#nahuatl class

[speaknahuatl]

Tomorrow, December 4!

¡Mañana, 4 de diciembre!

@LAPlazaLA

📍501 N. Main St, LA, CA 90012

Close to Union Station.

Cerca de Union Station.

Simply show up or register here:

Simplemente estén presentes o regístrensen aquí: https://eventbrite.com/e/free-nahuatl-class-clase-de-nahuatl-gratis-la-plaza-de-cultura-y-artes-tickets-382151885577

Winter Break

No classes

Dec 11, 2022-Jan 8, 2023

No habrá clases

11 de dic. 2022-8 de ene. 2023

[bookwyrminspiration]

im the only person in class today 2 hours one on one language instruction (yippee!) (i'm dead on the floor)

[natalia-lafourcade]

I always felt like a fake indigenous person for being the first generation in my family that did not grow up on our ancestral land or speak Nahuatl, but I spoke with my grandfather and my aunts and uncles and they were actually impressed with how much knowledge I've absorbed from my parents. They even said that there were more indigenous people living in the U.S. than in my pueblo and that it was our responsibility to keep our culture alive. Even the kids who grew up there know very little. I feel validated, but there is a lot of work to be done.

[alpaca-clouds]

Some historical context for Olrox

Okay, let me prephase this with one important message: Castlevania Nocturne made me really happy by making the plot all about colonialism, as colonialism and its fallout and how it influences us to this day is a topic that I am very passionate about. We do not talk enough about it. The US does not talk enough about it because it could make white people feel uncomfortable. And here in Germany we do not talk about it, because we act as if this had nothing to do with us at all.

But the show talks about it and I love it.

And I honestly also gotta say that I love that the BI_PoC character have a concrete cultural heritage. Olrox is Aztec, Annette is Yoruba, and Drolta is Egyptian. Other shows: Please take notes!

But let's talk Olrox, because he is so fucking interesting and amazing!

We know about him that he is Aztec and also that he is 250 years old. Or roughly that old by the time he kills Julia. Which would put either his birth or his turning somewhere around 1530.

Now, the fall of the Aztec Empire has a very exact date: August 13th, 1521. But you should keep in mind that this does not mean that on that day the Aztec's are extinct. To this day there is still 1,5 million people speaking Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, and preserving some of the Aztec cultural traditions. It was just that on that day the empire construct fell to Cortez and the Spaniad conquistadors and a lot of Aztecs went into exile to flee the genocide that Cortez was bringing upon them.

The question of course is: Was Olrox still human at this time or was he already a vampire? From his dialogue it is clear that he was at least alive and grown enough to remember the fall of the empire and the distruction Cortez and his men brought upon them. But you can bet it was very traumatic.

I also am assuming he was turned by a white man. Because so far my assumption is that vampirism is an old world thing that got brought to the new world through colonialism. (Mostly because in Dracula's court we do not see any new world vampires.)

Now, the other interesting thing is what he says about his dead lover. The one Julia killed. So, first the "town in Massachusetts" he speaks about is clearly Stockbridge. Which was the town in which many Mohicans have settled during the colonial times, as well as other people from the Iroquois Nations. Now, it should be noted that the Mohicans were not part of the Iroquois alliance and in fact went to war with the Iroquois, but by the time colonialism really geared up there was some cooperation between the Mohicans and Iroquois.

Due to this they were in an alliance with the Oneida (who were part of the Iroquois) by the time of the Revolutionary war. Now, the Revolutionary War created a lot of conflict between the Iroquois nations, because they did not agree which side they should fight on. Of course both sides promised that they could keep their land, but the Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca did not trust the colonists and hence sided with the British, while the Oneida and Tuscarora (and through them also the Mohicans) sided with the Colonists.

And the dead lover clearly was among those siding with the colonists. Now, a quick refresher for the non-Americans (and the Americans who slept to history class, which is understandable). The Revolutionary War lasted from April 19, 1775 to September 3, 1783 (which, yes, also means that Julia and Richter probably were in the US during the war the entire time and the "evil" Julia was fighting probably was linked to it). And of course we all know how it ended for the Indigenous people: The colonists won, countless Indigenous folks died on both sides, only to get booted of their land soon after. The Oneida und Mohicans were made to move westwards not soon after the war ended. So, yes, Olrox would have seen that happen.

Now, an interesting thing in his dialogue was when Erzebet said: "We will create a new world." To which he replies: "I have heard that one before." And she says: "This time we are going to make it to last."

And the big question is to what this is refering. Is it refering to the colonialization or is it refering to the revolutionary war? Or something entirely different. In both cases it would be possible. And yes, the American Revolution definitely were claiming to create a new world. But was it that what he refered to or something else?

Well, never the less: Interesting character. Really good writing.

[dozen-reasons-in-this-gun]

the reason why I didn't major in Latino Studies is because whenever I get taught the colonization of Mexico and brutality from Sp*niards I get the urge to kill and maim every white person I see.

Which in my PWI is legit every single person!

