Guatemala's Prez Strikes New Course with Apology to Cuba

Thought this was interesting, given the 1954 U.S.-led overthrow of the democratically elected government in Guatemala and the subsequent failure of our invasion in 1961 of Cuba.

The newly elected president of Guatemala, Alvaro Colom, has apologized to Fidel Castro and Cuba for allowing Guatemalan land to be used as CIA training bases for participants in the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. He says his decision is a gesture of "friendship and brotherhood" between the 2 countries. Colom also criticized the continuing U.S. embargo of Cuba.

It's good to see Guatemala stand up against the U.S., given our past meddling there. Due to Communist panic at the time, the CIA led a coup in 1954 that toppled the government of Jacobo Arbenz Guzman. Instead of bringing peace to the country, it unleashed decades of dictatorial rule and death. But hey, there weren't no Commies, so it's ok!

With his election, Colom is the first leftist president in Guatemala in more than 50 years. Interestingly, he's also an honorary Mayan priest, an honor bestowed on him as thanks for his past work assisting the beleaguered ethnic Mayan majority.

And if you want to read a depressing chapter in American foreign policy and corporate recklessness, brush up on the history of United Fruit/Chiquita in Guatemala. Who knew eating a banana was such a moral quagmire?

Guatemala's Prez Strikes New Course with Apology to Cuba

Thought this was interesting, given the 1954 U.S.-led overthrow of the democratically elected government in Guatemala and the subsequent failure of our invasion in 1961 of Cuba.

The newly elected president of Guatemala, Alvaro Colom, has apologized to Fidel Castro and Cuba for allowing Guatemalan land to be used as CIA training bases for participants in the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. He says his decision is a gesture of "friendship and brotherhood" between the 2 countries. Colom also criticized the continuing U.S. embargo of Cuba.

It's good to see Guatemala stand up against the U.S., given our past meddling there. Due to Communist panic at the time, the CIA led a coup in 1954 that toppled the government of Jacobo Arbenz Guzman. Instead of bringing peace to the country, it unleashed decades of dictatorial rule and death. But hey, there weren't no Commies, so it's ok!

With his election, Colom is the first leftist president in Guatemala in more than 50 years. Interestingly, he's also an honorary Mayan priest, an honor bestowed on him as thanks for his past work assisting the beleaguered ethnic Mayan majority.

And if you want to read a depressing chapter in American foreign policy and corporate recklessness, brush up on the history of United Fruit/Chiquita in Guatemala. Who knew eating a banana was such a moral quagmire?

Sacred Places: Road to Mayan Underworld Found!

This isn't breaking news, but an archaeologist in Mexico continues excavating sinkhole caves, or cenotes, in the Yucatan Peninsula, and he's found a series of caves that appear to be the real-world representation of Xibalba, the mythical Mayan underworld. Apparently, he keeps finding cool, creepy stuff!

This is pretty crazy--you descend into an underwater sinkhole and then, for whatever reason, crawl through darkness and human bones, around sharp stalactites and nasty critters like scorpions as part of some spiritual passage? Its purpose is unknown, but the series of caves and chambers faithfully depict the conditions Mayans would've expected upon reading about Xibalba in the Popol Vuh, a sacred text. Things like rivers of blood, bats and "knife chambers."

Some caves contain the ruins of underground temples and even a 100-yard paved road. Crazy.

Other similar sites have been discovered, and this site was also reported on back in August. The most recent report does a good job of explaining how the various caves depict specific conditions in Xibalba (stalactites for knives, for example), as well as Spanish efforts to wipe out the indigenous Mayan religion.

The last photo is of a beautifully lit cenote. I actually swam in one myself, but I can't imagine working to create such a dark vision as Xibalba--underground, in the darkness, the bugs--I'm starting to freak myself out! My swim was pretty tame--and well-lit.

Sacred Places: Road to Mayan Underworld Found!

This isn't breaking news, but an archaeologist in Mexico continues excavating sinkhole caves, or cenotes, in the Yucatan Peninsula, and he's found a series of caves that appear to be the real-world representation of Xibalba, the mythical Mayan underworld. Apparently, he keeps finding cool, creepy stuff!

This is pretty crazy--you descend into an underwater sinkhole and then, for whatever reason, crawl through darkness and human bones, around sharp stalactites and nasty critters like scorpions as part of some spiritual passage? Its purpose is unknown, but the series of caves and chambers faithfully depict the conditions Mayans would've expected upon reading about Xibalba in the Popol Vuh, a sacred text. Things like rivers of blood, bats and "knife chambers."

Some caves contain the ruins of underground temples and even a 100-yard paved road. Crazy.

Other similar sites have been discovered, and this site was also reported on back in August. The most recent report does a good job of explaining how the various caves depict specific conditions in Xibalba (stalactites for knives, for example), as well as Spanish efforts to wipe out the indigenous Mayan religion.

The last photo is of a beautifully lit cenote. I actually swam in one myself, but I can't imagine working to create such a dark vision as Xibalba--underground, in the darkness, the bugs--I'm starting to freak myself out! My swim was pretty tame--and well-lit.

"I Am Caban Ca Lahun/Red Crystal Earth." That's a Mayan Mouthful!

Finally getting around to posting on the shamanic workshop I attended this past weekend. Ready for some woo-woo wackiness? I say that with affection since this spiritual path I'm on really does offer lots of insight and benefits, however, I know some think it's loony. Even I think parts of it are loony sometimes. But keeping a sense of humor is something we all need to do, and it preserves the sense of playfulness and joy that I have discovered along this path as well.

