Unique Mayan Ceremony Experience

From Irene Butler at "The Province"

The narrow road through the tangle of jungle was lit only by our van headlights. I, along with six other Mayan-culture enthusiasts and our guide Claudia, were on our way to the Mayan village of Dos Palmas to take part in a sacred Temazcal (sweat-lodge) ceremony -- to be reborn as warriors.

Dos Palmas is located in the Riviera Maya area (south of Cancun). Maya is still spoken and traditional religious rituals have continued alongside Spanish-instilled Catholicism -- an ideal setting to gain insight into ancient Mayan beliefs.

Upon our arrival, Claudia led us to a flower-filled altar. Polo, the village's esteemed shaman (of 95 years) greeted us. "He is asking the gods to guide us in cleansing our body and spirit," translated Claudia.

Polo's son commenced the rituals. Conch shells were sounded, asking permission from the gods to enter the Temazcal.

From the south, we summoned the serpent, representing water, to make us flow as one with Mother Nature. The eagle was called from the east for the breath of life. From the west we hailed the deer, symbolizing the Earth. From the north we called upon the jaguar, denoting fire, to give us the spirit of a warrior.

Shedding the outerwear covering our bathing suits, we entered the sweat lodge, positioning ourselves on the palm-leaf-covered floor.

Red-hot lava rocks were placed in a central pit. The door was closed. In the blackness, the shaman threw water infused with herbs onto the glowing rocks. I became drenched in the blasting billows of sanative steam and breathed in the soothing warmth.

An hour passed, with the shaman sharing inspirational messages of shedding all our worries and of being reborn from the womb of the Temazcal. In closing, he called out, "Shout, laugh, yell to release your tension." Not one of us uttered a "boo."

A scream shattered the silence, followed by my own shocked yelp as cool water, tossed by the shaman onto the upper wall, rained down on my head.

Laughter interspersed yells around the circle until his pail was empty. Needless to say, there was a lot of good-humored "releasing."

With buoyed spirits, we followed a path to a dimly lit cavern for a dip in a cenote (sinkhole). Bats flitted among stalactites. After the first breath-catching moments, I found the water temperature both comfortable and reviving.

We did not need to be called twice to the feast prepared for us by the village women.

Biding farewell to our esteemed hosts, the jungle swallowed us up once more. I knew I would forever relish the thrill of experiencing the ritualistic rebirth of a Mayan warrior, though my heavy lids and the soggy faces around me indicated a bunch of very tired warriors indeed.

Dos Palmas is an ecotourism project, where tourism, environmental preservation and community are developed together.

MORE:
Dos Palmas Official Site
Riviera Maya Hotels
Airport Transportation
Tours & Activities
Riviera Maya Guidebook