[mochinomnoms]

original request jade leech x gn!reader [tags] – fluff, suggestive [cw] - a tad more explicit compared to the last ones [wc} – 2,875 prompt 18: “Is this normal here?” “Only for the emotionally unavailable folk.” “Ah, so it is.” note - i think i blacked out and woke up to this. jade is just so, aaaaaa!!! a floral inconvenience

Teonanácatl mushroom – In Nahuatl, teonanácatl can be translated to “flesh of the gods” and were sometimes used by the Aztecs as a hallucinogen and aphrodisiac.

Despite your best efforts to not say anything, to not complain, to not even give a hint of what was bothering you, it was obvious to everyone that you had the hanahaki. 

It was even more obvious who for, considering you were sprouting up bell-shaped brown capped mushrooms instead of the traditional flowers. 

Of course Jade’s favorite mushroom would be one of the psychedelic ones. Of course, you had to accidentally swallow a piece of one when spitting them out. 

You could’ve dealt with that, honestly. Strange visions? Check, you got them leading up to every overblot. Distorted vision? Fine, you know Ace’s messed with your vision once or twice while practicing spells. Even the weird sensations every touch, breeze, and vibration in the air caused were somewhat bearable. The magic that seemed to consume the surrounding air made your skin tingle weirdly, you could deal.  

What you couldn’t deal with, was how horny they apparently made you feel. Without fail, depending on how much of the mushrooms you managed to swallow before spitting the majority of them out, five to ten minutes you’d feel the effects. 

Paired with the psychedelic effects, it was torture. You were overstimulated and on edge constantly. Even without the weird trips, the mushrooms were apparently a potent aphrodisiac.

It left you squirming as Jade, the current bane of your existence, stared at you from across the flight field.

Thankfully, none had come out from your throat today, so you were present and alert for once this week. 

“You know Prefect,” Azul spoke up, sitting next to you as the two of you sat out of flight class. You, due to your condition, and him for falling 10-feet off his broom. 

“The flower sickness is quite an easy fix, have you not visited the nurse yet?” 

You shook your head, watching Floyd hang upside down on his broom, screeching as Jack and Silver attempted to ease him into a soft landing. You snorted as the foot that was hooking him to the broom slipped, making him fall on top of Jack. 

“Nah, it’s fine, I don’t think she could deal with the constant lucid trips, last I went she just told me to get this potion for my symptoms, but they’re all flower based!”

Azul raised a brow as he watched you lay on the grass and stretch your limbs until you resembled something of like a starfish. 

You groaned, “They all account for like petals, thorns, or pollen messing with your immune system, but not for fungus and spores… I need to just straight up get rid of them.”

“May I offer some advice—”

“For your prices? No the fuck you may not—”

“—as a mutual friend between you and Jade?” You shut your mouth at the mention of the teal-haired man while Azul continued. “The best and quickest fix is to just tell him your true feelings. It’s the one true, guaranteed cure to your sickness.”

“You say that like you're familiar with it.” If you noticed the tips of Azul’s ears turn purple, you didn’t say anything. “Is it really that normal here?”

Azul scoffed, giving you a wry smile. “It’s only for the emotionally unavailable sort of folk.” 

“Ah, so at this school, it most definitely is.”

The two of you chuckled while Floyd stomped over to your resting spot, visibly limping. 

“Maaaaaan this sucks!” The twin threw himself over Azul, who buckled to the ground under Floyd’s weight. 

“Ow! Floyd!”

“Coach Lobster says I sprained my ankle and can’t go to basketball club later!” Floyd whined, wrapping his lanky body around Azul, who was less than amused. 

“I’ll be stuck at the dorm, I don’t wanna deal with a whiny Jade!”

He turned his attention to you, sneering. “Hey Shrimpy! Go fix whatever ya did to make Jade upset! He’s been acting like a lovesick brat since ya stopped talkin’ to him, it’s gettin’ real old.” 

You scoffed, “I didn’t do anything! And why’s everyone acting like we’re a couple? We’re just friends, sometimes friends don’t talk for a bit!”

“Friends?!” Azul hissed, eye twitching as he gave you an incredulous look. “Some ‘friends’ you are. Based on the sounds I hear coming out of his room late at night, I highly doubt that.”

“We’re friends with benefits!” you cried out, looking behind you to see if anyone noticed or heard your outburst. As you did, Azul and Floyd shared a confused look. 

“Friends with…benefits?” Azul asked. 

Floyd nodded, also questioning your words. “What’s that?”

Despite your best efforts to explain the concept, the two couldn’t comprehend the idea of casual intimacy with an acquaintance or friend. Apparently it was a strictly human concept, as Floyd put it: “Why’d you wanna do that with someone other than a mate? Merfolk aren’t built like that!”

You left class with more questions than answers. Questions you probably could’ve had answered if you spoke with Jade. It didn’t help that Azul and Floyd kept giving you concerned looks as they quietly spoke with Jade, who kept glancing at you with a neutral expression.

Mostly neutral, his brows were furrowed as he spoke with his brother and friend. 

Oh well, a little mystery never hurt no one!

Stomping over to the Mostro Lounge, you kept looking over your shoulder for Jade. Even with everything Azul and Floyd said, you weren’t mentally prepared for a conversation with him. 

