The path back to Martial Arts and discovering UniVersal Connections...

"Sharpen your wisdom, distinguish principle and its opposite in the world, learn the good and bad of all things, experience all the arts and accomplishments and their various Ways, and act in a way so that you will not be taken in by anyone. This is the heart of the wisdom of the martial arts."
-Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings; The Water Chapter, 'The Frame of Mind For The Martial Art."

   Martial Arts is sacred to me. Through it's practice I have come to know one of the deepest parts of my true self. It is a realm in which no excuse is valid since it demands discipline, sensitivity, focus and heart.

   My connection to Martial Arts started stretching it's roots when I discovered and began practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), but in reality my link to these ways are much more ancient. Even though it took me a long time to realize this...

Wrestler Stone Statue. Olmec.



I remember learning about BJJ and beginning to try some moves out with family and friends who were interested in knowing more about the art but had no means of practicing at a formal academy for different reasons, mostly economic. We would watch instructional videos and practice at home.  I remember the exciting anxiety of knowing the power of the lessons and techniques. I also remember the beginning stages of practice and the enraging discomfort of having another individual so close to my personal space and having to overcome this obstacle. Since I was usually one of the few or the only female during rolling sessions and I had to spar with males, I woke a savage desire to learn how to truly protect my self.

Shortly after the beginning stages of becoming familiar with BJJ, I became pregnant. My friends and family kept practicing while I kept trying to mentally analyze techniques and learn through the observation of others. I watched UFC events and documentaries on Martial Artists once in a while. Learning different perspectives of the term.

                                                          Some of my inspirations:

Rickson Gracie

Kyra Gracie

Cain VS. Big Foot

About a year after I gave birth to my daughter, I slowly started practicing again. By the time my daughter was about  2 years old, the passion for BJJ had spread throughout my family and community and most people I knew were practicing the art with their families and some even moved on to joining academies. I was a member of a community group that practiced weekly and even though I missed sessions due to my responsibility to my daughter and job, I still kept falling in love with the art. While I was a member I learned some boxing and wrestling techniques as well that added depth to my love for self defense. By the time my daughter was about to turn 4 years old, I found my self training a few times a week and my life revolved around practice. However, there were some personal issues that I was facing. Physical injuries for lack of care to my body, a final separation from the father of my child and the overall turmoil of the mind that these types of situations create.

Sharing some basics with the youth at a community space.

I would train to be around people I appreciated and to create an escape, but I could not move forward.
I couldn't listen to direction. I felt lack of focus during sessions. I couldn't remember the most basic warm up routines. All this made me feel low about myself, but I kept trying, only getting worse as my personal life was so off balance. Finally, I heard the voice in my head telling me it was time to step off the mat for a while. I didn't want to, but I had to. I felt like the aspirations I had to learn the art been compromised. Like I had let a part of me go. But my mind was shaky and I couldn't learn anything new. My body was being damaged from trying to push hard. I couldn't use my hips since they had not healed in strength properly after childbirth. A 10 year old motorcycle accident injury on my left leg was bothering me again and my sciatic nerve damage pain gave me very little rest, day or night. I was under overwhelming stress.
I finally retreated.

I settled into a new home, with new routines and energy. Letting go of all the things that were damaging me. Accepting my new reality, I began to nurture myself again.
Creating the best environment I could for my daughter and me, I became more stress-free and the skies in my mind began to clear. I became more in tune with my body, started being hungry for the right things again. I was able to see my self with out fear and once this happened, I became free again.

Accepting the fact that I was hurt and needed care was not easy. I was used to pushing and driving powered by instinct and duty, to slow down has been a challenging but beautiful process. Having to make time to nurture my self and my health has revealed amazing teachings. The body is a natural machine and it's nature is to provide and protect itself. But there is the Universal law of natural process. All trees were once seeds. To protect our families and planet, we must be able to protect ourselves first. Time must pass and events must arise in natural order.

