{"id":17941,"date":"2024-10-31T03:31:23","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T03:31:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shop-cili.com\/?p=17941"},"modified":"2024-10-31T03:31:23","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T03:31:23","slug":"4-circles-of-spiritual-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shop-cili.com\/?p=17941","title":{"rendered":"4 Circles of Spiritual Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"


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On my second trip to Guatemala, I was able to combine my love of Spanish with a connection to Indigenous people. Staying in Panajachel on Lake Atitlan, I visited different villages each day by panga<\/em> boat, by tuk-tuk, or in the back of a pickup. I met people who lived on the edge of this body of water surrounded by majestic volcanos, and started learning more about the Mayan culture and beliefs.<\/p>\n

Later, back in California, I was invited by a friend to a Mayan fire ceremony an hour from our home in the countryside of Santa Ynez. I accepted the invitation because it would be another connection with Latin American and Native American communities. I didn\u2019t know what to expect, only that a Guatemalan elder and spiritual leader would be leading the all-day ceremony, but I knew I wanted to be a part of it.<\/p>\n

On the day of the fire ceremony, after arriving and greeting each other, we walked in a procession, 30 of us or so, down a hill to the Aj Xic Jay Ceremonial Arbor. It\u2019s shaped in the form of a big circle, with portals framed in logs facing north, south, west and east. In the middle of the site were large stones set in a smaller circle, inside which a fire would be built. <\/p>\n

The participants had brought offerings for the fire\u2014dried herbs like rosemary, sage, cedar, tobacco and lavender, as well as dried flowers, bird seed and candles. These offerings, along with honey, cinnamon and chocolate to bring sweetness to our reverence, would be put within the fire circle in the design of a mandala in thanksgiving for the blessings in our lives.<\/p>\n

Each of these offerings was placed in a straw basket. The straw baskets varied in size and were set atop an intricately woven red blanket. Before entering the circle opening through the north portal, we were smudged in sage by a woman who used a band of feathers to spread the smoke over our bodies. Then we each took a seat on one of the tree stumps around the outside of the circle.<\/p>\n

Tat Erick Gonzalez<\/h2>\n
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The spiritual elder welcomed us to the circle. He was introduced as Tat Erick Gonzalez, Earth Wisdom Keeper, from Santiago Atitlan, one of the towns I\u2019d visited in Guatemala. From a young age, he\u2019d experienced wisdom and healing from the Indigenous medicine of his country.<\/p>\n

As he walked around the circle in front of us, he first told his story about being a young man in a time of conflict and war in Guatemala. Following that, he told us of his later studies with spiritual leaders in Guatemala, Mexico, South America and even North America that spanned more than 30 years.<\/p>\n

According to his website, \u201cTat Erick has participated in indigenous councils throughout the Americas, gathering tribal Elders as part of a sacred call to action, promoting co-operation and unity between diverse traditions. He is passionate about the inclusion of all lineages for healing and unification.\u201d<\/p>\n

The first step, he believes, is to show up for life\u2014to be present. The second is to respect all people, animals and Mother Earth, and then to serve in any way possible. He imparted, \u201cAll healing starts with self-healing.\u201d <\/p>\n

I felt the truth in the things he told us. As he talked, hummingbirds darted in and out of our group, coming within inches of our faces. One hovered next to my right ear for a minute or two, like he was trying to get my attention. It felt like the birds were happy to have us there. Hawks cried out in the sky above and other birds sang and flew between the trees around our circle.<\/p>\n

The Mayan fire ceremony\u2019s woodless fire<\/h2>\n
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