The Cleanse

• Photographer
  Alberto Jorge Urbina Diaz

In the historic center of Mexico City a group of “healers”, dressed as Mexicas/Aztec dancers, meet everyday. They are people who devoted time to learn traditional medicine, and follow Mexicas/Aztec rituals and beliefs. Dozens of locals come to them to get a “limpia” (a cleanse), a ritual that intends to restore calm, to protect the spirit, and to remove from the believer all negative energy with the use of sounds, smells and a calm state of mind. The body is traversed head to toe with herbs like basil, Salvia Rosmarinus, and copal (incense), the fragrance of the gods.