You’re sure that when Azul asked you to come to his V.I.P. Room, it was for some ruse to get you and Jade together. But he also mentioned you taking up extra shifts at the bar, and you were always in need of a little extra cash. 

However, that would be more interaction with Jade, and you’d rather deal with another bad shroom trip than confront any of your feelings for him. But…money.

“Hey! You!” You tapped the shoulder of one of the lounge employees, who recognized and greeted you with a smile. 

“Ah! Prefect!” The purple-haired man smiled. “Azul said he was expecting you! Go right ahead to his office.”

“Thanks!” Walking through the lounge into the hallway leading to the private rooms and Azul’s office, the eerie silence was unsettling. 

Usually there’d be at least a few employees walking around, either serving food to one of the reservable rooms or checking in with their housewarden. Even passing the employee lounge made you uneasy, as no one was there despite the lack of dinner rush. 

You did make it to Azul’s office with little issue, knocking on the door as you announced, “I’m ‘ere, Azul! Can I come in? 

You received no answer. Apprehensively you opened the door, surprised to find it empty. Entering and closing the door behind you, you decided to be nosy and look at what Azul had on his desk while you waited. 

He was probably here recently, based on the cup of tea on his desk. The door opened up behind you, so you turned to greet Azul with a wave and smile before freezing. 

Really, you should’ve known better than to trust Azul to mind his own business. You curled in on yourself as Jade entered the office, a pleasant smile on his lips he locked the door behind him. 

You decided that nonchalant and cool was the best approach in this situation. 

You greeted Jade in a polite, monotone voice. “Leech.”

“My, my, Prefect. So cold.” Jade gave you a sad look as he pursed his lips. “We haven’t spoken since our trip two weeks ago, was my company so terrible that it warrants your avoidance?”

His tall frame towered over you as he stalked closer and closer, forcing you backwards until your back hit the desk. You could hear the tea cup and saucer clink as you did. Jade placed his hands on either side of your hips, effectively trapping you against Azul’s desk. 

“W-well, I’ve been busy—

“Why, I’ve been absolutely beside myself! We had such a wonderful time camping out those two evenings that I'm left wondering if I did something wrong.” 

Jade softly spoke, a mischievous gleam in his gold eye as he leaned down to coo in your ear, “Especially since you, oh, so enjoyed my tongue in your—”

You decided that nonchalant and cool was actually not the best approach, based on the numerous mushrooms popping up from your skin and in your mouth. 

Jade whipped his head back, rubbing his chin from where the mushroom smacked into him while popping up at the crook between your chin and neck. 

He grinned as more and more bell-capped mushrooms sprouted down your exposed arms and neck, even along your head as they fashioned into a mushroom crown. 

You froze, then started hacking as too many mushrooms filled and fell out of your mouth, though you could feel yourself swallow some on instinct. “Shitshitshit, I ate some, oooooh fuck me—”

“I did two weeks ago, you seemed to enjoy it—”

“Shut up! You know that's not what I meant!” You groaned, rubbing your face as Jade leaned back in to place his hands on your hips, rubbing small circles. 

“Heh-heh, I know. You must forgive me my dear, you are entirely too easy to rile up.” He grabbed your hands so that Jade could make eye contact with you, smiling a bit softer at your red face. 

“It’s your fault you know!” You huffed, frowning (or pouting in Jade’s vision) up at him. “You and your stupid mushrooms…”

“Oh? I beg to differ.” You yelped as Jade lifted you like a rag doll and sat you on the desk. At this angle, Jade didn’t need to strain his neck as much to lean down. 

“I’d argue that this entirely your own doing. After all, nothing was preventing you from speaking to me other than your own ego.” 

“That’s not—” you angrily huffed, half-heartedly shoving Jade. “That’s NOT it and you know it.”

The eel mer frowned, a rare annoyed expression on his features. He took a deep breath, reaching for your hands to softly and tenderly draw circles into your palm. Jade tended to do this when his mind was full of thoughts, tracing random shapes into your skin. 

He was especially fond of doing so after your late night meet ups: bare bodies flush against one another in an afterglow as he lulled you to sleep with sweet words, tracing out his name and hearts against your back. 

If you thought too much into it, sometimes you think he was tracing your first name with his last, usually done after a particularly rough night. 

You didn’t want to think too much into it though, all those nights. Jade was simply indulging your soft heart. 

“I don’t, actually. Can you imagine my ire when my beloved partner not only started sprouting psilocybe mexicana, but it was from hanahaki. Do you know the implications of that to me?”

“Look, I’m sorry that I’m sooooo emotional and am ruining your ‘cool’ and ‘intimidating’ reputation!” You cried out, pushing his hands off of yours to cross them, looking to the side.

“I didn’t mean for my feelings to get so out of control. The first rule to being friends-with-benefits is to not catch feelings, and I broke it.”

You shrugged as you continued.

“I had them before, but I thought that if we just got involved casually, I’d get over them eventually…it’s not my fault you talk and act so sappy…like you want me to fall more in love or something…” 

Jade was silent, which in itself wasn’t unusual for him. What was, was the troubled, nearly distraught look on his face. You’d be annoyed at how pretty he still was if the expression didn’t freak you out. 

