(Early spring break sends a tidal wave of foreign tourists to the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula. These tourists are flying into Cancun and touring down the coastline, seeking the warmth of the sun, Mexican smiles, and Caribbean waters and beaches. What does paradise feel about the gringos who are arriving? Consider their message as being like the Caribbean waters of many shades of blue and green (one and the same color in ancient Maya language). Like the native Maya and Mexican people living here, the message and the waters are gentle and yielding, but very powerful.
This is an exclusive interview with someone who lives four hours drive from Cancun, in the southern part of the Yucatan peninsula. He is important to our study as he is living on the threshold of change in a still tranquil area of primordial paradise. Sixty million years have created this womb or “ombligo” navel of the Americas. Highways are now being built, hotels are springing up all around and real estate is becoming more desirable.
Eco-tourism is receiving much support from the Mexican government and other international investors in the areas of promotion, publicity, development, and public relations. Efforts are being made to protect the fragile ecology of this natural paradise by fostering visits from eco-travelers and eco-photographers, a current trend in international tourism.
Atzin finds himself living in the area of Laguna Bacalar, called the lagoon of seven colors by the Maya. Atzin’s name in Aztec means “venerable water.” He is a traditional folk healer and performs “temescal”, in English this is a cleansing, relaxing, and balancing sweat lodge (ancient natural indigenous sauna), at hotel Rancho Encantado, which also offers guests a magnificent Jacuzzi and massage area with full spa services. “Water” has words of wisdom for neighbors north of the Mexican / United States border.
Interview: Up close and personal with a man called Atzin, meaning “venerable water.”
Quote: “El hombre puede desarrollar la harmonía como generación.”
“Man can develop harmony as a generation.” Atzin, Quintana Roo
Translated to English by the interviewer Linda Thompson Greuling from Dallas,Texas
Interviewer: May I ask you some questions about this Laguna Bacalar and the people
here? I am Linda Thompson Greuling and am writing an article for my
people in Dallas, Texas in the U.S.A.
Atzin: Yes, of course.
Interviewer: I’ve been told your name is Atzin, which means “water”.
Atzin: That is correct. My name means water .
Interviewer: I feel many spirits on this land, especially in cabaña #3 here at Rancho
Encantado. Do you know anything about the history of this property and
of hotel Rancho Encantado?
Atzin: Rancho Encantado, as I understand, is on this property about fifteen years.
I have been in the area for eight years. The previous owner was a family
that came to the lagoon to enjoy leisure and holidays with their people.
From very long ago, yes there may be graves and thus spirits remaining
in the land.
Interviewer: You are not a native to Laguna Bacalar?
Atzin: No, I am from Michoacan.
Interviewer: What can you tell me about the people here?
Atzin: All that you see now at Rancho Encantado is imported. I was not here
before the owners, Ramon, Susana, and John. The traditional Mexican
and the Mexican people are good. But, the people are changing with the
destruction of their values. In general, Mexico is changing. Outsiders
from all over the world are arriving with a lot of money and power. Also,
the material is more important (than the spiritual).
Interviewer: What do you think of my country, the U.S.A.?
Atzin: The people are good. But the country appears one-sided and quarrelsome.
Not the people, but the nation is appearing bellicose or contentious
Interviewer: What message would you like me to give to my people for you?
Atzin: If you talk about God, you don’t have to talk about God, you have to
feel God. If you talk about love, you don’t have to talk about love, you
have to feel love.
Interviewer: What else would you like me to tell them?
Atzin: About weapons, man cannot secure peace through weapons, nor
through arms establish a place where our generations can live in peace.
Interviewer: Any more words of wisdom for the future?
Atzin: Man is more intelligent. He is able to develop harmony as a generation.
Interviewer: Thank you very much for your time and your sincerity, Atzin.
Atzin: No problem.