Gazing at the night sky can make you feel like a tiny speck of life in this mighty, expansive world. Just like the stars above hold mysteries to an unknown world beyond our wildest imagination, similarly taking a few steps back into the wonders of ancient civilization makes us ponder our modern-day life choices.
Our modern world is starkly different from the world that once existed in the time of ancient civilization. However, you may be surprised to know how our modern-day life continues to display the influence of cultures, traditions, ideas, and elements from 500 to 1000 years ago.
Tripartite cosmology, also known as triple cosmos, is one such concept from the ancient world that is as fascinating as it is mysterious. Mystics of the Maya’s Store is an online destination that brings this and other amazing ideas to life in lifestyle products such as hard-shell luggage, sneakers, yoga mats, and apparel. Set out on an enlightening journey with us as we explore the concept of tripartite cosmology and how it has influenced our modern-day lives.
Understanding The Tripartite World
Tripartite cosmology, sometimes referred to as triple cosmos, is an age-old concept found in many cultures around the world. The idea divides the universe into three interconnected levels: the Upper World, Middle World, and Underworld.
Let’s look at these three levels in greater detail.
Upper World
The Upper World is the uppermost level, signifying the heavens and the sky. It’s perceived as the level where the celestial beings, gods, and spirits reside. This world is seen as a place of light and purity, and its beings are often seen as having higher powers or keeping watch over the other worlds.
Middle World
The Middle World represents Earth, where human beings live, interact, and work, and signifies our present-day reality.
Underworld
This world is seen as a place below the earth, with many cultures associating it with the afterlife, death, and hidden knowledge. It often represents chaos and danger.
While each of these levels has its own unique qualities, it’s fascinating to observe how interconnected these worlds are, where the actions and events in one level can impact the others. In such a way, the triple cosmos creates a framework for understanding the connection and balance between tripartite theology and the material and spiritual worlds.
The Influence of the Triple Cosmos in Mesoamerican Culture
The Mayan and the Aztecs, two celebrated Mesoamerican cultures, deeply reflected the facets of the triple cosmos. Deeply embedded within this framework were the key spiritual beliefs and practices such as shamanism, animism, tonalism, and nahualism.
The Upper World consisted of heavens in layers of 13, home to powerful deities like the Sun God. Rituals were often performed to honor these celestial forces. Shamanism and animism are deeply tied to this level. Under animism, celestial bodies were seen as divine beings with wills of their own, while shamans or spiritual practitioners mediated between the human and spirit worlds.
At Mystics of the Maya, we embrace the symbolism and ideology surrounding these ancient cultures. Explore the fascinating patterns influenced by the shamanism beliefs in our hard-shell suitcases.
In Mesoamerican belief, the Middle World was seen as a stage for humans who had the task of maintaining a balance between the heavens and the Underworld through moral conduct, sacrifices, and rituals. Under tonalism, Mesoamerican peoples believed each person or animal is born with a tonal, a spirit or energy that connects them to the cosmos. The vivid patterns in our men’s zip hoodies range are designed to reflect these vibrant tonalistic beliefs.
In Mayan culture, the Underworld was called Xibalba and seen as a place for the souls of the dead. The Aztecs called the Underworld Mictlan, ruled by the god Mictlantecuhtli, where the souls underwent an arduous and dangerous journey necessary for rebirth. Through nahualism, some Mesoamerican cultures believed that a nahual (an individual who could take animal form) could traverse between the living world and the Underworld. We capture the essence of nahualism in the designs of our collection of high-top sneakers and other designer products.
In this way, the Mesoamerican belief systems stem from the interconnectedness of these worlds in the triple cosmos.
Significance of Tripartite Cosmology in Our Modern Lives
You may not realize it, but tripartite cosmology, or the triple cosmos, influences our lives in many ways.
Daily Metaphors
Just observe our day-to-day thinking, where you say ‘feeling low’ when you’re sad and aiming ‘high’ for goals and aspirations.
Art and Language
The triple cosmos also shapes how we express ourselves through art and language. Themes of ascension to the heavens or descending to transformation are integral to art, mythology, and literature.
Architecture
Tripartite cosmology is often represented in the design and structure of sacred spaces like temples and churches. Spires or towers pointing to the sky signify the Upper World, and burial sites reflect the Underworld.
Embrace the Power of the Tripartite World with Mystics of the Maya
You’ll now have a deeper understanding of how we embrace the influence of the triple cosmos or tripartite cosmology in our day-to-day modern lives. The connection with this cosmology goes deep and beyond literature and the study of human civilizations. That is why, at Mystics of the Maya, we want to bring this cultural influence to life.
We take daily lifestyle essentials like apparel, sneakers, luggage, yoga mats, and more and bring you the ultimate fusion of the ancient and modern world. Appreciate the motifs, symbols, and elements indigenous to these ancient but relevant cultures. Our Indigenous Mind concept further extends our connection with a world that’s unique and integral to our lives.
Explore our collection and gain a portal into Mesoamerican Shamanism, Animism, Nahualism, Tonalism, and tripartite cosmology that are still alive and relevant in today’s modern day and age.
Visit Mystics of the Maya store today.