Ilhuicatl Metztli Danza de Luna
Where the Sky meets the Water Moondance
La Danza de Luna or Moondance is an indigenous ceremony originating from Mexica Abuelas.
It’s ancient roots have been adapted, remodeled, & rescued from the heart of the earth.
In 1987 during a vision quest, Abuela Patricia Guerra Totlalnanzin received the mission of restoring this lunar ceremony. She and a group of others carried out 4 years of research in the Amoxtlis Codices. With extensive research, and over 30 years of Sundancing and working with the Lakota traditions, they birthed this powerful women’s ceremony under the moon.
It began as a fusion of cultures and ceremonies, as it is greatly inspired by the Lakota Sundance and Mexica Cosmology and to this day you can witness this fusion as you travel to different danzas around the world that incorporate in the abuelas different heritages.
Moondance today is a movement that has spread all over the world. La danza is a safe space for womxn to reclaim their power and step into their leadership, which many have lost thru assimilation, capitalism, and the patriarchy.
““We are in a new cycle of time, where our first conquest is not of others, but of oneself. True Warriors do not go into battle upon an enemy in war, but they meet their reflections in the original mirror (which is the moon) and face their own enemies (which are our traumas) and the battle is to heal oneself and make ourselves whole again.
We womxn are like Coyolxauhqui, broken and dismembered, but we are slowly putting ourselves back together again & remembering who we are.””
Honoring las Abuelas
In 2007 Ayotlmeztli Danza was planted in the USA, led and guided by Nananztin Sylvia Mayahuel.
This circle is where Nana Xochiketzalli began her Moondance commitment in 2012.
In 2024 Nananztin Sylvia Mayahuel traveled to Humboldt county to bless Nana Xochiketzalli plant the seed and birth of Ilhuicaatl Metzli Moondance.
Most people in the USA today are disconnected from their roots or people. So many are mixed and displaced from their original traditions. La danza de luna is an initation ceremony to remember where one comes from and discover thier don/medicina. At the same time it’s a deep initiation ceremony that calls forth rebirth of the spirit.
These sacred ceremonies traditionally were shared via oral tradition and there was no information on online, yet as times change, this wide web can support bridging communities and spreading la palabra of unidad.
The lineage of Abuela Isabel Vega, Abuela Malinalli, and Abuela Sylvia Mayahuel embraces all people. All races are welcome to participate. The Moondance tradition is a path home towards discovering and remembering your own ceremonies.
All people are welcome from all races to participate and all genders, two-spirit, trans, & non-binary folk.
At Ilhuicaatl Metzli Danza all dancers make a 5 year consecutive commitment to this prayer.
The 1st year acts as a year of service and introduces one to the ceremony. During this time one decides if they wish to make a commitment to this circle for the following 4 years. The Chanupa is offered at any time during your 4 year dancing commitment in this circle, but its only on loan until you finish your 4th year where you become the guardian of the obsidian pipe.
Dancers need to finish their first 4 years dancing before traveling to other danzas or finish their 4 years at their mother dance before joining this circle; unless one has direct permiso from both circles abuelas. All veteran dancers from other circles are welcome.
La danza is only 4 nights long, yet this is a week long prayer and all Dancers need to stay the entire 8 days of ceremony. (This includes the time to set up and break down our camp).
At ilhuicaatl Metzli Moondance the main fast is a sleep fast. Danzantes eat a very light diet of fruit in the afternoons and vegetable soup in the evenings + can drink as much water as needed, yet for those who wish to do a total fast of food, this is wonderful and a goal one work towards as a dancer.
Abuela Xochiketzalli
Nana Xochiketzalli is the abuela of where the sky meets the water moondance. This lineage comes from Abuela Sylvia, passed to her via Abuela Malinalli, and to her thru Isabela Vega.
Yet with each danza the abuelas own lineage and teachings will influence their own circles. Thus, this circle is influenced by Xochiketzalli’s own teachers, those of Maya, Lakota, & Mexica decent.
Her path as an AjQ’ij and work with K’iche Maya Curanderas Nana Tomasa & Nana Sebastiana the past 11 years influence this circle.16 years as a Danzante del Sol / Sundancer with Leonard CrowDog & Tim Lobato as well bring forward many teachings in this community. And of course, the past 14 years on the moondance path with Nananztin Sylvia Mayauel, Abuela Malinalli, & many more abuelas will have the most influence.
Abuela Xochiketzalli practices and teaches both Mexica & Maya ancestral medicine thus both will influence Ilhuicatl Meztli Danza.
Xochitl / Xochiketzalli
Ilhuicaatl Metztli Danza is in the time of Tlaxochimaco, la mes de flores / month of flowers. Xochitl is a flower and represents growth, beauty, and accumulation. Dancing at this time, with this medicine teaches us to constantly blossom and grow. Xochiketzalli as a concept represents the feminine essence and our ability to transform every 13 years / tlapilli cycles. Each stage of growth is our chance to embody our inner Xochiketzalli & be reborn. This is la medicina of la danza, constant growth & rebirth. This path will show one how to develop their quetzal feathers.
Tecpatl / Tijax
Tecpatl is a sharp piece of flint that represents luminosity, cold, & knowledge. Tijax is obsidian and represents profound healing but as well suffering. This medicina comes thru in this circle as it is a colder dance with profound healing ceremonies. It is a reflection of Abuela Xochiketzalli’s medicine and the work of looking within the mirror. Here one will face their yayauiki Tezcatlipoca, exploring their unconscious mind and memories. It is a danza to confront oneself and heal all your underworlds. Its profound healing is like a blade; it can cut or heal. It is up to la danzante to choose which side of the blade to use.
If you are interested in petitioning to dance, the first step is to support by doing your year of service.
Please send an email for more information:
somosmedicinacollective@gmail.com
