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Temascal
Monday, 30 November 2009 21:40 Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 December 2009 21:23
This last Saturday we lived a unique and magical experience. We did a « Temascal » which is described in our Lonely Planet guide as a « Mexican sauna ». It is true that they « westernized » the Temascal, in the touristic places, in order to adapt it to the needs of tourists. But what we actually lived was stronger than a simple « Mexican sauna ». We did this Temascal following the traditions of the Aztecs, the way they used to do it 1000 years ago.
When we asked Mexikatzin what was a Temascal, he explained us that it was like a sauna and a « curacion » at the same time.
The place is like an igloo made of stones with a big hole inside in order to put hot-stones. In this « igloo » we are in direct contact with our « mother earth », there is no covering on the floor. This is made to communicate better with “la madre tierra”.
We entered in the place where we were about 15 persons. We were all seated around the burning stones. The Temascal has 4 distinct stages.
Stage 1 : They closed the door, we were now in the dark. This was weird to be in the dark in a such small place. We had to introduce ourselves (who we are, why we are here…). It was not easy to do so in our basic Spanish. After this was done they put water on the stones and the place started to be warm. Then we had to say words in an old Aztec language to open the door.
Stage 2 : While the door was opened they brought more stones, red because of the heat. They also brought more « Atlachinolli » (hot water and herbs). This second stage is dedicated to all the women. We had to thank them. Thanks the women we knew or not. We can share all that we want. Obviously all in Spanish…! Then when Mexikatzin put the water on the stones we felt the difference with the first stage! It is warmer and this is longer. When they opened the door we were happy to feel the fresh air.
Stage 3 : They got more stones in. This time we didn’t need to talk. Just to listen to Mexikatzin talking about life. We were also singing. He told us that we could cry if we wanted to, or shout… Why? Because it was becoming warmer and warmer. Not easy to bear. We could feel our body burning. It was so hot that we had to lay down on the floor to support it better. When they opened the door it sounded like a release to us.
Delphine decided not to do the 4th step as it was difficult to support.
Stage 4 : We had to thank again. Anybody. Then when we started to put the water on the stones, we are all suffering more. We were coughing, some were shouting. It was like a journey in our mind. This is just mental. We have to resist! The feeling of being in a closed and small place plus the high temperature made the thing very hard to live. The wait until the opened the door appeared to be an eternity.
When I got out, Mexikatzin surprised me by throwing me a bucket full of cold water! Nice! He told me it was to avoid any sickness.
What a unique experience for us. It was like a travel in the past.
Comments (18)
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|189.179.218.xxx |2009-12-06 14:19:41 Mexikatzin - "Et ce n´est past important..."" Si quelqu´un aime une fleur qui n´existe qu´á un exemplaire dans les
millions d´étoiles ca suffit pour qu´il soit heureux quand il les regarde. il se
dit; -Ma fleur est lá quelque part...- Mais, si le mouton mange la fleur, c´est
pour lui comme si, brusquement, toutes les étoiles s´éteignaient!
Et ce n´est past importan ca!
"El Principito"
Atte. Mexikatzin
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|194.199.111.xxx |2009-12-03 09:42:00 Marie - Quelle Aventure!!!J'en ai des frissons dans le dos...cette expérience est tout simplement
inoubliable et unique!!!L'eau glacée...rien de tel pour raviver le sang!!!!Je
pense très fort à vous!!
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|217.128.194.xxx |2009-12-02 19:56:31 Carine - Waouhhh!super, on aimerait y être!
ce devait être génial.
gros bisous du club où ça bosse dur!
P.S.: on espère que vos tee-shirt résitent à de nombreux lavages...
Carine
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|79.97.101.xxx |2009-12-02 19:13:22 Angelina C est tres interessant ce que vous vivez. Meme si je n ecris pas tout
le temps un mot, je suis vos histoires avec plaisir.
bises froides irlandaises
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|87.89.29.xxx |2009-12-02 09:36:45 Anonymous - Raphaël & AnneEnorme ce que vous vivez comme expérience... C'est là que t'apprécies les leçons
d'espagnol que t'as pris à Dublin!!lol
Continuez à profiter à fond de ces moments inoubliables! Vous nous faites tous
rêver à travers vos articles!!
Take care
Anne & Raphaël
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|SAdministrator |2009-12-02 01:58:05 delphineBonjour à tous,
merci pour vos commentaires. ca fait plaisir de voir qu'il y a du monde derriere
l'écran!
Nous voulions apporter une petite rectification sur le mot
"Atlachinolli" (merci à Martina Jade pour sa correction et explication
approfondie !)
Ce n'est pas un mélange d'eau et d'herbes ou plantes médicinales, mais
représente l'union du feu et de l'eau, lorsque l'eau est versée sur les pierres
chaudes, cela provoque un espèce de crépitement, c'est ce crépitement qui est
appelé "Atlachinolli" exactement, ce son est un dégagement d'énergie que
les humains possèdent et qui leur donne l'élan nécessaire afin de lutter contre
l'adversité, ce qui était dédié aux guerriers dans les temps anciens, c'est
pourquoi les Temazcals étaient très chaud, il y avait une sorte de sacrifice de
leur être afin de pouvoir supporter d'autres choses beaucoup plus forte.
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|82.227.149.xxx |2009-12-01 22:52:20 Nono et Seb - Genial :)Salouti,
Wouaou, vos histoires sont fantastiques, c'est un plaisir de venir ici et de
voyager de son canape le temps d'un petit recit.
C'est vraiment genial de votre part de prendre du temps pour uploader les photos
et ecrire vos aventures. Merci beaucoup.
Deja 11 jours ^^ Ca passe trop vite !
Profitez a fond
Biz
Seb&Nono
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|82.127.67.xxx |2009-12-01 20:19:36 AnonymousLe truc de fou.. ca doit etre assez marquant comme experience ca!! c un sauna
mystique en fait!! continuez comme ca! boujoux les enfants
tutu
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|213.202.139.xxx |2009-12-01 19:29:03 Geraldine - Just loved it !!!Hi Guys !!
So happy to read you are doing well and your first stop was such a great
experience !!
I love the pics !! And well done with the posts !! Just love the way you write
!!
Congrats guys !
Looking forward to reading some more !
Bisous
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Nous sommes un groupe en activité découverte de la terre dans un centre
d'accueil pour des personnes avec handicap.
Nous sommes très heureux de suivre vos périples, merci pour ces moments de
découverte.