April 30, 2011

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A touch known and easily accesible number of ancient Maya temples, referred to as Xel Ha, is located 15 minutes north of Tulum pueblo on Hwy 307. Xel Ha (which means mixing of the waters in Mayan) is also the name of the large cove and tourist park nearby, famous for it´s magical swimming and snorkeling.

The placement of Xel Ha is vital as a way to realise why this area was so vital to the spiritual life of the traditional Maya people. For it was here that pilgrims originated from all over Maya land (now referred to as Central America and the Yucatan) for their once-in-a-lifetime pilgrammage to the island of Cozumel. In days long past gone, Cozumel was named Ixchel, which is the name of the Maya goddess of love and fertility. For it was here, on this beautiful island only accessed by large canoes, that Maya people performed their ceremonies for abundant fertility, usually right before marriage.

Upon entering the archeological zone of Xel ha, there are two main areas of interesting ruins which are built during the Maya classic period (300 to 900 AD). The first area which is literally alongside the highway, you will find buildings of stone lying in bliss among large Ceiba trees. The Ceiba tree is the Maya tree of life. Seemingly reaching out in all directions, the Ceiba grows fast and strong from the bottom up, growing branches before growing leaves. For the Maya, the Cieba tree is a natural demonstration of the Christian cross or DiVinci´s Vitruvio, exemplifying our connection to the underworld, in all four directions (north, south, east and west) and our link with above (God, space and extra terrestrials).

Among the ruins you´ll find a cirular bath area (which could have already been a choltun, which is a Maya water collector) plus a beautiful ancient wall painting of the honey god, which unfortunately was sandblasted by hurricane Wilma some time ago. Still you will see the red paint hand print from the original mason who constructed the temple on your Maya shaman.

The important secret of the Xel Ha Maya ruins is the original sac be (Mayan for white road) which enters 1 km to the jungle. Towards the end of this natural rocky road, now quite rustic after a milenia of jungle growth, is a beautiful cenote (hole from the rock of fresh healing standard water) along side the mini jaguar house. This mini group of spectacular ancient ruins carries a painting of the descending jaguar, representative of the descending god, person who plays in the underworld. For the Maya, cenotes and oceans represent Xibalba, the innerworld or underworld. Just as everyone snoozes every evening and everyone dies, the Maya metaphorically and shamanistically went into these “worlds” in deep breathing.

Here you can sit because the Maya priest/shaman sat, with his or her returning to the cenote (representing your connection to soul and otherworld through your third eye and crown chakra) and meditate acquire the best together with your physical eyes upon the mini, almost childlike, rock temple only some meters away.

The good thing regarding this magical jungle experience do you think that is birds of many different feathers greet you as you visit, large iguanas scurry in their rock condos since you go by, as tree snakes silently watch every move you create. As this is not just a popular tourist attraction, you could have the entire experience to on your own.

Be sure you refresh yourself by jumping journey rocks in the cool water. But why should you not use suntan lotion if you are planning to swim as it destroys the natural delicate water balance.

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April 29, 2011

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The Yaxchilán archeological site can be reached by an hour long boat ride down the mighty Usamacinta river through one of the last great North American rainforests. It is surely an experience for being remembered. Traveling in a long boat with its large outboard motor you can view Guatemala one shore and Mexico on the other.

If you keep looking out you will see lots of the rainforest inhabitants, from wild monkeys to toucans and eagles. The water itself contains crocodiles many varieties of freshwater fish.

You´ll see large buildings of cut stone peeking through the jungle as you pull to shore. Stepping off the boat and under the rainforest canopy has a cooling effect as you begin your tour of Yaxchilán. Built during the Maya golden age, 200-900 A.D., the site has 86 known buildings. To go in the site you’re going via a building called the labyrinth. The actual using this building in precedent days is unknown, yet its link with the underworld for the Maya is undoubtedly important.

The ceremonial center begins with its huge main plaza and well maintained stele and door lintel carvings. Finding out about the hill you´ll see incredibly intact roofcombs of the second tier of buildings. You may climb to level after level of buildings, each an architectural wonder, each which includes remarkable detail worth noting. Occasionally one can find proof of recent worship with the Lakandons, a dwindling group of Maya that still practice the traditional ways of worship.

The Mayan ruins at Yaxchilán are famous for the extensive history detailed in its well preserved carvings. The majority of lintel and stele carvings commemorate the important historical events occurring throughout the reign of King Jaguar Shield, his famous wives Lady Xoc and Lady Eveningstar, and his awesome son Bird Jaguar who ruled here in the 8th century.

Yaxchilán is exclusive in its large number of depictions of important female personages. Lady Xoc, specially, is depicted engaged in numerous rituals. To quote Linda Schele and David Friedel in A Forest of Kings, ¨The depiction of a woman as the principal actor in ritual is unprecedented at Yaxchilán and almost unknown in Maya majestueux art at any site.¨

Many images depict women engaged inside the ritual of bloodletting. If this is a town of seers, as many accept is as true was, then this bloodletting ceremony was undoubtedly the ritual magic accustomed to start the seer on their own journey. Again to quote Schele and Friedel, ¨The purpose of these great cathartic rituals was the vision quest, the opening of a portal in the Otherworld by which gods also, the ancestors may be enticed so your beings of your world could commune together.¨ Here a Maya queen holds a bowl filled with strips of paper utilized to collect blood. The strips will later be burned for offering towards gods.

Yaxchilán also offers some interesting images that streamline another critical Mayan ritual, the sacred ballgame. The shocking discovery on this number of friezes show in clear detail how the ¨ball¨ on this game was obviously a bound captive human. It appears that Bird-Jaguar (in the ball game outfit) must not allow the ball hit the ground. Behind the king are two dwarves, causing anyone to ask, who have been these enigmatic little people referred to much in Maya mythology? Perhaps they may be in connection with the ancient Olmec belief that four dwarves organized the cardinal points on the sky.

Nearly every building contains a doorway that tells a story. When visiting here, make sure to lookup at the carved lintels topping the doorways to check out some of the finest preserved carvings from your ancient Maya world.

As soon as you attain the the surface of the Yaxchilán site you will find yourself overlooking the lush highland rain forest. İt is a favorite spot for the majority. Stop here to relax and ponder the mysterious ways of the ancient Maya.

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