Chapter 8
The mystery of the Mayans, the temples and pyramids created by ancient people who lived in the regions in times past can connect you with earth’s energy in these locations by experiencing that which they left behind. You can visit Actun Tunichil Muknal in Belize, a difficult to reach cave that contains the skeletons of ancient Mayans who were sacrificed to Chichén Itzá, and the Temple of Kukulkan, where you can watch the Descent of Kukulkan, the Mayan feathered serpent god, which happens when the sun creates a shadow that slowly moves down the side of the temple. The energy here can help you reach great heights on your spiritual journey. While many places are connected with the Mayan culture and contain ancient ruins there are also places such as Coiba Island, which was once used as a prison and is now one of the best preserved rainforests in the world. In Nicaragua, there is Volcan Masaya, an active volcano with an intermittently viewable lava lake where you can connect to the core of the earth’s energy. At Lighthouse Reef in Belize, the Great Blue Hole offers a connection to earth frequency with the amplification of the ocean water that can settle, soothe, and bring back into balance an unbalanced spiritual frequency. Mexico and Central America offer a wide range of landscapes from rainforests and mountains to deserts that offer exceptional opportunities to become one with the frequency of the power places and sacred sites located here.
Map key
1. Actun Tunichil Muknal—Belize
2. Altan Ha—Belize
3. Capacha—Colima, Mexico
4. Carocol—Belize
5. Cenote Sagrado—Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
6. Chichén Itzá—Mexico
7. Coiba Island—Panama
8. Copan—Honduras
9. Cuetzalán—Puebla, Mexico
10. Dzibilchaltun—Yucatán, Mexico
11. El Tajin—Veracruz, Mexico
12. Great Pyramid of Cholula—Puebla, Mexico
13. Huellas de Acahualinca—Managua, Nicaragua
14. Izapa—Chiapas, Mexico
15. Joya de Cerén—El Salvador
16. Kaminal Juyú—Guatemala
17. La Basilicia de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles—Costa Rica
18. Lake Atitlán—Guatemala
19. Los Naranjos Eco-Archeological Park—Western Honduras
20. Mask Temple—Lamanai, Belize
21. Palenque—Chiapas Region, Southern Mexico
22. Popocatépetl—Morelos/Puebla, Mexico
23. Pyramid of the Magician—Uxmal, Mexico
24. Quiriguá—Guatemala
25. Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve—Honduras
26. Sendero Los Quetzales and the Highlands—Panama
27. Stone Spheres—Delta of the Térraba River, Costa Rica
28. Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves—Panama
29. Tarascan Ruins at Tzintzuntzan—Michoacán, Mexico
30. Tazumal—El Salvador
31. Teotihuacan—Mexico
32. The Great Blue Hole—Lighthouse Reef, Belize
33. Tikal’s Maya Temples—Guatemala
34. Tula—Mexico
35. Volcan Masaya—Nicaragua
1. Actun Tunichil Muknal—Belize
Categories: Caves, Mountains/Mounds/Cliff Locations, Relic Sites
Located in Tea Kettle Village, Belize, Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) is a remote cave in the Mountain Tapir Reserve filled with Mayan relics. It is a historical and cultural site. It was originally thought to be the entrance to the Mayan underworld and the locals called it Xibalba. The National Geographic Society named Actun Tunichil Muknal the most sacred cave in the world.
Getting to this cave is quite an adventure in itself and you must book a tour with a touring company. Due to the delicate nature of the relics inside of the cave no photographic equipment or personal belongings of any kind are allowed. This is a memory only location. You are only allowed to wear your clothes, which should be something that will dry quickly and make sure you have closed-toe water shoes like you would wear at the ocean, and the helmet with a light on it that the tour guide will give you.
To get to the cave you must drive along an unpaved road with your tour guide. You will get wet on this trip because you have to swim across a river three times to get to the cave, then you’ll hike through the jungle a short distance, and there is water inside the cave. Once you arrive at the entrance you will swim into the cave and then you are hiking through water, climbing over rocks, and wading through large chamber rooms. About forty-five minutes later, you’ll arrive at a ledge and will be asked to take off your shoes. This is because the guides want you to be very conscious of where your stepping due to the huge amount of Mayan artifacts in this archaeological part of the cave. As you’re walking through this area it’s important to realize that archaeologists have never excavated this area. What you see is exactly as the Mayans left it. This is where the Mayans made ritual sacrifices to the rain gods approximately one thousand years ago between 700 and 900 AD. There were fourteen skeletons found in this back portion of the cave, one being a well-preserved, full-bodied skeleton of a sixteen-year-old boy.
The ages of the skeletons have been determined to be between one year old to forty-five years old. The younger skeletons show signs of skull shaping, which is when they would tightly wrap the skull or place some type of device on the head to reshape the skull so that it looks elongated. It was determined that all of the people in the cave were sacrificed by blunt trauma to the head. The most famous of these skeletons is that of an eighteen-year-old girl. She is known as “The Crystal Maiden” because her skeleton has been there for so long that is completely calcified, which makes her bones look plump and as if they are sparkling.
The energy within this cave reverberates with a deep hum that you can feel throughout your own frequency. It is an energy that can both motivate and ground you. There’s a feeling of chaos, fear, and frenzy within the upper chamber where the sacrifices occurred. Those who are intuitive quite often pick up on this energy and the link to the deaths of the past. Refocusing and applying the positive energy over the negative will enable you to bring a bit of the Mayan civilization back with you in the form of a spiritual energy connection.
Categories: Ceremonial Sites, Monasteries/Temples, Power Places, Pyramids, Relic Sites, Ruins/Archeological Sites
Altun Ha, also known as Rockstone Pond, is located off of Old Northern Highway, thirty-one miles north of Belize City. Once you pass Sandhill Village you’ll drive for about a half hour before you see Rockstone Pond Road on the left. The site is two miles down this road. The name Rockstone Pond comes from the Mayan built water reservoir there, which is lined with yellow clay. This reservoir is also home to crocodiles. Due to the jungle location, a wide variety of wildlife live in the area around the ruins. Because of its proximity to Belize City it is a popular destination for those who want to immerse themselves in the energy of the Mayan ruins.
Altun Ha is close to the Caribbean Sea and, based on the relics found in the tombs, the people were wealthy and participated in the exchanging of exotic goods such as jade and obsidian and it was a major center for trade. Altun Ha was also a ceremonial center that included thirteen structures. Today many of the structures are still covered with jungle vegetation while others have been cleared for the public to view.
