Mayan Civilization: Chichen Itza, Cenotes, & Curanderas

Journal SIX 

    This past spring break, I was able to visit the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza located in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It was the second stop on our 5 day Western Caribbean cruise.  

My 5 Day Western Caribbean Cruise

    Before entering the grounds of Chichen Itza, the tour stopped at a cenote. A cenote is a natural pit or opening in the earth that reveals an underground water supply. The term cenote originated in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico with the Mayans. This ancient civilization would use cenotes for water supply and sacred sacrificial rituals. Although there are many cenotes found on the Yucatan peninsula, few have found human remains. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenote) 

    The cenote we visited was “Ik Kil.” This was not used for sacrifice and is actually open to the public to swim. Cenote Ik Kil is approximately 60 meters around and 40 meters deep. The crystal-clear, fresh water is also home to wildlife such as fish and turtles. Additionally, the waters held sacred significance to the Mayans as they revered it as the abode of their rain deity, “Chaac.” (https://www.chichenitza.com/cenotes/ik-kil-cenote)

Cenote Ik Kil

    At Chichen Itza, we were able to walk the grounds and learn more about its history and Mayan culture. To summarize my learnings, Chichen Itza was a major city of the ancient Maya civilization. Its most famous monument is the step-pyramid “El Castillo", which served as a temple for religious rituals. The city also contained the “Great Ball Court,” an observatory called “El Caracol,” and the “Sacred Cenote” sinkhole used for sacrifices. After thriving from around 600-1200 AD, Chichen Itza went into decline but its impressive ruins were rediscovered in the 19th century, providing insights into Maya architecture and astronomy. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichen_Itza)

Chichen Itza

    Naturally, after diving into Mayan culture and heritage, I was curious about how magic and witchcraft manifested in Mayan culture. So I conducted further research.

    The traditional roles of indigenous Mayan women were "curanderas,” both before and after the Spanish conquest. These women held important positions as healers, midwives, and spiritual leaders in their communities, using natural medicine, herbs, rituals, and a connection to nature to treat physical and spiritual ailments.

Mayan Ceremony, Painting by Felipe Ujpan Mendoza

    However, with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, the curanderas were demonized and labeled as "witches." Their practices were seen as pagan and a threat to the colonial order by the Spanish authorities. As seen in other cultures, the female body and female sexuality were viewed as sources of power and "weapons" by the curanderas, which further fueled their demonization by Spanish authorities.

    Despite the oppression, the curanderas found ways to resist and maintain their traditions, using their knowledge of the body, herbalism, and rituals as forms of cultural resistance and empowerment. (https://www.laceibajournal.org/magazine-content/the-magical-world-of-healers-and-witches-a-study-on-indigenous-mayan-womens-spiritual-rituals-practices-and-beliefs-from-mesoamerica-to-today)