Chronicled in the tenth month eight years prior to the dawning of the sixth sun by the holy ones - Kurupani, Priestess of the She-Cat and Maruuani, Crocodile Priestess

14 October 2004 Day 1 - A Step to Power/Journey to Belize

"Be forewarned, when you accept a pilgrimage of the spirit, you will undergo many tests, trials and perils along the way; but it is the grandest adventure that any human being can embark upon.  Keep your faith and trust in the light of creation.  This is a voyage that begins in the shadows but ends in the light where out of the ashes of life's suffering, we arise as Phoenix soaring to the heavens on the light of illumination.

The greatest wealth is always found within us and allows us, with each breath of our soul, to experience divine love and happiness.  This miraculous treasure is transcendent, found in all cultures and ages in the universal symbol of the cauldron, magic bow, cornucopia or the fabulous Holy Grail.  It is this legend of legends that we carry within us."

Spoken by Feathered Serpent Jaguar, the Lord Capt’n as written in The Morning Star Chronicles in the age of transition prior to the dawning of the sixth sun.

Although our story begins in Belize, this chronicler must note that each and every one of the noble adventurers braved great dangers, looming obstacles and the spreading darkness of the earth to reach this destination. Armed with but 4 weapons only, each adventurer displayed their heart of courage.

These weapons are the greatest and most powerful known to humankind:  1) The Sword of Fearlessness, 2) The Sacred Touch of Healing Energy, 3) The Arrow of True Talk and 4) The Skill of Manifestation.

Sadly one of their number needed extra time in her arduous and courageous journey to battle the arrayed forces.  And so Ameyatl, Flowing Hummingbird Priestess Who Stands Strong, along with Tenamaxtli, Seeking Prince of Ocean Tides, joined our band of travelers several days late.

And it so happens that our journey in Belize began with a great victory dance - although to the untrained eye it appeared as 10 people with lots of luggage happy to see each other.

Tapachini, Young Warrior Speaks of Stars was still a mite bit concerned about being forced into "weird spiritual ceremonies" but that not withstanding, everyone priest and priestesses all, proceeded to the wagon of the outpost of the submerged crocodile - Lamanai - with open hearts, sublime gratitude, excited expectation, and not a little bit of fatigue and hunger.

And the adventurers numbered as follows:

Capt'n Nocheztli, Feathered Serpent Jaguar, the Lord Captain
Queen Petsikuri, Feathered Maize Jaguar Queen
Citlali, Princess Lily Shark Maiden of the South
Tenamaxtli, Seeking Prince of Ocean Tides
Kurupani, Priestess of the She-Cat
Pakapeti, Priestess of Fertility, Birthing, Light
Maruuani, Crocodile Priestess
Ixinatsi, Priestess of the Cave
Ameyatl, Flowing Hummingbird Priestess Who Stands Strong
Kevari, Crocodile Warrior Protecting the Light
Mixtin, Jaguar Warrior Priest
And the aforementioned -
Tapachini, Young Warrior Speaks of Stars

The wagon, along with Blanca and her tiny rescued kit, the noble Tom, whisked us forward to meet a magical mighty water steed, Slepnir's kin of the southern branch of the mighty family of magical steeds - Shipnir and his master Jose of Mayan Descent and Condor Eyes.

Amazing and delighting their passengers, Jose and Shipnir treated their senses to a feast of flora and fauna as they carried us onward through the portal of dusk to the Outpost Village where a repast of succulent and tasty foods awaited the battle weary, travel worn but extremely happy adventurers.

Tapachini, master of the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, tested the adventurers and found them wanting in knowledge.

Finally as the long day and night drew to a close, our noble voyagers were shown to their rooms of comfortable beds and clean sheets to dream the restless dreams of transition.

15 October 2004 Day 2 - A Step to Power/Journey to Belize

"Warrior energy primarily deals with issues of death, our greatest human fear is the unknown and the greatest unknown is death.  Yet dying to the old and being reborn to the new sheds light on the mysteries of life."

INVOCATION

"I reclaim my power.
I am a powerful light being.
I am the spiritual warrior because I am powerful.
I can be open, loving and peaceful,
I will walk, talk and be
The powerful being that I am."

