Temazcal

Temezcal redefined my perception of heat and the upper limits of enthalpy the human body can withstand. The ceremony expanded the limits of mind in its own special way. Surrender was mandatory and thinking was frivolous.

This particular ceremony was a small group: myself, a woman from France/Australia, and the leader Jonatán.

Temazcal is filled with deep intention, gratitude, and surrender. The entire ceremony was in Spanish & Mayan. We stated intentions, chanted, and surrendered. The womb (small clay hut with a pit in the middle) was closed off by a thick blanket; there was a small hole at the top of the room letting light in and almost no steam out. The ceremony consisted of 48 lava rocks added in 4 phases, 12 rocks each.

Each phase rose in difficulty, and each phase had a particular focus (femininity, masculinity, work & purpose, surrender). Copal and rosemary were infused within the steam thru fascinating methods. Shakers and drums were played for the first three phases. Each phase was around 12 minutes and had micro stages of steam generations within. The 3 short breaks between phases allowed for a reset, reflection, more lava rocks, and tantalization of temporary comfort.

The fourth stage feels like you are meditating within a steam generation power plant. Your face is on liquid fire. Breathing thru the nose is painful. Exiting is not an option! Exhales calming the mind with the third eye were my saving grace. That oddly displaced me in those moments.

Upon the final PUERTA! (when the blanket was lifted allowing for steam to exit), We laid and sat on the floor of the small room entranced. Mostly in silence. We laid there for almost 30 minutes.

Every action had mantras and intent behind it. These Mayan wombs are where many women give birth. Temazcal symbolizes rebirth and deep cleansing. It was hard to stand and walk at first upon exiting. The leader sacrificed some fruit into el abuelo (the fire that heated the rocks), then we ate the best fruit of my life and drank iced water. Ultimate presence was felt and there was no urge to leave. The three of us spoke for a while then we went into the ocean together. Sentí como un niño en el momento. It took 2 hours to exit the trance but all night into the next day had biological remnants of the ceremony. I write this about 20 hours after the ceremony.