So what is Caban Ca Lahun/Red Crystal Earth? Well, silly, that's my Mayan spirit name, of course! This was the "ice breaker" of sorts this past weekend, so I thought I'd post first on this. I'll also post some pics of the mountain where we held some activities as well as insights, likes and dislikes.

The facilitators of the workshop used Mayan calendars and astronomy to select spirit names for each of the participants. Based on my birthday and year, my name is Caban Ca Lahun (Mayan), which in English translates as Red Crystal Earth.

Ooooh, "crystal"--fancy! The Mayan glyph shown above (caban) represents "red" and "earth." The "crystal" or ca lahun part is another component that comes from Mayan numerology and is represented by dots/bars (at top). Put these together and you have Red Crystal Earth (sorry they're a bit off in alignment here!).

How this comes together is all very complex, and it makes my head hurt! The facilitators used a book full of charts and graphs, but the MayanTimes site does a good job of explaining how it works and what it all means.

And, naturally, it has a meaning--well, several meanings to be sort of exact. Seems my name is aligned with the heart chakra, although I don't know enough about chakras to understand the significance.

Interestingly, caban can also be translated as "incense," "earthquake" or "rainbow." I like incense and rainbows! There's more, something about "eternal hearbeat of the present moment" and, apparently my birthdate also corresponds to the Year of the White Magnetic Wizard. How cool is that! I don't know what the hell that signifies but it sounds cool, right? Yeah, those Mayans were so totally on 'shrooms, peyote or something.

Last, along with our names came a blessing, invocation--not sure what to call it. Here's mine. Very evocative, though, and even a little sexual. "Enter me?" I'm blushing!

I dedicate in order to evolve
Universalizing synchronicity
I seal the matrix of navigation
with the crystal tone of cooperation.
I am guided by the power of Universal Water.

I am a galactic activation portal--Enter me.

Wow--a galactic activation portal! I'm like some fucking star gate, so watch out, bitches!

Ok, let's get serious. Lots to meditate on. One thing that jumps out is the "universal water" part. I've always been drawn to water--lakes, the ocean, rivers. After all, my original spirit name is Riverwolf. And it talks about dedication, cooperation and activation--all great things.

In the end, I'm not sure how much I believe in the meanings of things like this, but it does help break us out of our linear mindsets. That's one of the reasons behind why I have the name Riverwolf. It actually means something to me in contrast to my given name. It symbolizes qualities that are important to me, it reminds me of the things I value and how I want to live my life. Maybe spirit names aren't so silly after all.

Keep watch for more posts on my shamanic workshop.

"I Am Caban Ca Lahun/Red Crystal Earth." That's a Mayan Mouthful!

Finally getting around to posting on the shamanic workshop I attended this past weekend. Ready for some woo-woo wackiness? I say that with affection since this spiritual path I'm on really does offer lots of insight and benefits, however, I know some think it's loony. Even I think parts of it are loony sometimes. But keeping a sense of humor is something we all need to do, and it preserves the sense of playfulness and joy that I have discovered along this path as well.

So what is Caban Ca Lahun/Red Crystal Earth? Well, silly, that's my Mayan spirit name, of course! This was the "ice breaker" of sorts this past weekend, so I thought I'd post first on this. I'll also post some pics of the mountain where we held some activities as well as insights, likes and dislikes.

The facilitators of the workshop used Mayan calendars and astronomy to select spirit names for each of the participants. Based on my birthday and year, my name is Caban Ca Lahun (Mayan), which in English translates as Red Crystal Earth.

Ooooh, "crystal"--fancy! The Mayan glyph shown above (caban) represents "red" and "earth." The "crystal" or ca lahun part is another component that comes from Mayan numerology and is represented by dots/bars (at top). Put these together and you have Red Crystal Earth (sorry they're a bit off in alignment here!).

How this comes together is all very complex, and it makes my head hurt! The facilitators used a book full of charts and graphs, but the MayanTimes site does a good job of explaining how it works and what it all means.

And, naturally, it has a meaning--well, several meanings to be sort of exact. Seems my name is aligned with the heart chakra, although I don't know enough about chakras to understand the significance.

Interestingly, caban can also be translated as "incense," "earthquake" or "rainbow." I like incense and rainbows! There's more, something about "eternal hearbeat of the present moment" and, apparently my birthdate also corresponds to the Year of the White Magnetic Wizard. How cool is that! I don't know what the hell that signifies but it sounds cool, right? Yeah, those Mayans were so totally on 'shrooms, peyote or something.

Last, along with our names came a blessing, invocation--not sure what to call it. Here's mine. Very evocative, though, and even a little sexual. "Enter me?" I'm blushing!

I dedicate in order to evolve
Universalizing synchronicity
I seal the matrix of navigation
with the crystal tone of cooperation.
I am guided by the power of Universal Water.

I am a galactic activation portal--Enter me.

Wow--a galactic activation portal! I'm like some fucking star gate, so watch out, bitches!

Ok, let's get serious. Lots to meditate on. One thing that jumps out is the "universal water" part. I've always been drawn to water--lakes, the ocean, rivers. After all, my original spirit name is Riverwolf. And it talks about dedication, cooperation and activation--all great things.

In the end, I'm not sure how much I believe in the meanings of things like this, but it does help break us out of our linear mindsets. That's one of the reasons behind why I have the name Riverwolf. It actually means something to me in contrast to my given name. It symbolizes qualities that are important to me, it reminds me of the things I value and how I want to live my life. Maybe spirit names aren't so silly after all.

Keep watch for more posts on my shamanic workshop.