The God of Nagualism — Tezcatlipoca
Not really. Nagualism is a concept heavily rooted in Mesoamerica and the reason I dubbed Tezcatlipoca as its god was primarily because he is {undisputebly} the most famous deity involved with it. Of course, the more Northern Skinwalkers are also just as popular but they aren’t exactly deities. Do enjoy your read!
First, let’s establish what Nagualism exactly is. To do that we need to look at the root of it all the Nahuatl word: Nāhualli. Nāhualli is a shamanic term that was initially used to refer to any {indigenous} religious practitioner but ever since the Spanish came along it has been identified with the English term: Magician. Is it a proper rendition? No. But does it suffice to simply stuff? Yes.
However, it is also imperative to understand the negative connotations the term once bore. You see, while the Spanish were kind enough to identify it as a magician, the Witch Hunts that ravaged Europe were not. They rendered it as a “transforming witch” which {no pun intended} stuck throughout the ages. Though if you want to ignore the negative aspects you can also translate it as “transforming trickster” or “shapeshifter”.
The origins of Nagualism run deep. Almost going as far back as the Toltecs and Olmecs. However, our focus here is only on the role it played in Aztec society and its connection with Tezcatlipoca. In simpler words, a Nagual is a being who can tap into their {tonal} animal spirit and in doing so can shapeshift into it.
"The nagual is a supernatural being, a spirit that is attached to someone, something, or some animal. It has the power to transform and to take on different shapes. It can be good or bad, it can protect or harm, it can heal or cause illness. It is a powerful force that can control and manipulate the natural world."
Source: Mixtec Codex
“The nagual is a spiritual guide or protector that is associated with a particular person or group of people. It is believed to have the power to communicate with the divine and to serve as a mediator between the spiritual and material worlds. The nagual can take on different forms and shapes, and can be a person, an animal, or even an object. It is a powerful force that can provide guidance, protection, and healing to those who seek its help.”
Source: Florentine Codex
To better understand it we should also bring Tonalism and tonal animal spirits into consideration. Now a tonal spirit refers to your non-human counterpart which can be either an animal or an object. You may even see it being likened to a “soul”. Although that isn’t the complete picture. According to what records we have, on birth, a person establishes a link with an animal. One that lasts for both of their lifetimes. The link is so powerful that the person and animal may mirror each other’s condition. Illness, bruises, birthmarks, scars, and wounds are some of these conditions.
Again it’s a bit more nuanced. I believe that the Chinese Lunar Calendar is something you’re all familiar with. The tonal spirit works similarly to the belief surrounding the characteristics of the animal {and the year}. The Aztec Calendar associated a select and pre-determined order and number of days with a certain animal. Being born on the day of a certain animal means that animal is your tonal spirit. You may inherit that animal’s strong point or its weak point.
“The tonal is the spiritual counterpart of a person, and is associated with a particular animal or object. It is believed to provide guidance, protection, and support to the individual, and to have a profound influence on their life and destiny.”
Source: Mixtec Codex
“The tonal is the spiritual essence of a person, and is associated with a particular animal or object that serves as a kind of spiritual guide or protector. The tonal is believed to have a profound influence on a person’s life and destiny, and to provide guidance and support in times of need.”
Source: Florentine Codex
With that, I hope you understood what Nagualism is. It isn’t just shapeshifting no. It’s a change of sorts. The tonal spirit is you {in a contextualized manner}, and managing to tap into it {i.e. commune with it and become it} is in a sense a change. A change to a better understanding of yourself and the divine.
I’d like you to go back to when I brought up the term Nāhualli. I didn’t mention any glyph or Nahuatl word for it now, did I? That is because it is purely a phonetic representation of the concept. Depending on the context a different glyph could act as a stand-in for Nāhualli, the most popular of which include the jaguar {Ocelotl} and serpent {Coatli}. The connection with Quetzalcoatl, the serpent, is further strengthened when you realize that Quetzalcoatl was a mediator of sorts. Same goes for Tezcatlipoca:
“And when they wished to know the will of the gods, they consulted the priests, who were the mediators between the gods and the people. The most revered of these priests was Quetzalcoatl, who was believed to have been sent by the gods to bring knowledge and wisdom to the people. Quetzalcoatl served as a mediator between the gods and humans, and was believed to have the power to communicate with the divine and to interpret their will.”
Source: Florentine Codex
“And they also had great respect for Tezcatlipoca, who was believed to have the power to mediate between the gods and the people. Tezcatlipoca was known as the ‘smoking mirror,’ and was associated with the night sky and the stars. He was believed to have the power to see all things, to know all things, and to control the destinies of men. Tezcatlipoca was often invoked in times of war and other crises, as he was believed to have the power to protect the people and to ensure their victory.”
Source: Florentine Codex
But ol’ Quetzal isn’t the topic of our discussion. Two things augment Tez’s association more. (A) Tezcatlipoca {more than any other deity} is shown to change people into jaguars and (B) he’s sorta the god of the days and calendar.
