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Mayahuel: the Goddess of the Agave

One of the most important missions at Dos Cuerpos is to understand the background of all our products, from who crafts them, why and how, but also the historical, social, and artistic aspects that our products have had. That's why we want to share the works of different arts that allude to the products we handle. This time, we share with you the legend of Mayahuel: the Goddess of the Agave.



Mayahuel was born in the celestial world, with bright eyes and cheeks as red as the tip of the needle that condemned Aurora. Her grandmother cradled her as a newborn, and in that moment, as an omen, she felt the weight of all her actions: her inexplicable strength scared her and her grandmother recommended that her destiny be kept away from the other gods. Thus, locked in her dream world, she jealously dreamt Segismundo's dreams. In her room, lined with mirrors, she talked to herself and, under the tutelage of her grandmother, doubted more and more her ability to escape. Her room was overwhelmed with beautiful plants that grew for decades, bringing her so much joy that she didn't even remember her confinement, but when night fell, she suffered the curse of not being able to share the joy the plants provided her.


Mayahuel proved to be a social child and possessed such intelligence that she would bring hidden truths to humanity. Even so, her grandmother didn't allow Mayahuel her freedom as humans tended to fall into irresponsible habits. Suddenly, a snake of beautiful colors approached her window, with feathers softer than those of a goose and more beautiful than those of a swan; they were joyful quetzal colors impossible to replicate. Like flying fish, it rose before Maya's astonishment, and in the high ceilings of her room, the mysterious creature flew. Quetzalcoatl regained his original form and with eyes as strong as those of a bull, faced Mayahuel, thus regaining the valor he had lost due to his prying grandmother. Together, they slipped away from her grandmother's care and crossed jungles turning into deserts, sierras, valleys, mountains, and valleys with more water than any sea. In their journey, they fell in love. At the same time, to their misfortune, Maya's brothers had set out to find their irresponsible and rebellious sister. Maya convinced her lover to transform into plants to avoid being recognized by her brothers. Maya became an incredibly beautiful plant, opening up to the five suns, the nine hells, and the seven heavens; blades of stemless leaves, rigid on the outside and soft on the inside, adorned with a crown of thorns encircling her green body. Her beauty doomed her, as it happened to Carmen Mondragón, for this is how her brothers recognized her and cruelly tore her apart. Quetzalcoatl regained his form and, unable to stop crying, he took every part of his beloved and tenderly planted her. This was the only sad night, where Quetzalcoatl wept and with his tears, gave life to Mayahuel's dried roots.


That's why it's said that to the lost and thirsty traveler, they shall be saved by the water from the body of this goddess.


Unfortunately, Maya couldn't regain her true form, but still, in each of her forms, she manages to give life. Where there's an agave, life thrives; bees, bats, butterflies, and warrior hummingbirds pollinate; humans use its fibers as sewing material, as fuel, for construction.




We hope you enjoyed this, and if you have any suggestions or comments, we're here to listen.


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