Morning Ritual by Hector “Puma” Garcia Yolchimalli
I pray this message finds you in a space of peace and balance.
The past few weeks have carried their share of trials, the kind that test the spirit and call us to deepen our practice. Yet, even in the midst of these challenges, my morning rituals have remained my sanctuary–a sacred rhythm that keeps me anchored to the Earth, to the Divine, a way to find balance and peace. A constant prayer, a deep intention I hold, is to further connect with Earth spirituality, to build a solid foundation for embodying the spiritual in every facet of my life.
Each morning, as the first light of dawn touches the horizon, I rise with purpose. At precisely 6:00 AM, I step outside, allowing the cool breath of the morning to embrace me. The Earth beneath my feet, the sky stretching infinitely above, remind me that I am part of something vast, something eternal. After my walk, I return to tend the sacred fire—a practice that has become a bridge between the seen and unseen. I light my charcoal and place it within my tlemaitl (Popoxcomitl). As the charcoal glows red hot, a quiet ember transforms into a gateway of prayer. When I add the copal resin, the sacred smoke rises—an offering, a calling, an awakening. The fragrance envelops me, shifting my consciousness, opening my heart, aligning my spirit with the unseen forces that guide us. It is in this moment that I step into communion—with Creator, with Mother Earth, with the four sacred directions.
With each breath, I offer my gratitude: for this new day, for the lessons it carries, for the opportunity to walk this path with reverence. And then, I speak my morning prayer—a prayer that rises like the smoke, weaving itself into the fabric of the universe:
"Creator, Great Grandfather, Great Grandmother, it is I, Hector Puma Garcia Yolchimalli, who humbly comes before you. With an open heart, I send forth this prayer—may you guide us, may you awaken the wisdom within us so that we may first understand ourselves. And with this understanding, may we hold space for those who are lost, for those who are burdened by sorrow, and even for those whose hearts are hardened by hatred. Let this wisdom be a light, an ember that ignites the remembrance of our sacred connection to Mother Earth and all her beauty—to the fire, the waters, the winds, the mountains, and the beating heart of the land. I send forth this prayer to stir the ancient voice within us, calling us back to the sacred, calling us home."
As the final words leave my lips, something shifts. The air feels lighter, my spirit steadier, my heart attuned to the quiet knowing that I am held, that I am exactly where I need to be. I carry this presence with me throughout the day, a reminder that even amidst the weight of life’s trials, there is always a path back to balance, always a way to reconnect.
May we all remember. May we all listen. May we all return to the sacred within and around us.
With reverence,
Hector El Puma
https://www.spiritofthepuma.com
