IN MAYA CULTURE AND WORLDVIEW

THE HEAVENLY BODIES ARE GIVEN NAMES AS HAVING KINSHIP RELATIONSHIPS WITH HUMANS ON EARTH. THE MAYA CALL THE SUN KOMEN TZAYIK OUR FATHER THE SUN AND NAME THE MOON KOMI XACHAW. THE MAYANS SEE THEMSELVES AS SUBJECTS IN THE SKY WORLD TO HELP AND BE GIVING AND BRING BEAUTY TO THE EARTH. THE KNOWN CELESTIAL FORMATIONS ARE NOT HUMANS,
BUT ARE LINKED TO HUMANS FOR LIFE ON THIS PLANET. THUS THE MAYA CONCEPT OF WORLD'S IN BALANCE EXTENDS TO THE HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT BUT ALSO TO THE COSMOS ITSELF. THE PARENT'S TEACH THEIR CHILDREN PRAYERS AND STORIES WITH ETHICAL MASSAGES THAT MOLD THEIR BEHAVIOR. MANY HILLS AND MOUNTAINS HAVE SPECIAL NAMES THAT DISPLAY HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS. THE MAYA WORLDVIEW IS MAINTAINED THROUGH SPECIAL COMMUNICATION. THEY RESPECT NATURE AND TREAT THE EARTH WELL. THEY PRAY AND ASK PERMISSION BEFORE CUTTING A TUNNEL INTO A SACRED MOUNTAIN.

A MAYAN FARMER WILL BURN CANDLES AT FOUR CORNERS OF HIS PLOT. HE BEGS FORGIVENESS AND ASKS PERMISSION TO CUT THE TREES FROM THE MOUNTAINS. AN ALTAR IS BUILT INSIDE THE HOUSE AT THE CENTER OF THE BACK WALL. HERE OFFERINGS OF FOOD AND DRINK ARE PLACED FOR THE SPIRITS OF THE RELATIVES WHO VISIT THE FAMILY. HOUSES ARE BLESSED IN MAYA COMMUNITIES. THE TRADITION OF BLESSING THE GROUND BEFORE CONSTRUCTION IS NOT COMMONLY PRACTICED.

TODAY SOME PEOPLE ARE ABANDONING THEIR COMMUNITIES AND SETTLING AT PREHISTORC SITES TO SELL THEIR ARTS AND CRAFTS. SOME MAKE GOOD INCOMES. THE LACADON MAYA MAKE PILGRIMAGES TO THE CLASSIC MAYA SITES. THEY PERFORM OLD RITUALS AT THESE SITES. THEY BELIEVE THE DIRECT DECENDANTS OF THE MAYA WHO BUILT THESE TEMPLES.

THUS THE MAYA CONCEPT OF WORLDS IS IN BALANCE AND EXTENDS TO THE HUMANS AND ENVIRONMENT BUT ALSO TO THE COSMOS ITSELF. THE PARENTS TEACH THEIR CHILDREN PRAYERS STORIES WITH ETHICAL MESSAGES THAT MOLD THEIR BEHAVIOR. MANY HILLS AND MOUNTAINS HAVE SPECIAL NAMES THAT HAVE AND DISPLAY HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS. THE MAYA WORLDVIEW IS MAINTAINED THROUGH SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS. THEY RESPECT NATURE AND TREAT THE EARTH WELL.

THEY PRAY AND ASK PERMISSION BEFORE CUTTING A TUNNEL INTO A SACRED MOUNTAIN. A MAYAN FARMER WILL BURN CANDLES AT 4 CORNERS OF HIS PLOT. HE BEGS FORGIVENESS AND ASKS PERMISSION TO CUT THE TREES FROM THE MOUNTAINS.




GERALD MCMASTER