Seven months passed without incident except for the appearance of the three white feathers. Each summer, Balamcoatl and Kolilkab would conduct a 4-day shugyo experience for their apprentices. As a standard practice before the training, he would say prayers for health, safety, love and power for all those involved.

This time, however, he did a different prayer.

“Let our students see a sign of ‘who I was’ in my last incarnation. Let them see a sign knowing that I was ________________.”

He mentioned the name, as people would recognize it today. He then let go of any expectations about the prayer.

“He has asked for a sign. It is now time,” said Mikael to Regulus.

The 4-day theme of the training was initiation, death and re-birth as well as fear. Their students would experience a 24-hour solitary quest, a ‘death spiral’ ceremony and an ancient baptism called bathing. After many changes in the schedule of the teachings and experiences, the day of the sun, Sunday, was finally determined to be the best day for the ‘death spiral’ experience. Sunday would be the darkest night—the night of the new moon.

This was during the month of the sun’s guardian, the Lion. This period of time was also known as the moon of the regal one—the king. It was the month associated with the Sun Archangel known as Michael. Sunday was also his day of honor. Little did Balamcoatl realize that Sunday would also be the exact day that he was born 51 years ago at the 17th hour of the 3rd day of the 8th month of the Fire Dog—Lion year of the calendar utilized by the Eastern Dragon people; a calendar Balamcoatl was not familiar with.

The ‘death spiral’ is an ancient method from the Lands of the Condor to experience ‘death in life,’ and then a rebirth as the student exits a stone labyrinth of resurrection. Walking counter-clockwise into the spiral you feel as if you have descended into the underworld. This is an opportunity to face the demons of your past, forgive and ask forgiveness and then let go of any attachments to the past. In the center of the spiral, the student faces west and accepts their ‘death.’ Then facing east, the place of dawn and the rising sun, they accept their ‘re-birth’ and reclaim their power as a luminous warrior.

Sunday dawned bright and very dry, little rain had fallen that spring and summer. Balamcoatl planned on constructing the death spiral early in the afternoon so that they could conduct the ceremony at dusk. In addition, he wanted to work on the issue of phobos—the Greek word for fear and the origin for the word phobia.

“I don’t know if we can do the fear exercise tonight under these dry conditions,” said Balamcoatl with a questioning look.

“I know,” replied Kolilkab. “Is it absolutely necessary to have a fire?”

“No, but I would have to adapt the exercise. After fighting the image of their fear, they could bury it instead of burning it. But it would not have as strong of an impact on their ku[1]. Burning is the best, but if we can’t have a fire then we’ll have to have them bury their images,” replied Balamcoatl.

“The exercise is important for their spiritual growth,” said Kolilkab.

“Yes it is. Most people live their lives in fear. Controlled and inhibited by the unknown, they separate themselves from their hearts and nature. Fear is a reality but it is also one of the prime barriers to an accomplished life and to spiritual power,” said Balamcoatl.

“We are taking them bathing Monday morning. Entering those fast-flowing waters in the dark, then submerging oneself, not once but four times, now that sure does bring up fear,” replied Kolilkab. “I remember the first time that we went bathing.”

“But bathing is necessary. As you know, hanging over everyone’s head is the specter of death. It is encoded within the very blood that courses through our bodies. Fear spawns in the body and it is through the body that fear is released—the ultimate body/mind connection. The best way to neutralize this fear is to experience ‘death in life’ or symbolic death. Although this is partly a death of the old self or old life, it also is a step forward in conquering their fear of physical death,” Balamcoatl paused for a moment as one of their students asked to speak to Kolilkab. After just a few minutes Kolilkab returned.

“She asked if we would go over the procedures for bathing tomorrow morning,” said Kolilkab.

“I was planning on reviewing it at the mid-day meal,” replied Balamcoatl.

At that moment they both looked up in unison at the noontime sky. It had been crystal clear and calm all morning long just as it had been over the past two days, but something seemed to be changing. Within a few minutes, the sky darkened into an ominous swirling bluish-black tempest. There was a pause of sound and movement as if a giant was holding its breath. And then… thunder, lightning and rain.

