Quintana Roo, Mexico
I’m aware of the mystery around us . . . coincidences, premonitions, emotions, dreams, the power of nature, magic.
—Isabel Allende (1942–), Peruvian-born Chilean-American writer
When an ancient Maya woman wanted to become pregnant, she would appeal to Ix Chel, the moon goddess. From time immemorial, the effects of a full moon on sex and fertility have been observable: heightened romantic passion and increases in labor and childbirth. Since the entire island of Cozumel is the holy domain of the Mayan moon goddess, you might want to perform your own fertility ritual (perhaps with your lover) under a full moon on a romantic Cozumel beach.
Cozumel (Place of Swallows) is small: only 30 miles wide and not quite 10 miles across. Yet the island, which lies 37 miles south of Cancún, is one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations because of its pristine beaches and incredible snorkeling on the Mesoamerican Reef.
Travel to Cozumel is easy now that the island has a small international airport with flights to and from mainland Mexico and many cities in the United States. Cruise ships also dock at one of three piers.
As you sit under the stars sipping Mayan drinking chocolate spiced with chili and gazing at the moon, invoke the moon goddess’s powers to bless you with motherhood as she has blessed Maya women for thousands of years.
The Maya believed the cacao tree was a gift from the gods and attributed eating and drinking chocolate to fertility.