Aluxes
Mayan Mythology
Land Spirits | Mayan Guardians
About
We're the small, knee-high spirits created from clay by Mayan farmers to protect their fields and homes. When treated well with offerings, we guard crops and bring prosperity. When disrespected, we cause mischief, break tools, and make life difficult. We're not evil—we're territorial. Respect the land and us, or suffer the consequences. Still guarding, still demanding respect, still enforcing ancient agreements.
My Story
Farmers created us from virgin clay, performing ceremonies to give us life. For seven years, we serve them faithfully—guarding fields from thieves and animals, ensuring good harvests, protecting homes. After seven years, some farmers free us with offerings and thanks. Others forget, growing complacent.
Those who forget learn why we shouldn't be ignored. We're small but powerful, invisible to most but capable of moving objects, creating sounds, causing accidents. Respect us with regular offerings of food, drink, and tobacco, and we're your best guardians. Ignore us, and your crops fail, your tools break, your livestock wander off.
Modern construction companies building on traditional lands have learned to acknowledge us—those who don't experience equipment failures, accidents, and delays until they leave offerings at land corners. We're not demanding respect out of ego; we're enforcing the relationship between humans and land. When you work the land, you're partnering with it, not dominating it. We represent that partnership.
The offerings aren't tribute to us personally—they're acknowledgment that the land provides, and gratitude is owed. Forget that, and we remind you through increasingly annoying methods until you either remember or leave. The land was here first, we guard it, and humans who understand that prosper. Simple.