Toxic might. Toxic virtue

[Image 1]

Toxic might. Toxic virtue. Wolves in sheep's clothing.

I've recently been exploring through art, writing, and anthropological research the importance of corn in the Mesoamerican traditions, specifically the Aztecs. As most are aware, corn or maize was the staple crop that provided sustenance in many forms to these ancient civilizations, and even many modern American cultures. One thing that has been present throughout this study are the ways corn symbolically represents the expression of power both in the ancient world and in our modern world.

To be more specific, corn, as a political and economic symbol, represents the very real tug of war, in both the ancient and modern world, between the toxic might of tyranny and the toxic virtue of oppression, the controlled giving and taking by those in positions of power; that age-old greedy power play that is currently suffocating our political and economic systems.

The Aztecan characters on the right are taken from the Sahagún’s Florentine Codex (book 6) recounting a terrible famine. My interpretation of the male priest clothed in Chicomecoatl, the female goddess of corn's, garb (below), represents the wolf in sheep's clothing and the assumption of or appropriation of power, to own nature's creative energy through the control of our most precious commodities and resources. Not only is he wearing the garb of the feminine, nature's free expression of giving, but the priest is assuming the roll of a god, the creator, the giver, yet he is a mere mortal who only desires to acquire such power. The assumption of a power that is not his, in order to wield a power that is also not his, is very telling.

[Image 2]

The golden hands and arms represent the ironic power struggle of toxic might and toxic virtue juxtaposed to one another and the monetary gain from abusing power and control at either end. The priest is standing on, and almost crushing, the trade routes, assuming the role of both giver and planter of seeds, while virtually ignoring the crushing of what yields the greater sustenance.

This is how I see our current failing political system. The priest represents the many power agendas clothed in the colorful and distracting garb of self-appointed and self-perpetuated power. This gives the illusion of justice, but underneath the costume is no true representation of the power assumed.

On the right hand there is the toxic might, so self-assured, so arrogant, so oblivious to its own rotting character. Certainly, there are times when might produces positive results, yet it is blind to see how might alone undermines the virtue of it's people.

However, like the wolf in sheep's clothing, the left hand illustrates toxic virtue, an almost greater flaw, for it touts it's generosity, it's abundance, it's favor, while the economy dies, homelessness mounts, and a greater divide between the left hand and the right grows ever wider as both sides point the finger of blame without taking any responsibility for their share in the famine.

I still have hope that the people of our country will open their eyes and pay greater attention, not to their favorite news outlets that tell them what they want to hear or their favored political teams that offer a sense of moralistic higher ground, but to what is really going on, the story within the story.

We are in a famine of kindness, of love, and of seeing the good in ourselves, our country, and in each other. The famine is the result of toxic might and toxic virtue, and worshiping mortals dressed in a multitude of gods' and goddess' proverbial clothing. I believe when the famine becomes too great to bear, the people will rally together and break the cycles of toxic might and toxic virtue.

When we correct that and start to plant true seeds of abundance, respect, self-confidence, and liberty for all, the famine will end and we will once again be worthy of the constitutional standard many millions upon millions have given their lives to preserve and protect so that we may eat a generous portion of what we do not deserve, but by the grace of the gods, both that of nature and that of the heavens, we will receive our sustenance in abundance.

[Image 1] Pic 13: Veintena of Ochpaniztli, Codex Borbonicus. Photo courtesy of mexicolore.co.uk
[Image 2] Original artwork, Thalia Black, “Toxic Might. Toxic Virtue,” representing the corn god, Chicomecoatl controlling the harvest.