The Creation of Humanity
Humans were formed from maize after earlier attempts with mud and wood failed.
The gods first made humans from mud, but they dissolved. Then from wood, but they lacked heart and memory. Finally, from maize dough, humans who could think, speak, and give thanks were created. We are children of corn, nourished by what nourishes us.
And thus they found the food, and this was what went into the flesh of created humans.
The maize origin of humanity establishes the sacred bond between humans and corn.
Popol Vuh
Written about in
- What the Maya tradition says about starting again after a fall
Mud dissolved. Wood walked but could not remember or give thanks. Maize worked. Note the hard part: the failed drafts were not repaired, they were discarded — this tradition does not promise that every version of you gets to continue.