top of page
Writer's pictureMidnight Starr

Olmec Paganism Episode


By Alfonsobouchot - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10619928


What it's All About:

The Olmecs, an ancient civilization in Mexico, practiced a complex form of paganism that involved the worship of many gods and goddesses, including the revered Maize God and Feathered Serpent. They adhered to a dualistic cosmology and maintained balance through their religious practices. These practices included rituals that involved bloodletting and human sacrifice. These fascinating beliefs and practices of the Olmec civilization are what we'll delve into on this podcast.


Songs Featured:

Spirit Guide Background Music by SweetBeats808s from Pixabay

Dream Symbol Background Music by KishoreGurram from Pixabay

Myth Background Music by melodyayresgriffiths from Pixabay


Links Mentioned:

Get in Touch Through Social Media:


 

Please note that there are affiliate links to the Nature's Healthbox and Psychic Tree in this blog. If you click on any of these links, I will receive an affiliate commission at no cost to you, which will help keep this show going.



Alternatively, if you are reading this blog on your mobile device and are having trouble signing up for the newsletter above, you can tap here.


Become a Paid Subscriber:



 

Affiliates:




 

Crowdfunding:



 

Spirit Guide of the Week:


By user:Maunus - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1046244

Werejaguar


Dream Symbol: (There are three)


Photo by Laura Ockel on Unsplash

Valentine


Abuse



Accent


Transcript:

(05:27)

Welcome back to the Music From the Goddess’ Vault Podcast! I’m your host, Midnight Starr, and I’m thrilled to be here with you today. I’ve got a successful show lined up for you, starting with the hauntingly beautiful track The Omen by Two Witches. The topic of today’s show is all about Olmec Paganism. First, some stuff to get out of the way. The Red Album, created by the Abortion Access Pagan Music Project, is set to be released this summer after successfully raising 12 thousand dollars. Although they have met their goal, you can still make a difference by contributing to this meaningful cause. All the proceeds will support charities that strive to improve women's reproductive health. If you'd like to donate, please check the GoFundMe page linked in the show notes. Now, the organizers are now looking for sponsors for each of the songs on the album. Learn more about this by going to The Red Album Facebook page or https://pagansong.com. Are you a Canadian Pagan musician trying to get your music out there? Contact me! There's a shortage of Canadian Pagan music, and I need more. I'm looking forward to discovering you and your band and hearing some of your great songs! By having your tunes played on the Music From the Goddess' Vault Podcast, you'll gain many new fans and increase your exposure. If you're a Pagan musician who's not Canadian, don't worry, I'll still play your music on this podcast if you get in touch with me. If you enjoy the Music From the Goddess' Vault podcast, consider supporting it by donating at http://www.ko-fi.com/goddessvault or http://www.patreon.com/goddessvault. Your contributions will help us keep the show running and create more content for you to enjoy. Stay up to date with Music From the Goddess’ Vault Podcast by subscribing to the newsletter. Get notified when new shows are available. Access past episodes for a fee of $7 a month or $70 a year. Subscribe for free at http://musicgoddessvault.substack.com. If you have a suggestion for a show topic, spirit guide or dream symbol, you can reach me on my blog or on social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Mastodon, and Pixedfed. Let's dive into the fascinating world of Olmec Paganism. The Olmec civilization of ancient Mexico had a complex religious system and worshiped many gods and goddesses. Their cosmology was dualistic and involved maintaining balance through their religious practices. This podcast will delve into their intriguing beliefs and practices. Now, it's time to enjoy some more music. I'm eager to play for you a wonderful song called Selu by Michelle Mays. Sit back, relax, and let the beautiful melody and lyrics of this song take you on a journey.


(16:12)

The Olmec civilization remains shrouded in mystery, as it existed from 1200 BC to 400 BC in what is now Mexico near the Gulf of Mexico. For years, archaeologists have been studying this civilization, attempting to reconstruct their history and comprehend their way of life. Despite research, many questions about the Olmec civilization remain unanswered, leaving a sense of awe at their complexity. They were the ancestors of the Maya and Aztec civilizations and were really good at farming, which was a huge part of their success. They knew how to cultivate an array of crops, including corn, palm nuts, and beans, which provided them with a steady supply of food. This allowed them to thrive and establish thriving societies. Moreover, the Olmec civilization held a profound admiration for chocolate, which was deemed a valuable commodity. They also had a talent for fishing, which helped them to supplement their diets and provided them with another source of sustenance. Overall, the Olmec were resourceful, proficient, and innovative people who were able to thrive in a challenging environment. The Olmec people, whose name means rubber people, were known for their love of ball games and their advanced civilization. They lived in cities long before the Spanish Conquest in the 16th century, but the details of their early settlements remain a mystery to archaeologists and historians. These resourceful and innovative people were able to thrive in a challenging environment, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to fascinate us today. In the upcoming segment, I will be discussing the fascinating topic of Olmec religion. Let's take a break from the chatter and enjoy some music. Up next is Corn Yairds by Eurtan.


