Worship and Ritual

This page aims to give guidance and general outlines of what solitary or household worship could look like. Because there is no officially recognized format, and historical accounts are both incomplete and mostly descriptive of the ritual activity of the elites, what commoner worship looked like can only be guessed at using the available evidence. (And this is especially true if we want to avoid appropriating the customs of contemporary subsistence communities.)

At its most simple, worship can consist of nothing but praying and giving thanks. Offering up words of adoration when undertaking an activity associated with a god or gods; giving thanks before meals; reaffirming our path at the beginning/ending of the day;speaking words of praise on days sacred to our gods; these are all common occasions to offer up prayer.

Meditation is also another very simple practice that can bring us closer to the Teteo. There is historical precedent for the practice as well: the Tlatoani Moteucuhzoma was known to have had access to a darkened chamber which he used for the purpose. For us, any kind of meditation practice works, whether sitting, walking, guided, or some other form.

Offerings should be made in a place that's clean and free of clutter. Putting down a small cloth is always appreciated, or placing the offerings on plates or trays also heightens the presentation if they're available. An image of the god isn't necessary, but be sure to speak or pray your intention once the offerings have been set out - that way the gods know who they're for and why they're being given! More information about culturally-appropriate offerings can be found on the Offerings page.

While many might consider this a form of offering, there's reason to give it its own section. What does it mean to dedicate an action to a god? It's much what it sounds like: to dedicate some effort, time, skill, or project to a deity as a form of offering or sacrifice; common offerings of this type are fitness routines, creative projects, and higher education, to give an example. Some also give money to charities relevant to the domain of the deity.

The Mexica had lots of holidays, which, depending on your personality, can be a good or stressful news! In our Calendrics section there's more information about what the holidays were, what was celebrated, and help on deciding which date correlation feels right for you and your practice.

 

A ritual can involve any combination of symbolic movements, recitations, and tools, put together in such a way that brings the ritualist into sacred space and communion with the divine. You can assemble a ritual from the above "components". But you'd like a little more guidance, keep reading.