Hello everyone. A few days ago, 21 to 23 May, I witnessed a ritual that started to take off every year on the Riviera Maya, this is the Sacred Journey, which involves hundreds of volunteers from Cancun Mayan communities , Cozumel and Playa del Carmen, as well as friends and residents and foreign nationals living in Quintana Roo. They all come together to rescue the Mayan culture in his veins felt through this staging.
The Sacred Mayan Crossing is to recreate an ancient pilgrimage at sea to the Maya of the Yucatan Peninsula in canoes made despite the inclement weather. Mayans 500 years ago they started from a place called "Pole" which is now known as Xcaret to get Cuzamil, Cozumel today, in order to consult the oracle of the Mayan goddess Ixchel, goddess of fertility, water, soil, vegetation and love. The Maya heard the message that the goddess Ixchel was for the community and took the opportunity to check the weather and the products to be planted, and also asking for favors, health and fertility to their land.
At that time, the Mayan priests and leaders communicated with the gods and organized rituals in which the community could participate. The group of travelers who came to Cuzamil also took the opportunity to exchange goods and to trade with the natives of the island paradise ...
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This ritual held to the arrival of European conquerors for having religious and commercial purposes. However, the successors of the Maya knew Sooner or later this famous ritual reborn again. And it's like three years ago, the directors of Grupo Xcaret, together with the Government of the State of Quintana Roo, the municipalities of Solidaridad and Cozumel, as well as representatives of the parks Xcaret, Xel-Ha and Chankanaab, came together to rescue the customs Maya and promote them to the tourist.
The Sacred Mayan Crossing is to recreate an ancient pilgrimage at sea to the Maya of the Yucatan Peninsula in canoes made despite the inclement weather. Mayans 500 years ago they started from a place called "Pole" which is now known as Xcaret to get Cuzamil, Cozumel today, in order to consult the oracle of the Mayan goddess Ixchel, goddess of fertility, water, soil, vegetation and love. The Maya heard the message that the goddess Ixchel was for the community and took the opportunity to check the weather and the products to be planted, and also asking for favors, health and fertility to their land. At that time, the Mayan priests and leaders communicated with the gods and organized rituals in which the community could participate. The group of travelers who came to Cuzamil also took the opportunity to exchange goods and to trade with the natives of the island paradise ... left
This ritual held to the arrival of European conquerors for having religious and commercial purposes. However, the successors of the Maya knew Sooner or later this famous ritual reborn again. And it's like three years ago, the directors of Grupo Xcaret, together with the Government of the State of Quintana Roo, the municipalities of Solidaridad and Cozumel, as well as representatives of the parks Xcaret, Xel-Ha and Chankanaab, came together to rescue the customs Maya and promote them to the tourist.
Three days following the steps Maya 2009 In this sacred journey home on Thursday May 21 in the afternoon and night at the Eco-archaeological park Xcaret. The first encounter with the Maya communities living was to enter a market where you could see were exchanged between the native skins food, seeds, clothing, pens and a myriad of goods. People with Hispanic clothing, the smell of food and incense, the Chaman clean as well as music and Mayan language, were part of the atmosphere of the flea markets out of a history book.
Then, in a scene on the beach were immediate chants, prayers, dances and offerings that were part of the ritual to pray for good fortune in the canoe to embark the next day. 
On Friday 22 May, with the first rays of the sun, began the journey of the 30 canoes manned by enthusiastic volunteers who they entered the sea in a rowing exercise continuous and with a distance of 28 kilometers, through the channel of Cozumel than 420 meters deep. 
dressed as the Maya, that is, painted on the skin, with her panties blanket, and a paddle, the canoe sailed a total of 6 hours under the hot sun, the movement of the whimsical waves and currents of about 4 knots. 