(22:54)

Time for another Spirit Guide of the Week. I am eager to share with you today about one of the primary deities of the Olmec civilization, the were-jaguar. There isn't a lot of information about this god because the Olmec didn't write anything down. Scholars and archaeologists are still arguing about it today. However, the were-jaguar played a significant role in Olmec religion and mythology. It might be connected to a tale about the mating of a jaguar and a woman. The were-jaguar was often depicted as a human with jaguar-like features or a jaguar with human-like features. This hybrid creature was believed to possess great power, strength, and agility, which made it a symbol of divinity and the supernatural. In 1965, a major Olmec-oriented exhibition was entitled The Jaguar's Children, referring to the were-jaguar as “the divine power of the Olmec civilization.” This exhibition showcased many Olmec artifacts, including sculptures and figurines of the were-jaguar. The significance of the were-jaguar in Olmec mythology and religion cannot be overstated. The were-jaguar was a symbol of power, divinity, and the supernatural. The were-jaguar had immense significance in the mythology and religion of the Olmec civilization. That is it for now. Stay tuned for another spirit guide of the week.

(30:17)

The Olmec civilization had a rich and complex religious system, with a deep reverence for nature and the natural world. They believed that these three realms were intimately linked. They believed that caves were portals to the underworld, and that by entering them, they could communicate with their ancestors and the spirits that dwelled there. This belief was a defining aspect of Olmec religion and played a major role in shaping their culture and way of life. The Olmec civilization's religious beliefs were polytheistic, with their gods representing various aspects of the natural world, such as rain, earth, and maize. However, they also referred to their gods by numbers on occasions, such as the rain god six. Additionally, they worshiped animal deities, including eagles, snakes, sharks, and other creatures. Like many ancient religions, the Olmec also blended animal and human forms in their deities, as seen in the example of the were-jaguar. This mix of the natural and spiritual realms was a fundamental aspect of their religious beliefs, which played a significant role in their daily lives and cultural practices. The Olmec religious practices involved a variety of rituals and ceremonies, including pilgrimages to sacred sites, offerings of food, drink, and other items, cave rituals, and the construction of pyramids. They also played a ball game that was part of their religious practices, as well as using mirrors for divination purposes. However, perhaps the most notorious aspect of Olmec religion was their practice of human sacrifices. While the exact reasons for this practice are not fully understood, it is believed that it was done to appease the gods and ensure the continued fertility of the land. If you want to learn more, unfortunately, there is limited information available on the web regarding this ancient Mesoamerican civilization. Now, let's dive into another song for this podcast. How about we give Mama Gina's The Eagle and the Owl a listen?

(35:40)

Here's another dream symbol to interpret. Here are the three: Valentine, Abuse, and Accent. Dreaming about sending Valentine cards may signify a desire to express more love and affection towards others. If you dream of receiving a Valentine card, it can represent your personality, kindness, and ability to connect with others on a deeper level. To dream of a box of Valentine's chocolates can indicate the possibility of an old flame reentering your life. Abusing someone in a dream can indicate that you may face consequences for previous actions. Dreaming of yourself being verbally or physically abused may indicate that you feel like a victim in your waking life. Animals being abused in dreams may indicate suppressed primal desires which can lead to negative consequences in real life. Dreaming about hearing someone speak with an accent symbolizes a sense of familiarity mixed with novelty. Dreaming that you are speaking with an accent could indicate that you are struggling to express your ideas clearly. If you dream that your accent sets you apart in a good way, it could indicate that you exude confidence. And If you dream that your accent is causing you to be noticed in a negative light, then it could indicate that you are experiencing some insecurity. If you want a dream symbol to interpret and maybe have a dream symbol featured, I will mention the contact information at the end of this show. So keep dreaming.

(42:19)

Time for another myth.The Quest of Cleverness is a captivating tale from Brazil that takes you on a journey of adventure and intrigue. Join us as we delve into this exciting story from worldoftales.com and get lost in a world of wonder.


(47:51)

Before the story you heard Acceptance by Jenna Greene. Just a reminder, if you're interested in contributing to the Red Album project I mentioned earlier, they've already raised $12,000 to produce the album. But you can still donate to the Abortion Access Pagan Music Project GoFundMe page linked in the show notes. They are currently looking for sponsors for each song on the album. Get more details about this project by checking out The Red Album Facebook page or visiting https://pagansong.com. Got an idea for a show topic, spirit guide or dream symbol? Share it on the website https://goddessvault1.wixsite.com/home and on social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Mastodon, and Pixelfed. If you’re a Canadian Pagan musician, I'd love to hear from you. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me! I can't wait to discover and play more Canadian pagan music! If you want to help keep this show going, you can donate money to either https://www.ko-fi.com/goddessvault, or https://www.patreon.com/goddessvault, If you want to be the first to hear the latest episode, you can sign up for the newsletter, https://musicgoddessvault.substack.com.As the finale song of this episode, I present to you, Honor to the Untamed God by Starhawk and Reclaiming. Blessed be.

9 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page