, and hears their
answers. So, it is there for a bit false that I advertised my “beliefs” on the index page, I for one KNOW these things to be true,
I have seen them. Not that I consider myself to be of any great knowledge, only that the great Power has allowed me to see
certain things.
An important thing to remember when speaking of Aztecan religion is that it is of an entirely different culture, and people than
what most westerners are accustomed to. It is not too far a stretch to say that Mexica live in a completely different world. It is
here that we connect with the awareness of trees, and listen intently to our dreams. It is here that we do more than simply
recognize the heart beat of the earth, here we are one with it, and all at the same time we learn from it. Which means going
beyond simply observing the plants and animals and learning from their actions, it extends to actually hearing their words, and
following their guidance through visions and dreams. Such things are easily attained when all notions of self worth, and
arrogance are forgotten. That we insist that we are masters of this world is the greatest thing holding us back from being a part
of it.
It is true that the Aztecs, both of antiquity and of today, followed certain strict observances and holidays. This would seem to
be a contradiction, however these simply acted as reminders to the numerous people of a vast city. It is interesting to look
upon the practices of old Tenochtitlan, which seems to have been a tribal society trying to live in a metropolis, which made life
less than perfect for many. Also true of Aztecan religion is that much like the trees and creatures of the earth, the gods also had
personalities. Thus certain rites and rituals were and are favored by the gods. The gods being our parents, we honor them
accordingly. So then to seek on ones own, and to find ones own meanings in nature would serve to help the seeker understand
these celebrations of the seasons and the elements, not to replace them.
The relationship between us and the gods, as stated above, is that of parent and child. The sacrifices of blood, the pain and
suffering endured in many rituals by the participants is there for as that of a child crying out for it’s parents. Surely, if a child’s
cries and laments became severe enough, that parent would respond. So to do we call upon those parents of the sky to have
mercy upon us, and alleviate our misery. Our celebrations and ceremonies to honor the gods then serve to praise them, and to
remind them of their power, and thus their duty to us.
Aztecan gods are many, and widely varied. There were the first ones, called the Lord and Lady of Duality. It is they who
created the gods, and they who represent the essence of sexual creativity, duality, and the devine. It is from them that the four
principal gods were created: Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, Tlaloc, Xipe Totec. It was these four that created the earth, the
heavens, and the underworld.
The Aztecan concept of death was seen as a simple transition into another realm. Mictlan, lord of the dead, resided in the
underworld were the souls of those who had not either drowned, or died in battle (those fortunate people would be taken to a
watery paradise) would go to live out their lives as dreary meaningless folks. Aztecan philosophy also has no conception of
eternity, a soul who’s body dies exists for four or five years after wards, and then dies out.
The Aztec world is also not an eternal thing. It is prophesied that we are now living in the time of the final sun, at the end of
which, demon women who wear no skin, will devour the inhabitants of earth, the stars will fall from the sky, the ground will be
consumed by earth quakes, and the sun will cease to rise. All will be darkness, and empty, and finally the world will come to
an end.
Credit:
Padmapani Muzquiz aka FurFen