“Most likely because I was under the impression that we were courting. You are aware that I have been addressing you as my mate for several months now, yes?”

Time froze, though it might have been the effects of the mushrooms starting to hit. Or a combination of the shrooms and your brain trying to process the words that just left Jade’s mouth. 

Mate. Floyd called you his brother’s mate. He’s actually been calling you his mate.

“What?” You squeaked out, voice meek and tiny. “Mate? Like, your partner-type mate? Like, this is the person I’m marrying-type mate?”

Jade let out a chuckle, cutting the distance between you until his face was right up to yours. 

Startled, you grasped on the lapels of his uniform, trying to steady yourself as you leaned back. Jade’s arms were splayed on the table as he once again trapped you against the desk. 

Though this time, intentionally you’re sure, he settled himself between your legs as you, subconsciously mind you, loosely wrapped your legs around his hips. 

Jade smirked as he watched you cough out another handful of mushrooms, though he was disappointed to see none were bitten this time around. 

“Allow me to, how do you humans say? Ah, yes, open your eyes to the situation.” 

Jade grabbed your chin, forcing you to make eye contact with his stern gaze. “I do not involve myself with other people to such an…intimate extent casually, especially as a merperson.”

“This thing you call ‘friends with benefits’? As a concept it’s entirely human. Merfolk? If we see something, if we like it, then we make it ours and you?” 

Jade chuckled, leaning down and taking your earlobe into his sharp teeth. 

“Little human~” he purred. “I made you mine the moment we blessed my bed with your sweet cries.”

You shivered from the points of his teeth as he tugged, sighing as he let go, up until his lips met your pulse point at the crook of your neck, suckling down. You could feel his pleased hum vibrate through your spine as you mewled in response. 

Heat pooled in your belly while your skin felt like it was simultaneously on fire and freezing, though you couldn’t be sure if it was the effects of the mushroom or Jade. 

“J-Jade, stooOOoOop i-it,” despite your protests, you tilted your head to offer the rest of you like a present, little gasps escaping your lips as his lips trailed down, following the mushrooms that adorned your clavicle. 

“What if Azul o-or your—o-ooh fuck—or your brother walk in?”

Jade leaned back with a closed mouth smile, admiring the red marks adorning your neck. 

“Let them, so that every time you forget what you are and what you mean to me, the image of my mate bent over this desk is burned through their heads, so that it implores them to remind you of what you are.”

Pushing you until you laid flat on your back, Jade hovered over you with a grin and beheld your flushed face. 

You slid your hands from his chest to loop around his neck, bringing Jade down to meet your lips before he stopped. 

You furrowed your eyebrows at him, eyes widening as he stuck his tongue out to reveal a singular mushroom. He must have hidden it under his tongue after swiping it from your neck earlier.

“Wait, Jade!” You gasped as he bit and swallowed the fungus. “It’s a psychedelic—”

“And an aphrodisiac, I’m aware.” He hummed, a pleased look on his face.

“Land flora is so fascinating, I’d hoped to introduce this one to you over the summer, to experience it together, back home in a nice, private little grotto.”

Jade pressed his lips to yours, surprisingly gently, as you returned it with a growing intensity. His right hand reached up between your embrace to undo the buttons of your shirt. 

“Oh well, I suppose we can share an experience here. Isn’t the thought of someone walking in exhilarating?”

Once your shirt was open, and your chest exposed, Jade took the tips of his fingers between his teeth and yanked his pristine white glove off. He trailed his exposed hand, starting with a squeeze at the base of your neck, and slowly gliding down. 

His pupils were slowly blowing out as the effects of the mushroom started to take hold, his breath increasing as you grew more and more needy from the aphrodisiac. 

“Jade, please~” you tried again to yank him down for another kiss, this time succeeding as your lips clashed against one another. 

“Jade…I need…” 

“Shhh. I got you.” Jaed cooed, hips grounding against yours as your kiss intensified. “I got you Y/N, my little human, my pearl, my mate—”

“Hey Jade, are you two almost done talking, I’d like my office back—ACK!” Azul shrieked at the sight of you two over his desk, Floyd popping his head out from around the now open door. 

“Hmm? Ewwwww!” Floyd made gagging sounds as you quickly redressed yourself, Jade looking amused at the situation.

“You’re supposed to talk it out, not get it on! Go somewhere else! It’s bad enough that I can hear you through the walls, you’re like three rooms down from mine!”

Jade let out a chuckle, wrapping his hand around your waist once you were up and buttoned up. 

“Of course, I wouldn’t want to bother you. Come, my pearl.” You were dragged out of the room, wincing at the other two with an apologetic look. 

You apparent ‘mate’ was guiding you to the exit of the lounge, to the direction of the pools. 

As he leaned down to whisper into your ear, you could feel his grip tighten on your hip, causing a pleasurable buzz to crawl up your body, your lucid high growing stronger. 

“Why don’t we see how my merform handles the mushrooms, and then see how you can handle me, hmm?”

[saxxxology]

Hey all! It's been a while since I was on this site consistently so I figured I'd post some life updates!