Archeologists consider Altun Ha a religious and spiritual center because jade was found there. In the Mayan culture only those who were leaders of great importance were allowed to wear jade or to use it in any way. The area was settled in approximately 200 BC and was at its peak of power during the third century AD and again in 900 AD. Looting of some of the tombs occurred and it is theorized that this could have happened due to revolt against the site’s leaders. After this event the area did not grow anymore and the population dwindled over the next hundred years. During the twelfth century AD, the population increased for a while but eventually it became an agricultural village.
The site consists of two large plazas with medium-sized pyramids with steps going to the top. The largest pyramid is the Temple of the Masonry Altars and it is also known as the Temple of the Sun God. This Temple was enlarged many times by building on top of the previous temple. Seven tombs were found at Altun Ha and in the oldest tomb they discovered a ten pound solid jade carved head of the Mayan Sun God Kinich Ahau. The replica of this relic is at the Museum of Belize, but the real relic is in a bank vault in Belize City.
The energy at Altun Ha is tranquil, quiet, and serene. There is a deep sense of spirituality and of connection to the Divine. The overall feeling is one of happiness and joy and the frequency is light and lively. This is one of the smaller Mayan ruin sites but as you stand at the top of one of the pyramids or in the center of the plazas you can connect to times past and feel a sense of community in this area. This can help you to spread the joy in your own life to those who may need your assistance in your community.
Categories: Burial Sites, Relic Sites
Capacha is located in Colima, about four miles northeast of the Colima Municipality in western Mexico. Capacha is an archaeological site of ancient shaft tombs.
Shaft tombs are part of the Mexican Shaft Tomb Culture, which existed from 300 BC to 300 AD in the areas of Colima, Jalisco, and Nayarit, Mexico. A shaft tomb is when the people would dig straight down into the earth (this is the shaft) and then at the end of that shaft they would dig out a room under the ground where they would bury their dead. The shaft lengths varied but could be up to fifteen feet deep. Pre-Hispanic cultures built shaft tombs approximately two thousand years before the Spanish arrived in Mexico.
While we don’t know what specific group of people created the shaft tombs, we can tell a lot about their life from the relics that were found in the tombs. Due to illegal looting, archaeologists didn’t find an unlooted shaft tomb until 1993. Almost all of the artifacts and relics that have surfaced came from illegal looting of the sites. Collectors around the world, especially the Hollywood elite and highly artistic collectors, often purchased these artifacts during the 1930s and 1940s. Archeologists say that looters must have robbed thousands of tombs during this period in order to produce the amount of true relics that have surfaced. Archaeologists did excavate the looted sites in order to salvage any artifacts that the tomb robbers might have missed. The amount of looting that happened destroyed any chance archaeologists had to learn more about these cultures.
A lot of pottery was found buried in the tombs with the person. Some of the items that were found were bowls, obsidian shards, and lots of figurines. These figurines give us a glimpse into the daily life of these people. Most of the figurines depict people in the sitting position who often have multiple nose rings and ear spools. Many times, there are couples depicted with the man’s arm over the woman’s shoulders, animals, and scenes of events. Relics found in the ancient shaft tombs include people dancing in the Village Plaza, people dancing in a circle, and warriors. Some of the most highly desired relics among collectors are the ones from Colima that portray small dogs. Overall the relics show how the people lived, how they dressed, and how they adorned themselves, which gives us a greater understanding of how they lived. Archaeologists determined that the art found in the tomb indicates that there was a political or social hierarchy and that these people participated in shamanistic rituals.
The energy of Capacha in Colima is, on the surface, disruptive, however if you reach out and search deeper using your own frequency, you will feel the energy of belonging, of family and home, and of bonding with those you love. Connecting to this energy can help you resolve any issues you have at home or within your family. It means to look deeper than the disruption at the surface in order to find the gems underneath.
Categories: Monasteries/Temples, Relic Sites, Ruins/Archeological Sites
Caracol, also known as El Caracol, is located in the Cayo District of Belize. It is in the western part of Belize near the Guatemala border south of Xunantunich and San Ignacio and is in the Chiquibil Forest Reserve. It was buried under the jungle canopy until 1937 when a logger found it completely by accident.
Caracol is Belize’s largest Mayan site. The main area covers fifteen square miles and was one of the largest sites of the ancient Mayans with a total area of seventy-five square miles. While some of the ruins are cleared there are many that are still under the cover of the jungle and uncleared.
Archaeologists and researchers have determined that Caracol began between 900 and 600 BC and its royal dynasty formed in 331 BC. Over the next several hundred years Caracol was a powerful city who participated in wars and rose in power due to its success after defeating the cities of Tikal and Naranjo. The last date found on any of the buildings in Caracol was 859 AD. The city was eventually abandoned around 1050 AD. It is thought that at one point 140,000 people lived in Caracol. It was a well-developed city that was elaborately planned. It was larger than Belize City is today and may have been even larger than Tikal.
In addition to being the largest Mayan site, Caracol is home to the largest Mayan pyramid and the largest man-made building in Belize. Named Caana, which means Sky Palace, it is 141 feet tall. It consists of three temples and four palaces, which had white stucco walls with red paint. There are over one hundred tombs, a variety of relics, and hieroglyphic inscriptions found within Caana.
Mayans believed that everything in the world was sacred and they use the words K’uh and K’uhul to describe the sacredness, spirituality, and the Divine in everything. This reminds me of frequency and the energy within all that is and how it is connected to our own sacredness and the Divine within each of us. Just as we speak of how our frequency is our connection to our divine spirituality, the Mayan’s held a similar belief. To the Mayans astronomy, rituals, and the natural world were all part of their religious philosophies. Today many people can relate to the same beliefs even though we give them modern names. The energy at Caracol is very powerful, is linked to the Divine, and to spirituality. It is a warrior type of energy that makes you want to stand up for yourself, to take on the battles of others, and to win at everything you attempt to do. Connecting to the energy of Caracol can help you in any area where you are struggling. It is a reminder to be a warrior, but to be a spiritual warrior, so that you are connecting to your greater soul purpose as you stand up for what you believe in and reach for your goals.
5. Cenote Sagrado—Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Categories: Healing Springs, Mountains/Mounds/ Cliff Locations, Power Places, Relic Sites
Cenote Sagrado, also known as Chen Ku, is located within walking distance of the Chichén Itzá archaeological site in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. It is a healing spring that is also known as the Well of Sacrifice.
