Tezcatlipoca
Tezcatlipoca :The Smoking Mirror; Lord of Magic
Tezcatlipoca means “Smoking Mirror.” He is a spirit of magic and chaos, an omniscient, all-knowing, all-powerful somewhat dangerous figure who sees everything in his obsidian mirror. Tezcatlipoca is a divine sorcerer. He is now most famous as the rival of his brother, Quetzalcoatl, the Plumed Serpent, whose fall from grace was maneuvered by Tezcatlipoca’s smoke and mirrors.
Christian missionaries perceived the tragic Quetzalcoatl as a Christ-figure. They identified his opponent Tezcatlipoca, the unrepentant sorcerer, as Satan. Much Aztec mythology was destroyed. In many of Tezcatlipoca’s surviving myths, he appears threatening and malevolent. It is unclear whether this was always the case or whether his malevolence was emphasized by storytellers.
Tezcatlipoca is Lord of the Crossroads. He presides over the ancient magical art of nahualism, the complex, intense soul relationship between people and animal allies, characterized by transformation. He is a very complex spirit: a destroyer and a creator. His relationship with Quetzalcoatl may be likened to that between Egyptian rival deities Set and Horus. They balance each other. Tezcatlipoca brings disaster but also good fortune, prosperity, and fertility. He is Quetzalcoatl’s partner in creation of this world.
Tezcatlipoca is the master of subterfuge; the ruler of illusion and sleight of hand, especially when these skills are needed for survival, not just for tricks.
ORIGIN:
Mexico
FAVOURED PEOPLE:
Shamans, magicians, witches, sorcerers, occultists, mirror gazers
MANIFESTATION:
Tezcatlipoca may be missing one foot. He may limp. He is a shape-shifter. Favoured forms include coyote, jaguar, monkey, owl, and skunk.
ATTRIBUTE:
Obsidian mirror
Consort:
Xochiquetzal
Time:
Night, especially midnight
ELEMENT
Water
Material:
Obsidian, black volcanic glass used to create ritual knives and magic mirrors
Bird:
Turkey
Creature:
Jaguar, his nahual
Constellation:
Ursa Major (What we see as a bear, the Aztecs understood as a jaguar.)
Flower:
Morning glories
SACRED SITES:
Tezcatlipoca favours the temescal, the traditional Aztec bathhouse. He lives within the Earth’s core in a mirrored realm inhabited by jaguars.
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.
