Claudia Santos, a 50-year-old woman from Mexico City, has embarked on a spiritual journey to reconnect with her pre-Hispanic heritage. Santos recently tattooed the symbol 'Ollin,' meaning 'movement' in the Nahuatl language, on her wrist as a representation of her identity and commitment to speaking for her ancestors' worldview.
In 2021, Santos co-founded an organization dedicated to raising awareness of the Mexica heritage in her community. Each year, she and members of Indigenous communities gather to honor Cuauhtémoc, the last emperor of Mexico-Tenochtitlan, in a ceremony held in the neighborhood of Tepito.
The ceremony takes place at a site with deep historical significance, where Cuauhtémoc once defended the territory against European conquerors. Despite the location now being a Catholic church, Santos and fellow Indigenous leaders are allowed to perform their rituals, which involve offerings of roses, fruit, seeds, and sculptures of pre-Hispanic figures.
Local residents, including Catholics, have joined the ceremonies, drawn by the sound of conch shells and the aroma of burning copal resin. Participants express feelings of peace, purification, and spiritual connection, with some seeking comfort and healing through the rituals.
The Mexica ceremony, known as 'tlalmanalli,' is viewed as an offering to Mother Earth, providing spiritual nourishment and medicinal benefits to all who participate. Santos, who underwent a spiritual transformation to embrace her Mexica heritage, now goes by the name 'Ollin Chalchiuhtlicue,' symbolizing the precious movement of water.
Through her spiritual journey, Santos aims to reclaim the dignity and essence of her Indigenous community, honoring the resistance and perseverance of Tepito. She sees her work as a form of resistance and a way to pass on the glory of their Motherland to future generations.