2023 was not the best year for me mentally - PMDD/hormone imbalance and to-this-day undiagnosed chronic respiratory issues had me going through it, hence why I kinda just gave up being on here.

When I did feel mostly stable, I spent my time doing a LOT of beadwork (check it out) and reconnection work with my communities both here in Los Angeles and back in New Mexico. I also got to work with Justin Johnson Cortez (from Walker: Independence) for Native American Heritage Month 2023 where I got to feature both my beadwork and co-host a short class on the history of Indigenous southwestern jewelry.

Earlier this year I was able to fix my PMDD and hormone issues, which has helped me feel like an actual human being for the first time in what feels like forever. I also got my first boyfriend who is also Indigenous, and it has been a whole experience that I am extremely grateful for. I'm currently learning 3 Indigenous languages, my Apache and Pueblo dialects, and my partner's Nahuatl dialect.

I'm hoping to come back on here semi-consistently and post some older works from Patreon. My tag list is also so old I've decided to start from scratch, so if you want to be tagged in anything I post please send me an ask!

[vhampirtea]

Redraw Oc for the 400th time loll

Work and school have been hard to balance these days.

And I'm getting easily overwhelmed, so it kinda led me into a very heavy burn out, and struggling to keep up with classes.

But this little rascal I'm drawing has been on my mind since forever. So I decided to redraw them again and give more of an actual vampiric gothic look.

I can't decide if I should keep the name Izar or change it to Citlalli.

Fun fact: Citlalli is a nahuatl word for Star. :)

[katiajewelbox]

Giving chocolates is a way to show your love on Valentines Day. Human beings have been in love with chocolate and the Cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) for thousands of years, and today we will learn about the romance of culture and chocolate.

Although Cacao is most famously associated with Mesoamerican cultures, genetic studies indicate that Cacao was domesticated by indigenous Americans around 5,300 years ago in the Upper Amazon region. From there, Cacao cultivation spread north to Mexico. The Cacao fruit pulp was more commonly consumed in South America in Pre Columbian times while the Mesoamericans invented the technique of fermentation and roasting to utilise the Cacao nibs.

Archaeological evidence, such as chemical residues on ancient pottery shards, pinpoints the first use of Cacao drinks in Mesoamerica around 1600 BCE. By the time of the Classical Mayan civilization (250-900 CE), ground cacao nibs were mixed with water and spices by careful pouring between vessels to make a nourishing and invigorating hot drink which was consumed by people of all social classes. In the later Mexica (Aztec) civilization, cold cacao drink or xocoatl (bitter water in Nahuatl) exquisitely flavoured with flowers, fruits, chillies, and spices was reserved for the elite and ceremonial occasions. Cacao seeds were used as a form of currency for trade and barter during the Mexica Empire.

After the conquest of the Mexica Empire by Spain in 1521, cacao was one of the many new plant-based foods brought to Europe. In Spain, the locals of Andalusia experimented with the spicy xocoatl by adding cane sugar and dairy ingredients. It is said that drinking chocolate was so universally popular from the 17th century to the late 19th century that it prevented coffee from becoming mainstream in Spanish culture. Drinking chocolate caught on in the rest of Europe in the 1600’s but it was not until the mid 19th century that innovation in processing and chemistry allowed the invention of solid chocolate candies. Cadbury chocolate company is credited with marketing chocolates as a token of love for Valentines Day in 1868.

Chocolate in the modern world is not always a sweet story. Today, approximately 70% of the world’s cacao is produced in West African countries like Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Sadly, exploitative practices like child labour and enslavement are still rife in these countries’ Cacao farms. Chocolate lovers can help by buying Fair Trade certified chocolate products and other responsibly grown cacao products. Fortunately, cacao can be grown in sustainable agroforestry alongside native rainforest trees especially in Latin America. Cacao’s sacred and medicinal properties are experiencing a renaissance among “chocolate shamans” around the world who drawn upon indigenous knowledge to make the ethical production and mindful consumption of cacao a healing spiritual experience.

Humanity and Cacao have a long-lasting love that continues to evolve over time, and has the potential to benefit plants, people, and the planet. Ponder the storied history of Cacao if you indulge in chocolate this Valentines Day.

Image credits to Mexicolore

[hotvampireadjacent]

" I’d learned the day before, the preconquest past, in areas such as language (Nahuatl), religion (an earth religion where the obsidian knife was routinely used in human sacrifice), dress (“the upper class,” writes Thomas in “Conquest,” wore robes of long quetzal feathers, and very elaborate cloaks of white duck feathers, embroidered skirts and necklaces with radiating pendants) and architecture (great stepped pyramids rising out of a lake encircled by volcanoes), has all but gone under in Mexico. But if there is one point of contact, one aperture through which the Mexico of today can reach out its fingers and touch the Aztec past, it is food. And that past, here at the Mercado de Abastos, through the prevalence of corn, cacao and chiles — and the absence of rice — could still feel very present."

-tracing Mexico’s Complicated Relationship With Rice, Aatish Taseer, New york times

[mythological-mayhem]

Honestly, I would love Aztec and Maya mythology to become more recognized, but I'm also a bit worried that people will butcher it, as it's happened with Greco-Roman and Norse mythology. Like, once an obscure pantheon gets a "big production", a lot of the time what happens is that the directors just grab a bunch of names and concepts then kinda do whatever they want.

