Contributor: Marcus Cree

A version of this blog post was originally published by Markets Media. In a time long forgotten, seven days before the third full moon of the year, a drum beats a slow and terrible accompaniment to the death march of the sacrifices to a god whose satisfaction is needed to guarantee a good harvest and the survival of the tribe for another 12 months. As the mid-afternoon sun moves through the sky, the deity himself appears – a winged snake – and makes his way down the steps of the temple built to honor him. At the base of the temple, a carved statue of Kukulkan’s head meets the shadowy shape of his body, bringing together his astral and physical form. At that moment, the human sacrifices are made, and the people pray in terrified silence that it is enough. An eon later, and March 20 sees the 2013 vernal equinox, signifying the end of winter and the astronomical start of spring. This annual event carries with it echoes of legends and rituals from ancient cultures that have direct relevance to our approach to financial risk management today.... read more