According to the Maya worldview, we are all born accompanied by a nahual: a protective guide, an energy that reflects our essence and stays with us throughout life. Mine is Toj, a symbol of sacred fire, gratitude, reconciliation, and the pursuit of balance.

Creating my portrait became an act of introspection. With each stitch, I felt Toj’s presence as a flame within me, reminding me to be grateful for life, for the path I have traveled, and to reconcile with the parts of myself I once rejected.

I have learned that my nahual is not just an ancestral symbol but a mirror in which I can see both my light and shadow, helping me find the balance I seek. In this dialogue with my nahual, I discovered a guide who accompanies me and inspires me to continue weaving my story with purpose and harmony.