Shinmen Musashi, 'The Rhythm of Martial Arts'; Twelfth Day of the Fifth Month, Second Year of Shoho



Through the love and presence of my daughter, I have learned to be humble and patient. My duty
towards her forces me to think critically in order to find the best example I can give her by being the best that I can be. My love for life and our planet have made me conscious about the importance of eating healthy, balanced and in gratitude.
To nurture my physical temple and strengthen its foundation I now practice breathing techniques to align the body and chakras in a meditative state through the gravitational and magnetic pull, moderate weight training and yoga, occasionally swimming and various cardio exercises alternated throughout the week and an occasional rolling session just to maintain the sensitivity needed to practice BJJ. I also find that learning Martial Arts thought and culture greatly increases my perspectives of life. Teaching me how to manage through the hardest situations and purifying the struggle within to find one's own light and victory.

Light and darkness understood through Tezcatlipoca principles.

This personal growth process has led me to connect with my internal warrior. Like Tezcatlipoca, it forces me to see what I am truly made of, who I really am. Do I have the integrity to maintain discipline and overcome adversity? How do I overcome the tricks of my own mind and those of others? Only through knowledge of self.  Only through walking the path and facing challenges as they come, always doing my best to use critical thinking in decision making.
By learning and loving to flow with the push and pull of life.
By listening to breath, movement, intention and purpose.
By becoming one with my environment, the cosmos, and the UniVerse of my self.
In this way I become absolute and happy.

Tezcatlipoca - Smoking Mirror

My goal is to nurture my self until I am strong enough to move to the next level of learning to protect my self and family and some day go back to practicing BJJ consistently.

The Shaolin harvest energy and inspiration from nature, their culture and commitment. The teachings of Buddha and the presence of the spirits of ancient and present masters in their Temple are a testament to beauty and strength produced by discipline and understanding and practicing righteous principles. Understanding the relationship between all things and finding our place under the Sun is a sacred experience.

Shaolin Monks

I harvest inspiration from the planet, cosmos, and my ancestry. I think of the Maya Temples, our halls, our art, culture, our warrior columns and ceremonial sites. It's because of my ancestors that I am alive. I am a new seed of the survivors of the MesoAmerican Indigenous Genocide.
To protect life is instinctual to me. A natural martial art. It's like an embedded code that runs through me.

Acknowledging my weaknesses, building towards humble strength. I look forward to the day I can look in the mirror and see the result of my sacrifice.
The simple realization of knowing that balance is not a choice, but a requirement for prosperity is a treasure in its own right.
Understanding the bond between all our inner and outer existence is only the beginning.
There are many paths to take in life. I am thankful to have found mine... Becoming the master of my own universe.

Shinmen Musashi, 'The Rhythm of Martial Arts'; Twelfth Day of the Fifth Month, Second Year of Shoho

"Perspectives" Blog Series 2015



My journey towards Childbirth Education and GoFundMe Link

Donate to GoFundMe Campaign

Greetings, friends and family! Thank you for taking the time to visit and hearing my humble call for support. 

I am very happy to announce that I am beginning a journey in the field of Childbirth Education!

Here is my story:

I am a proud mother to a 5 year-old daughter. About a year before I gave birth to her, I began to hear a calling for support among women of all ages, but especially among young mothers. Ever since then I have been able to become part of a few community and family support groups that have opened my eyes to the many needs of families which are also my own. 

Through my journey of motherhood and sisterhood, I have experienced many lessons that have shaped me. I believe one of the most important lessons I have learned is the importance of easy access to support, comprehensive knowledge and compassion when it comes to pregnancy, the shaping of families and the upbringing of children. 

Throughout my pregnancy I had some very negative experiences with healthcare providers such as nursing staff, doctors and counselors due to various reasons. The biggest issues I had with them was their lack of respect for my Native American Traditional belief system and natural medicine preferences, their lack of belief in me that I would be able to have an unmedicated natural birth and their impersonal treatment towards me whenever I had a question in regards to anything, honestly. 

