A Peaceful People

The Three Hopi Mesas in the Distance

 In this week's post, I've decided to leave the Aztecs for a bit and move a little bit north.  From Mexico to Arizona and New Mexico with the Hopi Indians.

I wanted to learn some more about ethics and moral beliefs in other cultures so I talked to my sister and her husband who have had a longstanding fascination with American Indians.  They are especially interested in the Hopi Indian tribe, who are one of the oldest peoples in America.  Because of time, my sister could only tell me briefly about a trip that she and her husband made not too long ago to visit the Hopi people and talk with some of their leaders.

A Whistle to Carry You Home

WARNING: THIS POST MAY GIVE YOU NIGHTMARES!

     So as I have been researching about ancient cultures I have become fascinated with the Aztec Empire of Mexico.  Last week I talked a little bit about the medical practices of the Aztecs and other pre-colombian cultures.  Sadly, not even modern medicine has advanced enough to let us live forever and death is inevitable for us all.  I stumbled across a video on the internet that freaked me out and intrigued me enough that I decided to investigate some more about Aztec beliefs about the passing from this world to the next.  Before showing it though I need to explain a little first.

     

Quetzalcoatl and Mictlantecuhtli (god of the underworld)

¿Which Doctor?

Even though we usually think of medicine as a "science" and as something that should be standard, medicinal practices vary from culture to culture and even from family to family.  All of us inherit beliefs from our parents about what causes what illnesses and what to do to cure them.  In my family, for example, my parents taught  me from a young age to always wash my hands to kill germs, which are a main cause of disease.  They taught me that we should cook our food well to prevent it.  That to cure a sickness the best thing is rest and to be well hydrated.  When we are sick our have a surgery there is always ice cream.  I vividly remember sucking on mickey mouse popsicles when I got my tonsils out as a child.