An Aztec Blessing

It turns out that today is "Canadian Immigrants Day" in the US. Who knew? @dswigle did, apparently. I didn't! If I did, I would have found a way to celebrate, probably by drinking copious amounts of Canadian beer.

Instead, I participated in an event that originated even farther south across another border - an Aztec Blessing Ritual!

I can very safely say that this was a ritual that was brand new to me, and I'm very glad that I was able to watch it.

The ritual and blessing was led by an Aztec priest; there was not much chanting, but there was a lot of singing, dancing, drum beating, and blowing of air through various shells and conches. Really neat! It took place in the labyrinth at the Delaware Art Museum which was an awesome place for it; the labyrinth is an almost perfectly circular structure; when you are in the middle of it, all the sounds from within the labyrinth hit you at the same time from all directions causing a really neat echo.

They had two goblets with smoking copal to smudge the labyrinth; after their initial blessing of the labyrinth they blessed each participant individually.

I learned today that the Aztec religion is still being practiced. The Aztecs apparently do not believe in a hell, but only a heaven. They also apparently viewed last year as a year of destruction, but this year is a year of construction and rebuilding. It was a very positive vibe, and one I really liked.

The priest is also very artistic. He was so thrilled and happy that the museum was letting him share his ritual that he provided all the participants with an Aztec themed pottery item for painting. He mixed the clay personally on site, used his own molds, and fired them in the museum's kiln.

My son found a mask to his liking that he decided to decorate.

He is allowing me to hang this in my work area. I've got just the spot for it, too.

I happen to have a fascination with skeletons, so it was this skull that spoke to me. I ended up painting it a dark green and gold. I might need to take a good picture of this and make it my new avatar.

All told, a very good morning!

(c) All images and photographs, unless otherwise specified, are created and owned by me.
(c) Victor Wiebe

About Me

Amateur photographer. Wannabe author. Game designer. Nerd. 
General all around problem-solver and creative type.

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