(Mayan) Vortex, Magickal-Archeology Options

I've just finished reading a book about Mayan civilisation& came across a description of the 'psycho-duct'. It was/is (preserved examples exist) an internal vent that leads from the burial pyramid's base through nine layers (representative of the nine levels of Mayan underworld) into the actual, sealed burial chamber of the deceased. By blood-letting (Mayan gnosis-of-choice...) the relatives& shamans could communicate their desires to the deceased, or receive visions in the form of 'Obsidian Serpents' (examples of this ritual visitation are also preserved).

Still there? As though all this weren't interesting enough, I've got something else to add! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yahoo.gif)

The idea of a psycho-duct made me think of all those places that exist as vortices. Not only are physically manifested vortices common in the world (as most of us, trained in energy detection or not, can agree to; the strength of certain places and the emotional/spiritual effects they create), but so are 'symbolic vortices' like the heart chakra when it is profoundly meditated upon, or the mouth when a wiccan consumes a Samhain food-representation of the old god. Both open into a 'sacred' space, one that is different and yet present in physical reality. One really good example is the sphagnum bogs in Denmark- the ground Tollund Man was thrown into was not simply a convenient grave for a sacrificial subject or even a 'connecter' with the Earth; it was a portal into another place of reality, in this case the cthonic Underworld, admitting a now 2,400 year old Dane.

Might this have been the reason behind these 'psycho-ducts'? They were first mistaken for air-vents, but this seems unlikely; the logic behind them came from a purely religio-magickal perspective. By opening a path into another world, through the act of blood letting, bereaved relatives could contact the deceased (it seems as rational a reasoning as any, compared to the idea that the spirit would 'pulled' back to the burial pyramid). Even the appearance of Serpent gods could be explained as contacted entities come through the vortex.

The reason behind all this isn't just a game of 'fill in the paradigm' though... I've got a point!

By creating a 'controlled vortex' a magician could feasibly open direct links with certain levels of reality (or reality as it appears to different levels of consciousness), activating them by achieving gnosis etc.

Would this sort of 'direct link' work? Dedicating a space or area to continuous connection, awaiting activation? (maybe something less extreme then sacrificial deaths or self-abuse by cactus spike...)

So long as belief is present, the Mind will make Reality. We all accept this as true, but I'd rather not create (another) grand delusion and call it my vortex. So anybody with any practical advice... there's lotsa room down there.

Greetings!
These 'psycho-ducts' are found in most shamaninc practices around the world. The shaman uses them as openings to the 'underworld' , a place where he/she can communicate with the dead, interact with plant devas, power animals and other 'allies'. The need for bloodletting is not something that is universally held. I imagine that it depends upon one religous views... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)
In traditional journeys into the 'underworld' one is apt to meet various guardians/lurkers in the tunnels leading to the destination. Snakes/serpents/'draconians' are a popular image. Sometimes the passage are blocked by these entities. The use of a 'power animal' is traditional to help one with these passages. Other 'guardians' can include other reptiles, arachnids and other things. Rarely you must fight them, at times an offering is used but mostly you and your animal whend your way through by whatever means it takes.
Michael Harner is a contemporary author/shaman who wrote a book called 'Way of the Shaman' that illustrates this phenomenon. A bit Western Pragmatic but very informative. He helped found the Shamanic Institute here in the States and used to teach classes in Shamanism(modern)!
Other passages exist to travel to the upper world where you are most likely to reach a 'Teacher' and communicate with the 'Gods'...scarey is as Scarey does... You needn't use a passage to walk in the Middle Worlds...our present realities (similar to Bardons Zone Girdling the Earth and our normal environs). It is questionable as to whether or not these journeys are undertaken in either an astral form /mental form or controlled dreamstate. It doesn't matter as this is the state of conciousness that shamans use to do most of their work. A trancestate is induced and its journey time! (side note: I met my Dragon on one of these Journeys...formally, he had been hanging around for years prior).
Some places are natural conduits to the 'underworld' whereas others can be made. (Let me clarify a point here...'underworld' in these cases do NOT mean hell or anything like this Judeo-Christian afterlife) I frequently travel to the "World Tree' in order to go to various places whilst 'journeying'.
*sigh* that is a grossly shortened explanation of an aspect of Shamanic practise that I think alludes to what you are refering to. Sans bloodletting! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
PS: As the offices of Shaman include psychopomp, then it is relatively easy to understand the finding of such 'ducts' in burial chambers!

This post has been edited by bym: Jul 17 2005, 07:34 AM

Alekhine, what do you mean by 'Obsidian Serpents'?
bym, do i have a dragon? Do you know how i can
meet it?

Alekhine, what do you mean by 'Obsidian Serpents'?

The all inclusive term mayanists use is 'vision serpent' (the actual nature of the serpent seems to have been subjective and open to shamanic interpretation).
Serpents were thought of as the vehicle by which planets/stars travelled across the sky; it's not surprising to find them also playing the role of intermediary guide. One description by a Mayanist of the vision serpent (as seen in uncovered base-relief and in the codices) is this:
"It was usually bearded and had a rounded snout. It was also often depicted as having two heads or with the spirit of a god or ancestor emerging from its jaws". {Schele}
The serpent acted as psychopompos, connecting deceased/god with the shaman (basically, the serpent was the projected 'means' by which the spirit could manifest and communicate with the invoker).

This post has been edited by Alekhine: Jul 18 2005, 11:44 AM

Interesting, perhaps I can get my own vortex started.