Mayan Fire Ceremony

Our last week got the privilege of doing something I've been anxiously waiting for since the first day we got our schedules. After lunch we all met up with Fidel and Ruth to walk to the house of a Mayan Priest who is a friend of Fidel's. After he shared with us a little bit about his life, which includes traveling all over the world performing fire ceremonies and spiritual gatherings with different groups, we all participated in an authentic Mayan fire ceremony with him. He explained the significance of a circle with a cross in the middle resenting the balance in life. Although it is very similar to the christian crucifix the two represent very different ways of thinking. The circle around the cross represents the circular nature of life. In the fire pit he drew this symbol with sugar. He then place three large balls of a special incense vertically down the center of the cross at the two points of contact with the circle and in the middle where the cross intersects. These three balls represent the sun (at the top), the moon (at the bottom) and the earth (in between). We then all placed smaller circular incense pieces in a counter clockwise fashion filling ever inch of the circle. He then laid out piles of red, black, white, yellow, blue and green candles. We each took two or three of each color and placed them in a specific place as he explained their representations. First the red candles, placed on the top portion of the cross from the "sun" and tips toward the "earth", represent fire, life and clarity. Second the black, placed on the bottom of the cross from the "moon" and tips toward the "earth" represent darkness, rest, re-centering and death. Third the white candles, placed on the left hand of the cross (seeing the circle as a clock they were from 9 o'clock to the "earth") with tips toward the earth, represent forces on earth that you cannot see such as magnetic forces and attractions. Fourth the yellow candles, place from 3 o'clock and tips toward "earth", represent material things on earth. The blue and green candles were placed erect around the center of the "earth" incense ball tips toward the sky. The blue represents the sky and the green represents the earth and land. Then he set the entire thing on fire. He spoke his prayers in Quiche (one of the 22 native Mayan languages in Guatemala) and in Spanish and Ruth translated for us. This might seem really confusing and jumbled but it actually worked really well. He thanked the earth for all that we have. Thanked our ancestors for what they have provided for us as well. We each took 13 smaller pieces of incense and one by one tossed them into the fire as he gave thanks to each of the 13 days of the Mayan calendar. We each took various handfuls of special rocks that crackled and altered the smell of the flame and we gave thanks for those we loved who have passed and those we love who maybe don't give thanks often enough. He spoke of the balance of life and our inner being. Our spirit or soul that is in each of us. Each of us contain unique good qualities and unique not so good qualities. It is our life's struggle to share with the word that which is uniquely good about us and to control that which is uniquely not-so-good. On of the things that struck me about this ceremony was the way he spoke of lightness and darkness. I learned of comparing darkness to something that is necessary in life or complementary to lightness. That sometimes you are engulfed in darkness through now choice of your own and in now way that you can control. I've certainly felt this way before and felt power in the idea that darkness is something meant to be over come. However this priest spoke of darkness, not only and a contrary and complementary opposition to light but as an entity that is good in its own way. He spoke of darkness as a place of re centering and recharging almost. That darkness can serve a higher purpose other then simply reminding one of the opposite or lending appreciation to the good and the light. He also spoke of the importance to come in peace/calm and to go in and with peace/calm. He related this idea to all aspects of life. Throughout our lives and our days there will be turmoil and unrest but it is important to wake up in peace and calm and to go sleep in the same manner. To let those which you cannot control go and release the 'confused' energy go. To forgive yourself for the wrongs you've done in the past and the wrongs that you will you will inevitably do in the future, and to let go those ill intended this go which have happened and will happen to you. I've been anticipating this experience for a long time and i was not disappointed in the slightest. Although an hour or so of standing was difficult i felt more exhaustion in my "being" (if that makes sense to anyone) than I  did in my legs when we were through. I wish I could convey this experience better.