Sacred Space
The world-
The Mayans run off the belief that the world is pretty much split into two dimesions. The first, a world were the people live and carry out their everyday lives. People like you and I. The second world, a world that only consists of gods, ancestors and other special beings so to speak. this is also known as the "other world". In saying that, the two worlds are believed to still be linked together. The spirit is believed to influence the fate and everything that happens in this world and the people, animals and whatever else is living in it. Those in the otherworld are dependent upon the living for continued wellbeing. In this world, only the living can provide the nourishment required by those in the Otherworld. The kings were divine shamans who lived and defined both worlds. they operated in both of the dimensions and through the power of rituals, kept a equal balance between the two.
The physical world was believed to have three layers.
1. The starry arch of heaven. This is one that we also believe in.
2. The stony middle world made to flower and bear fruit by the blood of kings
3. The dark waters of the underworld below. (Also known as Xibalba). This underworld is sometimes distinguished by Xibalba, which is sometimes seen as the parralell universe, unseen by the otherworld. Shamans could also pass into Xibalba in trance. Xibalba always rotated arounf the earth to become the night sky, this always happened at sundown.
The physical world was believed to have three layers.
1. The starry arch of heaven. This is one that we also believe in.
2. The stony middle world made to flower and bear fruit by the blood of kings
3. The dark waters of the underworld below. (Also known as Xibalba). This underworld is sometimes distinguished by Xibalba, which is sometimes seen as the parralell universe, unseen by the otherworld. Shamans could also pass into Xibalba in trance. Xibalba always rotated arounf the earth to become the night sky, this always happened at sundown.
Sacred Time
Although our counting system is base 10, like the number of fingers, The Mayan counting system is base 20, like fingers and toes aswell. Our counting system and the Mayan counting system are very very different but its is quite interesting. As we mark decades (10years) and centuries (100 years) the Maya only mark 20 year periods and 400 year periods.
The sacred round is an important scale on which the Mayan religion like to use. It is a 260 day cycle, unlike our 365 day year. It has only 13 numbers and is divided into 20 day names!! unlike the seven we use. This period of time is shared by all people that believe in the Mayan religion.
The Vague year is another important scale that the Mayan people go by. It is an 365 day cycle, just like ours. It has 5 days left over at the end of the cycle that are known as "Dead days" or "Sleep days" (Resting days).
The 52 year cycle is a combination of the Sacred Round and the Vague Year. The Mayan year 0, was recorded and believed to be August 11, 3114 B.C. At the end of 13, 400 year cycles, it was believed be December 23, 2012, a very recent date for a religion that dates back as far as believed. The end of a 8000 year cycle is marked to be carried out on October 15, 4772.
The sacred round is an important scale on which the Mayan religion like to use. It is a 260 day cycle, unlike our 365 day year. It has only 13 numbers and is divided into 20 day names!! unlike the seven we use. This period of time is shared by all people that believe in the Mayan religion.
The Vague year is another important scale that the Mayan people go by. It is an 365 day cycle, just like ours. It has 5 days left over at the end of the cycle that are known as "Dead days" or "Sleep days" (Resting days).
The 52 year cycle is a combination of the Sacred Round and the Vague Year. The Mayan year 0, was recorded and believed to be August 11, 3114 B.C. At the end of 13, 400 year cycles, it was believed be December 23, 2012, a very recent date for a religion that dates back as far as believed. The end of a 8000 year cycle is marked to be carried out on October 15, 4772.
This is the Vague calendar and its symbols for the months. The names for these months are:
- Pop
- Woh
- Sip
- Sohtz
_ Sek '
-Xul
- Yakx'in
- Mol
-Ch'en
- Yax
- Sak
_ Ken
- Mak
- K'ank'in
- Muwan
- Pax
- K'ayab
- Kumk'u
- Wayeb
By Toby Westcott