Torrents of rain fell as thunder boomed overhead and lightening struck all around them. Everyone ran to huddle underneath the confines of the cooking tarp, shaking and in awe. The intensity was otherworldly. People were scared at the suddenness and intensity of the wind and the rain, the thunder and the lightning.

“This is unbelievable,” said Balamcoatl in a whisper to Kolilkab.

“I know… something is not right. This storm is not normal,” replied Kolilkab.

“But what can it mean?” asked Balamcoatl.

“I don’t know….”

“The land is now purified,” Mikael said to Regulus. “I can now appear.”

The land, which was now soaked through, allowed Balamcoatl and Kolilkab the opportunity to have a fire that night as part of their ‘fighting the fear’ exercise. In addition, the storm changed the timing of building the death spiral. It would now occur late in the afternoon not earlier as had been planned.  

“Everything that we do is optional,” explained Balamcoatl to the twelve apprentices who were sitting in a semi-circle by the southern edge of the death spiral facing him and Kolilkab.

“This is our first symbolic ‘death-in-life’ experience. It will definitely affect your ku. And your body will feel the change. Keep your mind strong and clear with no ‘chatter’ as you enter the spiral. Tomorrow morning before first light, you will experience a true old-time submersion baptism, not as membership in a church, but as a true experience of death and re-birth—a second birth. Are there any questions?”

Balamcoatl waited for any questions, and when there were none, he continued on, “The death spiral is now just stones arranged in four spirals. It needs to be ‘opened,’ activated like turning on a light switch, which I will do in a few minutes. If there are no further questions or concerns, please get prepared to enter the spiral.”

At the last moment, an apprentice asked a question, “Balamcoatl, if at the last instant, we decide not to go into the spiral, do we still have to?”

“That’s a good question, Kumac. No, you do not. If you feel uncomfortable, and I know that you were brought up very religiously with the priests doing the ceremonies not you, you do not have to enter; just let us know by shaking your head ‘no.’ And that goes for anyone else as well,” replied Balamcoatl.

As everyone left to get ready for the experience, Balamcoatl had a feeling that this was not just any ordinary spiral. There was something different about it. He then let go of any attachment or anticipation and cleared his mind, preparing to enter and open the spiral.

Kolilkab had chosen two apprentices as birth guardians. They would stand at the mouth of the ‘birth canal’ of the spiral, which was also the entrance, and pull the ‘new ones’ into existence. The others would stand on the outside of the outermost spiral chanting a phrase linking heaven and earth, until it was their turn to enter and face their symbolic death. Each one who chose to enter the spiral must stand at the entrance praying and contemplating their desire to enter the spiral. If they chose to still enter, they must take their first step into the vortex with their left leg as a sign of intent and focused-will to ’let go of their old self.’

“Something is not normal,” thought Balamcoatl as he stood at the entrance to the death spiral. “My song is coming….”

With that last thought, Balamcoatl’s left foot stomped the ground inside the spiral and as his right leg caught up with his left, his spirit song[2] sprang from his lips, and he began walking the spiral with serpentine movements of his body. The response from the apprentices was immediate—fear and wonder became etched on their faces. One hour later….

“I never saw you open a spiral like that before… your song came out and your movements…,” said Kolilkab.

“I know,” replied Balamcoatl. “It must have scared people. I noticed that three didn’t walk the spiral.”

“Kumac was totally freaked out. I’ve talked to him and he’s okay now. But you really pushed his major belief buttons. He said you looked like some type of demon. He also confided in me that he gets uncomfortable when he looks into your eyes before you do ceremony or a healing. He says you have a frightening look of ‘non-attached intensity’—eyes not of this world,” explained Kolilkab. “I assured him that it is your totally focused strong mind and intent.”

“Is he okay with bathing tomorrow morning?” asked Balamcoatl.

“He said he’s still willing to participate… just as long as he doesn’t have to go into a death spiral,” replied Kolilkab.

“Good. Now let’s talk about tonight’s fear exercise.”