I'd also like to see these indigenous characters actually speaking indigenous languages, since a lot of the time people underestimate just how much they're still used. You can actually learn them too: there's TikTok pages of Mexicans who teach Nahuatl, books on the topic, proper classes.... additionally, there's many people in Southern Mexico (e.g. Chiapas) who speak dialects of Maya on the regular.

Sorry, it's a bit pretentious maybe, but I would love to see something that's well-researched and feels earnest.

It doesn’t sound pretentious at all, I hate it when people butcher mythologies in media too! Most of the times, they act like if the mythology is obscure enough, they can do whatever they want with it (when this is not in fact true).

And yeah, more Aztec mythology (well researched of course) content in media sounds awesome!

[speaknahuatl]

Planning your Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter events? 📆 We're open for webinar and in-person workshop requests! Whether it's Día de la Niñez, Día de los Muertos, Indigenous Peoples' Day, or any time of the year focusing on Nahuatl Language & Culture or about Mesoamerican Indigenous Languages & Cultures from an Indigenous perspective...we're here for it! 🌽🫘🌶️🍈🗣️

🤔Who can participate?

- 👩🏽‍💻Student organizations

- 👨‍🏫Classes

- 🏫School departments

- ✍🏽Writing/Study groups

- 🖼️🏺Cultural Centers/Museums

-👥👥Community centers

🗓️ When?

Available slots: Available slots: All year (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall). The earlier, the better.

Scheduling: Please submit requests at least four weeks in advance.

🌎 Where?

- Webinars available internationally

- In-person workshops across the so-called USA

💬 How to request? Send us an 📨email [speaknahuatl@gmail.com] with the following:

1. Name of organization

2. Possible dates and times

3. Topic

4. Audience

5. Your budget

6. We will reply ASAP

📢 About us click here

- Providing engaging sessions since 2016

- Past events showcased here

📧 Contact us

- Email: speaknahuatl@gmail.com

- Please no DMs. Tlaskamati miak / Thank you very much!

These engagements are 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗘.

[bookwyrminspiration]

WE'RE SO FUCKING BACK !!

[the-decadence-system]

Tell me about your ship with 1-A! I can't find the tag on your blog, so you'll have to tell me from scratch! What's your self-insert's Quirk? Is it one big polycule? How did you decide to date the whole class?

I haven’t actually gotten a chance to lay everything out so uh yeah, Enjoy!

*The Basics*

Name: My name so you can call him Atzi

Age: 17

Quirk: Syren (pretends to only have gills and a tail)

~~ Quirk explanation: Similiar to shinsou’s ability he can he can command people although he does not need a response in order to do so. He quirk is more powerful when he sings and when singing he does not have to give direct commands as long as he keeps singing. If he stops singing the person under his quirk will remain doing the last command until completed

Mutation: Blue facial scaling, siren ears, a thick powerful tail only useful for swimming, and the inability to see clearly unless in water

Scaring: two claw marks over his nose from rough housing as a child as well as arm and hip scarring

Photo:

*Description*

A member of 1-A because he impressed Nedzu during the enterance exam, scoring very highly despite his lack of a strong quirk (or so everyone thinks), Atzi is the definition of strange. Very loyal to his best friend Tokoyami Fumikage, Atzi plans on becoming a hero in order to keep Tokoyami alive. He has no loyalty to heroism nor the school. His loyalty lays with Class 1-A and his Sensei(s) which is terrifying later

*The Beginning*

Atzi was born to two mutant parents in a mutant only community in mexico. He grew up speaking nahuatl spanish and in school english, Atzi has a natural talent for languages. He grew up as a girl that often roughhoused with family but faced fierce bullying in his mostly non mutant school and carries that pain to this day.

When he was twelve his parents were given a good job offer in Japan and they moved there. Atzi picked up the language quickly but prefers to speak anything else.

During an exploration of his new city he ventures to what most people call the mutant slums and meets Tokoyami Fumikage. They become close easily as neither were fond of humans and found someone that could understand them. The first day they exchanged phone numbers and kept in contact even as Tokoyami moved foster home to foster home.

One day during a walk together, Tokoyami confessed to wanting to be a hero, not for the fame and glory they explained to him, but to make enough money to never ever hurt again.

Atzi never really came to a conclusion about gender and never told his parents but switch to all masculine terms at thirteen and in most languages calls himself masculine.

