Seeing Past The Smoke And Mirrors Of The 4 Tezcatlipocas
In this series we will examine what we can learn from the 4 Tezcatlipocas. In order to pierce of the veil of smoke masking the first Tezcatlipoca we have to take an unbiased look not only at ourselves, but beyond the smoke and mirrors, and look deep into ourselves. After-all, as you will soon learn, we are the projection reflected by Tezcatlipoca, so to really know Tezcatlipoca is to know ourself.
Perhaps this is why the practioners of Nahualism, the Nahuals train for 52 years in consideration of achieving the Nahual state.
“How you gonna win when you ain’t right within” – Lauryn Hill
What Can We Learn From The 4 Tezcatlipocas?
Often mistaken as a God or several deities, Tezcatlipoca and all it’s complex aspects represent principles in nature, not unlike that which the people of Ancient Egypt (Kemet) call ‘neters’ or the neteru.
From the Toltec tradition comes Tezcatzoncatl, or Chac Mool, a figure that sits prominently throughout the Toltec influenced Maya’b land of Chichen Itza, where it serves as a reminder of the immortality of the grand destiny of becoming a Nahual, or at least a practitioner of Nahualism.
The ancient Nahuales knew that these natural forces animate creation, and by understanding these principles one could harness them to create their reality. This is often achieved through visions and dreams and is referred to as the Nagual, a ‘dream body’ state.
The Elusive Power Of Choice
Nahuales have the power of choice and may use Nahualism for personal benefit or to help others learn how our physical expiration can be achieved in an enlightened way. This immortality of the soul could be likened to the western esoteric understanding of the alchemical Philosopher’s stone.
According to the Toltec legend, the original creator Ometeotl raised four sons, attributed to the four cardinal points of the cosmos – each named Tezcatlipoca, literally meaning a smoking mirror, a concept that could be likened to the veil of illusion, called Maya by the Hindu Vedas.
The following is the first Tezcatlipoca in our four part series exploring the 4 Tezcatlipocas. By understanding and employing these animating principles in nature, we can create our reality…
Tezcatlipoca Adept Expeditions
1. The First Tezcatlipoca
The First Tezcatlipoca of the 4 Tezcatlipocas is the Black Tezcatlipoca. It is the lord of the nagual state of consciousness. This Tezcatlipoca attributed to the North, represents the main creative force of dreams – not only of individual dreams, but of collective dreams as well.
The first awesome thing we learn about this mysterious Black Tezcatlipoca is how it’s energy is available to us. When we enter our dream state through its energy we can harness these natural forces to overcome ourselves – but not without a challenge! After all, if it was easy it probably wouldn’t be worth it. These sort of challenges are what the great mystic and occultist, George Ivanovich Gurdjieff referred to as “The Great Work”.
The challenge presented is one of discipline and concentration. The key lies in the difference between religion, which teaches us to find salvation outside, and mysticism where what we seek is found inside.
One take away from the Black Tezcatlipoca is that we do not need a teacher or guru.
What We Need Is A Dream
We must vigorously search within ourselves by silencing the distractions and obstacles in our lives. We do this in order to be warriors with the ability to conquer thy self.
It will require a lot of force and practice using concentration to go within one’s self. By entering the unconscious nagual dream state in a conscious way, it is believed that we can manifest a new reality, take on a new form, or enter of the form of another by becoming one with the object or being…
This process of Self-Reflection is symbolically represented by Tezcatlipoca and the Smoking Mirror.
The mirror becomes a bridge from he tonal or waking state, to our inner self.
Typically made of obsidian, the smoking mirror was a powerful tool used by the nahuals to look at and into themselves, and to access other worlds.
The original 007 and advisor to Queen Elizabeth I, John Dee was a magician, mathematician and alchemist. This occult philosopher devoted much of his life to the study of esoteric arts was a practioner of Nahualism. We have evidence that he used a black Obsidian mirror inspired by the ancient Mexicas. The mirror is currently on display at the British Museum.
“A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within” – W. Durant.
Self Reflection: Smoking Mirror
“I saw a hole in the man, deep like a hunger he will never fill, it is what makes him sad and what makes him want, he will go on taking and taking, until one day the world will say, I am no more and I have nothing left to give” – The Owl
The ancient people of Mexico believe these nature forces animate creation itself, but what I find to truly be awesome is what we can actually about ourselves from this so-called black god once demonized by the Christian missionaries that conquered Mexico. First it teaches us to get into a suitable state for visions. Then we must ask ourselves the right questions.
Some examples of questions we ask could look like this:
“How can I make more time for myself and my family?” (opposed to “Why do I have no time for myself and my family?”)
Or
“How can I get more energy?” (opposed to “Why do I have no energy?”)
The Black Tezcatlipoca teaches us to unbiased look at our true self. To be truthful to yourself is the key, without this you won’t get very far. Of course, this truth may be unpleasant or even scary for many of us. But the message of the black Tezcatlipoca is clear: Nothing will get better, until you tell yourself the truth.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said: “Never by reflection, but only by doing is self-knowledge possible to one.”
I’de like to conclude part 1 of 4 by stating that while this quote first seems like a contradiction to the process of Self-Reflection, it is not. The reason to do Self-Reflection is to be more effective in the doing. Consider it to be a cleaning of your cave, your inner space, getting an answer and then using this knowledge, and testing it through action. To the spanish missionaries, these concepts were considered placebos and the deeper view point held by the ancient Nahuals was misunderstood, yet – so beautifully reflected by the Black Tezcatlipoca.
To be continued…
