Taap neæs: Four directions

Size: 130x200cm; 4.2x6.5ft

Weaver: Clemente Mendoza Antonio

Materials ans methods: criollo sheep wool hand dyed with colorfast aniline dyes using an exhaustive method. Handwoven on a Zapotec style loom of the 16th century adapted from European styles. Woven using a 7 threads per inch reed. 

Design patterns and symbols. 

The Quincunce, the cross of five points that is used to represent our axis mundi, is an ancient symbol reminds us that life is expanding in all four directions, each direction has its own character and nature. Our ancient calendar reflected this nature giving each day a different direction. I read an astronomer speculate about this idea being a reflection of the magnetic effects of the sun on earth. We know that the sun's ecuator rotates faster than the north and south poles which creates a four different magnetic fields on the sun's plasma. This causes a different imprint of solar radiation on earth, so in practical terms one could consider that the sun has four "magnetic poles" and this dance of  four magnetic poles affects life on earth  in subtle ways, and maybe why each day was assigned to a different direction in our ancestral calendar in the Anawak (phonetic spelling) civilization. Each day would be read with an astrological interpretation to predict events or decide which activites were more suitable to doing or not doing. 

The key to life is to balance these pull in the four directions and move on the fifth direction which is the up/down: construction or deconstruction as necessary. Embrace chance and don't be afraid to build a life that is repectful of the energy flows and balances to maintain life's support systems. Don't be affraid to deconstruct whatever doesn't keep the delicate balance of life. For intstance, our current production and consumption system needs a reality check as we face the issues of climate chaos, ocean acidification, biodiversity loss and a huge inequality of weatlh and community support for human beings. 

The flowered path refers to the ancient way of life that seeks the bloosoming of the human spirit, to live life like a masterful piece of art in harmony with heaven and earth. This knowledge is known as Toltecayotl and has survived in the way of life of native communities scattered around Cem Anahuac (American Continent). The spiky Diamond patterns is referred to as the eye of Quetzalcoatl, a state in which we are elvating our spirit while keeping our feet on the ground, a way of perception that uses logic, language, mathematics and music but also intuitions, dream, poetry and art. A diamond whitin a diamond represents the expansion of our awareness of the mysteries of life and death, the life cycle patterns surrounding the eye of Quetzalcoatl (Beæl guie'a) represents the many life journeys that our spirit might need to find its way to to totality of awareness, each spirit is different and each life cycle is unique but at the end we will come to see the same light and have gone to the same darkness hence the choice of colors for the life cycle symbol.