Xolotl
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 Quetzalcoatlâs alter ego; his shadow side or double. In Aztec terminology, Xolotl is Quetzalcoatlâs nahualli (ânagualâ: sacred animal double and ally). Xolotl is Quetzalcoatlâs faithful, devoted companion, assistant, and guide. His name refers to the concept of twinship. Throughout the Americas, twins were simultaneously feared and respectedâperceived 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 (âgangsterâ) 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 dogâs 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 Š 2009 by Judika Illes.