During my time in Mexico City, I learned what it’s like during an ancient Aztec energy meditation. I unexpectedly participated in one in a cave behind the Teotihuacán Pyramid of the Moon.
We toured the ancient city of Teotihuacán. Afterward, my tour guide invited us to his house behind the Pyramid of the Moon for an Aztec energy meditation.
Teotihuacán is a Mexican archaeological site with pyramids. It includes the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, the Pyramid of the Moon, and the famed Pyramid of the Sun.
Twelve of us gathered around, drinking Pulque, an ancient drink made with corn and cacao. We discussed the energy of the pyramids when he made a proposition we didn’t expect.
“Would you like to go to a cave for the meditation?”
Teotihuacán Pyramids and Caves
I hesitated before answering. I thought about how safety regulations in Mexico were laxer than in the U.S. and I worried about my claustrophobia. This wouldn’t be a “regulated” or monitored cave. This would be a cave somewhere within walking distance of his house. It had probably never been assessed for safety in any way.
It was like he was reading my mind. As I thought, he talked about the caves in the area and the ancient rituals his Nahuatl-speaking family still conducts. Nahuatl is one of the most widely spoken Indigenous languages of the Americas.
He said he’d been in the cave many times. We didn’t have to do it if we weren’t comfortable. As much as I dreaded it, part of me already knew my answer.
Our guide lives behind the central part of the ancient city and we were standing outside in his yard. There were woven baskets filled with large cacao beans for making chocolate. There were also big, golden-black pieces of glass-like obsidian. A large brick Temazcal, like a smoke lodge, was used for holding steam rituals.
I looked to my left and in the distance was the back of the Pyramid of the Moon.
The backs of the pyramid were still mostly covered in earth and grass. It looked more like a tall hill than a pyramid. The government only keeps the fronts of the pyramids clear. Still, I knew what it was. I knew that this land was sacred, and I considered going into the ground below.
“I want to do it,” I said. Others agreed, and it was decided: We’d head for the cave.
Heading Toward the Cave
Now that we agreed, he moved into action. He handed a small hand drum and a large conch shell to others. The chalice of burning copal – a gum-like substance used as incense in ancient Aztec and Mayan ceremonies, he carried.
He lit the copal, and we followed him. The smoke and pungent odor of the incense left a trail behind him. We were heading toward the cave.
As we walked toward the Pyramid of the Moon, he explained that the earth covered the pyramids. This worked as a protective feature. It takes constant work to keep the structures free of grass and plants. If left to nature, they are soon covered. This, he said, is likely partly why these pyramids survived the Spanish conquest when many others did not. They were already hidden beneath the surface.
We walked past a dense cluster of Prickly Pear Cactus. Their top pads were chopped in half to keep them short for harvesting. We passed through a short field and a metal fence outside the home of a Shaman woman. I wouldn’t know that’s what she was until later.
The woman stood on the porch. From a distance, she appeared short and stout. She was dark red-skinned with hair more gray than black. Her long white dress had colorful embroidered flowers. She gave a brief wave as our guide ducked into a hole and disappeared.
The Mouth of a Cave behind the Temple of the Moon
It didn’t look big enough, but he must have fit. Our group stood outside, staring dumbly at each other until I shouted, “Should we follow you?”
“Si,” his voice echoed back. We entered the sacred earth within sight of the Pyramid of the Moon.
We scrambled through about 50 feet of steep and narrow lava tubes. These quickly opened to a chamber. He waited there. Inside, there were statues and symbols of Aztec culture: skulls, snakes, and flowers. In one nook, there were bones.
“We bring these things to offer to our ancestors,” he said, showing us around.
When he turned and went further into the cave, I followed.
The tunnel was wide enough for just one person at a time. It was formed from reddish-brown lava and varied in height. In some spots, I had to crouch or crawl, while in others, I could stand.
Extension cords connected to extension cords gave us light from bare bulbs. There were moments of darkness. We stumbled over the rocks, whispering curses. Finally, after more than 300 feet, I began to worry about how far we would go. Then we came into the final chamber and stood up.
Inside the Chamber for our Energy Meditation
The room was big enough for all 13 of us, but no more. Rock ledges provided enough space for us to sit down. The chamber was crude, rough and empty, except for another offering with a skull sculpture and dried flowers.
I overcame my fear with acceptance. The time for fear was when I decided whether to enter the cave. Now that I was here, that time had passed. I had to accept my choice.
Once we were settled, our guide took his chalice. He blew the intense copal smoke into every corner of the cave. It was stifling and my eyes watered while my heart quickened, so I forced myself into mindful breathing.
Then, beginning the ritual and meditation, he blew the conch shell in four directions calling the spirits to us. Then he turned off the only light, leaving us in total darkness.
“Do not be afraid,” he said. “Let your mind go.” Then he started to play his drum.
Aztec Energy Meditation Ritual
He chanted and sang in the ancient Aztec Nahuatl language. He paid tribute to the spirits, welcoming them in and honoring them in prayer. I closed my eyes and felt my heartbeat align with the beating of the drum. His song went on and on, and we floated on its waves.
I drifted and thought of the spirits connected to this ancient land. So many people had lived, died and been sacrificed here. So many had worshiped, their collective energy permeating the soil. And here we were, calling on them and drawing on that energy.
The song ended after about 20 minutes, and he led us in healing meditation. He challenged us to think back to childhood and our happiest memories. We needed to channel the spirit of our inner child. We were asked to remember our life’s joy before any hurt or pain settled on us.
After a time, we talked about the prayers and singing, the land, the cave, and our emotions. Someone sobbed in the darkness. Soon, it was over.
We gathered ourselves and made our way out of the cave. Now, we were free of any heaviness we brought with us, free from fear. We took some things with us, too: new beliefs, understanding and a connection to a bigger, more ancient world.
This is part two of a three-part story. Read about the pyramids and the shaman at the links below.
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