Wisdom of The Four Agreements and Beyond
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  • Toltec Naguals

    Posted on September 17th, 2008 Carl No comments
    Ernie Fitzpatrick asked:

    In the heart of the Mayan hoopla about 2012 and thier long count calendar or 13 baktun, the Toltec’s have been overlooked. The word Toltec in Mesoamerican studies has been used in different ways by different scholars to refer to actual populations and polities of pre-Columbian central Mexico or to the mythical ancestors mentioned in the mythical/historical narratives of the Aztecs.

    People like don Miguel Ruiz do not see the Toltec as a race or nation but “scientists and artists who formed a society to explore and conserve the spiritual knowledge and practices of the ancient ones.”

    It is an ongoing debate whether the Toltecs can be understood to have formed an actual ethnic group at any point in Mesoamerican history or if they are mostly or only a product of Aztec myth. But, the scholars who have understood the Toltecs to have been an actual ethnic group often connect them to the archeological site of Tula, Hidalgo which is then supposed to have been the Tollan of Aztec myth.

    But let us go on to the next word: nagual.

    Nagual has a two sided meaning as well. In modern rural Mexico the nagual is often the same as “witches” or “brujos” who are thought to be able to shapeshift into animals at night (normally into an owl or  bat). Others see naguals ass the wise masters with spiritual knowledge from the ancient of days.

    The ancient prophet-ruler of the Toltecs, Quetzalcoatl (the Feathered Serpent). Spaniards made a slaughter of the Indians in the name of Christ, though His message was love, and so too had the Aztecs fallen away from the similar teachings of Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl’s message of love and wisdom is reflected in the following advice of an Aztec noble to his sons- “Take great pains to make yourselves friends of God who is in all parts, and is invisible and impalpable, and it is meet that you give Him all your heart and body”.

    Quetzalcoatl delivered a message of love, forbidding the blood sacrifice, teaching of the One Supreme God, and giving the Toltecs many material things of their culture, such as the calendar. And it’s from that calendar that so much of the 2012 bruhaha has come.

    Maybe we need a little more attention to the Toltecs and less about the Mayans. Maybe?   :-)



    Fiona
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  • Do Say What You Really Mean to Prevent Any Lost Trust in Your Making Up Relationship

    Posted on September 13th, 2008 Carl No comments
    dhlim88 asked:


    Do say what you really mean to prevent any lost trust in your making up relationship

     

     

     

     

    I know that some couples are very afraid of saying something wrong to their love partners and feel very self-controlled and hardly feel any sense of security for themselves. These sorts of problems have been happening around and as a writer of this article, I am going to share that there is nothing for you to fear, because no matter what, as long as you have the faith and trust with your love partner, everything will be fine. However, you have to bear in mind forever that you have to say something that is relevant, not anything that is so stupid and lame that other people may be classifying you as childish acts.

     

     

    The first agreement is “be impeccable with your word.” In other words, speak with integrity–saying only what you mean. We think this is really important in relationships of all kinds and especially in intimate ones. If you aren’t impeccable with your word, trust begins to erode within the relationship–and we’re not just talking about the big stuff. Our belief is that there is no small stuff in relationships.
    When Karen Sim bought her new used Buick, the dealership couldn’t find the remote control and an extra key. In fact they said that this model didn’t come with one. A mechanic even looked at it and said that it wasn’t wired for a remote. To Karen Sim, a remote is a nice amenity but not a necessity. But–she’d had one with her previous car and this new car just didn’t feel as nice because there was something missing. Trying to get to the bottom of the problem, Pete sat in the dealership and made the dealers look in the specs to see if a remote was standard equipment for this model or not. To make a long story short, Pete managed to get a remote for the car.

    Because we were told that the car didn’t have a remote and it through persistence found out it did, we have an issue with trust with that dealership. We’ll put a question mark in front of anything they say from now on. Isn’t this the way it is in relationships? It’s like Steven Covey’s concept of the emotional bank account in “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” Good deeds, kind words and following through on your agreements build deposits in your emotional bank account with another person. False statements, not following through on agreements create withdrawals in an emotional bank account in a relationship. The idea is that you must make many more deposits than withdrawals to keep the trust level high between the two of you.

    Being impeccable with your word means following through on what you say you’re going to do. Karen Sim asked Pete to use the weed eater the clear the weeds along the driveway this weekend and Pete said he would. Although this is a small matter, if he hadn’t followed through and whacked the weeds when he said he would, some of the trust between them would be eroded. When we don’t follow through on what we say we’re going to do on the small stuff, doubt creeps in about follow through on the “big stuff” too.

    Being impeccable also means being conscious of what you say and the intention behind it. Have you ever said something that you really didn’t mean? As soon as it left your mouth, you wished you could capture it and destroy it before anyone could hear it? The challenge of being impeccable is to be aware of how you are feeling, watch what triggers you, and stay in the present moment without reacting from past unhealthy patterns and old family tapes.

    This week as you go through your day, be very aware of what comes out of your mouth. Be very conscious of what promises you make and what you say to someone when you are emotionally triggered. Make a new agreement, as Don Miguel Ruiz says, to be impeccable with your word.

