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the third k'anche
cenote: memory & medicine
cenote: memory & medicine.
the living spirit of the waters
In the Mayan worldview, water is a keeper of ancestral memory.
The cenotes and underground rivers of the Yucatán are not just physical spaces—they are living archives of the past, sacred openings into Xibalba, the underworld, where the ancestors dwell and speak. In the Maya tradition water holds what is forgotten—but not lost.
When you enter water with intention, especially natural water, you invite visions, messages, and healing from what lies beneath your conscious self. “The water remembers what we have not yet healed.”
In this way, water becomes a mirror and a messenger . . . full of hidden depths.
what is a cenote?
A cenote (from the Maya word ts’onot, meaning “well” or “sacred well”) is a natural sinkhole formed when limestone bedrock collapses, revealing the underground rivers and aquifers of the Yucatán peninsula.
For the ancient Maya, cenotes were more than water sources—they were portals to Xibalba, the underworld, and sacred places of offering and ceremony. Here, fresh water met the deep earth, and the veil between worlds felt thin.
Some cenotes are open to the sky, ringed with lush jungle and echoing with bird calls. Others are caves or caverns, lit only by shafts of sunlight that pierce the darkness. Their waters can be startlingly clear, showing every stone and fish—or so deep they disappear into blue-black mystery.
To enter a cenote is to step into the earth’s memory, to be held in her cool embrace, and to feel the ancient pulse of water that has been flowing here since before the first cities rose.
cenote: memory & medicine.
what you will find in this k'anche space
May this next k'anche feel like floating in a crystal clear cave pool of the rain
“The cenote is the earth’s open eye,
where stone parts to reveal her hidden waters.
Here, the ancient rivers remember us,
and the doorway to the underworld waits.”
cenote tea.
waters of memory
To invite the stillness, depth, and renewal of the cenote into the body, opening the heart to release what no longer serves and receive new clarity
tea blend ingredients
this tea creates a magical color shift
Ingredients (per cup)
5–6 fresh blueberries – for the indigo depths of cenote water, antioxidant-rich, and full of life
1 tsp dried hibiscus petals – heart medicine, release of stored emotion
½ tsp dried lemongrass – purification and freshness, like rain in the jungle
a few fresh mint leaves – clarity and cooling breath
a slice of fresh lime – for brightness and the magical shift from blue to violet
honey (optional) – sweetness and blessing
Method:
Heat fresh water just to the edge of boiling.
In a heat-safe cup or teapot, place blueberries, hibiscus, and lemongrass.
Gently crush the blueberries with the back of a spoon to release their juice before pouring water.
Pour the hot water over the herbs and fruit. Let steep 5–7 minutes.
Add mint leaves in the final minute to preserve their bright aroma.
Squeeze in the lime juice—watch the deep blue shift to violet, like sunlight breaking into the cenote.
Sweeten with honey if desired.
ritual preparation
to bring you into a place of stillness
Hold your cup in both hands.
Say aloud:
“I drink the memory of the water. I carry its medicine within me.”
Sip slowly, imagining the cenote water flowing through you, clearing what no longer serves, and filling you with calm clarity. Enjoy this tea as often as you like while journeying through this altar space.
opening sacred space.
we welcome you into the cenote
You stand at the mouth of the cenote.
Vines hang like threads from the surface to the dark pool below.
The air is cool, heavy with silence.
This is not a place for answers—
this is a place for unspoken things.
The water glistens like obsidian.
You cannot see the bottom.
You don’t need to.
Because you are not here to swim—
you are here to dissolve.
To surrender the shape you’ve held
and remember the one waiting below.
Step in.
Not forward, but downward.
Into the echoing quiet.
Into the place where breath slows
and bones dream.
This is the moon beneath the moon.
This is where the grandmothers keep
what we’ve forgotten to feel.
Come, beloved.
The water remembers.
You are allowed to begin again.
invoking water spirits.
healing keepers of the rain
Now it is time to call in the spirits of the water, deep, still, mirrored, waiting, remembering.
To invoke the waters, read these words aloud.
Beloved Waters,
mothers of rivers, keepers of rain,
I call to you now.
From the deep veins of the earth,
from the womb of the cenote,
from the first tear ever shed—
come and be with me.
Wash my heart,
wash my memories,
wash my fears.
I honor you as the healer,
the listener,
the witness of all that has passed.
Flow around me,
flow through me,
flow within me—
so that I may remember,
so that I may be renewed,
so that I may carry your medicine into the world.
Waters of the West,
I welcome you.
Beneath the surface, the world is quiet.
Light filters down in silver ribbons, touching your face, your hands, your heart.
You float, weightless, knowing the water holds your secrets, and whispers them back as blessings.
vivify the glyph.
by drawing the glyph, you bring it to life
Here you will see the Mayan glyph for the Tzolkin day of Imix. Imix the crocodile is the glyph associated with creation, birth, and water. It is the same as the glyph for water, or ha in Yucatec Mayan.
