Iconology - Climbing the Holy Mountain

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This image is one of several that I have made that integrates pre-Columbian with western influences, the pre-Spanish with the contemporary, the practical with the occult. What I am left with after spending a lot of time in Mexico, speaking with anthropologists and archeologists, and reading much available literature is more questions than answers. The unanswered is much of what I like to play with in my imagery.

The 3 panels.

• The first panel, on the left, originated as a drawing and watercolor still life.
  Image - The mask was made by a Nahuatal carver in Mexico. Typically such masks are worn in street parades. I found it in a mask store in Mexico City one evening during one of many trips to that country.
  The hat was also purchased in Mexico City at a street fair. The astrological sun and moon symbols represent the conscious, the ego and the instincts or feelings.
  
  
• The second panel (the middle)
  Image - includes a NASA photo of the moon, and a drawing of the Oaxaca valley looking back to Monte Alban from a Zapotec military outpost (Yagul). The third and fourth images are from Codex Vindobonensis (Mixtec).
  
  
• The third panel (the right)
  Image - includes a map of the new world as a foundation for a site map of the Monte Alban ruin in Oaxaca, the number 13 written in Mayan numerals, the number 12 and an astrological symbol of the moon. Under the map is a ruler with the inscription measure your talent on a holy mountain on top of which is the number 9. Under the ruler is a composite photograph [2 (two) 28mm photos stitched together] of Monte Alban with number 22 at the bottom.
  
  • The Mayan’s use bars and dots as elements in a number system; bars are 5’s and dots are 1’s.
    • The Mayans and the Aztecs both had highly developed calendar systems basing them on a cycle of 18-day periods arranged in multiples of 20. The Mayas and probably the Nahua-speaking peoples also regarded days as animated beings. Time was personified and in no way abstract.
    
    
    
  • There were 9 Companions of night and 13 Companions of day for a total of 22 companions. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, which are the 22 sounds that created the universe according to some cabalistic scholars.
    
    
  • The number 12. There are 12 signs in the zodiac, 12 tribes of Israel and 12 disciples.
    
    
  • The western numerological tradition adds numbers together to make single digit numbers. The number 11 and 22 are considered master numbers and are not reduced to single digits. A master numbers represent a special higher level potential than the other numbers. The master number 22 is the Master Builder with the potential capability of combining illumination with the ability to put the illumination into a concrete form, for the benefit of humanity. As the Mayan’s used the idea of 22 it directly related to the hours of the day, or in western astrological symbolism to the moon which rules the day to day, and the now through feelings. In terms of awareness it’s feeling what you are feeling when you are feeling it. Being present to your life as it shows up.
    
    
  • The number 12 reduced to 3 is EXPRESSION as (1) art and (2) expression of feelings toward others – friendship, affection and love. Note that the number 12 is placed on the great pyramid (the Holy Mountain) at Monte Alban (the Holy Mountain). Thus the connection, measure your talents on a holy mountain. In Astrology the 3 or triune aspect is that of Jupiter the planet of wisdom and relates to the natural outlets for the individual (5th house affairs- your children and self expression, and 9th house affairs philosophy, wisdom and religion) in the horoscope.
    
    
  • The number 9 is the ultimate satisfaction, SELFLESSNESS (1) by giving to others or (2) by giving of self in some form of creative expression. The number 9 relates astrologically to the 9th house, the house of travel or long journeys. The natural sign that is the 9th sign of the zodiac is Sagittarius ruled by Jupiter the planet of wisdom and religion.
    
    
  • The number 13, the only number written in Mayan text, or 4 is numerologically represents LIMITATION, ORDER and service. Though many civilizations have discovered the “keys to the kingdom” few, if any, have known how to use them. The pre Columbian’s, a Stone Age people, were developed in many ways far beyond their conquerors. Their cities where incredibly well organized with residences (at Teotihuacan) containing toilet facilities and showers where the European were throwing their waste into the street. Their court system (Mayan and Aztec) was geared to take care of the victim and create fair retribution for the crime, not punish.
  
  
  We stand at an exciting point in time, NOW, where and when it is possible to be an enlightened being.