July 16, 2012 - 7:49am

In his analysis of the La Corona Monument, renowned epigrapher David Stuart characterizes the reference to Dec 21, 2012, as “a literary device.”

I agree that the reference to 13.0.0.0.0 is a literary device. However, the language used – especially the word “device” – seems intended almost to trivialize the reference, to render it somehow unimportant – a “device” in contrast to a “fact.”

May 5, 2012 - 9:48am

In our last blog, we introduced the nature of the Chilam Balam prophecies and discussed the most recent recurrence of a K’atun 8 Ahau (1953-73) as an example.

Let us look at a few more recent examples.

K’atun 6 Ahau began on July 20th, 1973, and ended on April 5th, 1993. The prophecies for K’atun 6 Ahau are blunt, straightforward, and not at all difficult to interpret. The Mayan text reads: Bin u tus ob coil than, tzuc achil. This may be translated as: “There will be lies and madness, and also lust and fornication.”

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April 29, 2012 - 3:22pm

Some time ago, I promised to introduce my readers to the Mayan prophetic tradition. Now it is time.

October 27, 2011 - 9:25am

MCP Editor's Note: This blog post refers to the article on MSN Entertainment which can be found here: http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=678294

Ken's blog follows.
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(with apologies to The Who)

It’s all over the media now – the newest debacle of misinformation about the Maya.

Not just misinformation, but a deliberate hoax.

A documentary alleging to “prove” contact between the Maya and extraterrestrials is enjoying wide circulation all over the Internet. Come on, MSN! You should know better!

October 6, 2011 - 8:14am

In response to Fatih’s open letter:

To bestow a ceremonial staff or any other gift upon an individual shows a certain amount of respect, but cannot in any way be interpreted as an endorsement of that person’s opinion.

June 30, 2011 - 6:42am

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.

June 25, 2011 - 3:02pm

I wrote this in November of 2010 as part of the journal I kept in Momostenango. For some reason I never got around to posting it, so here it is now.

On Monday, November 1, my friend Anita and I went to Don Rigoberto’s house. Like many other Mayan traditionalists, Don Rigo doesn’t really think of the Day of the Dead as a Catholic holiday called “All Soul’s Day.” He thinks of it as an ancient Mayan ceremony.

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May 5, 2011 - 8:37am

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.

1 Comments
January 29, 2011 - 8:53am

Today the Daykeepers will greet the new trecena or thirteen-day cycle.

The place where days numbered “1” are honored is called Paja’. To get there, walk north toward the plaza, then turn left and go up the hill until the pavement ends and the streets turn to dirt. At the little tienda run by the Vicente family, turn left again and keep walking until you reach another store, one which sells sacred offerings.

January 4, 2011 - 9:56am

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.

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