30 May 2025 / 10 House
Lightning Force!
In (ancient) Mexico, thunder, lightning and rain - which often appear together - were linked to the same age-old deity; they also had strong connections with mountains (the ancient source of rain), and erupting volcanoes (which often trigger lightning).
Although lighting often announces life-giving rain, it can easily be seen too as a destructive force, linked to hail, fire and crop failure. Ancient stories tell of lightning shattering the mythical ’Food Mountain’ - allowing humans to get at the plants and sacred crops like maize inside.
In myths, lightning was sometimes linked to caves, seen as entrances to the underworld. Gods of lightning and rain were thought to live in caves...
The Aztec god of rain, thunder and lightning, Tlaloc, was and is the best known deity from ancient Mexico. The Maya version was called Chac. You can see Tlaloc here holding a lightning serpent or fire snake in his right hand...
Aztec rain sticks were always snake-shaped, and lightning was often linked to serpents (think of the shape of fork lightning as it flashes down to earth!). In this famous codex page you can see the very old Lord of Fire and Time at the centre of the four corners of the earth...
In ancient Mexico where you went in the afterlife was decided by how you died. Here is Tlalocan, a paradise reserved for those who died in floods - or in lightning strikes. Mind you, it was one of the best places to go: May the Force be with You...!