A cenote is a sinkhole that forms due to the collapse of the limestone bedrock underneath and then fills with groundwater. The clear waters of cenotes are fresh and naturally filtered, which makes them pure and rich in vitamins and minerals, and are often said to have healing qualities. Cenote means “well” and the Mayans would build villages around these water sources, which were life sustaining for them. The Mayans that lived in the Yucatán Peninsula also believed that cenotes were places where you communicated with the gods. Because sinkholes can happen anywhere, the cenotes often occurred in remote locations deep in the jungle or within caves. Cenotes in the area were categorized by the Mayans depending on their use. Some were for drinking, others for bathing, and some for crop water. Others were considered sacred and were where they made sacrificial offerings to the water god Chaac.
Cenote Sagrado is one of the largest cenotes in the area. It is almost 197 feet wide. It has sheer cliffs that rise eighty-eight and a half feet above the water. The water at Cenote Sagrado isn’t as clear as other cenotes in the area and its water visibility is very low due to the amount of algae that grows within it.
At Cenote Sagrado the Mayans worshiped the rain god, Chaac, by sacrificing people during droughts and giving other ritual offerings in order to appease the god so that he would send the rains and their crops would grow, which enabled the population to thrive. One theory is that the Mayans believed that when they sacrificed a person to the cenote that the person didn’t die but was taken directly to the underworld. Diving is allowed but only with a special permit issued by the local government. Many dives have been made at Cenote Sagrado over the years and the skeletal remains of over 127 men, women, and children were found at the bottom of this cenote but it is believed that there were many more sacrificial victims. Some of the other relics that were found in the cenote were jade, gold, obsidian, shells, wooden items that were preserved, rings, gold bells, pottery, flint, rubber, stones, and cloth. Many of the items found weren’t native to the area but brought from other places.
While many cenotes allow swimming, today it is prohibited at Cenote Sagrado due to the nature of this sacred cenote and its importance of providing insights into the Mayan way of life. The energy at Cenote Sagrado is solemn, concerning, yet grounded and enlightening. Just as the Mayans sacrificed their prized possessions, and people, in order to achieve specific goals, the energy here can help you as you consider situations in your life that concern you or that have you upset. It can lead you through murky waters of confusion to the clarity of enlightenment. You may have to sacrifice, or let go of, something in your life in order to gain what you desire.
Categories: Astronomical Observatories, Ceremonial Sites, Monasteries/Temples, Ruins/Archeological Sites
Chichén Itzá archaeological site is located in Tinum, Yucatán, Mexico. It was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. Chichén Itzá was an important pre-Hispanic trade city and religious and ceremonial site between the years 750 to 1200 AD. The Mayan-Toltec civilization combined elements from Mexico along with the Mayan construction to create the city that is there today. It is considered the most important archaeological ruin site for the Mayan-Toltec civilization in the Yucatán area. The structures built within Chichén Itzá were considered sacred to the Mayan civilization so let’s take a look at some of them. The Mayan people who lived in Chichén Itzá were quite concerned with watching the skies and using the layout of the stars and planets to determine their planting seasons, their calendars, and other important days of the year such as the equinox or solstice. In order to see the skies the people had to build structures that would be high above the tree canopy due to the thickness of the jungle in the Yucatán.
The Chichén Itzá Great Ball Court is the largest ball court found to date and is 554 feet long by 231 feet wide. It has steps, that doubled as seats, built into the sides so people could look down into the ball court to watch the competitions. The winners of the competition received the honor of being a sacrifice to the gods. Other historians say that the losers were sacrificed.
The cenotes in the area were the water supply for the people who lived in the city. However, they were also used to sacrifice people to the Mayan rain god that lived under the water at the bottom of the cenote during times of drought. Bones, jewelry, and other objects were found by archeologists who excavated the cenotes that substantiate this theory.
El Caracol is sometimes referred to as “the observatory” due to the rounded part of the structure on top of a large platform. This rounded part looks like what we might use to house a large telescope today. Archaeologists and historians have discovered evidence that Mayans used this structure to watch the skies. From its position, there are clear unobstructed views of the sky in all directions. It also seems to have been aligned specifically with the movement of Venus. The grand staircase on the front of the building matches the extreme northern position of Venus. The building’s corners, specifically the southwest and northeast ones, align with the summer solstice sunrise and winter solstice sunset.
The Temple of Kukulkan is ninety-eight feet tall and the public is no longer allowed to climb to the top due to safety reasons. This four-sided pyramid is the biggest within the location, has ninety-one steps on each side with the Temple on top of the pyramid being an additional step. This totals 365 steps on the pyramid with each one representing a day in the Mayan calendar. The pyramid has nine stages, which represent the eighteen months of the Mayan calendar year. The Temple also creates the Descent of Kukulkan, which is when the feathered serpent god, Kukulkan, returns to earth to be with his worshipers on the equinox. Beginning at the top, the sun produces a shadow that moves its way down the pyramid creating a snakelike shadow.
There are other buildings on site including the Temple of the Warriors, House of Eagles, the Jaguar Temple and the group of the Thousand Columns, the Market, and the Tomb of the High Priest.
The energy at Chichén Itzá radiates upward and spirals from the right to the left throughout the city. It is a serene, positive, and uplifting energy. It makes you feel contemplative and inspired. Connecting to the energy here can help you to reach great heights in both your spiritual life and other endeavors. It is harnessing the power of the earth and sky in a creative way.
Categories: Islands/Reefs, Rainforests
Coiba Island is located in the Gulf of Chiriqui off the Pacific coast of Panama. It is part of the Coiba National Park system, which protects Coiba Island and thirty-eight smaller islands. The water around the islands are an animal refuge within the Gulf of Chiriqui. The islands in Coiba National Park are volcanic islands that have become tropical forests. This area is well known for having the best diving experiences in the world where you can see a wide range of different and unique types of ocean animals and fish. The area also has the second largest coral reef in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which makes it of interest to oceanographers and the scientific community as a whole.