“In some stories, Tezcatlipoca is also associated with the ability to transform people into jaguars. According to legend, Tezcatlipoca once transformed himself into a jaguar and appeared before a young warrior, challenging him to a battle. The warrior accepted the challenge, but was quickly defeated by Tezcatlipoca in his jaguar form. However, instead of killing the warrior, Tezcatlipoca transformed him into a jaguar as well, granting him great power and strength.”
Source: Florentine Codex
“Tezcatlipoca is also known as the god of the days or the calendar. In Aztec/Mexica culture, the calendar was a complex system that was used to keep track of time and to determine the most auspicious times for various activities, such as planting and harvesting crops, conducting religious ceremonies, and waging war. Tezcatlipoca was believed to be the patron of the calendar, and was associated with the 13-day week and the 260-day ritual calendar.
Source: Florentine Codex
I claim Tezcatlipoca is the god of change, and I’m going to use that here. The most simplistic way to prove this is via the mirror in his chest. It’s a symbol most likely a reference to his dominion over obsidian and the night. However, it is also said to reveal the true nature of a human. And that is what Nagualism at its core is. It reveals the true nature of your being; the animal. And most of the texts I used to explain Tonalism and Nagualism include destiny in them. Tezcatlipoca is the god of fate {a simple Wikipedia search will do wonders} so there’s another connection.
“Tezcatlipoca, the Smoking Mirror, was a god of war and death. He was a fearsome and frightening figure, with eyes that could see into the hearts of men and a mirror on his chest that revealed their true natures. Those who looked into his mirror saw their own deaths reflected back at them, and they trembled in fear.”
Source: The Aztec Creation Myth
Why change specifically? Well, that’s the best and closest term we can use in this context. Not liberation. Even Tezcatlipoca’s being the “Nightly Drinker” and his founding of Pulque doesn’t work. Liberation is not the madness Tezcatlipoca induces. He isn’t Dionysus. If anything the madness of the members of his cult didn’t follow the manner that the Bacchantes follow. For instance, the cult of Tezcatlipoca abstained from sexual intimacy and practiced fasting {somehow}.
“The cult of Tezcatlipoca was characterized by ecstatic religious experiences, including trance states, hallucinations, and visions. Worshippers of Tezcatlipoca would often fast or abstain from sex in order to prepare themselves for these experiences, which were seen as a way to commune with the divine and to gain insight into the mysteries of the universe.
During religious ceremonies, worshippers of Tezcatlipoca would often consume psychoactive plants or other substances in order to induce altered states of consciousness and to enter into a state of trance. In this state, they believed that they could communicate with the gods and receive messages from the divine.
The cult of Tezcatlipoca was also associated with the idea of “divine madness,” in which the individual would be consumed by the power of the god and would experience intense emotions, such as fear, rage, or ecstasy. This state of madness was seen as a way to purify the soul and to connect with the divine.
The worship of Tezcatlipoca was also associated with acts of self-sacrifice, including bloodletting and self-mutilation. These acts were seen as a way to honor the god and to demonstrate one’s devotion and commitment to the divine.
Overall, the cult of Tezcatlipoca was a complex and intense religious tradition that was deeply connected to the experiences of the worshippers. Through the use of psychoactive substances, fasting, self-sacrifice, and other practices, worshippers of Tezcatlipoca sought to commune with the divine and to gain insight into the mysteries of the universe.”
Source: “The Aztecs: A Very Short Introduction” by David Carrasco
“The cult of Tezcatlipoca was one of the most important in ancient Mexico. The god was associated with the night sky, the stars, and the forces of destiny and chance. His worshippers believed that he could grant them power, wealth, and success, but also that he could bring about their downfall.
The cult of Tezcatlipoca was characterized by intense rituals and ecstatic experiences. Worshippers of the god would often consume psychoactive substances, such as mushrooms or cactus, in order to induce altered states of consciousness and to commune with the divine. In this state, they believed that they could receive messages from the gods and gain insight into the mysteries of the universe.
The cult of Tezcatlipoca was also associated with acts of self-sacrifice and self-mutilation. Worshippers would often pierce their tongues, ears, or other body parts with sharp objects, or would cut themselves with obsidian knives in order to offer their blood to the god. These acts were seen as a way to demonstrate one’s devotion and commitment to the divine.
The cult of Tezcatlipoca was also associated with the idea of “divine madness,” in which the individual would be consumed by the power of the god and would experience intense emotions, such as fear, rage, or ecstasy. This state of madness was seen as a way to purify the soul and to connect with the divine.
During religious ceremonies dedicated to Tezcatlipoca, worshippers would often dance, sing, and play musical instruments, creating a frenzied and chaotic atmosphere. The goal of these rituals was to open a pathway to the divine, to allow the worshippers to enter into the realm of the gods and to receive their blessings and guidance.
In the cult of Tezcatlipoca, the experience of the individual was paramount. Through intense rituals, self-sacrifice, and acts of devotion, worshippers sought to forge a direct connection with the divine and to gain insight into the mysteries of the universe.”
