I've been fascinated with the Aztec god Xolotl recently.

Xolotl (pronunced Sho-lo-t followed by an L like sound that doesn't exist in the English language) was a Mesoamerican god associated with many things, including fire, lightning, disease, deformity, twins, the Mesoamerican ball game, death, dogs, the planet Venus as the evening star, twilight, shapeshifting, and monsters. Xolotl was the twin and sometimes companion of his more famous brother Quetzalcoatl. Xolotl was thought to guide the dead in their journey through the underworld, and to guide the sun through the underworld each night. Xolotl is usually depicted as either a dog anthro, a man with a dog head, or a dwarf skeletal jester. Xolotl is usually depicted missing eyes. Xolotl seems to have been feared by the Aztecs and especially hated by the Spanish, but I have a more favorable view.

Some of the most prominent myths about Xolotl involve the story of the fifth sun, or how the current world was made from the previous, destroyed one.

The first myth involves the recreation of humanity. The tales differ as to whether Quetzalcoatl was responsible, Xolotl was responsible, or if it was a collaborative effort. The humans of the fourth world were destroyed, and humanity had to be brought back. To this end Xolotl and/or Quetzalcoatl traveled to the Aztec underworld, Mictlan and met with its king, Mictlantecutli. The god(s) asked to gather the bones of the previous humans so they could be created anew. Mictlantecutli. Mictlantecutli gives them tests but later decides against letting them gather the bones. Xolotl and/or Quetzalcoatl fall into pit, breaking the bones in the process which is why people have different heights. The bones are later resurrected. The versions of this tale differ as to which god went to Mictlan and whether they did tests for Mictlantecutli or simply stole the bones.

In the second myth, the gods are sacrificing themselves in a fire to create a fifth sun for humanity because the previous one went out. They choose Nanahuatzin, a poor and humble god with syphilis and some relation to Xolotl to become the moon; and Tecciztecatl to become the sun because he is wealthy and strong. However, Tecciztecatl is unable to throw himself in the fire when the time comes, so Nanahuatzin becomes the sun instead. Tecciztecatl is sacrificed after and becomes the moon (and also the man on the moon), but has a rabbit thrown at his face which is one explanation for the rabbit people sometimes see.

Later, Xolotl is the last to be sacrificed to the new sun. In some versions this is because he was the executioner for the previous gods. However, in some tales he refuses to sacrifice himself. Xolotl begs and cries until his eyes literally fall out but this does nothing. Xolotl transforms to escape Ehecatl who has been executing other gods to make the sun move. Xolotl at first transforms into a corn plant with two stalks, then an Agave americana, and finally an Axolotl amphibian. But he was still caught in the end.

What I find most interesting about Xolotl is his relation to disability. Since deformities are among Xolotl's best known domains, he could be considered a god of disabilities as well. Xolotl is also a god of monsters, and it's worth mentioning that the Nahua word "Xolo" which his name is derived from and means monster, is used for both mythological monsters and those with physical abnormalities, much like the Latin word "Monstrum". (I think in literature analysis the themes of monsters as outcasts could be explored more) In many, perhaps even most historical (and unfortunately even modern) societies the attitude towards those with disabilities has been very negative. In the Aztec world twins were considered unnatural, and sometimes one of them would be murdered shortly after birth. Wikipedia mentions an speculation by Eduard Seler that resonates with me: that Xolotl represents the murdered twin who dwells in the underworld while Quetzalcoatl is the living one who is cherished in the world of light.

Another connection with Xolotl and disability is that he was sometimes depicted as a jester with dwarfism. It's relevant the jesters around the world were often disabled. European court jesters were known for having the freedom to criticize and mock royalty, and were sometimes selected from the intellectually disabled because they could not be held responsible for what they said. Additionally, the Spanish during the colonization of the Aztecs sent some Aztec jesters to Spain, who were described as humpbacks.

This is what I find most interesting about Xolotl, that he is a reflection or shadow of society. Historically Xolotl was often considered a sinister god, but when society is itself sinister who is to be believed? My view of Xolotl is more favorable. The god of the disabled is feared because the disabled are hated. Xolotl is the outcast, who is hated and feared yet has done no wrong. Xolotl is the murdered twin, who looks upon the world of light and life, from a place of darkness, the world he was not given, never had the right to enjoy. He is the god who is looked upon with disgust due to his role in hardship, yet is the only one who stays with you through that hardship the entire time. Xolotl is the disabled child, who is called a child of shame and hidden away in some institution to be forgotten by their more privileged relatives. Xolotl is viewed with contempt, but his domains are just as necessary to the universe's function as any of the more handsome gods. The janitor, who is viewed with contempt and disgust yet whose works are vital for society.