Coiba Island was once a penitentiary that had up to three thousand prisoners. There are some small buildings on the northern part of the island but they were not for the prisoners, instead, the guards lived in these buildings. Coiba Island was where they sent the most dangerous criminals in Panama and for some it was a death sentence. On Coiba Island prisoners lived in one of the thirty makeshift camps and they were free to roam anywhere on the island. They had to learn to survive in their natural surroundings and to get along with the other prisoners who might try to kill them. If they tried to escape, it was pretty much a guarantee they wouldn’t make it due to the sharks who made their homes in the waters surrounding the island and the crocodiles who lived on the island. It was a very dangerous environment and many of the prisoners did not survive. However, there is always a balance of energy and on Coiba Island the jungle flourished because people stayed away out of fear of the dangerous criminals who were sent there. The prison closed in 2004 and at that time the majority of the island and forest was in its natural state and is today one of the best-preserved rainforests in the world.
The island itself is a nature preserve and is uninhabited except for the ranger station where you can stay overnight. The island is still thought of as a deadly and dangerous place to those who live on the mainland. Researchers and scientists have very different thoughts though. The carnivorous species found on the Panamanian mainland are not found on Coiba Island but many rare species can be found on the island.
The energy of Coiba Island is quiet, reserved, and strong. There is a sense of isolation and intense awareness. Becoming one with the energy of this island can deepen your own spiritual truth, allow you to explore your own divine nature, and allow you to grow in your own spirituality.
Categories: Power Places, Pyramids, Relic Sites, Ruins/Archeological Sites, Vortexes
Copan Ruinas, most commonly known as Copan, is located in western Honduras in the Copan Department close to the border of Guatemala. It is on the west side of the Copan River.
Copan was discovered in 1570 by Diego Garcia de Palacio and archaeologists say Copan Valley was first populated in 1500 BC. In 427 AD the Mayan named Yax Kuk Mo arrived in Copan from Tikal. His reign began what would be a sixteen ruler dynasty that transformed Copan into one of the greatest Mayan cities of the time. Archaeologists discovered, through the ruins and relics, that Copan achieved many cultural advancements in writing (hieroglyphics), math, and astronomy. Copan reached its height earlier in the ninth century and as many as twenty thousand people lived there. By 1200 AD the site was abandoned due to extreme droughts and the inability to grow food.
The site of the Copan Mayan ruins is on approximately 250 acres. The main complex is on fifty-four acres and contains five plazas, large stairways, a ball court, a stadium opening, altars, pyramids, and sculpted figures of Jaguars that archaeologists believe were originally covered with black obsidian. Another interesting feature found at the site is the hieroglyphic stairway, which contains the largest amount of Mayan text in the region. The Mayan ruins of Copan are known for their intricate stone sculptures and hieroglyphics. There are two different areas of buildings and over 4,500 structures; the first is called the principal group and the second is known as Las Sepulturas. The primary group is at the Copan main site and consists of the Acropolis, the Great Plaza, Stelaes (carved monuments depicting the history of the site), the Hieroglyphic Stairway, the Tunnels, and is thought to have been where the nobles and rulers lived. The smaller site at Las Sepulturas is where the general population lived.
The energy at Copan is regal, upbeat, and positive in nature. The energy here spirals and is a vortex energy that drew people to it in the past and still draws people to it today. It enables you to see beyond what is holding you back from achieving your desires, and to find ways to break free from fears of success. The spiraling vortex of energy also brings a sense of peace and well-being, a deeper connection to the natural world, and helps you release feelings of grandiose or superiority that you may feel. In other words, the energy here can put you in your place so that you don’t live with your head in the clouds and are able to connect with your own reality. The energy at Copen can help you awaken to your own inner truth and can guide you in a new direction. Don’t be surprised if you get visions of future events when connecting to the energy at Copen. It can be inspirational and life-changing.
Categories: Caves, Man-Made Sites
Cuetzalán is a remote village east of Mexico City in the Sierra Norte region in the Mexican state of Puebla. It is an old-world town with sloping cobblestone streets and quaint buildings with white stucco. The town began in 1475 and has pre-Hispanic origins. During its history, it changed names several times and was named Cuetzalán in 1863. In 1986 it became a city and in 2002 it became part of the Pueblos Magicos program and now attracts a lot of tourists to the area. It has modernized to accommodate the tourists, because tourism and coffee sales are the town’s primary source of income. They also built restaurants, nightclubs, and bars.
The region still celebrates its old Mesoamerican heritage that began during Mayan times of worshipping deities and nature through the Dance of the Quetzals and the Dance of the Flyers. In the Dance of the Quetzals, the performers wear elaborate headdresses that were once made from feathers of the Quetzal. During the dance they play flutes, sing, and dance.37 The Dance of the Flyers is a different tradition altogether. During this dance, five men climb to the top of a very high pole with ropes secured to each side of four pieces of wood that form an open square. One man sits on each side and one man stays at the top and the other four fall off of the square and swing upside down around the pole until eventually they reach the ground. It is believed that this dance was done during times of drought in order to appease the gods. It’s quite the spectacle to watch and you can see videos of it online. In Cuetzalán, one man is often dressed in a bird outfit and he dances on top of the large wooden post before falling to the side and spiraling to the ground.38
The city itself is like stepping back in time. The energy here is calm, content, and has an old-world feel to it. Steeped in culture, legends, and surrounded by forest, waterfalls, and caves, it is easy to lose yourself in its charm. Connecting to the energy of Cuetzalán can help you release stress, and connect to your inner spirituality. Watching either of the traditional dances fills you with a sense of awe and inspiration. They can empower you to do anything that you set out to achieve.
Cuetzalán is also known for its cave system called Grutas de Cuetzalán. It could possibly be the largest cave system in Latin America. Since the 1970s, sixty-two miles of caves have been discovered with the longest being almost twenty-two miles. The most popular cave that most tourists visit is Grutas Aventura de Cuetzalán. Visitors follow the cave for a quarter of a mile and reach depths of approximately 260 feet during the tour. This cave has large rooms with high ceilings but there are also some smaller places too. You will get wet during this cave adventure.
The energy in the Grutas Aventura cave is positive and flows in forward motion. It feels as if it wraps around you, embracing you in love and splendor. It fills you with a sense of awe and inspiration, is empowering, and connects you with the energy of the earth.