I also had some negative experiences when I delivered my babygirl. The nursing staff seemed to be amused by my determination to have a natural birth and whispered behind my family and doula’s presence in regards to our Maya identity and preferences for natural methods.

When one of the nurses was informed that I would not be accepting any medications during my labor and delivery she dared to say: “Oh, they ALL say that! You will want the drugs when the time comes!”

With the help of a great support system, I was able to have a healthy unmedicated vaginal birth and I never doubted that I would be able to do so! I had a good support system by my side in this experience reassuring me that in spite of the adversities and discomforts, I had everything I needed to birth with dignity; even though some circumstances were not ideal or how I pictured my birth. It was this support system that made the difference during my labor and delivery of my daughter. This is what I would like to provide to families and allies. 

As a Childbirth Educator, Doula and perhaps Midwife someday, I will provide compassionate care and comprehensive information to those who seek my services by providing a space that is free of negativity and fully embracive of  beautiful possibilities.  I will link families with accurate and helpful information to guide them in creating personalized birth plans and guides for caring for their newborns and toddlers. 

As a mother figure to a 10 year old stepson and member of a multicultural family, I understand that families can be very diverse and how important it is to not only respect but also embrace the spiritual and cultural beliefs of others while respecting and upholding my own. It is my goal to provide communities with links and information that are relevant to family health, intergenerational communication, positive reinforcement, gentle parenting, and emotional and spiritual support to all members of the family and community.

This is why I am asking for support. By raising $1,100 I can cover some of the cost of certification fees, books and childcare that is needed for me to achieve my goal of becoming a Certified Childbirth Educator.  

Achieving my goal will enable me to be a better provider and caregiver for my daughter and will allow me to be a positive source of support for my family and community. 

My biggest role in life is to be a mother to my children. Someday they may choose to be parents and I would love to share and guide them through that journey. My life next to them has taught me that all stages in life are very important but the first stages are crucial to the development of a child and a family. The foundation of our lives should be empowering self-love and acceptance and peace of mind through knowledge and our actions. Time is sacred and essential, I would love give back to the community by helping to create a beautiful start to children’s lives and by being the best that I can be for my  family and friends.

Thank you for your time and love. I appreciate the support beyond anything I can express. 

Love and Gratitude always. 

My GoFundMe Profile

My NaturALL WOMBan Pledge and Affirmation...

I realize all life forms are sacred.

In the UniVerse, on Earth.

In the jungles and the suburbs.

I pledge to love my self. 

I look at my self and observe the face of my eldest great grandmother.

My hair is dark and magnetic. 

My eyes are brown and deep. 

My skin like a papyrus tells the story of my life through glyph and tattoos.

I pledge to love my self.

I will not change the color of my hair unless nature and time decides to do so. 

My hands that work the land and nurture my tribe and family will be clean and with out silicone or whatever fake nails are made of...

I don't even know. 

All I'm certain of is that a galaxy lives in my eyes. 

And for this I appreciate my self.

My body. Bones and Blood. My intellect. My perception and journey.

I must do my best to nurture every day. 

I am a perfect natural machine. 

I respect all life on Earth.

I am an everlasting student, mastering my time, space and energy.

I am a natural womban. 

All Natural.

 With my womb I split the atom.

I bring forth new life raising care givers for the planet. 

I protect the fire, land and stones

through ceremony and war. 

I like every grain of sand in the desert become inmense when connected to my surroundings. 

Life is precious. 

My love for my people, culture and land runs through me at a molecular level.

I am a naturALL WOMBan. 

I pledge to love my self and all the things that dwell on Earth. 

Decolonizing Playtime and Exploring Different Perspectives At Home.

