On Sunday the 13th, I finally paid my respects to Xitle, a volcano at the southern edge of Mexico City just beneath the better-known Ajusco. Xitle means “navel” in Nahuatl (just as Cusco means the same in Q´echua…). I have felt the call for some time now to visit with the mountains surrounding this great city, especiallly since almost every person that has come to work with my mesa calls Mexico City their birthplace. These are their Itu Apus, the mountain spirits present with them at their birth. And it was time for me to meet one among them. Together with Alfredo, who guided me up Xitle and into its crater, we created a despacho and made our offerings to the spirit of the mountain. Xitle greeted us warmly: the wind spoke, eagles soared, and the crater beckoned. The dialogue has begun.