What is Kin Balam (The Path of The Jaguar)

“Kin” the “path” (in Lenca Poton), and “Balam”, “jaguar” (in Mayan Yucatec) translate as the path of the jaguar. In my Indigenous culture the jaguar is a profound, and philosophically multi-layers symbol central to our identity. The jaguar was seen to be the most powerful, highly intelligent, and beautiful creature capable of wielding mastery over the jungle. In ancient times, our warriors used to paint themselves as jaguars before they walked into battle. This was done so as to bathe themselves in the spiritual powers the jaguar possessed. The jaguar is also the animal spirit whom represents femininity, and our mother earth.

My personal life story, and that of my communities’ is one defines by the relationship between a far-reaching struggle, and the journey taken to heal, and overcome such impossible odds. The very real human story of our personal, and collective paths is the very essence of Kin Balam. In this sense, Kin Balam symbolizes the returning to ourselves, to our roots, to our deepest truths, to our learning of tangible love, to the healing of our pain, to decolonizing, to reconnection, to forgiveness, to the mistakes that fructify into teachings, to the actions required by a necessary social, environmental, and political change. These conceptions gave birth to Kin Balam, the path of the Jaguar. For all we truly leave behind and before us, is the legacy of our actions. And it is this every legacy, which we all must be soulfully, and mindfully giving rise to.

What inspires me?

The fundamental birthplaces of my inspiration are my cultural roots, my personal and communities search for freedom , the spiritual element within all life, and finally the constant falling in love with music and the world.

Because I grew up so connected to my Salvadoran culture, I experienced the immense unseen beauty, as well as the deeper trauma and violence associated to our social environment. Being a descendant fo tortured civil war survivors, Spanish-colonized Indigenous warrior people economically, socially, politically and brutally oppressed throughout the centuries of our colonial era, I felt it necessary to show the world just how powerful, profound and strong our peoples culture and spirit is. I also wanted to teach other young central American boys that our powers lies not within a gun, nor the carried our destruction of another person, bu in the unravelling of our own genius, talent, and spiritual growth.