Spring Equinox in Bernal, Mexico: The Big Day
This morning we got up before sunrise and took our morning tea to the upstairs deck. As the first rays of the sun hit la Peña, the people who had spent the night up there waved large mirrors toward town, and we waved mirrors back. I also held up some crystals we had, to receive the special energy of the Peña at equinox. While I was doing this, Kelly took picture after picture, trying to get one that caught a flash of mirror. He didn't succeed, but here is la Peña, one of the great volcanic plugs of the world, in the sacred moment of equinox sunrise.
The ceremonies of the day were based on the balance of light and dark worldwide, and were for the peace and harmony of the whole world. We were happy to take part in such an event, and spent a little time together in meditation, of a general sort but also with a personal concern. The morning's email had brought some sad news about an American friend here in Mexico, so we were holding him and his partner in our hearts too.
Late in the morning, we went downtown. We wandered separately, but were amused to disover when we got home that we had both taken the same route, first going up la Peña through the town streets before returning to the center of town.
The general atmosphere was jolly but not particularly reverent. I was glad we'd had our moments of quiet. Vendors lined the streets, selling tshirts, snacks, sliced fresh fruit, cold drinks, jewelry, arts and crafts, toys, and much more. Of course, I was hardly immune to the vendors, and bought a couple of Bernal 2005 t-shirts! The people-watching was great too. There were people of all ages, though mostly younger, much like the population of Mexico itself.
Kelly had gone further than I had, up beyond the streets and onto the rock face of la Peña. Here hikers relax and absorb the calming energies of La Peña, high above Bernal.
As Kelly started back down, some traditional dancers were heading up, complete with TV crew. The television crew was in evidence here and there all weekend, even with a helicopter flying over la Peña at one point.
There were more traditional dances going on in the Jardin...
... including ritual blessings.
I considered getting in line for a blessing but I had a large ice cream cone in my hand by then, and thought it would be tricky to get blessed without dripping ice cream all over my new white skirt and blouse and red scarf.
I was wearing them because that is part of the tradition that has grown up here. White clothing is sacred in many cultures, and the red was for the energies.
My friend Ana was busy working in her shop when I'd gone by earlier. (There's a long bit about Ana and her Chichimeca roots in my online book. Her husband Juvenal, one of those who pray all night, is shown there too.) I went back and she was free. "Dame la mano!" she said. ("Give me your hand.") She said something else that I didn't catch, but after we chatted a little, I asked her about the custom of people holding hands, from the Jardin all the way up to the Peña, and singing the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's Fifth. She explained that had happened when she asked for my hand. So I hummed a bit from the Ode to Joy, said my goodbyes, and meandered on my way.
The ceremonies of the day were based on the balance of light and dark worldwide, and were for the peace and harmony of the whole world. We were happy to take part in such an event, and spent a little time together in meditation, of a general sort but also with a personal concern. The morning's email had brought some sad news about an American friend here in Mexico, so we were holding him and his partner in our hearts too.
Late in the morning, we went downtown. We wandered separately, but were amused to disover when we got home that we had both taken the same route, first going up la Peña through the town streets before returning to the center of town.
The general atmosphere was jolly but not particularly reverent. I was glad we'd had our moments of quiet. Vendors lined the streets, selling tshirts, snacks, sliced fresh fruit, cold drinks, jewelry, arts and crafts, toys, and much more. Of course, I was hardly immune to the vendors, and bought a couple of Bernal 2005 t-shirts! The people-watching was great too. There were people of all ages, though mostly younger, much like the population of Mexico itself.
Kelly had gone further than I had, up beyond the streets and onto the rock face of la Peña. Here hikers relax and absorb the calming energies of La Peña, high above Bernal.
As Kelly started back down, some traditional dancers were heading up, complete with TV crew. The television crew was in evidence here and there all weekend, even with a helicopter flying over la Peña at one point.
There were more traditional dances going on in the Jardin...
... including ritual blessings.
I considered getting in line for a blessing but I had a large ice cream cone in my hand by then, and thought it would be tricky to get blessed without dripping ice cream all over my new white skirt and blouse and red scarf.
I was wearing them because that is part of the tradition that has grown up here. White clothing is sacred in many cultures, and the red was for the energies.
My friend Ana was busy working in her shop when I'd gone by earlier. (There's a long bit about Ana and her Chichimeca roots in my online book. Her husband Juvenal, one of those who pray all night, is shown there too.) I went back and she was free. "Dame la mano!" she said. ("Give me your hand.") She said something else that I didn't catch, but after we chatted a little, I asked her about the custom of people holding hands, from the Jardin all the way up to the Peña, and singing the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's Fifth. She explained that had happened when she asked for my hand. So I hummed a bit from the Ode to Joy, said my goodbyes, and meandered on my way.
posted by Rosana Hart @ Monday, March 21, 2005
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