María Eugenia Castañeda Retiz
Grandma Maru, also known asIlhuicakuauhtli Ketzaxopan, is a transmitter of the ancestral wisdom of the Mexica People. Her path integrates education, ceremonial dance, traditional medicine, Mesoamerican worldview, and spiritual accompaniment, dedicating her life to preserving and sharing the knowledge inherited from the traditional grandparents.
With more than four decades in conchera dance, Mexica dance, and lunar dance, she has dedicated her life to the transmission of ancestral knowledge of Mexico, keeping alive the spiritual and cultural legacy of her ancestors. She is currently the President of the Council of the Mexica People, Altepetl Mexihka Calpultin.
Next, we share part of her journey and life path:
STUDIES
Year 1979-1983 Primary Education Teacher
Mexico City, Mexico
Benemérita National School of Teachers
Year 1977-1983 Conchera Dancer.
Mexico City, Mexico.
Children's music, singing, and dance group In cuic Xochipilli
Tezcatlipoca dance group of the Benemérita National School of Teachers.
Conchera dance captains Eduardo Ruíz and Mario Coria (deceased).
Year 1985 Spanish Educational System (scholarship from the SEP).
Madrid, Spain.
Year 1991-2025 Astrologer, Biocosmologist
Mexico City, Mexico
Year 1994-2020 Curandera and Aztec Dancer
Mexico City, Mexico
Temple of the Sacred Mantle of Jesus
Dance Captain and Healer Mr. Miguel Angel Vargas Salazar (deceased)
Year 2006-2025 Dancer of the Moon
Mexico
Dance of the Moon Xochimeztli
Grandma Guadalupe Retiz Yañez Tonalmitl
Year 1996-2025 Tonalpouhque. Reading and Interpretation of the Tonalamatl and Tzolkin.
Mexico City, Mexico
Yaoxochitl Dance Group
Grandpa Aurelio Castañeda Miranda Cenyaotl (deceased) and
Grandma Guadalupe Retiz Yañez Tonalmitl
Year 1994-2025 Mexica Dancer
Mexico City, Mexico
Yaoxochitl Dance Group
Grandpa Aurelio Castañeda Miranda Cenyaotl (deceased) and
Grandma Guadalupe Retiz Yáñez Tonalmitl
Year 2020-2025 Biomagnetist
Mexico City, Mexico
Despertar Foundation and
Biomagnetist Úrsula Ketzalocelotl
Year 2020-2022 Diploma in Traditional Mexican Medicine
Mexico City, Mexico
Prof. Rosa Isela Martínez Solis
Year 2019-2025 Study of Mesoamerican Codices.
Mexico City, Mexico
Grandma Guadalupe Retiz Yañez Tonalmitl
Year 1992-2025 Archaeoastronomer
Mexico City, Mexico
Grandpa Aurelio Castañeda Miranda Cenyaotl (deceased) and
Archaeoastronomer Arturo Montero García.
LANGUAGES
Spanish:Native
Nahuatl:Basic
Maya: Beginning
English:Basic
WORK EXPERIENCE
From 1983 to 2014 Mexico City and Sinaloa State, Mexico
Basic Education Teacher
Position held: Primary Education Teacher and Rural Primary Teacher,
Primary School Principal, Pedagogical Technical Advisor
Primary Education and School Zone Management.
Tasks performed: Teaching and educating children at the Primary Level aged 6 to 15
years in schools in Mexico City and the state of Sinaloa.
Advising and pedagogical technical work (secretary).
Principal of primary schools and pedagogical technical advising in the school zone.
Retired since 2014.
From 1991 to 2025 Mexico City, Mexico
Astrological Consulting
Tasks performed: Reading and interpreting Natal and Astral Charts to advise
people on the trends of planetary influences and the
future indicated by the stars.
Also guiding regarding health in the prevention and
healing of various diseases to which they are prone or that
they already suffer from.
From 1994 to 2025 Mexico City, Mexico
Healer
Tasks performed: I carry out spiritual healing work, cleansings, bindings, empacho.
removals, spiritual baths, house cleansings, prescribing based on the
Mexican traditional medicine (medicinal plants), cupping, closing of
parturients. Shadow lifting, Velación with Xochitl, others.
From 1996 to 2025 Mexico City, Mexico
Tonalpouhque and research on the Nahuatl and Maya calendars.
Tasks performed: Reading and interpretation of the Tonalamatl to advise people
on the unfolding of destinies according to the observations
made by the venerable grandparents and recorded in the codices.
Also guiding regarding health in the prevention and
healing of various diseases to which they are prone or that
they already suffer from.
Research on Maya codices in progress.
From 2006 to 2019 Mexico City, Mexico
Therapist
Tasks performed:Care and attention to chronic diabetic patients, applying various
physical therapies, alternative therapies, natural and traditional medicine, spiritual
medicine.
From 2020 to 2025 Mexico City, Mexico
Temachtiani
Tasks performed: Conducting Courses:
“Astronomical and Mathematical Foundations of the Tonalamatl”
“Reading and Interpretation of the Tonalamatl”
“The Elements and the Elementals”
“Mexica Worldview”, etc.
Xochimeztli Dance Circle, codex study group.
From 1977 to 2025 Mexico City, Mexico
Conchera dancer, Aztec and Mexica.
Tasks performed: Participate in ceremonies and cultural events carrying elements and dancing according to our ancestral tradition.
From 2022 to 2025 Mexico City, Mexico
Chief, first word of Mexica dance.
Tasks performed: Carry the 1st word of the Kalpulli Citlalicueitl planted by grandmother Tonalmitl.
Training of new dancers in technical aspects of Mexica dance.
Spiritual and energetic training of the dancers.
Participate in various events, invitations, and ancestral ceremonies.
From 2006 to 2025 Mexico City and various states of our country.
Moon Dancer and spiritual heir of grandmother Tonalmitl.
Tasks performed: Carry the 2nd word in the Dance of the Moon Xochimeztli.
Coordinate the activities that take place throughout the year.
Organize the structure and distribution of roles of the coordinators.
Support grandmother Tonalmitl in various tasks and responsibilities.
Hold monthly meetings.
Perform various ancestral ceremonies.
From 2019 to 2025 Mexico City and various states.
Calpixque
Tasks performed: Hold the position of treasurer of the Dance of the Moon Xochimeztli.
Administration of the income and expenses required for the dance.
Keep a record of the dancers and their years of dancing.
From 1992-2025 Mexico City, Mexico
Researcher
Tasks completed: Research on the ways to structure the scientific and spiritual knowledge of the Mexica People.
Archaeoastronomical research of the various archaeological sites in our country and their relationship with time-space.
From 2025 Mexico City, Mexico
Member of the Council of the Mexica People, Altepetl Mexihka Calpultin.
Tasks completed: Serving as President of the Council.
Conducting the weekly council meetings.
Attending various government instances as required.
Participating in events held jointly with the Mexica People.