10/30/2024
Since we are in the middle of Dia de los Mu***os and the veil is thinning I figured it would be appropriate for me to do an educational post on the beautiful Mictēcacihuātl.
Mictēcacihuātl is the Aztec “Lady of the Dead”. She is the consort to Mictlāntēcutli is the ruler of the lowest level of the underworld, Mictlān. It is believed that she was sacrificed as an infant shortly after birth and thus became the ‘Lady of the Dead’. In addition to guarding the bones of the dead, her other role is to preside over death rituals. Not only do she and her husband rule over the three types of souls (those who died normal deaths, those of heroic demise, and those who died non heroic deaths) they also served a vital role in creating new life. It is believed that not only do they guard the bones of the deceased, they then would collect the bones and give them to Quetzalcoatl the creator god to then restore them to the land of the living (sort of like reincarnation).
Mictēcacihuātl is often depicted as having flayed flesh (as a result of her being sacrificed) and a gaping jaw which is used to swallow the stars during the day. Goods and riches that were buried along with the dead were considered offerings to Mictēcacihuātl and her husband so they would protect the deceased. In addition to her flayed flesh/gaping jaw depiction, she is also shown as very skeletal. In fact, the sugar skull that is common at most Dia de los Mu***os celebrations is in honor of her. All calavera (skull) imagery during this time is to honor and represent her. While she is a goddess of death, the Aztecs recognized her as a representation of the duality of nature. They recognized that death is not only a part of life, it is essential for life to continue. For the Aztecs, death was nothing to be feared and their death deities were not rejected or demonized like in other cultures (Hades/Pluto for example in Greek and Roman culture) but celebrated. They recognized the role death plays in nature and celebrated it. To them death was not grotesque or frightening but the beautiful reward that comes after a fulfilling life.
While Mictēcacihuātl is considered a goddess of the dead, she is not responsible for death. So while symbols of death and dying are associated with her, symbols of violence and destruction are not. Bones, cemeteries, incense, and the moon are all associated with her. Jaguars are also considered animals of the underworld and are associated with her and her husband as are other animals associated with death such as owls, snakes, spiders, and cats. Her flowers include white and red roses as well as the cempoalxochitl or mexican marigold. Scents that correspond to her include ginger, to***co, musk, marigold, sweet davana, and labdanum. While tigers eye, amethyst, gold, agate, pyrite, amazonite, pearls, and rose quartz are often associated with her, she will appreciate any metals or gems placed on her altar that you give to her from your heart. Colors that are special to her include black, white, and red. She also appreciates yellow, green, orange, purple, and blue.
Ways you can worship and work with her include creating an altar for her, as well as an ancestral altar, recognizing Dia de los Mu***os and other death celebrations, venerating your ancestors, doing shadow work, reflecting on your life and the good things that you have experienced in it, learning to forgive and release those who have hurt you in your past, visiting graveyards and bringing the deceased flowers, and living your life to the fullest out of respect to those you have lost.
While Mictēcacihuātl is an Aztec deity and associated with Mexican culture, she welcomes people from any descent as long as they are respectful and willing to learn.