10. Dzibilchaltun—Yucatán, Mexico
Categories: Burial Sites, Monasteries/Temples, Relic Sites, Ruins/Archeological Sites
Located near the city of Merida in the Yucatán is an ancient city named Dzibilchaltun, which means “writing in the stones” according to the carved gravestones found at the site. The area was once an important Mayan trade center. Archaeologists believe that at one time between twenty thousand to forty thousand people lived in Dzibilchaltun and there were more than 8,400 buildings here throughout its history. While eight thousand have been identified by archeologists, there are still more to be discovered under the growth of vegetation. Archeologists are still studying the site today. They believe it was occupied for over three thousand years prior to the arrival of the Spanish, which makes it the longest occupied city of the Mayans. It is close to the gulf coast and the people made tools from snail shells, ate food from the sea, and made salt.
When the Spanish arrived during the 1500s, there were still people living in Dzibilchaltun. The Mayan people moved out when the Spanish arrived. The Spanish continued to build as shown by the Franciscan chapel, known as the Open Chapel, which stands in ruins among the Mayan ruins. It is one of the only Mayan sites that incorporates both Mayan and Spanish ruins.
The Temple of the Seven Dolls was discovered in the 1950s underneath the ruins of a larger pyramid. As archeologists removed rubble of the larger pyramid it revealed the temple underneath. It is a quadrangular substructure of the larger pyramid and has a pyramid base with a square building on top of it that has a small pyramid like structure on top of its roof. It was built so the sun’s rays pass through the doorways of the temple during the spring and autumn equinoxes. The temple also has a stelae in front. It was named Temple of the Seven Dolls because seven small effigies were found inside the temple. These dolls, along with other artifacts found at Dzibilchaltun, are in the museum located at the entrance to the site. Some of these artifacts include swords and other weapons, carved stone tablets, maps, Spanish armor, and old textile machinery to name a few. Artifacts from the area date between 700 and 800 AD.
Dzibilchaltun was built around Cenote Xlakah. Archeologists believe that this source of clean drinking water was the reason for building the settlement here. It is also thought to have religious significance due to the relics found at the bottom of this cenote. Today it is used for swimming by visitors and people who live in the area and has numerous lily pads in the water.
The energy at Dzibilchaltun is peaceful and calm. The energy that flows from Cenote Xlakah around the area is a wavelike circular motion. It is light, airy, and feels subtle in its strength. There is power here that can be tapped into to help ground you and find balance within yourself. As you stand atop one of the ruins, imagine the positive energy that helped the area thrive for thousands of years. Feel it move upwards from your feet and through your body, energizing and empowering your frequency. Sometimes it feels like a buzzing or prickly sensation. Letting the energy of this place connect with your own frequency can be uplifting and bring about a sense of purpose.
Categories: Ceremonial Sites, Power Places, Pyramids, Ruins/Archeological Sites
El Tajin is located north of the city of Veracruz just outside of the town of Papantla. El Tajin means “thunderstorm” in Toltec, and it is believed that this name came from the Totonac rain gods, which were twelve old men (called Tajin) that lived in the city and were the Lords of Thunderstorms.
El Tajin is a large complex with over 150 buildings, twenty of which were excavated and restored. The remainder is still covered by the jungle’s vegetation. El Tajin features a large main plaza surrounded by a variety of styles of pyramids, seventeen ball courts, and palaces. It displays both Mayan and Oaxacan influence and was an important Mesoamerican center. Archaeologists state that this center reached its height between the ninth and twelfth centuries AD. After 1200 AD El Tajin was abandoned when the Aztec empire took power. Archeologists found some indications that fire may have destroyed it.
Archaeologists have also discovered, through imaging techniques, that there are many more ball courts that are still underground, which suggest that games and ceremonies were important events at this location. Archaeologists also believe that they made human sacrifices at the site. One of the carvings in the southern ball court (Juego de Pelota Sur) depicts a contestant being sacrificed. The carvings, niches, decorations, wall paintings, and reliefs all show how people lived in El Tajin and the rituals that they participated in, which gives us more understanding about their beliefs.
The most significant structure at El Tajin is the Pyramid of Niches. This sixty-foot-high pyramid structure has 365 niches built into the building. Each of the niches was painted red on the inside with the outer frames painted in blue. Archaeologists believe that these niches were somehow used to measure time. Also on the pyramid are relief carvings and paintings of the rulers of El Tajin as well as ceremonial scenes. There is also a stela of a leader or ruler of the city on the outside of the pyramid, which is a Mayan influence. Inside the pyramid is a smaller stela.
Another section of El Tajin is Tajin Chico, which is believed to have been constructed during the ninth and tenth centuries AD, and was where the city’s aristocrats lived. In Tajin Chico there are smaller ball courts at the four corners of the area and a Mayan arch at the southern entrance. One building, which archaeologists have labeled Building A, has more decorations, key patterns, and relief carvings, than any other building in El Tajin.
The energy at El Tajin is extremely powerful and can create a tremendous amount of spiritual awakening at a soul level when you connect with it. If you’re going through a time when you need to call on your own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual reserves, then connecting with the power of El Tajin will give you a boost, the focus needed, and the transformational ability to handle whatever situations, both positive and negative, that you encounter.
12. Great Pyramid of Cholula—Puebla, Mexico
Categories: Monasteries/Temples, Power Places, Pyramids
Cholula is located in the state of Puebla approximately two hours from Mexico City and twenty minutes from Puebla City. Cholula is home to the largest man-made ancient structure in the world, even larger in volume than the Egyptian pyramids. It is known as both the Great Pyramid of Tepanapa and the Great Pyramid of Cholula, although technically a temple, the people built this pyramid beginning in 200 BC until the Spanish arrival in 1519 AD.
The building of the Great Pyramid of Cholula to its current size happened in stages by whatever culture was ruling the city at the time. The main area around the pyramid is ten acres, which includes many sacrificial altars. Human sacrifice, including that of children by beheading, was a religious ritual for the ancient people of Cholula, especially during times of drought when they appealed to the God of rain. At the Altar con Ofrenda, archeologists discovered two skeletons of decapitated children with deformed skulls that confirm this theory.39
It is unclear as to whether the pyramid became overgrown naturally over thousands of years or if the Aztecs purposely buried the pyramid to save a piece of their culture when they learned that the Spanish were in the area and overtaking cities. When the Spanish arrived in 1519, they only saw the grass-covered hill so they built a church called La Iglesia de los Remedios on top of the pyramid, which stands there today.
