Maxaman, Myth and The Power of Belief

As you might guess this entry is more about the "Power of Belief" than it will be about Maxaman. However, to report on what I experienced as the power and influence that the effigy of God or Holy Boy, Maxaman has on the collective consciousness of the Mayan population, perhaps particularly around Lake Atitlan, can be used to stress the point.

The point being, what we believe is less important than that we believe. In many ways this is just another example of The Law of Attraction.

One very profound aspect of the power of belief has to do with what it means to be human. We far too often underestimate the magnificence and wonder, the deliciousness of what it means to be human. To say that humans are awesome is a major understatement.

The intention of the Shaman who is the "carrier" and/or care-taker of Maxaman has to do with the ability to bring about significant change in reality by the strength and power of his belief. Having the effigy, Maxaman, and the cumulative history of the Mayan history and culture behind him greatly enhances the shaman Nicolas to visualize, believe and emote confidence in himself and the power of Maxaman. When the People believe congruent with the belief of the shaman and the beauty of the prayers and ritual then greatness happens.

The rituals I took part  in were beautiful, poignant with meaning and energy. I am reminded of Malidome Some's imperative that shrines must be so constructed as to bring wonder, fear and respect. Then they must be empowered with the strength of the conviction of the person or persons responsible. The Maxaman shrine was both beautiful and troubling. What was the meaning and significance of the candles of different colors, the effigy, the ties around the effigy, the several hats, the prone effigy of Maxaman behind the figure, and, behind that Jesus on the Cross, etc.

Saint with Ties

Maxaman Shrine

Interestingly, as the Christian belief system by way of the cross was behind Maxaman, Maxaman's influence appeared in one of the Churches we visited. The scarf's around the Church Saint (not sure if figure was male or female). And, we saw many examples of the blending of belief systems. A fail safe system? Just go along with the prevailing energy until it passes? Visual reminders of the power of Spirit and further strengthening belief?

Regardless, there was  a strong attendance and evidence of "belief." In doctor's offices clients are reassured by the certificates, diplomas, licenses and tools of the trade. The book, The Heroic Client, The Heroic Client: A Revolutionary Way to Improve Effectiveness Through Client-Directed, Outcome-Informed Therapy content analysis of many numerous studies of psychotherapy outcomes considering, therapist modality, diagnosis and medications came to the following conclusions. There are only three aspects that can predict positive change. These are: 1. The clients motivation to change, 2. The therapist's belief in his/her own skills and effectiveness; and, 3. The clients belief in the therapist.

It all comes back to Belief!

And, when we consider the effectiveness of clear intention this can become even stronger. If my intention is strong and I believe my intention will be honored by The Universe, then the right healing modality and/or healer will come along.

How will I know? Dreams and synchronistic events lead the way; after the clear intention. The Tao of Psychology, by Jean Shinoda Bolen documents how this work. And then there is Carlos Constaneda's
works where he talks about "omens" and "confirmation from the Universe." The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge.  (Not certain it was in this, first book of Constaneda's work but know it is concept, attributed to Don Juan.)

Considering all of the above; doesn't it seem reasonable to assume that we are meant to evolve and the more we believe in the process of evolving, healing, trust and love and the beauty of our own being the more that is not only posible but even probable!

In some ways it is: Believe, put out a clear image or intention of what it is you desire . . . and then get out of the way and let it evolve.

Mayan Wisdom: Reflections after visiting Mayandom

The last week of March and the first of April, 2011 my extended family and I, ten of us, traveled with four others to El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize. Our guide, Carlos Vivar, a Mayan who grew up in the village closest to Tikal and that responsible for caring for the jungles around Tikal, very knowledgeable about the history of Mayadom, archaeological ruins, the culture modern and ancient, Mayan shamanism and so much more is my pick for a man of destiny. 

First Temple, Tikal

Carlos left his village against his families wishes to walk to Flores. It was on this walk that he first saw Tikal and at that time decided to study the world of the Mayans. In Flores, speaking only limited Spanish, he sat outside of a school until the instructor came to inquire what it was he wanted. "To learn Spanish." The teacher took him in to his classes, his home and his heart. Carlos rapidly learned Spanish and rudimentary English. 

He then went back to Tikal and worked for various tour groups as assistants to guides. After a short while he was knowledgeable and instructive of what tourists wanted to see in terms of plants, trees, wild-life and even the ruins, glyphs and history of the Mayans. He began to study English by freely or for donation guiding English speaking tourists through the ruins of Tikal.

Soon he was discovered and hired by a major touring group, Overseas Adventure Travels (OATs) to lead tours of Tikal. After only a few years he so impressed OATs that they invited him to high level studies and to lead tours throughout Mayadom. 

Carlos interpreting for Nicolas 

And so Carlo's story continues. 

Shaman Nicolas Empowering Holy Boy

Among other things Carlos comes from a long line of Shamans and is colleagues with some of Mayadom's leading shamans. He introduced us to Nicolas, shaman of Santiego de Atitlan and caretaker of the effigy representing God, Maxaman (Holy Boy, as he is spiritually regarded by the People*). We were fortunate to watch Nicolas lead several rituals, one involving a healing and empowering for myself. I was extremely honored and seem to have benefited strongly from the ritual.

Subsequent to this experience Carlos invited my wife, Joanne Witte and myself to attend the Mayan End of the Mayan Calendar event in Tikal, December 21st, 2012. We were both very honored and accepted the invitation to stay for the event with he and his family in his village.  He had informed us that already there were no accommodations anywhere else for many miles around. His statement, "All of Mayadom will be there."

From our travels and readings it is indicated that the Calendar records, accurately, 26 thousand years of Celestial events. The glyphs and scrolls of glyphs predicted the Spanish invasion and advised the people to not fight but that the Spanish would tire after finding no gold and leave. It took them several hundred years to do so.

One observation that really impressed me was how many small villages, while influenced strongly by modernization, still maintained the old costumes,

Women's Fabric at Market

customs and language. The people of Mayadom are very proud of who they are and not rapidly giving way to modernization. Perhaps they learned from their experience with the Spaniards. Perhaps the manuscripts and glyphs also tell of modernization coming . . . and going.

While there is no sense that "the world is going to end" with the advent of the new Mayan Calendar there is  definitely predictions of many upheavals in all ways. In general the belief is that the "eye" to the cosmos will be opened on 12/21/2012 and that a new age, an age of higher consciousness will come about. Interesting to me that this is congruent with "The Age of Aquarius."

I am not sure of exactly what is meant by the "eye" the cosmos but from what I glean on the 21st of December the sun rising will coincide with the rotation of our galaxy which will look like an eye. Apparently there is a spacious void that when the Milky Way rotates a certain way the void appears like an eye. It seems that the "photon beam" from beyond the Pleiades has a clear shot to earth at that time. This happened 26 thousand years ago and again 5125 years ago, perhaps in a lesser fashion. Unfortunately I do not remember when or how I read or heard about the above. For a more scientific explanation visit the following blog: http://mayanprophecy2012.blogspot.com/2009/07/galactic-alignment-2012-john-major.html In his blog the following description is elucidated: The Galactic Alignment of 2012 ... The Holy Cross of the Equinox Axis and the Milky Way Galaxy ... the Solstice Galaxy Alignment explained by John Major Jenkins ...

* Martin Prechtel, in Secrets of the Talking Jaguar writes of Holy Boy in his chapter White Metal, Yellow Metal: I Empty Out for Holy Boy.