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These are Courses designed for those Travellers who find Themselves in Momostenango, perhaps as the Result of a Personal Quest and are Sincerely Interested in Learning More about the Ancient Maya Kiche Culture as it is Practiced Today. Prices Include Basic Home Stay with a Maya Kiche Family and a Minimum of Twenty Hours of Instruction / Participation per Week as Guided by Mr. Itzep.
Non-Maya Students Must Remain
Aware of Their Special Status as Guests
in this Community and are Reminded to Refrain from Loud Noises,
Violent Gestures or Other Agressive Behavior.
This is Higher than the Average Spanish School Tuition in either Xela or Antigua, but the Content is Considerably more Valid than Anything that non-Maya Schools can Offer. The Course Content is not “Fixed in Stone” as the Saying Goes, but is Responsive to Individual Interests and Aptitudes. You will Definitely get out of this Opportunity according to the Effort You put in.
It is Highly Recommended that You Include Spanish Language Study in Any Curriculum You Choose, as All Courses are Taught in this Language, or for More Advanced Students, in Maya Kiche. Of Course, this Instruction can be Blended into Your Studies, Provided You are Prepared for Intensive Spanish spoken with a Maya Kiche Accent.
Tuj
In Contrast to the Super Heated Steam produced from Red Hot Glowing Stones used in the Native North American Sweat Lodge Tradition, there are not only No Health Warnings Prefixed to the Use of the Tuj. [toohh] Far from being Potentially Damaging to an Individual’s Health, the Tuj is a Therapeutic Tool akin to Homeopathic Medicine, in that by following a Regime of Herbal Medicine, an Infirmity can be Dislodged Sufficiently, [though Gently] by the Heat of the Tuj, which permits the Herbs to Become More Effective than if Used Alone.
In Fact, the Tuj has Powerful Symbolic Cultural Associations for the Maya Kiche as Representing the Womb of Mother Earth in that Maya Mothers give Birth in these Dome-shaped Earthen Structures and take Sweats for a Period of Days following Birth, Assisted and Accompanied by an Iyom, or Mid-Wife, who are skilled in the Use and Preparation of Herbal Medicines.
Iyom
As Mentioned Above, the Iyom [or Aj Tuj] represent a Large Group of Strongly Traditional Herbalist Mid-Wives in the Maya Kiche Community. It is a Fact that Today 90% of All Rural Medical Emergencies and 99% of All Rural Births in the Maya Kiche Highland Region are Attended by these Highly Skilled and Experienced Individuals. Still Highly Respected within the Traditional Community, They Form the Core of Transmission of Cultural Knowledge from Generation to Generation, Despite Persistant Efforts to the Contrary by Foreign Religious Missionary Tirades.
Study will Focus on Familiarization with Commonly Used Herbs available in this Region and Their Primary Uses. The Student is Free to Pursue Specialty Studies or Gather Specimens for the Purpose of Introducing Plants into Their Native Land, Subject of Course, to the Respective Authorities.
Maya Kiche Culture and Calendar
This Course will Serve as an Introduction to the Modes and Concepts that Form the Core of Maya Kiche Thought and Ritual Practice : the Two Hundred Sixty Day Ritual Calendar. This Calendar serves as a Guiding Influence for All Daily Human Activities, form Birth to Planting, Death and Harvest, Romance and Marriage, Honoring Ancestors and New Devotees. It Regulates the BioRhythms of Human Beings and Charts the Movements of the Stars and Planets as They Pass, Swinging through Eccentric Orbits along Planes and Courses Invisible to mere Mortals.
The Meanings of the Twenty Days will be Explained in a Level of Detail which is still unavailable from Anthropological Sources, and a Clear Understanding of the Function and Role of the Thirteen Powers can be gained from Careful Study and Questioning.
Maya Kiche Spirituality and Morality
This Course will Cover Many Advanced Concepts within the Traditional Life Style as well as Religious Ideas concerning the Nature and Origin of the Universe, as well as Our Place in it as Mortal Human Beings. An Overview of the Function of Sacrifice in the Devotional Ceremonies will be Presented.
Depending Upon the Relationship
that Develops between Student and Teacher,
Opportunities to Observe and Passively Participate in Ceremonies
may become Available.
The Student is Once Again Cautioned to Maintain a Demeanor of Respect and Submission, as Their Presence can be a Powerful Influence : for Good or Ill during these Sensitive Moments of Intercession with Other Worldly Powers and Entities.
The Opportunity to Learn Ancient Secret Knowledge as well as the Potential to make Personal Changes and Improvements in Your Relationship with the Universe is Limited only by Your Ability to Commit and Follow Through on Decisions.
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