Hello, my name is Eliseo "Cheo" Torres. I'm an Administrator and Professor at the University of New Mexico. Today's class is part of a series of modules in traditional medicine. As you've seen in many of the modules, there's much symbolism, there's ceremony, there's traditions and we're here to talk about rituals and symbolism. A sacred space is being created and explained to you, so that you understand how this all comes together. Rita and Tonita have been with us before. [inaudible] [inaudible] Good day, everyone. [inaudible] We're here today to share with you- [inaudible] -the different ways- [inaudible] -of how a traditional healer- [inaudible] -represents or begins to start a sacred place. [inaudible] Whether you had a sweat lodge, or a clinic- [inaudible] -or if you're going to have a ceremony so that you begin then to share traditions or share the word. [inaudible] It's important that- [inaudible] -we have consciousness. [inaudible] If we look at these different specific elements- [inaudible] -for our ceremony-, [inaudible] -sometimes we have ceremonies of corn or of water. [inaudible] Different events require different ceremonies. [inaudible] We're going to go here in action- [inaudible] -to tell you that for alters,- [inaudible] -we have different representatives and different things that we can do. [inaudible] There always exists- [inaudible] -seeds. [inaudible] Seeds for us which represent- [inaudible] -that we began to respect and take care of all the seeds because they represent the bread of everyday. [inaudible] In different cultures- [inaudible] -in agreement with the experience that I have,- [inaudible] -every country and every place that we visited, they always use different types of seeds or different things that reflect their environment or their country. For example, when we were in Minnesota recently, the elders gave us their traditional rice that's carried there. So you often see, their traditional rice that's on their altars. So a lot of times we like to include the different elements that we have in all of our different environments. [inaudible] For us, [inaudible] in all of our spaces [inaudible] that we have [inaudible] and now for the time just so that you guys get an idea of what we're doing here, [inaudible] let me tell you [inaudible] that it's important that [inaudible] to offer and always ask permission [inaudible] in every space that you go [inaudible] or that you're going to open [inaudible] we always use a Salmadore or popech combi. [inaudible] The copal which is the incense that we ask to bless the space. [inaudible] The copal for us [inaudible] represents [inaudible] the sacred smoke. [inaudible] So for us, [inaudible] when we get to a space,- [inaudible] -we're always going to ask permission- [inaudible] -to smudge [inaudible] and to ask with smoke,- [inaudible] -always mentioning the four directions: [inaudible] the heavens and the earth. [inaudible] That's how we ask permission- [inaudible] -to open a space. [inaudible] In the center normally we have the fire,- [inaudible] -we also have water- [inaudible] -that we can't be without. [inaudible] But we always do this with prayer. [inaudible] We also use the petals of flowers- [inaudible] -and it's how we begin to open the space. [inaudible] To adapt well,- [inaudible] -the somerio de pelacarte [inaudible] -goes in the center. [inaudible] We're going to place [inaudible] the water,- [inaudible] -the light that we cannot be without,- [inaudible] -in its representation- [inaudible] -we have the corn. [inaudible] Of the four directions [inaudible] for the respect- [inaudible] -for the representation of the four races. [inaudible] We do this with our intuition and our creativity- [inaudible] -but it's also what you have at your hand. [inaudible] In your representation you might also add- [inaudible] -the representation of the feathers. [inaudible] The rocks which are the quartzites, we always represent the minerals. So we'll have salt [inaudible] and Earth,- [inaudible] -and using our intuition,- [inaudible] -what is in our space,- [inaudible] -we represent part of the animal life, the four-legged. [inaudible] The femininity. [inaudible] Our own mirror, our obsidian mirror. [inaudible] Goryeo Shaoqi which represents the moon. It is a feminine in Mesoamerica where often feels broken but all once a month comes back together. It's a very sacred element. [inaudible] The elements the birds,- [inaudible] -the turtles from the sea,- [inaudible] -the birds,- [inaudible] -the shakers, the rattles,- [inaudible] -the sound of water. [inaudible] But it's also a reminder to remember all the sacred chord. We know traditionally in Mexico, there were seven colors of chord that all had a different significant meaning. [inaudible] Remembering that we need to open our consciousness,- [inaudible] -that we've lost our seeds. [inaudible] We also traditionally normally have the four different colors. [inaudible] We also will use our herbs, the different colors to represent the flowers and the medicines that we use to heal. [inaudible] This is how we represent in a very creative way our mother nature. One of the things to remember is, when you're using the Belia carthe, which we call this, we usually use a red. Is that you want to make sure that it's point is elite cardinal direction. [inaudible] We also know [inaudible] we should always have [inaudible] our conch. We know that there are so many different ways of representing altars and what they mean. I really want to think Rita for always sharing her wisdom with us. [inaudible] Investigate your culture, make your space sacred, do what you need to create creative tools. What happened with your ancestry, your children, the things that are important and sacred to you and make your own space sacred. Create a sacred space within your home, within your community, but also get everybody involved. Especially if you're doing the community, allow everybody to share what they need to share. [inaudible] Thank you. [inaudible] What a wonderful sacred space you've created Rita. [inaudible] We all have rituals and ceremonies. We shake hands, that's a ritual and rituals are so important in everyday life. So we want the thank Tonita and Rita. [inaudible] [inaudible]. Thank you for allowing me to be here. [inaudible] All of this wakes up our own spirituality,- [inaudible] -the contact within the heavens and the earth,- [inaudible] -and the brotherhood and sisterhood,- [inaudible] -and the respect for all races. [inaudible] Thank you. Thank you very much.
