The Living Maya Ancient Wisdom in the Era of 2012

by Sitler, Robert; Gonzalez, Gaspar Pedro; Balona, Patricio

• ISBN13: 9781556439391
• ISBN10: 1556439393
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-11-02
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books

Summary

Author Robert Sitlerrs"s immersion in Mayan culture began with a transformative spiritual experience more than three decades ago in the ruins of Palenque, Mexico. Led by a local to a nearby Mayan village, Sitler discovered firsthand what traditional Mayan life was like-a community of people living in peace with each other and their physical surroundings. InThe Living Maya, he shares this experience and many that followed. In the process, he immerses readers in a rich indigenous culture and offers a fresh view of the 2012 phenomenon, focusing on the valuable lessons Mayan culture can teach us in this time of transition. Personal anecdotes are interwoven with factual information about the roots of traditional Mayan customs and traditions, presenting a rare multifaceted view of their simple yet profound way of life. The book showcases Mayan infant care, community building, ties to nature, attitudes toward the elderly, and orientation to spirituality. InThe Living Maya, Sitler shows how following "the Mayan way" can help us ground our lives in harmony with nature, broaden our perspectives on human existence, connect us with our capacity for compassion, and use the vaunted cataclysm of 2012 as a unique chance for growth.

Author Biography

Robert Sitler, PhD, serves as director of Stetson University’s Latin American Studies program in Deland, Florida, where he also teaches courses in Spanish, Mayan culture, and Latin American humanities. A frequent speaker at new age conferences on 2012 and the author of numerous articles on the Maya and 2012, he lives in DeLand.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. ix
Foreword	p. xiii
Clearing the Road to 2012	p. 1
First Steps	p. 1
13 Pik: December 21, 2012	p. 11
The 2012 Phenomenon	p. 15
Mayan Teachers	p. 23
Mayan Oral Prophecies of World Changes	p. 25
Finding the Mayan Path	p. 34
My Own Path	p. 35
Waking Up Among the Maya	p. 39
The Living Mayan World	p. 52
Cherish the Babies	p. 56
Birth Mothers and Mayan Midwives	p. 57
Mayan Birth	p. 64
Mayan Infant Care	p. 71
Weave Bonds of Community	p. 78
Inner Connections	p. 78
Weaving Community	p. 80
Working Together	p. 84
Emotional Bonding	p. 88
Revere Nature	p. 93
Mother Nature Is Divine	p. 93
Growing Up in Nature	p. 99
The Holy Maize	p. 105
Body Knowledge	p. 110
Remember the Elders and Ancestors	p. 114
Respect Earned Through Life Experience	p. 115
Death Among the Maya	p. 120
Living with the Ancestors	p. 123
Experience the Spirit	p. 129
The Divine Is Omnipresent	p. 129
People of the Holy Cross	p. 133
Alcohol as a Holy Substance	p. 138
Cholq'ih: The 260-Day Ritual Calendar	p. 141
Respect	p. 151
The Mayan World and the Eco-apocalypse: Time for Reflection	p. 153
Who Are the Maya?	p. 153
Maya as Our Neighbors	p. 164
Eco-apocalypse	p. 171
The Era of 2012, a Time for Reflection	p. 176
Glossary	p. 179
Notes	p. 184
About The Author	p. 191
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