The "evil twin" Xolotl, misunderstood twin and hound of Quetzalcoatl who lives in the world's shadow, watching the world of life and guarding the light of the sun through the underworld.

Dog gods

Half of my illustration and design final

PROLOGUE [1/4]

The Tezcatlipocas

Huitzilopotchli [Left-Handed Hummingbird]

Solar diety of the sun, war, fire, the south, and sacrifice. Widely respected by all groups as the ‘hero’ god. Symbols; Hummingbirds, the Sun, Light, Orange

Xipe-Totec [Our Lord The Flayed One]

Rebirth deity of agriculture, the east, goldsmiths, warfare and disease. The creator of war and renown doctor. Often sighted by prophets to depict good or bad omens. Symbols; Maize seeds, Quail, Gold, Green

Quetzalcoatl [Feathered Serpent]

Wind deity of the west, arts, curiosity, joy, and life. Primary creator of felines. Respected and acknowledged as an excitable deity easily called upon in times of need. Symbols; Wind, Green Jay, Feathers, Blue

Tezcatlipoca [Smoking Mirror]

Chaos deity of the north, chaos, obsidian, night, and jaguars. The antithesis of everything Huitzilopotchli stands for. The only Tezcatlipoca that is named Tezcatlipoca. Infamously feared as a troublemaker who stops and nothing to destroy what his siblings create. Symbols; Jaguars, Obsidian, Black Smoke, Purple

Author’s Note

Hello Warrior Cats community! This story is heavily inspired by the Aztec’s beliefs and Nahua culture! Do not take my story as a 1-to-1 explanation of the culture, beliefs, or practices this is based off of. I encourage readers to do their own research if curious! Furthermore, I will be taking great care to display these themes properly and respectfully even if it’s a different interpretation. Feel free to send asks about anything! I will be making a FAQ based on what I receive <3 - Pequito

Inspired using @clangen’s amazing fan game! [ ID in ALT text ]

Olhos de Gavião

I wonder what his story is?

Why he so hot 😳

Mei, let him shave in peace. Just a doodle of a moment from a cute fluffy fic @saengak wrote me as a bday gift a few days ago. They should’ve been happily retired damnit. :’/

everybody SHUT UP he opened his eyes in one of the two manga panels he was in

whats cool about being trans is my parents are totally right. i did kill their beautiful son. im the thing that animates his corpse in an ever more convincing parody of a happy girl. i devoured him from the inside out and now there is nothing left of him and he is dead dead dead and there is only me, with my hollow eyes and dark eyeliner and long hair, and my big smile. my limp, effeminate gestures belie the marionetting of the boy they loved. my fagginess is his death. already his body becomes a fitter home for my parasitism in full; the tits, the hips, the thighs. sorry about your kid. thanks for the biomass <3

I was having a great time when everything crashes and this was the only stuff I could save, the full progress was gone and I'm not willing to redo it cause I want to keep moving to the next ideas

so...

Story for picture #1: It was about Kisame, who owns a mysterious jewel called "the heart of the sea" and everyone wants to take it off, why? cause it's part of a legend and has some kind of power…how? I don't even know I was just playing with the concept

Story for picture #2: Oh this is just a silly sketch and…seriously canned spinach exists!?

A veces se me olvida que no todos consiguen las verduras y frutitas en el tianguis

smooch

#daddylonglegs #Kushimaru-san #HiddenMistVillage #Hidden Mist Village #Kisame #KisameHoshigaki #Suigetsu #SuigetsuHozuki #weirdhastags #commentaryhashtags

we gonna unionize freddy’s

The Gang’s All Here

I’m gonna take a break from FNAF for awhile now as my hyperfixation dies down. Plus, this is the most full illustration I’ve done in years. I’m taking an art class this semester, so I’ll probably be focused more on original work for the next few months.

Oh my god it fits and I actually like it?!

The way his voice fluctuates between higher and lower pitched! Also from sounding light to threatening so quickly and those giggles. 

I like both the Japanese and English dub. Huh