Open to Interpretation
#xicalcoliuhqui
Game on...on the radio...Ohatani leads off with a homerun...Dodgers 1-Twins 0...Betts up...step fret triangle...steps, like steps, fret, a spiral, triangle, a triangle..xicalcoliuhqui...Aztec term..."twisted gourd"...Twins up...
✨️Dr. Kathryn Devereaux is an anthropologist and researcher whose work focuses on pan-Amerindian indigenous cosmologies, specifically tracing how ancient symbolic narratives and structural worldviews traveled across Mesoamerica and the American Southwest. [1]
Her research frequently bridges the conceptual frameworks of the Aztecs, Maya, and ancestral Puebloans to explore how these cultures viewed the boundaries between physical reality and spiritual realms. [1, 2]Core Concepts in Her Work
Devereaux's writings, featured on platforms like The Tinkuy blog, deconstruct several interconnected anthropological and psychological frameworks: [1]
• Liminal Realms: She analyzes how indigenous groups unified the visible world with invisible or "liminal" (transitional) spaces. In her research, geographical features like mountains, caves, and springs functioned as the structural axis mundi—the transitional highways connecting the earth, the underworld, and the cosmos. [1]The Aztec Connection: Devereaux connects these concepts to Tamoanchan, the mythical Aztec "Place of Mist" and the ultimate destiny of souls. She tracks how the Aztec worldview utilized symbols like the "Twisted Gourd" and the cosmic serpent to map out the transitional roads of light, rain, and spiritual travel. [1, 3]Hypnopompic States & Consciousness: Anthropological and psychological studies of consciousness frequently evaluate how liminal transitions mirror altered states of mind. Hypnopompic states (the fragile consciousness experienced while waking up) and dreamscapes are heavily studied alongside indigenous ritual practices, as both involve a blurring of boundaries where the subconscious and conscious minds overlap. [1, 2, 3]
Overview of Research Scope
To view some of her peer-reviewed osteological and anthropological data, you can check Dr. Kathryn Devereaux's ResearchGate profile. [1]
Core Element [1, 3, 4]
Manifestation in Devereaux's Research
Primary Theme
The pan-Amerindian worldview and the universal "Twisted Gourd" cosmology.
Geographic Scope
Originating in Peru (c. 2250 BCE) and spreading to the Maya, Aztecs, and American Southwest.
Liminal Symbols
Double-headed serpents, step-pyramids, and caves acting as doorways between planes.
Altered States
Analytical crossover between physical liminal spaces and subconscious transitions (dreaming, hypnopompia).
In his seminal book Sacred Geometry: Philosophy and Practice, symbologist Robert Lawlor explains that the Egyptian throne represents the archetype of gnomonic growth. In sacred geometry, a gnomon is a geometric structure added to a shape that alters its size but leaves its original proportions completely unchanged. YUMPU +2
Lawlor uses the iconic Throne of Osiris to illustrate how ancient Egyptian architects and initiates mathematically mapped cosmic expansion and the laws of life. Scribd +1
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The Symbolism of Osiris' Throne
In ancient Egyptian iconography, the Throne of Osiris is traditionally depicted as a square block topped by an L-shaped extension. Scribd +2
• The Base Square (Number 4): Represents physical manifestation, the material world, and solid foundational structure.The L-Shaped Gnomon (Number 5): Represents life, movement, and the creative dynamic spirit.
By placing the L-shaped gnomon onto the base, the number 4 transforms into 5, creating a larger version of the exact same geometric proportion. Lawlor argues that this is not just a chair, but a mathematical glyph symbolizing how the universe expands through self-similarity without losing its essential unity.
Proportional Continuity and Life
Lawlor connects this specific throne geometry directly to the concept of logarithmic spirals and biological creation. Amazon.com +2
• Growth by Accretion: True gnomonic growth means adding a new layer to an entity while retaining the original form, much like a growing nautilus shell or a sunflower head. Amazon.com +2
• The Golden Ratio (Φ): This specific throne configuration mirrors the mathematics of the Golden Proportion, which dictates how fractal patterns replicate in nature. Amazon.com +1
The Spiritual Lesson
To the ancient Egyptians, the Pharaoh or deity sitting upon this throne symbolized the divine human consciousness anchoring the material world. By occupying the center of the gnomon, the ruler becomes the conscious observer who stabilizes the geometric and spiritual expansion of the cosmos.
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Mathematical & Geometric Properties
• Stepped Fret Recursion: The glyph is characterized by a series of three or more right-angled steps attached to an interlocking spiral, volute, or hook. It often employs recursive symmetry where the same geometric unit repeats at different scales. [1, 2]Tessellation: The specific geometry allows it to seamlessly interlock with itself (figure-ground reversal), where the "negative" space of one fret forms the exact shape of the opposing fret. [1]Cosmological Logic: In indigenous Mesoamerican mathematics and astronomy, the motif encodes calendrical cycles and the squaring of the circle, representing spatial and temporal harmony. [1, 2]
Cultural & Historical Context
• Origins & Variations: While famous as an Aztec symbol (often emblazoned on war shields and temples), the stepped fret appears across Mesoamerica (Oaxaca, Maya, Teotihuacan) and resembles other global geometric meanders like the Greek Key. [1, 2, 3, 4]Symbolism: The S-scrolls and straight lines are heavily tied to the wind and rain deities (like Quetzalcoatl and Tlaloc), symbolizing the dynamic, never-ending journey of life and cyclical regeneration. [1, 2, 3]
Core Concepts Explained
• Robert Lawlor's Dream Philosophy: In Voices of the First Day, Lawlor explores "The Dreaming" (Dreamtime), describing it not as a passive state of sleep, but as a continuous, parallel dimension of reality. He details how indigenous cultures use transitional states of sleep to access deeper, transpersonal realms of ancestral memory and metaphysical insight. [1, 2, 3, 4]N1 Sleep Stage: In modern polysomnography, N1 represents the lightest stage of Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep. It acts as the physiological gateway between wakefulness and deep sleep. During N1, the brain transitions from alpha waves to theta waves, causing a person to drift in and out of conscious awareness.Hypnopompic State: This refers specifically to the state of consciousness leading out of sleep as you awaken. It is the opposite of the hypnagogic state (which occurs when falling asleep). The hypnopompic state is highly fertile ground for "dream yoga" and lucid dreaming practice, as the conscious mind wakes up while the brain is still processing vivid, illogical, or geometric imagery from the dream state. [1, 2]
How They Connect
In esoteric and transpersonal frameworks shared by authors like Lawlor, the hypnopompic transition during the N1 stage is viewed as a sacred bridge. Instead of letting this phase pass unconsciously, practitioners are encouraged to maintain a "witnessing awareness." This allows them to capture the fleeting, geometric, or archetypal impressions of the dream world before the rigid logic of waking consciousness takes over. [1, 2]
