spirituality

Here in southern Belize, where I'm slowly working on dissertation research, it's hard to miss the influence of the Church on the local populations. There are a variety of churches trying to position themselves as the faith of choice here in Punta Gorda and in the villages of Toledo. Roman Catholics seem to be the most rooted here in the region, as evidenced by the many RC schools scattered throughout the district. However, Protestants continue to make inroads, and are quickly becoming a force in religious lives of many.

Earlier this year, in March, I attended the opening event of the 4th Annual Maya Day Celebrations, hosted by Tumul K'in Center of Learning.  The Celebrations lasted 13 days, which correspond to a spiritually significant number for the Maya.  The Celebrations began with a traditional Maya ceremony at the stunning ancient temples of Lubaantun, outside of San Pedro Columbia village, in the Toledo District of southern Belize.  This Maya city flourished in the late Classic period from around 700-900 AD.  The architecture at Lubaantun is very unique, built with hand cut blocks, laid without mortar into a step-pyramid form with rounded corners.

The spiritual ceremony was performed by a man who is a spiritual leader from the Belizean Maya community, accompanied by a Maya woman and man from Guatemala's Ak' Tenamit.  The central altar was composed of sugar to represent the sweetness of the world, on which copal and candles were burned.  The Maya altar and the Maya flag are composed of 4 equal sections, divided by an equal armed cross.  The four sections of the Maya flag are colored red, black, white, and yellow, which represent the four colors of corn and the four colors of people on Earth.  In the Maya vision of the world, all people are considered equal and people of all cultures, ethnic groups, and races are considered brothers and sisters.  Copious copal smoke and continuous Maya prayers filled the air between Lubaantun's ancient temples throughout the ceremony.