In June 2008 we had the honour to be visited by Tata Pedro Cruz, a Mayan Spiritual Guide from Guatemala.

Tata Pedro is an Ajq’ij, which translates directly as a “Counter of the Days”, one who maintains the count of the Mayan Sacred Calendar. A specialist in many aspects of his culture, Tata Pedro spoke to a packed audience about the Mayan Calendar, the road to 2012 and Mayan cosmovision, philosophy and spirituality.

Tata Pedro spoke in Spanish (and sometimes Mayan) helped by his assistants and translators, Louise Rothwell and Chus Landa.

Although his visit was blessed (?) by abundant rain, Tata Pedro performed two very special Sacred Fire Ceremonies on Merseyside, one of which was in Ainsdale.

About 50 people gathered in the dunes on Ainsdale beach on Friday 27th June to take part in a colourful Fire Ceremony, bringing flowers and pine-cones to offer around the fire, started with candles in the nine traditional Mayan symbolic colours. The ceremony included invocations which stressed the interconnectedness of people worldwide with each other and with nature. The wind was an enthusiastic participant (since it was the Mayan day of the wind!) and blessings spiralled up in the smoke to scatter across the North West.