     

    Indeed, life is short. Don’t let another day go by without taking a chance on happiness. You will never know until you try, so remember to make a move today. It can change or affect the rest of your life, therefore, at the very least, you can try to come out something for your ex love partner during your weekend plans. With a little practice, perseverance and patience, I believe that your relationship could be enhanced with the tips that I have shared earlier. If you have faced any problems with your loved ones, do not hesitate to visit this piece of article again.

     

     

    I really have a strong belief that if you can understand what I have explained and applied what you have learnt from this piece of article, your problems can be eventually solved and your making up relationship can become more stable and stronger. I wish all the best for your making up relationship with your partner. Do always remember to spread word of mouth to your fellow friends for supporting the decision of having making up than breaking up.

     

     

     

    Should I get back together with my ex?

     

    Watch a video that shows you exactly what you must NEVER do, what you should do to get your ex back and why at http://www.squidoo.com/how_can_i_retrieve_my_ex_lover_back

     

     

    You will also learn how to reverse the situation if you have already done those things that should NEVER be done.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     



    Viola
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  • Discovering The Allure Of Chichen Itza

    Posted on September 11th, 2008 Carl No comments
    Justin Burch asked:


    Just over 100 miles from the glamorous resorts and pristine beaches of Cancun, rests Mexico’s most celebrated historical site. Chichen Itza, once a prominent regional capital of the Mayan civilization, is a sprawling complex of pre-Columbian ruins. Though the city lay neglected until archeologists began exploring and preserving the site in the 1920s, the Mayan capital has become one of Mexico’s most visited attractions. Chichen Itza – meaning “at the mouth of the well of Itza” – is also a World Heritage Site and finalist for the New Seven Wonders of the World.

    The most well-known structure at the Chichen Itza site is the Temple of Kukulcan, also known as El Castillo. In addition to being one of the most famous remains of the Mayan civilization, this wonderfully preserved step pyramid once served as a monument to the culture’s greatest mythical creature. Kukulcan, the feathered serpent deity more commonly known as Quetzalcoatl, is celebrated in an incredibly unique architectural flourish. During the spring and fall equinoxes, the structure casts ornate shadows in the form of a feathered serpent along the northern staircase.

    Demonstrating a common Mesoamerican architectural tradition, El Castillo was actually constructed atop another smaller temple. At the base of the northern staircase, visitors can enter a tunnel to the interior temple. The small room at the top of the staircase still houses King Kukulcan’s Jaguar Throne, carved from stone and painted red with jade spots.

    These temples are at the heart of the debate surrounding the age of the city and the year of its decline. For decades, it was believed that the interior temple dated to a period just before 1000 AD, soon after the ruler of the Toltec civilization of central Mexico – who would later call himself Kukulcan in honor of the god – came to Chichen Itza. The historical belief held that Kukulcan, working with his Mayan allies, expanded Chichen Itza into the most powerful city in the Yucatan region. While many of the remaining structures at Chichen Itza represent a mixture of Mayan and Toltec styles, advanced technology has shown that the city most likely rose to prominence around 600 AD. Furthermore, while Mayan chronicles reference a revolt and civil war in 1221 – the previously held date of Chichen Itza’s decline and Mayapan’s rise – archeologists now believe Chichen Itza may have fallen by 1000 AD, creating a mysterious historical gap between the peaks of these Mayan capitals.

    El Castillo and its inner structure are not the only temples at Chichen Itza. The High Priest’s Temple – a smaller version of El Castillo – served as the burial site for elite members of society. The Temple of the Warriors is another well-preserved step pyramid surrounded by carved columns with depictions of Mayan fighters. The Temple of the Warriors is also near the large plaza now known as The Great Market.

    To the northwest of El Castillo is a large open space that might seem like another market at first glance. However, this area is the largest Mesoamerican ballcourt in all of Mexico, measuring 545 feet by 232 feet. The field is lined with sculptures of athletes, most notably a depiction of the losing team captain being decapitated. On the ballcourt’s exterior wall, The Temple of the Jaguar and another jaguar throne – similar to the interior of El Castillo – were built into the structure.

    Another pair of popular structures is the complex known as Las Monjas (The Nunnery) and El Caracol (The Snail). Though referred to as a nunnery by Spanish conquistadores, Las Monjas was actually the primary governmental palace of Chichen Itza. El Caracol – a large round building on a square platform – served as the city’s observatory.

    Called “the snail” for its spiral staircase, the Mayans incorporated many unique features into El Caracol. From the doors aligned for viewing of the vernal equinox to the stone cups designed to hold water and reflect the stars, Mayans based their understanding of the universe on this observatory’s technology.

    Whether you visit Chichen Itza on your own or with a tour group, getting to the site from Cancun is a breeze. Tours can be arranged directly through your resort and most feature knowledgeable guides. However, guided day tours don’t always allow much free time at the site. If you want to explore the site on your own schedule or just beat the early afternoon crowds, consider renting a vehicle or spending a night at the pleasant villa near the ruins.



    Wyatt
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