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Article: Limpia: ancient healing ritual of the Aztecs: Erin Everett connects the rituals of the ancient Aztec culture to our healing needs today.(strong roots)
- Article from:
- New Life Journal
- Article date:
- November 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 New Life Journal Media LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The man raises the conch shell to his mouth and blows into it, its foghorn sound saluting the spirits as he turns to the six directions. Turning with him, women in embroidered blouses and long skirts raise smoking incense burners to the east, west, north, south, earth and sky. This call begins the ancient ritual of the temazcalli, or Aztec sweat lodge. Before entering the lodge, the women say a prayer and brush each person with incense smoke.
The people who we now refer to as Aztecs were the Mexicas (pronounced me-shee-kas), part of the larger group of Nabuas, the people who speak the Nahuatl language. This language brought us the ...