new year petition

new year petition
Originally uploaded by suttonhoo.

I sat under this pine today and listened to a Mayan shaman petition Don Juan, the Earth Lord, for renewal. He built a roaring fire at mid-day and cast great big handfuls of corn and salt and multi-colored candles into the flames.

He spoke in Qui'che so I don't know what he said, but it was with such strength and confidence -- so clearly outlining the terms of their agreement from way back -- "look Don, I'm doing the thing with the candles and the beer like we agreed -- now it's your turn to make the world new again" -- that I sat there for over an hour, watching him circle the flame like he was winding a watch, hoping for the first time in a long time that maybe such a thing really could be possible.

Posting by cameraphone from Chichicastenango.