#mexican art
Our ancestors believed that before the creation of this world and its Sun, there existed four eras with four different Suns. The third era, Nahui Quiahuitl, Four Rain, was ruled by Tlaloc, Our Lord the Rain, and ended with a rain of fire, which forced the people to flap their arms, turning them into turkeys. The turkey is one of the spirit animals of Tezcatlipoca, Lord of Darkness, who commanded it to feed humans with their flesh, and in reward He gave it feathers of jewel-like colors.
You can see The Third Sun as a print in my Etsy store. Click here!
In the four directions of the world are four tree-men who hold the Heaven in its place. These four columns are the communicators of the world of the creatures and the world of the Teteo.
In the beginning of time, Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca elevated the thirteen levels of the Heaven, separating them from the water left behind by a great flood.
Once they were raised, They placed the tree-men to give solidity and strength to the structure of the cosmos.
You can find prints of The Raising of the Heavens in my Etsy store! Click here!
The skull is the face of Mictlantecuhtli, Lord of Mictlan, ruler of the Land of the Dead. Together with Mictecacihuatl, Lady of the Dead, His role is to receive the spirits after the end of their lives, and cleansing them so they can return to the Earth. The skull is also a seed, a dead element which carries potential life within, and, when buried or “planted”, it sprouts and continues the cycles of the cosmos.
You can find skull necklaces in my Etsy store! Click here!
Today is Mothers Day in Mexico, a date of celebration and gratitude for the love of those who gave life to us and raised us. Maternity and education are sacred activities, dedicated to the upbringing of new members of the community. Childbirth is a triumph over death, an event of flowers and songs, and looking after a child is a hard, constant effort. From ancient times, the role of mothers has been highly esteemed, and their importance incarnates in divinities such as Coatlicue, Cihuacoatl and Tonantzin, Ladies of the Earth, protectresses and providers for Their children
Tonatiuh is Our Lord the Sun. His name means You Are Like a Shining, a reference to His role as illuminator and creator of the World. Every morning He defeats the forces of darkness, who seek to conquer the cosmos, and He brings order to the places where chaos reigns. In the evening, however, He is defeated by the creatures of the night, who devour Him, and in death He descends to the Underworld, from which He emerges victorious at sunrise.
One of His nahualtin or spirit animals is the deer, which, like the Sun, jumps all over the sky.
This painting of Tonatiuh is part of the art of the Tarot Yohualli Ehecatl. You can find Him as a print in my Etsy store!
Tlemaitl is a Nahuatl word that refers to a horizontal incense burner. The expression means “fire hand”, since it was used as an extension of the penitent’s arm, so that they could offer fire directly to the Teteo.Thanks to archaeological examples found in sites such as the Huey Teocalli or Major Temple of Tenochtitlan, we know that some tlemaitl incense burners were also rattles. When shaken, they would simulate the crackling sound of the sacred flames.You can find examples of the ritual use of the tlemaitl in my paintings of Mayahuel and The Sacrifice of Xolotl. Prints are available in my Etsy store!