There is a saying that eventually all things come to light and it is the same with the Great Pyramid of Cholula. Over time the earth fell away, revealing the secret hidden pyramid underneath. This was a great find for archaeologists who to date have excavated over five miles of tunnels inside of the structure. There’ve excavated the pyramid’s stairways, altars, and platforms as well as altars outside of the pyramid itself. Today you can walk through the tunnels and see two famous murals inside. The first is called Los Bebedores and shows people drinking, and the other is Chapulines, which shows grasshoppers surrounding a black skull. You can also see the pyramids primary staircases, which are nine floors tall.
The energy at Cholula and the Great Pyramid of Cholula is uplifting, sacrificial, and is one of growth. Just as the Great Pyramid of Cholula was built in stages one upon the other, connecting to the energy here can help you grow on your own spiritual path. Just as this temple wasn’t built over night, you too must build your knowledge one step at a time and in stages. If an idea for metaphysical thought doesn’t feel right to you at this point in time then let it pass by. When you are ready, and when you have grown to the level where you require this information to grow further, it will come back around to you. Connecting with the energy of the site can help you with that growth. This energy is also important in realizing that sometimes you have to sacrifice something by letting it go in order to experience spiritual growth.
13. Huellas de Acahualinca—Managua, Nicaragua
Categories: Bodies of Water/Waterfalls/Springs, Footprints, Relic Sites
Located in Managua, Nicaragua, at the border of Lake Managua are the Huellas de Acahualinca, which translates to the Footprints of Acahualinca.
Miners discovered these prehistoric footprints in 1874. They are the fossilized footprints of approximately ten to fifteen people including men, women, and children, as well as deer, raccoons, and birds who walked across the mud along the shores of Lake Managua. The animal prints were made separately and the animals were not with the people because their tracks intersect with those of the people.
Archaeologists have determined that these footprints are approximately six thousand years old and were preserved when a layer of volcanic ash covered the mud. These preserved steps are the oldest human footprints found to date. Forensics experts report that the people were Paleolithic Indians between 4.75 and 5.24 feet tall who were probably walking around collecting food or water. Originally it was thought that the people were running from volcanic activity, however the forensic reports eliminate that theory because the distance between the footprints is too short to indicate that they were running.
The footprints are currently maintained by the Acahualinca Footprints Museum, under a covered area. Taxis are highly recommended when visiting this area because, unfortunately, the town around the museum is not very safe. The museum is difficult to find because an earthquake destroyed Managua in 1972 and the city was never rebuilt, which makes it hard to navigate. Also, make sure you call before you go to verify that they are open because they often close due to flooding. The museum also is home to other relics found in Nicaragua such as a mammoth’s footprint, a skull from the ruins of Leon Viejo, and pre-Columbian tools. If you don’t speak or read Spanish, it is also highly recommended that you hire a guide.
All of the energy surrounding the area is scattered and unfocused but when you actually get to see the mummified footprints in stone, the energy changes. It is purposeful, driven, and in forward motion just as the steps of an ancient people who moved forward as they traveled. The energy here can propel you to step out of your comfort zone. Although these prints are set in stone, you don’t have to be. If you find yourself struggling in a deep muck, you can pull your feet out of the mud so that you can step forward, one foot at a time, and keep moving to discover what it is you are searching for.
Categories: Mythological Sites, Ruins/Archeological Site
Izapa is located in the region of Soconusco on the Izapa River at the foothills of the sixth tallest mountain in Mexico, the Tacaná volcano. Surrounded by cocoa fields and coffee plantations, Izapa is a pre-Columbian archaeological site containing ruins of buildings that date back to 600 BC and are part of the Formative Era. Izapa had platforms that were approximately 72 feet tall and the largest pyramid is 197 feet tall. There are two ball courts, 89 stelae carved with religious depictions, and 252 stone monuments. One stelae stands out among the rest and is the most famous. It is stelae Number 5, called the Tree of Life. In this carving, it shows the creation of the universe by a deity that includes earth, fire, and water. It is considered to be both a religious and mythical stelae. To protect it, they removed it from the site and now have it on display in Tapachula at the Archaeological Museum of Soconusco.40
Izapa was originally started by the Mize-zoque people. It is theorized that this area was selected to start the settlement because of the climate. The soil was fertile and the area has a high degree of humidity, which is necessary to produce agriculture. Due to being able to grow enough food for the people who lived in the area, plus an abundance of extra food, Izapa became an important trade center of the time. In addition to the food trade they also traded cocoa, rubber, jade, quetzal feathers, and obsidian. The site is also known for a massive monolith carved like a huge jaguar with his jaws opened as he eats a man. The people of Izapa abandoned the site in 1200 AD.
During excavations, archaeologists found a lot of astronomical references which led them to believe that Izapa had an important part in creating the Mayan calendar. Some of the stone monuments around the site seem to depict things in the solar system. The Mayan calendar system combined a 365-day solar calendar with a 260-day cycle calendar, which, when combined, created a fifty-two year period known as the Calendar Round. The primary purpose of this calendar was to track the planet Venus, because it held a high place in their belief system about the creation of the world.
Today you can visit the group of restored buildings known as Group F, which consists of stone sculptures, stelae, and buildings. The rest of the buildings located to the south of Group F are known as Groups A and B. These groups contain many stelae but vegetation covers the whole area.
The energy at Izapa is robust, mystical, and connected to the universe. It is creative, in forward motion, and related to the concept of time. If you were to apply the energy here in your own life, it would serve to boost your creativity and to get you out of a rut and into forward motion. It will also give you the ability to pull ideas from the universal consciousness that will enable you to make a difference not only in your own life but in the lives of others as well, should you so choose. This energy can help you see when time is of the essence and you need to move quickly or when you can slow down and take more time to accomplish your tasks.
Category: Ruins/Archeological Sites
Joya de Cerén is located in the Department of La Libertad in El Salvador outside of San Salvador at the Canton Joya de Cerén in Central America. The site is a pre-Hispanic farming community that was buried in 590 AD when the Laguna Caldera volcano erupted.
In 500 AD the eruption of the Ilopango volcano covered the area with volcanic ash and was responsible for what is known as the Classic Period Hiatus when the Mayans stopped building stelae and global cooling happened over an eighteen-month period between 535 and 536 AD that resulted in famines and crop failures. After the ground became fertile again, the people returned to the area and built Joya de Cerén.
The eruption of Laguna Caldera in 590 AD is similar to the eruption that buried Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy. In Joya de Cerén it is believed the earthquakes that happened prior to the actual eruption gave the people in Joya de Cerén time to evacuate. The sudden abandonment meant that they left everything behind as it was and ran for their lives. When the volcano erupted, it covered everything in sixteen to twenty-two feet of volcanic ash which preserved everything underneath it.