Here on the Yucatan Peninsula, the cenotes are deeply connected to the energy of Ixchel, as she is the goddess of the storms and the cenotes are the pools of the rain. The cenotes run deep. Their caverns are filled with silky waters (ha) weaving their way beneath the land and bringing life to all of the living things, trees and plants, animals and people. Everything is sustained by the sacred waters of the cenotes.
And that water is alive.
In the following beautiful and powerful exercise, you are invited to come into alignment with the waters by drawing them into existence.
On the bottom of the glyph, you will see what look like swirling feet. These are called breath scrolls. Whenever you see them in Mayan art, they are showing you that whatever they are attached to is breathing.
Actually breathing.
Alive.
When you draw them, you bring the glyph to life.
And this glyph is the water.
you will need
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a clean sheet of paper
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a pencil, pen or paint
how to vivify the glyph
Remember, the word vivify is just a fancy word for give life to.
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Draw the image, leaving the breath scrolls (swirled feet) for last.
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When you draw the breath scrolls, do it with the intention of bringing the picture/glyph to life.
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Place the picture on your Ixchel altar or in another place that holds energy for you.
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Use the energy to bring water to life. You can place it under a cup of tea, a bowl of water, or any other place you want to vivify waters.
"The cenote remembers every drop of rain, every tear, every whispered prayer that has ever touched its waters. In its depths, the stories of the earth and sky are held in shimmering silence, waiting for those who dare to listen. To gaze into the cenote is to see not only your reflection, but the memory of all who came before you."
journal prompt.
the cenote remembers
When you stood at the cenote's edge in your meditation, you were shown memories—some yours, some from your ancestors, and some older than time.
This journal prompt will help you to process your experience during your guided meditation. Choose the questions you want to answer. There is no right or wrong here, just a flowing of your thoughts and an alignment of your heart.
Take a few minutes to answer the questions that call you.
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What memories rose most vividly for you?
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Which ones felt like treasures you want to keep? Why?
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Which memories felt heavy or ready to be released?
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How did it feel to give them back to the cenote?
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If the cenote could speak in words, what do you feel it said to you?
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Write the cenote's message to you in three lines.
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Describe a memory as if it were a stone dropped into the water.
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Finish this sentence: “the water carries my…”
When you finish, write the following words in your journal. As you write it, breathe it to the waters as a whisper.
“I trust the water to remember for me.”
the cenote remembers.
guided meditation
Preparation:
Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and place your hands over your heart. Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth, letting the air and your heartbeat guide you into stillness.
Begin:
Imagine the sound of water.
Not rushing, but almost still—echoing softly.
The hidden waters of a cenote, ancient and alive.
See yourself standing at its edge.
The air is cool, carrying the scent of limestone, moss, and deep earth.
This is no ordinary pool—it is the womb of the earth,
the keeper of memory, mystery, and time.
The cenote remembers every storm that ever passed,
every offering made,
every prayer whispered into its waters.
Step closer. The surface shimmers with light,
as if silver and turquoise threads weave beneath.
Kneel. Place your hands in the water.
It is cool, alive, listening.
The cenote begins to speak—not in words, but in visions.
Images rise in its ripples:
a moment from your childhood,
the face of someone you loved,
a place you once knew in another lifetime.
Let the memories come.
Some are yours.
Some belong to your ancestors.
Some are older than the stars.
Breathe them in.
Notice how each memory feels in your body.
Which ones are blessings?
Which ones are burdens?
Now the cenote asks you:
“What will you keep, and what will you return to me?”
Cup your hands in the water.
Hold the memories you wish to keep—they will stay with you,
woven into your spirit.
Release the rest into the cenote,
watching them sink into the depths,
knowing they will be dissolved,
transformed by the earth herself.
Stand. Feel the warmth of the sunlight filtering down,
touching your face even here in the shadows.
You hear the cenote whisper,
“I will always remember for you.
You do not need to carry it all.”
Step back from the water’s edge.
Take a deep breath.
When you are ready, open your eyes,
bringing with you the memory that nourishes your spirit.
limpia ceremony.
for cleansing with plants, incense, & living water
This traditional Mayan cleansing ritual is wonderful to do with a partner. Of course, you can also do it by yourself. This method was taught to me by my good friend Don Francisco who is a generational Mayan healer.
Remember, the waters are alive.
you will need
🌿A spring of fresh herb. You can choose one of the following or create a blend.
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basil
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rosemary
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rue (called ruda here on the Yucatan)
🌿A bowl of spring or natural water (bottled water is fine).
🌿Crystals to put in your bowl of water, especially anything blue or white.
🌿A white candle. We use a simple taper candle, but you can use any kind of candle you like.
🌿Incense. A few suggestions are listed here. But you can use whatever calls to you.
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copal (traditional for Maya healers)
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palo santo
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sandalwood
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sage
🌿A chair to sit on that you can place the incense beneath.
🌿A partner to work with you (optional)
prepare the space
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Place the chair in the middle of the room where you can safely put your incense beneath it.
