By Ava Berinstein | Director of Development
Throughout the month of June, the Q’eqchi’ Association Xch’ool Ixim (Heart of Corn) continued to strengthen its Maya Ceremonial Center, located at the “Instituto Maya Comunitario K'amolb'e” (IMACK), the secondary school that Xch’ool Ixim founded in 2010.
The Maya Ceremonial Center is becoming a permanent destination where Q’eqchi’ Maya spirituality, ancestral knowledge, and cultural traditions are practiced and passed on to the younger generations.
On June 4, approximately 75 people, including five Spiritual Guides and family members of Elder and Spiritual Guide Don Esteban Chocooj, gathered for the Wa'tesink ceremony of a Maya Cross handcrafted by Don Esteban himself.
In the Q’eqchi’ tradition, Wa'tesink is a ceremony of gratitude to the Creator and Sustainer that marks the beginning of a new stage or the incorporation of something meaningful into community life. Through this ceremony, the Maya Cross was spiritually prepared before becoming part of the Ceremonial Center.
On June 21 and 22, the Xch’ool Ixim Association commemorated Wajxaqib' B'atz', one of the most sacred days in the Maya Cholq'ij calendar.
The celebration began on the evening of June 21 with a Wa'tesink ceremony for the flowers and offerings that would be used the following day. Preparing these elements through ceremony reflects the Q’eqchi’ understanding that every offering carries spiritual significance before being presented to Mother Earth.
The following day, nine Spiritual Guides, members of the Board of Directors, Xch’ool Ixim staff, and approximately 75 community members gathered at the Maya Ceremonial Center located at IMACK, our secondary school. The ceremony provided an opportunity for participants to practice their spirituality together while reinforcing the transmission of Maya knowledge to younger generations.
Together, these activities continue advancing the project's goal of creating a permanent space where Q’eqchi’ Maya spirituality and ancestral knowledge remain an active part of community life.
Thank you for making this work possible. Your support for the Maya Ceremonial Center is helping the Q’eqchi’ Association Xch’ool Ixim (Heart of Corn) create a destination where Spiritual Guides continue sharing their wisdom, Maya traditions remain alive, and younger generations grow with pride in their cultural heritage.
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