Spoken by Feathered Serpent Jaguar, the Lord Capt’n as written in The Morning Star Chronicles in the age of transition prior to the dawning of the sixth sun.

When this traveler awoke the next morning it was to the cacophony of birds, and the delightful and exotic flowers and plants that had been veiled the previous eve by the Queen of Night.  Our adventurers likewise, woke the next morning, refreshed if not altogether rested, to enjoy the secrets of the Lamanai kitchen and then on to meet Jose of Mayan Descent and Condor Eyes with his noble steed Shipnir.

In the blink of an eye, the magical Shipnir whisked us travelers back through time to an ancient world teeming with life, religious fervor, and the number zero inspired by the conch shell; to a world of cinnabar and mercury, obsidian and stellas, writing and a numerical system of dots and dashes.

In order to test the adventurers and determine their worthiness, the Sun God shot down rays of broiling and brutal heat.  A host of mosquitoes likewise employed to protect the temples (and impervious to bug spray organic or otherwise) mercilessly attacked and harried our fearless journeyers demanding a blood sacrifice for further continuance. 

Braving these and other dangers, we adventurers hiked to The Mask of the Jaguar Temple past the guardian howler monkey in the trees ("Now that's a male, look at the balls on that one," spoke Kevari).  There to be regaled by ancient and fascinating stories by Jose of Mayan Descent and Condor Eyes.  The Mayans numbered 100s of thousands of people, populating this environs for hundreds and hundreds of years.  They had 9 underworlds and 13 over worlds and renovated their temples every 52 years according to the cycle of the Morning Star, the last to include rounded corners.

We travelers rejoiced at this sacred place for having been found worthy by the spirits (although the sun and the mosquitoes continued to throw tests at us should any traveler falter).  Happily on this day, Pakapeti's, journey was a quieter one and to honor her and her growing light, she set off to the wonders of the cooling breeze of the New River while the others set off to the Mayan ball court and the magnificent head Temple, the Rain God Temple, with steps so steep that a rope was laid down to help the climbers.  Kevari, Mixtin, Tapachini, Maruuani, and Ixinatsi ventured forth to the top.

Afterwards the aforementioned group headed into the woods to another grand temple while Nocheztli, Petsikuri, Citlali and Kurupani headed to the shops of gifts and the wonders of the New River.

Amazed and sated for a first day of traveling, the adventurers returned to the present time where Nocheztli spoke of spirit bundles, intentions, hearts and faces, songs and poems and then set us loose to our own reveries and explorations.

Dinner provided two especial treats in the celebration cake of Citlali, Princess Lily Shark Maiden of the South and in the musical serenading of Tapachini who made his violin sing to entertain and delight the assembled group.

After being blessed by the rain spirits and the coming of the Night Queen, Jose of Mayan Descent and Condor Eyes, took us aboard the magical Shipnir to uncover the secrets of the New River.  Setting forth under the Night Queen's veil, our noble adventurers alit to a show of lightning, fireflies, the Pleiades and shooting stars.

Jose of Mayan Descent and Condor Eyes must have sung to the spirits for in total darkness, hidden in trees, in grass and in water, traveling at speeds of quickness, Jose revealed that which could not be seen.

Jose of Mayan Descent and Condor Eyes pointed his revealing light onto 4 submerged water dragons, one right alongside Shipnir, much to the delight of the passengers most particularly Maruuani, Crocodile Priestess. 

We were treated to kingfishers, cormorants, flying fisher bats, egrets, herons, yellow throated warblers, northern potoos, snail kites and a green iguana peacefully reposing on blades of green grass, to name just a few of the wonders. 

This chronicler was particularly amazed by two flowers that only bloom once and then only at night - the provision which looks like a frozen firecracker bursting into colors of red and blue and the devil's guts cactus which blooms a pure white.  I hope the Queen of Night does not take offense when I say that it seems selfish of her to keep such beauty to herself although I consider myself thrice blessed to have peered beneath her veil.

And so completes our adventures on this day and we returned to our cabins to dream the dreams that can only come to those who have stepped through veils and into other worlds.

Day 3