“By harmonizing and working with Nature, we are able to establish a oneness between ourselves and Nature. We learn and feel firsthand that everything in Nature is connected, alive and responsive. Everything is vital within a soul or spirit – the rock, the tree, even the little grasses. We experience the harmony within all of Nature to know the harmony within ourselves.”

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.

The next morning, at first light, this chronicler climbed down the three hundred steps to the base of the five waterfalls wishing to greet the new day by the crystal pools. Thinking to be alone, I was surprised to see Tenamaxtli standing on a distant rock at the other side of the pools. In the early morning rays of light he practiced the graceful movements of a warrior.

This chronicler was awed by the cool water and the beauty of the jungle and so climbed to the top of the first waterfall. After eating, Mixtin joined this chronicler to venture to the waterfalls where, by the side of the fifth sister on a soft sandy bank Mixtin, the Jaguar Warrior Priest found the fresh paw prints of a Jaguar.

All except Ameyatl gathered by the chariots when the morning was still young ready for another adventure to an ancient city high in the mountains and swallowed by the jungle. Queen Petsikuri gifted each adventurer with a tropical flower to remind us of our flower heart as we began our journey.

The chariots took us along the dusty, bumpy trail through the jungle, along the mountainside, and over a river to Caracol. Once again, we were whisked back through time to an ancient world teeming with life, religious fervor and awe-inspiring temples. Tree guardians screamed at our intrusion. A small tariff was paid to enter Caracol and then the Lord Capt’n, Feathered Serpent Jaguar called us together to study maps of the giant city to let us know where we were going.              

The sun was hot, the air was humid and the mosquitoes were sent by the Gods to test us yet again. Upon approaching the great city of Caracol, we were bid to stop and give an offering to the spirits and to ask for safe passage and protection. We entered a great courtyard with the temple Caana on one side and the great Sun Palace (the tallest man-made structure in the land) on the opposite side.

“Here,” Queen Petsikuri said, “it is possible to get glimpses of past lives.”

The adventurers found a spot by Caana and closing our eyes we harmonized with the energy of the city and then journeyed inward to see if any imagery or visions of a past life here came to us. Ixinatsi was overwhelmed by the intense energy that she felt in this place and by the image of being there before but as a prisoner. She took off running one circular lap around the courtyard before finding her place to sit.

Later in the ballpark, the Lord Capt’n told the adventurers a story of the Gods and Goddesses of the upper and lower worlds battling it out in a ball game. He gave us the task of standing as the ancient ones did in a jaguar stance and, with eyes closed, breath in the warrior energy. As we stood in the stance and breathed deeply, this chronicler could feel the warrior energy flow through me and pulse in my blood.

The Lord Capt’n also gave us the task of releasing an old behavior pattern that no longer serves us. This would prove difficult to do and require the use of the Arrow of True Talk and the Skill of Visualization and Manifestation. 

Tapachini, Young Warrior Speaks of Stars was getting restless and was eager to climb to the top of the Sun Palace. Queen Petsikuri, Lord Capt’n Nocheztli, Tenamaxtli, Mixtin, Ixinatsi and Maruuani joined him in the difficult assent to the top. We could see the mountains and jungle stretch for miles and miles in every direction.

Kurupani’s still sore yet much improved ankle prevented her from attempting the climb so she sought shade at the foot of Caana and waited. Citlali, Princess Lily Shark Maiden of the South, Pakapeti, Priestess of Fertility Birthing Light and her husband Kevari, Crocodile Warrior Protecting the Light returned to the shade and comfortable seating at the entrance to the city. They greeted their fellow adventurers with cups of cold fruit punch when we too returned from the city.

Through the jungle the brave adventurers quietly walked searching for a cave that was the only way to reach the Jaguar Temple from this side of the jungle. To come from any other direction could prove to be arduous and possibly dangerous. The Lord Capt’n asked permission from the guardians of the cave for safe passage for him and his followers. He gave the guardians and spirits a gift, and then burned a piece of copal and purified each of us before we could enter the cave.

Pakapeti decided to wait outside and she sang for us a beautiful song as we journeyed inside. Faces appeared on the towering cave walls – some grotesque, some young, some old and wise, and others not of this planet. A jaguar in full pounce, a pregnant Goddess with a wolf’s head, crocodiles, owls, little people standing in holes, serpents slithering on rocks, skulls and bones were also seen by the adventurers as we sat and harmonized with the powerful energy of the immense cave towering over our heads, descending deeper into the earth and extending as far as the eye could see.

We were told to wait for the Jaguar Priestess to come and take us to the Jaguar Temple. She arrived, the high priestess, appearing differently to each adventurer, coming from a different part of the cave, touching us on a different part of our bodies to guide us forward. She led us to a canoe waiting on the bank of a small river deep in the cave and steered the canoe to an entrance further back in the cave. We entered the lush jungle and the High Priestess took us to an island and along a path through the jungle to the Jaguar Temple. The High Priest met us at the entrance to the Temple. People gathered to greet each adventurer and again in a different way gifted us with a gift to remind us of our visit.

This adventurer was given a necklace of crocodile teeth. We were told to put this gift into our hearts. It was time to leave and we were told to keep the canoe so we could make the journey back to the Jaguar Temple whenever we wanted to.

In silence, we walked back to our chariots and the caravan made its slow, bumpy and dusty way back to the Five Sisters where cold showers, refreshing drinks and good food waited. Some swam in the crystal pools at the foot of the five waterfalls and learned how difficult it was to try to swim against the strong current and were reminded of how difficult it is to go against the flow in life until the skill is learned.  A special birthday cake had been prepared for Ameyatl and together we celebrated the wonderful light she brings to this world of darkness. We sang to her, gave her gifts and showed her how much she is loved.

At the close of a long day, the weary adventurers sought their beds for a night of restful sleep and dreams of discovery.

Day 6