Today, this archeological site gives us one of the best-preserved examples of a Mesoamerica pre-Hispanic village in the world. So far, eighteen structures have been located within the area, and of those, twelve have been excavated in whole or in part. The structures were made of earth with thatch roofs, which were also preserved, as well as other organic materials such as sleeping mats, animal remains, bean filled pots, garden tools, and religious items. Several fields containing maize plants at various stages of growth, a garden of herbs and agave, and guava and cacao trees have also been discovered.
It is thought that about two hundred people lived in Joya de Cerén. Since there are no human remains at the site, it is believed they all escaped the village and, hopefully, they traveled far enough away that they survived the eruption. The buildings are grouped together in compounds. There are buildings that were used for storage, another for cooking, one for making handicrafts, and one for sleeping. There is also a sweat house and communal building that were used by a healer or shaman.
Even though the area experienced two traumatic events in the form of volcanic explosions, the energy here is relatively calm and quiet, peaceful, and happy. Viewing the homes of people who lived here thousands of years ago gives you a deep connection to the past and the present. Connecting to this energy can help you simplify your life, get back to basics instead of rushing to and fro with too many things to do every day, and will enable you to find joy and happiness within yourself. Sometimes we have to strip away all of the things weighing us down to get to the core of ourselves, to simplify and regain our joy, just as tons of volcanic ash had to be stripped away to find Joya de Cerén.
Category: Ruins/Archeological Sites
Located beneath the western third of modern Guatemala City are the ruins of another city, Kaminal Juyú (Kaminaljuyú), which means “place of the ancestors,” and is a pre-Columbian Mayan city.
Kaminal Juyú was built in 1200 BC in Guatemala’s highland central valley where water was abundant, the soil rich, and the land fertile. It was occupied for two thousand years and during that time was a prosperous trade center. It was abandoned in 900 AD due to drought.
A large portion of the extended site was destroyed due to real estate development in the area. One portion of the city is preserved as the Kaminal Juyú Archaeological Park so people can visit it. Since the buildings were constructed of hardened adobe they are more fragile and perishable than the limestone structures at other sites.
During the late preclassic ceramic phase, the people built a huge amount of pottery. Archaeologists have discovered over fifteen million ceramic pottery fragments at the site of Kaminal Juyú, which equates to 500,000 pieces of completed pottery.41 During this time, the people who lived in Kaminal Juyú created giant masks that they placed on edifices and they painted beautiful colorful murals on the walls. There are also monuments of animals that included bats, toads, jaguars, owls, and bird deities.
This archaeological site has been of interest to many scholars throughout the years and quite a few have conducted digs, which resulted in new data that gives us a look at these people’s lives and how they interacted socially with one another. An important discovery was of extremely large stelae, which were determined to be parts of enormous thrones, and had many carvings in the stone of events that happened in the city and how people lived. For example, the carvings on Monument 65 depict three rulers sitting on their thrones. Beside each ruler kneeling on either side of the throne are two captives. Some of the stones are thought to be ascension stones because the carvings show the death of one king and the next king coming into power.
Archaeologists believe the people who lived in Kaminal Juyú were the most literate of all the Mayans due to the amount of writing they found at the site, which appears to be a combination of Mayan and Olmec writing and glyph drawings.
Today you can visit the covered area of the completed excavations of Kaminal Juyú and you can walk over the mounds within the site. The energy here is the epitome of strength and power. It feels controlling and can be somewhat overwhelming. That being said, the energy in this place can help you recognize areas in your life where you are trying to control or overpower someone else. Recognizing this energy will help you balance it and realize that you can live a happy, prosperous life without having to be in control of every little thing around you. Sometimes by letting go you have more control than if you hang on too tightly.
17. La Basilicia de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles—Costa Rica
Categories: Marian Apparition/Miracle Sites, Pilgrimage Sites
Located in the city of Cartago in Costa Rica is the La Basilicia de Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles, which means “Our Lady of the Angels Basilica.” The basilica is Roman Catholic affiliated and is built in a Byzantine architectural style. It was originally built in 1639 but a part of it was destroyed in an earthquake. Afterwards it was rebuilt to the structure you see today. The interior of the basilica is beautiful and has many golden archways leading to the altar. There are lots of small arched windows around the top of the structure and some stained-glass windows as well. The interior has wooden pews and the tile floor has a circular pattern with the circles creating straight lines.
The basilica is a pilgrimage site because it is believed that healings and miracles happened at the basilica. Every year on the evening of August 2, people from all over Costa Rica and throughout Central America walk from their homes to the basilica to give thanks or to ask for favors from the Virgin of Los Ángeles, also known as La Negrita. This walk or pilgrimage is called romería. According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared at the location of the basilica in 1635 to a woman named Juana Pereira, who lived in the area. She found a small statue of a woman holding a baby in her arms. She took the statue home but in the morning it was gone. She went back out to the place she found it in the woods and found the statue there again so she took it home again. And it vanished. Again she found it in the woods so this time she told the town’s priest what had happened. He declared that it was a message from the Virgin Mary and that a church should be built on the spot where the statue had appeared. The doll is believed to be a representation of La Negrita and is currently kept near the altar on a gold platform. During the pilgrimage, most people wear shoes but some who want to show that they are devout in their faith will make the walk barefooted or on their knees.
The energy at the basilica is uplifting, positive, and touches your spiritual core. It enables you to feel the divine connection between universal consciousness and your spiritual self. It feels like a heavy silence that forces you to look deep inside yourself, to understand all that you are as a spiritual being, and to feel that you are part of something greater than what you can see with your eyes and that you must feel it inside your soul. The energy here is transformative and once experienced on a soul level, you will carry it with you always.
Categories: Bodies of Water/Waterfalls/Springs, Power Places, Volcanoes/Volcano Cones, Vortexes
Located in the Solola Department of southwestern Guatemala, in the area called the Western Highlands of the Sierra Madre mountain range, Lake Atitlán is a volcanic crater lake of exceptional beauty surrounded by mountains and pointed volcanoes. The lake is halfway between Guatemala City and Antiqua and takes approximately two and a half hours to drive there from either city. Lake Atitlán, at a depth of 1,049 feet and twelve miles by six miles wide is the deepest lake in Central America.
