The Fire Ceremony is the most important and fundamental of all Mayan rituals. The information below comes from the notes that Anita Garr and I took directly from Don Rigoberto Itzep Chanchavac, a chuch q’ajaw (mother-father) of Momostenango, preceding the Fire Ceremony of 8 B’atz’ (Yucatec: 8 Chuen) on October 24, 2010. There are many possible variations in the Fire Ceremony, depending on one’s district, lineage, or individual teacher. This one is fairly typical of contemporary Momostenango.

Poor Pacal. Thanks to the fabulous artwork on his sarcophagus lid, he is easily the most famous, or at least the most recognizable, of all Mayan monarchs.

But everyone gets his name wrong. When the early Spanish explorers reached Palenque, the local Maya told them legends of a mysterious wise man called Pacal Votan. Even though the legend seems to have little to do with the actual king, the name stuck, and now the poor guy – under the name Pacal Votan -- gets channeled as often as Nostradamus or Cleopatra.

I remember a conversation with Don Rigoberto during which we discussed Mayan astrology. We had touched upon the five-sign horoscope diagram that has been made popular in the Western world largely thanks to the influence of Don Alejandro. In general, it is agreed that this type of horoscope is not from ancient times but is a product of the contemporary renaissance of Mayan spirituality which is even now giving rise to important new variations upon ancient themes.

DEATH