On the same walk while discussing heroism, a member of the AML (anti mutant league) confronted them and attempted to kill them both. Atzi and Tokoyami responded by offing the man themselves and leaving him in an alley. He was never found. From then on Atzi and Fumikage used first names for one another

Joining 1-A together and working together whenever possible, Fumikage and Atzi plan to work as a hero duo until they have the money to retire

*The Class*

While Atzi is initially distrusting of the Class moving into the dorms becomes a sort of ice breaker. He starts joining them in bonding activities and by the end of the first year, he’s successfully manuavered the class into a relatiosnhip with one another (with Fumikage’s help of course). He’s dating them because he trust them and knows that together, they can stay safe

(In Atzi’s world the League has just met the PLF by the end of the first year)

*Other People*

Aizawa: Adores his gruff teacher and actually starts using something similar to Aizawa’s capture weapon, though thinner and more for swinging then capturing. Like Aizawa he fights quirkless though he uses his knives and is willing to kill with no hesitation

Hawks: Becuase Atzi followed Tokoyami to Hawks for an internship, he met the hero. Hawks is mildly terrified him though their instincts respond well to one another. The three of them have become something close to flock over six months which is how Atzi and Tokoyami meet the league

The LOV: During a fight with an A rank villain Fumikage gets hit and goes flying. It freaks Atzi out enough that he looses his shit and absolutely murders the villain with just his claws and teeth. Hawks freaks the fuck out because one of his kids is hurt and the other one just murdered someone and is completely unresponsive. He brings them to the only real safe place that he knows which happens to be the league’s base.

In this world Hawks has turned real traitor and is working to take the commission down from the inside. Neither of the kids know that but they di know that Hawks name is Takami Keigo and often call him takami-sensei when they’re all alone.

Anyways he brings the kids to his nest and keeps them there. When Atzi calms down enough to come back to reality he’s confused by not too bothered. It’s then that he reveals to Keigo his real motives for being a hero, to keep the people he loves and only those people alive.

When Dabi comes in (becuase it’s been nearly twelve hours of this) bringing food, Atzi is over Fumikage immediately, not threatening but a threat. Dabi quirks an eyebrow at Keigo says, “you didn’t even bother to tell your kids about your partners, really Kei? How we supposed to blend the families now?”

It takes time, but slowly over breaks and phone calls and occasional screaming matches, Atzi and Fumikage start siding more with the league and start working towards a non violent takeover.

Will it work? No one knows!

[chillingxy]

Trick or Treat! -@antimony-medusa

This is my dog Blade (Named after Technoblade, yes<3) and he was my best friend. He recently came to visit us from the afterlife and played with his siblings at home, had his favorite meal and made us company for a day. Let me tell you about día de los muertos or day of the death.

TLDR: One of many versions of the myth of day of the death, what it often means and why it's cool.

ALSO! I'm (unfortunately) not a historian. I just got mexica/aztec history, mythology and cosmovision as special interests of mine since my senior year or highschool so most of my knowledge is for classes, asking my teachers, studying for exams and researching on my own. There's a lot of myths and legends about this beautiful tradition and this is just the one I know, so if you're interested, please feel free to be curious and do the same!

Back when the Aztecs were the biggest empire in America, whenever a person died by natural causes, it was said their souls were going to travel to the Mictlán (Nahuatl for place of the death), which is similar to hell but not as such as Hell, since Mictlán is the death new home, rather than a punishment. And it too has 9 different levels with 9 different tests by the god mictlantecuhtli and his wife mictecacíhuatl (god and goddess of the place of the death, respectively) for the souls to reach eternal rest.

(This is the place where most people would go, but there's, if I remember correctly, around 3, maybe 4 afterlife places souls would go, but that's a ramble for another time.)

The very entrance of the Mictlán is a river that souls need to cross in order to get in. Here, xoloitzcuintles (xolotl means monster/weird thing and itzcuintle means dog, so literally translating it means weird dog or dog monster. As a fun fact, axolotl literally translates to water monster since it has -xolotl) would help them to get across, but only and ONLY IF souls, when alive, were kind to animals. Thus Aztecas having xoloitzcuintles as lower deities.

But the 9 trials were tough, and mictlantecuhtli didn't know what to do to motivate souls to get through all of them. So then he allowed for them to go back to the world two days a year. November 1st is the day for the children to go visit their parents and siblings. November 2nd is the adult's turn to go visit their families. Aztecs were pleased by this and started making their favorite dishes to help them recharge<3

Apparently, it was the people around 2019 who decided that it was pets' turn to come and visit us October 27th, and we all embraced it. A lot of people's first experience with grief was with pets, and I think they deserve the same treatment. Like with humans, a candle is lit to light their way home along with cempasuchil flowers to trace their path. They're all welcomed with their favorite meals, water, and in some cases toys or their favorite things when they were alive.

As a kid I never had a reason to celebrate día de muertos, but now I do. And rather than that being sad, I took the opportunities to reflect about life, death, afterlife and memories. As long as we remember them, they won't ever die. They'll always live with us, in our hearts and the happy memories we shared with them. Grief is the price to pay for loving in life, and I think every second of pain I've ever experienced, was worth the smiles my loved ones drew in my face when they could.

I encourage anyone of any nationality who feels curiosity to research and put together an ofrenda, share memories about your loved ones and remember how happy you were. Tysm for reading<3

[bethanythebogwitch]

OC Aztec Digimon

Another one of my digifake posts. See previous posts at moth and crab. I'm breaking tradition by making this one a vertebrate. All members of this line are virus-attribute.

