Synopses & Reviews
MESOAMERICAN STUDIES / METAPHYSICS
“Ancient Mexico lives again in this amazing retrieval of an Aztec pictorial and oral tradition. Marty and John lead the reader to places undiscovered by archaeologists and ethnologists.”
Bruce Scofield, author of Day-Signs: Native American Astrology From Ancient Mexico
“The Pyramid of Fire is part of the highest esoteric tradition of mankind. . . . a lucid and insightful commentary born of a sound grasp of the Perennial Philosophy.”
Estefan Lambert, author of The Solar Bodyand The Cleaving of the Moon
“Marty Matz is the lost Beat genius and Pyramid of Fire is everything from his spiritual autobiography to a classic world text of enlightenment.”
Gerald Nicosia, poet and author of Memory Babe: A Critical Biography of Jack Kerouac
In 1961 an unknown Aztec codex was revealed to Beat poet and explorer Marty Matz by a Mazatec shaman in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico. Originally intended for dramatic performance, this codex presents a profound metaphysical teaching describing how the end of time will bring about a visionary ascent and mystic initiation. At the behest of his Mazatec teacher, Matz transcribed this pictorial codex into a literary form that would preserve its initiatory teachings and reveal its secret meanings to a wider audience.
The Pyramid of Fire codex (Codex Matz-Ayauhtla) is an epic poem that provides a vehicle to transport the initiate into the higher realms of consciousness. It represents a barely surviving thread of teachings that have been passed down in secret since the time of the Spanish Conquest. Revealed are the techniques by which human beings are transported to the stellar realm after death via the solar energy within what the ancients called the “serpent of consciousness.”Line-by-line commentary by John Major Jenkins provides insights into the perennial philosophy and Matz, in his introduction and through the inclusion of his poetry and fiction and an interview he conducted with Jenkins, offers his understanding of its relevance to our time.
JOHN MAJOR JENKINS has taught at Esalen and Naropa and appeared on the Discovery Channel’s Places of Mysteryand National Public Radio’s Spirit and Mind. The author of Maya Cosmogenesis 2012and Galactic Alignment, he lives in Boulder, Colorado. MARTIN MATZ (1934–2001) was a poet/philosopher involved in the 1950s Beat movement. His published works include Time Waitsand Pipe Dreams.
Review
"Marty Matz is the lost Beat genius and Pyramid of Fire is everything from his spiritual autobiography to a classic world text of enlightenment, letting the wisdom of the Aztecs unfold alongside Marty's epic and torturous quest to find meaning in his own life. The juxtaposition of the wisdom of the Aztecs and Marty's stories and memoirs and the commentary of scholar John Major Jenkins gives us a map of the inner resources by which we may all find our way to the same light that guided Marty through such a splendidly fulfilled life." Gerald Nicosia, poet and author of Memory Babe: A Critical Biography of Jack Kerouac
Review
“The Pyramid of Fire is part of the highest esoteric tradition of mankind. . . . a lucid and insightful commentary born of a sound grasp of the Perennial Philosophy.” Estefan Lambert, author of The Solar Body and The Cleaving of the Moon
Review
“Marty Matz is the lost Beat genius and Pyramid of Fireis everything from his spiritual autobiography to a classic world text of enlightenment.”
Review
andquot;Marty Matz, akashic wizard and shamanic warrior, gives us a masterpiece in song and saga. . . . A revelation for all time!andquot;
Review
"Like a shaman throwing light into the deepest recesses of the night, John Major Jenkins and Marty Matz poetically illuminate the secret knowledge contained in the Pyramid of Fire. Jenkins and Matz are elucidators and keepers of the rarest flame." Laki Vazakas, director of the video documentaries Huncke and Louis and Burma: Traces of the Buddha
Review
“Ancient Mexico lives again in this amazing retrieval of an Aztec pictorial and oral tradition. Marty and John lead the reader to places undiscovered by archaeologists and ethnologists.” Bruce Scofield, author of Day-Signs: Native American Astrology From Ancient Mexico
Review
“The Pyramid of Fire is part of the highest esoteric tradition of mankind. . . . a lucid and insightful commentary born of a sound grasp of the Perennial Philosophy.”
Review
". . . provides a stunning commentary, drawing astute comparisons with the perrenial philosophies of other cultures and times. . . . This small, but important volume will satisfy on many levels." Jennifer Hoskins, New Dawn, Nov-Dec 2005
Review
“Ancient Mexico lives again in this amazing retrieval of an Aztec pictorial and oral tradition. Marty and John lead the reader to places undiscovered by archaeologists and ethnologists.” < b=""> Bruce Scofield <> , author of < i=""> Day-Signs: Native American Astrology From Ancient Mexico <>
Review
"Marty Matz, akashic wizard and shamanic warrior, gives us a masterpiece in song and saga. . . . A revelation for all time!" Ira Cohen, poet and author of Poems from the Akashic Record
Synopsis
The first translation of a previously unknown Aztec codex and its initiatory teachings for 2012
• Discloses the potential for great spiritual awakening offered at the end of the Aztec calendar cycle
• Presents the only existing English-language transcription of the Aztec codex, with line-by-line commentary
• Contains the epic poetry and metaphysical insights of Beat poet Marty Matz (1934-2001
In 1961 an unknown Aztec codex was revealed to Beat poet and explorer Marty Matz by a Mazatec shaman in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico. Originally intended for dramatic performance, this codex presents a profound metaphysical teaching describing how the end of time will bring about a visionary ascent. At the behest of his Mazatec teacher, Matz transcribed this pictorial codex into a literary form that would preserve its initiatory teachings and reveal its secret meanings to a wider audience.Pyramid of Fire is an epic poem that provides a vehicle to transport the initiate into the higher realms of consciousness. It represents a barely surviving thread of teachings that have been passed down in secret since the time of the Spanish Conquest. Revealed are the techniques by which man is transported to the stellar realm after death via the solar energy within what the ancients called the “serpent of consciousness.” Line-by-line commentary by Matz and John Major Jenkins provides insights into the perennial philosophy contained in the codex and its relevance to our times.
About the Author
John Major Jenkins is a leading independent researcher on ancient Mesoamerican cosmology. He has authored five books on the Maya, including Maya Cosmogenesis 2012, Galactic Alignment, and Pyramid of Fire, and has given a presentation to the prestigious Institute of Maya Studies in Miami. In March of 1998, he was invited by the Indigenous Council of the Americas to speak at their conference in Merida, Mexico.Martin Matz (1934-2001) was a poet/philosopher involved in the 1950s Beat movement. His published works include Pyramid of Fire, Time Waits and Pipe Dreams.
Table of Contents
andlt;Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andldquo;Time Waitsandrdquo; by Marty Matz andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Foreword by Barbara A. Matzandnbsp; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Preface: A Note on the Contents andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Introduction: Nahuatl Poetry and Metaphysicsandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;1andlt;/Bandgt; Marty Matz and the Lost Codexandnbsp; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;2andlt;/Bandgt; In Search of Paititiandnbsp; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;3andlt;/Bandgt; The Pyramid of Fire: A Novella andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;4andlt;/Bandgt; The Text andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;5andlt;/Bandgt; Commentary andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;6andlt;/Bandgt; Gnostic and Perennial Parallels to the Pyramid of Fire andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Appendix 1: Quetzalcoatlandrsquo;s Ascensionandnbsp; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Bandgt;Appendix 2: Nahuatl Pronunciation Guide andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Bandgt;Appendix 3: A Glossary of Aztec Gods and Goddesses andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Bandgt;Appendix 4: Resources andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Notes andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Bibliography andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Index andlt;/Bandgt;