According to the Mayan worldview, nahuales (nah WALL es) represent one’s vital energy that protect and guide each person throughout their life, represented by a spirit animal, stone, metal, number, color, and other unique information. Assigned to each person according to the day of their birth and determined by the Mayan calendar, nahuales influence the personality, destiny, and mission of the person born on that day. They are highly personal, but also represent the essence of the Mayan people and their culture collectively.

Our artisan Angelina selected the nahual Tijax as the theme for her hand-beaded artwork that is part of our Beading Wonders Collection. Tijax is symbolized as a double-edged obsidian sword—having both positive and negative qualities. The slice of the blade is thought of as a separation from physical, mental, psychic, and spiritual suffering that can lead to healing. This nahual energy seeks to create balance, can be a source for total spiritual liberation, and represents the enlightenment of human beings. Individuals born under Tijax are rational but also imaginative. They are successful negotiators and natural leaders, and will thrive in careers that allow them to develop these strengths.

The glyph: Each nahual is represented by a glyph. For Tijax’s glyph, seen on the lower right side of the artwork, the image in the center represents the slice of the knife (black lines) that separate two pyramids. This is another image that symbolizes cutting through negativity to result in healing.

The animal: The toucan (túcan) designed as the focal point of this artwork, with its bold presence, represents the connection to the spiritual world and the ability to see beyond the obvious. It is seen as a guardian that protects and guides people born under Tijax, helping them to find balance and harmony. In addition, the toucan is a symbol of communication and clarity—important qualities for those seeking healing and harmony on both physical and spiritual levels.

 The stone: Black, volcanic obsidian is the stone of Tijax, represented by the color of the glyph in this piece. Obsidian played a fundamental role in Mayan worldview and culture, and has both spiritual and practical value. To the Maya, it was believed to be a gift from the god Xibalba (SHEE-bahl-bah) containing mystical and protective properties. Obsidian was associated with darkness and the underworld, which made it an important material for certain Indigenous Mayan religious ceremonies.

Its hardness and its ability to fracture into extremely sharp edges made it ideal for tools, weapons, and utensils. It was commonly used for knives and arrowheads, and for tools used to perform surgeries.

The colors: The colors of Tijax are white, yellow and red. Combined with obsidian black, these four colors represent the four cardinal points—east (yellow), west (black), north (red), and south (white)—which are important in Mayan celebrations and ceremonies. Mayan ceremonies begin by showing respect to nature, which they did by asking permission of spirits of the earth and heavens to lead the ceremony. Candles are placed corresponding to the four cardinal points, and each direction exerts a distinct energy, which sets the stage for the day. 

The artisan: A Friendship Bridge client since 2009, Angelina, a Maya Kakchiquel woman from Sololá, only received a second grade education. Her mother was a housewife and her father worked in agriculture, but abuse and alcoholism was prevalent in her family. She learned artisan techniques as a girl by watching other women artisans in her community, and by the time she was 14, she knew how to make backpacks, necklaces, and bracelets. At 18, she married and moved in with her in-laws, while she developed more artisan skills from her husband’s family members, including straw basket techniques and textile embroidery. Angelina and her husband dream of creating a better future for their three children, and providing their kids with the education they never had. 

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Beading Wonders is made possible through generous support from our donor, Elizabeth “Betty” Chambers Toguchi, Foster City, California. Handmade by Friendship Bridge® commissioned its Indigenous Mayan clients to create hand-beaded artwork that showcases their skills while also bringing to light a part of their ancestral culture that is often overlooked.