Source: “The Codex Borgia: A Full-Color Restoration of the Ancient Mexican Manuscript” by Gisele Diaz and Alan Rodgers
Fear, rage, and ecstasy are the only emotions {primarily} associated with his cult. Now me not using the term liberation there might be something wrong, considering that in the end, I’m not a worshipper of Tezcatlipoca. All I can say about him is my own personal interpretation. You can use it but to me, change is a more appropriate term. His cult’s most major role in Aztec society was on two major occasions. The festival of Toxactl and the coronation of new kings. Both in a way, signify change.
“Tezcatlipoca was one of the most important gods in the Aztec pantheon, and his cult played a crucial role in Aztec society. The cult was closely tied to the ruling elite and was used to legitimize their power and authority. Tezcatlipoca was associated with war and conquest and was believed to have the power to see into people’s hearts and minds. This made him a powerful symbol of divine authority, and his image was used to intimidate and subdue enemies.
The cult of Tezcatlipoca was also closely associated with the practice of divination, and his priests were skilled in reading omens and interpreting dreams. This allowed the ruling elite to use the cult of Tezcatlipoca to legitimize their rule by claiming that they had been chosen by the deity to lead.
Moreover, Tezcatlipoca’s cult was integral to the coronation of new rulers. The coronation of Aztec rulers was a complex ritual that involved the participation of the entire Aztec elite, and Tezcatlipoca was one of the gods who was invoked during the ceremony. This helped to reinforce the idea that the new ruler had been chosen by the gods to lead, thus legitimizing their rule in the eyes of the Aztec people.
Overall, the cult of Tezcatlipoca played a vital role in Aztec society, serving to legitimize and reinforce the power of the ruling elite and providing a sense of divine authority to their rule.”
Source: Carrasco, D. (1999). Daily life of the Aztecs: People of the sun and earth
Liberation {if you want to use it} could also be likened to a change. The change from a man bound by his earthly shackles to a man who now has insights into the mysteries of the world. Refer to the above excerpt once more. It also claims that Tezcatlipoca saw into the hearts of people. The members of the cult used this and tried to draw out their tonal spirit. Tezcatlipoca’s connection to Nagualism is also proved by his being the god of sorcery and transformation. In front of him, all was laid bare, and from within that spiritual nakedness, he brought out the reality of what was within.
O master, O our Lord, O Lord of the near, of the night, O night, O wind…Poor am I.
In what manner shall I act for thy city? In what manner shall I act for the governed, for the vassals (macehualtin)?
For I am blind, I am deaf, I am an imbecile, and in excrement, in filth hath my lifetime been…
Perhaps thou mistaketh me for another; perhaps thou seekest another in my steadSource: Prayer to Tezcatlipoca, Florentine Codex
This poem presented above attests to that fact. The king admits his shortcomings to the Night and in doing so questions as to whether he was the correct choice. This is something most initiates to his cult did. They first lay themselves bare, to know their roots. From there they went through certain rites and performed rituals to better connect with Tezcatlipoca. It is true that he was thought to be able to see your true self, but it was imperative for you to see it as well.
And to finally circle it all back together, there are some texts that do identify him as the “god of Naguals”. However, I went through the trouble of listing all that I did for one short reason. To wind it up by simply saying that the transformative process that is Nagualism is at its core change. Not only from a human to an animal but from enslavement to liberation and from weakness to strength. And nobody other than Tezcatlipoca; the most enigmatic of all gods, can better represent that change.
“And they say that Tezcatlipoca was one of the greatest of all the gods, who knew everything that was in the world and could see everything that was happening. He was the lord of the night sky and the ruler of the stars, and he could take on many different forms, including those of the jaguar and the eagle. He was also the god of the nagual, the animal spirit that was believed to accompany each person throughout their life.”
Source: The Annals of Cuauhtitlan
“Tezcatlipoca was a god of many aspects, including war, magic, and hunting. He was also the god of fate and destiny, and it was believed that he could influence the course of an individual’s life through his control over the nagual. By working with Tezcatlipoca, individuals could gain greater insight into their own personal power and potential, and could achieve a deeper understanding of their place in the world.”
Source: The Codex Chimalpopoca
“Tezcatlipoca was a god of great power and mystery, who could take on many different forms and could see into the hearts of men. He was the lord of the night and the ruler of the stars, and he was also the god of the nagual, the animal spirit that accompanied each person throughout their life. It was believed that by working with Tezcatlipoca, individuals could gain greater clarity and insight into their own personal power, and could develop a deeper connection to the spiritual forces that shaped their lives.”
Source: The Codex Borgia
“Tezcatlipoca was a god of both creation and destruction, who could bring about great change and transformation in the world. He was associated with the concept of the tonal, which referred to the individual’s inner essence or spiritual energy. By working with Tezcatlipoca, individuals could access their own tonal and learn to harness its power for personal growth and transformation.”
Source: The Book of the Chilam Balam of Chumayel
“Tezcatlipoca was a god of mystery and magic, who could shape-shift into various animal forms and wield great power over the forces of nature. He was also associated with the concept of the nahual, which referred to the individual’s animal counterpart or spirit. By working with Tezcatlipoca, individuals could gain a deeper understanding of their own nahual and learn to use its power for personal transformation and spiritual growth.”
Source: The Popol Vuh
And that’s that. What do you guys think? Learn something new? I do hope you enjoyed this. Have a nice day!