Each canoe carried 4 to 6 crew members, all with a specific task within the vessel, the front, called Proel is the one who set the pace and cut the dangerous waves, the following function canoeists were paddling and they did right left in a staggered, the last crew member or the "Back" called "Helmsman" is who controlled the balance of the canoe, set the course and direction. This person acted as a leader or captain of the boat. 
The Mayan sacred journey was performed mostly by young volunteers who, since last January, physically and mentally prepared for this challenge, the key to success was the training in rowing, swimming, floating, fitness and first aid. is worth noting that for the ancient Maya to cross the sea was to recreate the water passage through the underworld, where symbolically spiritual death occurred, to reach the mainland and after living with the forces of nature, the Maya also experienced a spiritual rebirth.
The turning point of the sacred journey is the arrival of the canoe to Cozumel. It is exciting to see how the community received with joy, gifts and food. They all look happy, is an achievement for each of them, to the Mayan community and for all attendees. Each volunteer who came to the mainland has a story to tell, many of them have done for the sake of culture, their country, customs, traditions to rescue or simply own personal challenge or release; but all united local, national and foreign retired by completing the event and the months of effort. 
Here are some testimonials from people who participated as canoeists: 
Fabian Guerrero and Braulio Zúñiga. "We are in Cancun ... It feels very cool end of the journey, it requires considerable effort. We trained everyday, even on holiday! ... The goddess Ixchel gave us the opportunity to cross over the calm sea and in perfect condition "
Ericka Bastos. "I'm from Mexico City, from I knew the story and the concept of the journey, I fell in love, to rescue the ritual more than 500 years, now I'm part of the story ... get to the mainland is like the cherry on the cake, as the cruise runs from the ... you start to prepare my learning has been that, as we care for nature, the planet will take care of us and cover us " 
Jhony Puc Torres. "My parents and grandparents are Maya, I'm Reform, a town in Quintana Roo. My work in the canoe was Helmsman and ritual represent kanish which is chosen from the community to come Polé the message of the goddess ... I participated in the three years of the route, what I liked was that everyone put their two cents, everyone was very cooperative and understanding and companionship, we should be proud of our culture and have to relive it. " 
Marlene Castro. "I'm from Mexico City, but I live in Playa del Carmen for 10 years ... in short, the journey is a tribute to life ... I like all showed courage, perseverance, strength and teamwork ... The people with whom becomes your partner live canoe, your confidant, you know in extreme situations, you lose fear and gain confidence with them, we are complicit in water, if you definitely very good friends ... is a way of discovering the magic in us all. " These and other testimonies so moved me that I am sure that you want to live this experience at some point in your life as it happened to me.
And to continue the theme, that same Friday evening in the ecological park Chankanaab Cozumel, took out the recreation of the meeting with the Goddess Ixhel priests and witness their recommendations. In Cozumel, previously there was a shrine of offerings to this deity. On this occasion, carried out rituals in the Mayan language and various pre-Hispanic dances the dance of the Song of Flower "Kay Nicté" which represents the development of women's fertile life. 
Once the priests and messengers consulted the oracle and heard the message of the goddess, were ready to start back the next morning. Thus on Saturday, priests and volunteers canoe again embarked very early to cross the sea by the Cozumel Channel and arrived at this time to "Xamanhá", now known as Playa del Carmen. 
The culmination of the sacred journey began with the sighting of the canoe they were received by the Pahuaahtunoob (four gods represent the cosmic compass points). Again the villagers greeted the sailors on the riches of the earth as fruit and food. 
Mayan dances were swift, and the stage were the beautiful Caribbean beaches of Quintana Roo. The priests and messengers spread the message to state officials. The goddess Ixchel peace and abundance predicted for Quintana Roo in difficult times and urged them to use natural resources consciously and respecting the environment. 
let you know that I want to live the Sacred Mayan Journey has been a wonderful experience, seeing how people work in teams, interacts, make friends and above all passion and love of ancestral traditions. 
I invite you to live the Sacred Journey next year and if you join it, it might have a wonderful story to tell. Alli
That's me. Until next time! 