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Fill your bowl with spring or natural water.
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Place your crystals in the bowl of water.
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Have your herb/herbs ready and sitting next to your bowl of water.
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Light your candle. (We use a simple taper candle and a small plate. If you choose to do it this way, light the candle and then drop some of the wax onto the plate. Place bottom end of the candle in the wax and hold it steady for a moment while the wax cools. This will attach your candle to the plate.
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Light your incense and place it under the chair so that the smoke rises up around the chair.
open space for the limpia
🌿If you are working with a partner, one of you will sit in the chair and the other will do the cleansing. If you are doing this by yourself, have a seat in the chair and have your bowl of water and herbs where you can easily reach them.
🌿Whomever is sitting in the chair can relax and focus on the sweet smelling incense wafting up around them.
🌿Whomever is performing the limpia can speak this blessing:
“To the East, to the North, to the West, and to the South I send my voice.
Hear me.
To you Heart of Sky, to you Heart of Earth and to the Center, I send my voice.
Hear me.
Bless the tools gathered here and my intention to remove anything that is hindering.
Yum botik" ("Yum botik" means "Thank you" in Yucatec Mayan)
perform the ritual
The person performing the ritual is invited to follow these steps. The person receiving the cleansing can simply relax and receive.
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Dip your fingers in the water bowl.
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Sprinkle the water on the herbs.
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Tap the herbs over the person receiving. Simply begin at the fingers of one hand and go up the arm, over the shoulders and head and down the other arm. You can also do the same with your lower body, beginning at the toes and going up one leg and then down the other.
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Continue tapping until you feel the energy change and it feels like you are finished.
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When you are finished, say thank you in Mayan, "Yum Botik," and blow out the candle. You can allow the incense to burn until it goes out.
breathing with the waters.
"stillness to know, echo to remember"
This breath practice honors the stillness of the cenote. Do this seated or standing, feet on the earth if possible. Imagine yourself in a cave cenote, stalactites hanging overhead, dripping water into the crystal clear pool beneath.
breath of stillness
Opening Invocation
"I enter the water that waits without moving.
I become the surface that mirrors the sky.
In stillness, all is remembered."
Practice
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Sit comfortably, hands resting gently on your lap.
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Inhale slowly through the nose for a count of 4, imagining cool water rising up inside you.
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Hold for 4, seeing the water’s surface smooth and perfect.
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Exhale softly through the nose for 4, releasing ripples into the air.
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Hold empty for 4, resting in the quiet between waves.
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Repeat for 8–12 rounds, letting your mind settle like silt to the bottom of the cenote.
Closing
"The water within me is calm.
The sky within me is clear.
I rise from the stillness, carrying its peace."
echo breath
Opening Invocation
"I send my voice into the deep.
The water carries my song,
and returns it with truth."
Practice
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Inhale deeply through the nose, filling belly, ribs, and chest.
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Exhale with a soft hum, sending your voice into the water’s depths.
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Feel the vibration in your chest and head, imagining sound waves moving through the cenote.
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Pause after each hum, listening for the echo.
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Continue for 5–7 minutes, letting each return carry a new feeling or message.
Closing
"The river has spoken.
Its song now lives in my chest.
I walk forward with the water’s voice in my heart."
You stand at the lip of the cenote, the air thick with the scent of rain.
The water below is still, black as obsidian, waiting.
Down here, time loosens its grip.
You feel the weight of what you have carried—names, stories, sorrows—
and you let them sink into the dark below.
cenote altar symbols.
for honoring Ixchel in connection to the Xibalba
Here you will be adding cenote symbols to your Ixchel altar.
This expands her from weaver and healer into the keeper of deep memory, the guardian of sacred waters, and the guide of death and rebirth. These additions call forth the cenote as a womb of the earth—still and dark, yet brimming with life—where the cycles of the feminine run as deep as the hidden rivers below.
These symbols bring stillness, reflection, and the quiet power of transformation.
Choose the ones that speak to you
Remember to feed your Ixchel altar
Place them around your existing altar from altar one to weave in the mystery of the underworld waters and the promise of emergence. Choose the ones that speak most deeply to you, allowing your altar to mirror the cenote’s depth and eternal flow.
choose your altar symbols
which ones are speaking to you?
small stones
Gathered respectfully (or purchased) to honor the walls and floor of the cenote, holding its grounded, ancient energy.
blue cloth
Draped beneath or around the altar items to evoke the depths and shimmering light of cenote waters.
tiny clay vessel or jar
A nod to offerings once placed in sacred waters; can be used to hold prayers or herbs.
shells
Symbolic of the water’s life and its connection to the cycles of time and rebirth. Also represents the ancient reef that lies beneath the surface of the cenotes.
vines or hanging greenery
Representing the plants that cling to cenote walls, bridging the worlds of earth and water.
obsidian stone or mirror
symbolizes the mystery of the cenote’s depths and the portal to the unseen.