As a  mother of a 5 year old daughter I have been made aware of the overwhelming amount of "Princess" merchandise that is out in the market targeting young girls. Though I understand that the "princess" themed merchandise appeals to the inner nobility and queen-like nature of our little girls, I do believe that it is a limiting concept and misrepresentation of all the wonderful things that our children are. For those who are of Native American/Indigenous backgrounds, the effects of these mainstream images and concepts are even more complex. Aware of these issues, I have decided that I want my child to enjoy her youth but to also learn how to exercise her mind, spark her curiosity  and to seek possibilities of progress and creation while honoring our culture. 

Here is a small home project we did together to expand the possibilities of a toy she was gifted at her preschool's christmas event last year, We hope you enjoy this and that it gives you ideas for personalizing your toys at home. :)

We stated with this Disney Princesses tracing light table with moving vinyl strips made to mix and match princesses and dresses. 

We found the center of the vinyl strips and cut along the middle to remove them from the light table. 

We picked an old magazine and found our modge podge and brush...

... and selected a few images from an article and ads.

Using the modge podge and brush, we glued the cut outs on the frame of the light table. (I only used a few since I did not want her to feel like her space had been invaded or make it unfamiliar to her).

Then we picked a cutout of some artwork we printed from the internet.

We used tape to secure the image on the light table. For tracing, we thought it would be fun to try Japanese calligraphy paper and use ink stone and brush for tracing.

Here's a close up of a Japanese calligraphy brush and the calligraphy paper secured with tape on the tracing table. 

This is the ink stone. 

She started by tracing the head and the nose of the buffalo...

Then she thought her drawing would look nicer if she used color paint instead...

She called it " The Rainbow Tatanka".

My daughter's creativity never ceases to amaze me. The focus and attention she pays to her art just makes me smile and warms my heart to see such dedication from such a little human. Her soul sets an example for me to follow of how to put my all into what I do and set the best intentions...

We kept the vinyl cut outs, so that she has the choice to trace princesses and dresses if she wants to, but it is great to know that she is learning she can create amazing things when she is given a safe space to create and explore different perspectives...

Love and blessings to all the families of Earth!!

"perspectives" blog series 2015.

Zipaktli XLahun Bio for Ticicalli Yahualli

I am Zipaktli XLahun.

I am mother to a daughter, lover of the UniVerse and Caregiver of the Earth.  I am a displaced Maya Nahua Original surviving in the city of Los Angeles. My life experience has led me to discover that I can best serve my family, community and nation by walking the path of learning and teaching natural healing, spreading positive messages and calls to action through art and science and by becoming a childbirth educator. I am also an advocate for the preservation of traditional pre-columbian culture and the preservation of healthy families.

My identity as an indigenous Anahuakan womban allows me to view and analyze life through an ancient value system which upholds human integrity and respect for Mother Earth and all the life forms that exist within it as a spiritual and moral compass. It is this value system which guides me and inspires me to search for answers and solutions to the issues faced by womyn, working families, children and people of color. It is my life’s goal to be able to contribute to the process of decolonization through my work and efforts towards community improvement. With the help of my community and those abroad who share the goals of commonwealth  and wellbeing for all I seek to collectively create solid support systems that focus on personalized physical, spiritual and mental healing plans for individuals and families as well as creating accessible avenues of progress for all members of the local and global community that focus on the protection of natural resources and sociopolitical dignity for all.

 

Mujeres De Maiz **Spring 2015**

March is here!! And the MUJERES DE MAIZ Spring 2015 events are here too!
It all starts today with Full Moon Coyolxauhqui Circle in Hollenbeck Park at 8pm. 

 

May we all set the best intentions forth this full moon and with the guidance of Coyolxauqui, accomplish collective goals. ❤

 

For more information and updates please check out www.mujeresdemaiz.com

 

KRS ONE - WEALTH, SELF

Years ago I made a deal with The Goddess.

You may know her as "God", but I know her as The Goddess.

The Universal Mother. The mother of everything you see in existence...