Xolotl Huetzi (servant?) In Aztec mythology, lord of the evening star, twin brother of the god Quetzalcoatl. Though credited with animal-like Demonic qualities, Xolotl was also responsible for repeopling the earth after it had been depopulated. He went to the underworld and brought back a bone of a previous man.
As he was leaving, he was pursued by the god of the underworld (who was not at all pleased with his action), and he fell with the bone. It broke into unequal parts, but Xolotl took what he could of it and sprinkled it with his own blood. After four days a boy was born and after seven days a girl. He then raised the two on the milk of the thistle, and they became the first parents of mankind. Xolotl sometimes appeared as a dwarf or as a dog.
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow
Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante
Xolotl
Pronounced: Sho-Low-tul
In Meso-American cosmology, the assistance of a dog is required to reach the next realm. When someone dies, a spirit dog is expected to appear to lead the soul on the lengthy, arduous journey to the realm of death. Xolotl supervises that journey. A spirit of death, he is simultaneously man and dog, living and dead. Xolotl is a magical crossroads spirit who lives in many realms at once.
Xolotl is Quetzalcoatl’s alter ego; his shadow side or double. In Aztec terminology, Xolotl is Quetzalcoatl’s nahualli (“nagual”: sacred animal double and ally). Xolotl is Quetzalcoatl’s faithful, devoted companion, assistant, and guide. His name refers to the concept of twinship. Throughout the Americas, twins were simultaneously feared and respected—perceived as extremely dangerous but also sacred.
Xolotl is the evening star, a counterpart of Quetzalcoatl, the morning star. Every night, Xolotl pushes the sun into darkness and guides it on its journey through the Underworld. Xolotl accompanied Quetzalcoatl when he went to steal bones from Mictlan.
• Xolotl is the root word from which the modern word cholo (“gangster”) derives.
• Xolotl has dominion over ailments and physical disorders.
FAVOURED PEOPLE:
Twins
MANIFESTATION:
Xolotl may manifest as a man, a skeleton, a dog, or a man with a dog’s head. Whether man or dog, one ear is usually ragged, like a dog with sores or a constant ear infection. His face is deeply furrowed.
ATTRIBUTE:
A flint knife
PLANET:
Venus
ELEMENT
Fire
Creature:
His namesake, the Xoloitzcuintli breed of dog (also known as the Mexican Hairless) as well as creatures that undergo transformation and metamorphosis, like tadpoles to frogs and caterpillars to butterflies or snakes that shed their skin and appear renewed.
OFFERINGS:
Xolotl accepts contributions made on behalf of Xoloitzcuintli dogs (as for example Xoloitzcuintli Rescue).
SEE ALSO:
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by : Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.