Guatemala 2021

My Cousin Crystal and her mom, weeks before the wedding!

Cayala, Guatemala

The journey so far as been familair yet exciting and new! As I ran into my family at the airport, I felt this divine reassurance that all was within perfect alignment, and that though I did not have a plan quite formulated for exactly what I was here to do, I knew it would unfold as perfectly as the river flows through the land. I absolutely loved seeing all of the indigenous Guatemalan, Mayan people outside of the airport waiting for their families, in their distinct, and brightly colored telas tipicas, and even more so how honest and pure they seemed at heart. It reminded me of my own honesty, and my own purity. As I wish to live outside of the bounds of those things that oppress us within our own minds, I find that any animosity or class establishment, from either and any side, washes away to etenral love when I simply smile and hold my chin high, as I believe I am a symbol of freedom and love.

As I have continued to study Latino History Culture in Mrs. Melanie Rodriguez class online with University of Houston-Downtown, I have not only connected more deeply with my mother's experience growing up and moving away from Guatemala, and with that of my fellow classmates experiencs, upon my arrival, I recognized and connected immedietly with the modern culture and societal establishment, as well as with the ancestral roots of Guatemala! The people, whether ladino or indigena, express a deep vibrance for life, and a spiritual connectivity that expresses intself in vibrational, sensible energy, and is reflected in their communication and production. It was difficult at first to accept it all, however as I have come to a place of resolution in my mind, all that is left is hope in this beautiful moment, that all things from the past are learned from for a better future.

See, along with this feeling of life and well being is an under current of anxiety, a need to stay very still and speak in a hushed tone so as not to bring attention or cause a disruption. I have noticed that as I have felt free in the United States to express myself openly and with vigor, here it is seen as strange, and even intimidating in a sort. Therefore, as my focus is spiritual, and in service to my Creator, I have been mindful of respecting the air of composure, and even been embraced and encouraged by many of the dignified men and women of Guatemala!

I speak though, and have learned throughout life, to carry myself in such a way that expresses my freedom and respect for others, knowing that the message I carry in my heart is that of the ages. After decades Civil War, and centuries of patriarchal Colonial oppression, I speak knowing that I am an empowered young woman of God, and that the inevitable to the years of pain and suffering, as we as an interantional world begin to embrace our humanity and use our intelligence to not only improve human quality of life, however also work to preserve our home lands and our planet, peace and prosperity for all, even in the midst of inevitable suffering, shall be manifested, and within our forseeable future! Though the women of Guatemala do indeed experience many forms objectification and

The age of technology helped us get through the most difficult forms of isolation during war and pandemic, and now as we rise from the depths of these expierences, we find the light in our eyes is connected to one source, and we use all the tools availabelt to share our ideas, our commerce, and our divine, beautiful expression of ourselves.

This is the vision of EarthThreads, to be a commerical platform for peace, unity, and equality, bringing knowledge of how the indigenous of the world maintained their ancient cultures through textiles, medicinal practice, spiritual worship, and health consumption. In Guatemala, these last few nights, when the Sun sets and the night brings the coolness of the Pacific Ridge Mountains, with its Volcanos alive with magma, and the rustling jungles of dancing trees in the wind, the hot cups of coffee and cacao have left me and my prima Priscylla, who has been my gracious host for these first few days, warm in the heart and open to deep conversations of our own experiences in love, inequality, class seperation, and socio-cultural development.

Something I recgonized when Donald Trump became the President of the United States was that the Hispanic population of the US became timid in speaking their language, and as I was in Guatemala in 2017, I saw that the headlines and newspapers expressed an anxiety and fear of what it would mean for their people, as so many families and youths were flooding the borders in search of work and security in the unstable conditions of their own government, though often humor was also used to alleviate this, it still posed an important question. Why was it so easy for the people to feel this suppressed, especially considerign their strong faith?

It seemed that my appearance as a Caucasian American gave me this perspective, but as I would speak spanish anyways, even a little offended at the immediate profile, I tapped into a bravery within me that allowed a compassion for understanding that these tactics of language suppression and cultural oppression have been used for centuries, and on almost every civilization that has been conquered by another power. As Juan Gonzalez said in his book Harvest of Empire, "If conquered people bleieve themselves to be oppressed, they inevitably turn their language and culture into weapons of resistence", and as I understood it, this cultural resistence was a peaceful way of establishing their own individual soverignity, given by God, in the new structure of society. Often, however, this was insurgent. I wish to stand tall in the Sunlight, and speak atop mountains for all of life, for all of the spirits of the land, and for my self, the message of love and light.

The suppression of expression and language as led to corruption, oppression, and poverty. As we evolve individually, I believe the love within us will over power the fear that has been brought down upon us, and as this divine light of cosmic love, earthly abundance, and eternal peace lifts the veils from our eyes, we will begin to see through the shadows of illusion, and toward a future of wide spread education, personal and empowerment, and unadulturated, ecstatic joy for the Miracle that is Life!