The Rookie/Child level is Ocemon, a beast Digimon that lives in the jungle. While it has the size and appearance of a pet cat, Ocemon is a wild and unruly Digimon that will not tolerate being treated like a pet and is difficult for tamers to handle. it is a hunter who loves battle and sometimes challenges enemies out of its league. Its attacks are Kitten Claw, where it attacks with its claws, and Petite Predator, where it stealthily approaches its target from behind and leaps onto the target, attacking with claws and fangs.

Ocemon is based on an ocelot, a species of wild cat found in Mexico and Central and South America. I definitely took inspiration from Liollmon in this design and the two may be a related species.

Ocemon evolves to Jaguarmon. Jaguarmon is a violent and dangerous Digimon that is a master of jungle combat. It loves challenges and hunts and can switch between using stealth to attack or challenging its enemies in open combat. Jaguarmon is proud and refuses to submit to all but the most skilled and worthy of masters. It wears a necklace strung with the teeth of foes it found particularly challenging. Its moves are Istetl Iuan Tokuatlak (Nahuatl for claw and fang. Disclaimer that I am using an online translator for these names) where it savages it enemies with its powerful fangs and claws and Jaguar's Roar, where it unleashes a roar that paralyzes its foes with fright or even kills low-level Digimon.

Jaguarmon is based on jaguars, who were a big deal to the Aztecs. They were viewed as the mightiest of animals and avatars of the god Tezcatilpoca. The colorful attire Jaguarmon wears is inspired by Aztec clothing and art and the mask also kind of has a Luchador vide for a modern Mexico reference.

Jaguarmon evolves to WarJaguarmon. It is a powerful and dangerous Digimon that claims to be the mightiest warrior of the Digital World's jungles and has a body count to back up that claim. While it loves to fight, it has a code of honor and will give respects to those it believes to be a worthy foe. Its mighty weapon "Macuahuitl" is tipped with pieces of obsidian digizoid, allowing it to cut through most forms of armor and it breaths fireballs capable of melting rock into magma. Its attacks are Obsidian Blade, where it delivers a mighty blow with "Macuahitl", and Tletl (fire) Flame, where it spews forth a fireball.

WarJaguarmon is based on jaguar warriors, a class of elite warriors in aztec society along with the eagle warriors, collectively called cuāuhocēlōtl. Jaguar warriors dressed in attire that looked like jaguars, but WarJaguarmon doesn't really need that. The clothing it wears is based on an Aztec loincloth called a maxtlatl and the Digicode on the sash reads "ocelotl" which is as close as I could get to the Aztec word for "jaguar" as Digicode doesn't have accent marks. A macuahuitl is a common Mesoamerican weapon consisting of a club imbedded with obsidian blades. The snake design on it is based on this Aztec statue.

The final evolution is Huitzimon. It is feared and revered amongst jungle-dwellers as the "bloody god of the jungle" for it possesses and endless desire to fight and can command the power of the sun. Its combat prowess is such that it can rival members of the Royal Knights. While violent and bloodthirsty, it has a sense of honor and respects good fighters. Digimon who bring it the Digi-Cores of their defeated enemies will be rewarded for their courage and combat prowess. The snake that lives on its arm is named "Xiuhcoatl" and when in battle, it transforms into a mighty spear that both burns and poisons those it strikes. When under the light of the sun, Huitzimon sprouts flaming wings and gains the ability to fly. Its attacks are Serpent Spear Strike, where it impales its foes with "Xiuhcoatl" and Tonatiu Tlekiauitl (sunfire rain), where it spews forth stellar plasma that rains down on its foes.

Huitzimon continues the jaguar warrior inspiration while also being based on Huitzilopochtli, the god of war and the sun (though jaguar warriors were actually associated with Tezcatilpoca). There are several bird-like elements in this design such as the wings, bird skull helmet (which is a Hououmon's skull) and the hummingbird skull decoration on its clothing. Huitzilopochtli was associated with birds, particularly eagles and hummingbirds. A common symbol of Huitzilopochtli was an eagle perched on a cactus holding a snake in its claws, which is depicted on Huitzimon's shield. That same snake statue from WarJaguarmon is also on its shield. The blue mask it wears references Huitzilopochtli usually being depicted with blue skin. I tried out making Huitzimon blue and didn't like the way it looked, so I settled for the mask. The Digi-Code on its sash reads "sun god". Xiuhcoatl was a serpent either associated with or an alternate form of Huitzilopochtli and the god was depicted using a spear thrower in its shape. I exaggerated this into an actual spear largely because I think spears are cool and more characters should use them. I did include the snake-shaped spear thrower on Huitzimon's design as well. Huitzimon's habit of giving blessings to Digimon who offer it Digi-Cores is a reference to Aztec human sacrifices to Huitzilopochtli where hearts were removed from the sacrifices so their blood could empower the god. As I mentioned last time, I have a trio of OC evolution lines that fit into three trios: vaccine/virus/data, day/night/twilight, and fighter/mage/rogue. Huitzimon is the virus attribute, represents day, and is the fighter. My previous post had Nyxmon as the vaccine, night, and mage member.

Let me know what you think of these designs. I'm still not a great artist, but I am getting better and these were by far the most complex designs I've ever drawn. Both of the final two stages each took about as much time as the whole moth evolution line did.