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Mayan - Hummingbird symbolism
Identifier
007074
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
The Mayan culture contains a considerable number of stories that incorporate the humming bird. Some even place the humming bird as the Creator figure – for example one Mayan legend describes the hummingbird as ‘the sun in disguise’ who wants to ‘seduce a beautiful woman, who is the moon’.
The association with the Sun as Creator and thus the humming bird as active co-creator figure is also incorporated in many legends, most notably in the symbolism of the humming bird as a ‘bird of the Sun’.
For example, another Mayan legend says that the god who made the first two humming birds was so pleased with his creation that he had an elaborate wedding ceremony for them. First butterflies marked out a room, then flower petals fell on the ground to make a carpet; spiders spun webs to make a bridal pathway, then the sun sent down rays which caused the tiny groom to glow with dazzling reds and greens. The wedding guests noticed that whenever he turned away from the Sun, he became drab again like the original grey feathers from which he was made.
A description of the experience
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Ahua: both “flower” and “Lord” Ahau receives a floral bouquet and wears a floral hat, with hummingbird accent (detail from a Mayan vase) |