Around eleven to twelve million years ago volcanic activity began in the area. Today you can still see three volcanoes, Atitlán, Tolimán, and San Pedro, on the southern end of the lake. The volcano that once existed in the space that the lake is at had a major eruption approximately 85,000 years ago. As the volcano caved in upon itself in a caldera, it created Lake Atitlán. It is an endorheic lake, which means that its waters do not feed into the ocean, but instead it drains into two rivers that are nearby.
Along the shores of Lake Atitlán are a variety of villages and towns. One of the most popular towns is Panajachel, which caters to tourists, and many refer to as the best shopping place in Guatemala along Calle Santander. Another popular town is Santa Cruz, a traditional Mayan town built along the hillside, where diving is a popular activity. You might enjoy the small town of Jaibalito, which is very quiet and serene. Backpacking is a common activity in San Pedro La Laguna. Here you can climb the San Pedro volcano or experience the nightlife that the town has to offer. Santiago is the largest town on the lake and is famous for its church and marketplace. This is just a small sampling of some of the towns in the area. Each one offers different types of energy connections that add to the overall frequency of the lake.
The energy at Lake Atitlán is healing, peaceful, and is an energy vortex. Many people visit the lake to swim in its healing waters or for spiritual cleansing. The way the mountains and volcanoes surround the lake makes it feel enclosed while the earth energy spins from the edges around the shore, slowly moving inward until it reaches the center of the lake. The energy here is positive and can be clarifying to you on many levels. If you tune into your intuition while connecting with the energy of the lake you can also feel the energy of the volcano that was previously located here. This may make the energy feel a bit unsettling or dark, or as if there is a presence lurking beneath the waters, but it is just the powerful energy left behind by the volcano. Your heightened intuition allows you to feel the high-frequency energy of the volcanic eruption that created the lake. In other words, there is no dangerous, menacing presence that is going to come up from the lake and grab you. Connecting to the energy here is very helpful when you need to cleanse yourself from things that are keeping you in a rut or holding you back.
19. Los Naranjos Eco-Archeological Park— Western Honduras
Categories: Bodies of Water/Waterfalls/Springs, Ruins/ Archeological Sites
Located in western Honduras, the Department of Cortés, and the municipality of Santa Cruz de Tojoa, on the northern shore of Lake Yojoa, lies the Eco-Archeological Park of Los Naranjos. The site dates from 1300 BC and is a small Lenca site that has a few mounds. Because the ruins are made out of clay, the majority of them have not survived. Of those that have, most were not excavated due to the damage it would cause to the ruins. A small museum near the Lencan ruins houses some of the pottery artifacts found at the site.
The Lenca civilization dates back to 700 BC and currently there are 612 Lenca communities in Honduras today. They typically live in remote mountain areas that do not have roads to their villages. Today they make their living by selling woven handicrafts, pottery, and coffee beans.
While the ruins don’t compare with other archaeological sites, this area offers many miles of raised boardwalks where you can walk over the protected marshland. From these boardwalks there are amazing views of the lake and national park. The area is popular among people who enjoy walks in nature and for those who are avid birdwatchers. The area has a plethora of species of birds including, but not limited to, various species of parrots, wrens, flycatchers, ducks, geese, curassows, chachalacas, quail, guans, flamingos, storm-petrels, storks, grebes, blue-footed boobies, and cormorants just to name a few.
Many of the hiking trails in Honduras are strenuous because you’re climbing up and down mountains so these flat trails are a welcome deviation from the norm. If you decide to visit this area, be aware that at times the boardwalk is in a state of disrepair. Even if you only walk half of the trails before turning back due to a damaged boardwalk, you will still be able to enjoy the peacefulness of this location. There are several areas where you will be walking out in the sun over the marsh and other areas where you’ll walk in the shade from the canopy of the trees. Some of the trails go right by the river and people will often swim in the water while they have a picnic on the shore.
The energy at Los Naranjos Eco-Archeological Park is filled with positivity, peacefulness, and is meditative. In this quiet surrounding with only the sound of the water and the birds, it is easy to get into a meditative state of mind as you are walking. Letting yourself settle into this calmness of earth’s energy in this place can help you resolve issues in your mind or consider changes you’ve been contemplating making in your life and to come to a resolution. It can also help you relieve stress via tuning you to the transformative energy of the natural surroundings. Creativity will be sparked here and you may just come up with a fantastic new idea.
20. Mask Temple—Lamanai, Belize
Categories: Burial Sites, Ceremonial Sites, Monasteries/ Temples, Power Places, Pyramids, Ruins/Archeological Sites
The Mask Temple is located in the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve on the edge of the New River Lagoon, in the Orange Walk District in the northern part of Belize, in Central America. In this archaeological reserve are the ruins of an ancient Mayan city that was continuously occupied from 500 BC until 1675 AD.
The complex at Lamanai has three pyramids, a small ball court, eight large plazas, and numerous stelae. It was a trade center as well as a ceremonial facility. Lamanai survived through the Postclassic period when many of the Mayan cities were abandoned, although the reason why it survived is unknown to us today. The ball court is unique in that there is only one at the site and it is smaller than most of the ball courts found at other ruin sites, but it has the largest ball court marker found to date. Under the marker’s circular stone, archaeologists found a vessel that had a lid, which held miniature pots, jade, and other items inside, and was filled with liquid mercury.
When the Spanish arrived they built two sixteenth century Spanish Roman Catholic churches near the Mayan city and attempted to convert the Mayan people to Christianity. In 1640 they revolted against the Spanish and burned the churches down because one of the churches had been built upon a Mayan temple. Soon after this revolt the Mayans also abandoned the city.
The word lamanai in the Yucatec Maya language translates to “submerged crocodile” and it is believed that the crocodile was an important part of the Mayan culture at this location. Even today the New River Lagoon is filled with crocodiles. There are also many carvings depicting images of crocodiles in the Lamanai ruins.
The High Temple is the largest of the three pyramids at the site at 108 feet high. It is believed that it was originally constructed in 100 BC to its full height and renovations were made to it in later years. The second largest pyramid is called Structure N10-9, also known as the Jaguar Temple, because archaeologists found a jaguar mask inside. It was built around 500 AD and is approximately twelve feet shorter than the High Temple but a large part of this pyramid is underground. The smallest of the three temples is the Mask Temple, which was built beginning in 200 BC. The temple gets its name from the two large masks found on the temple. One mask is exposed on the outer part of the building and the second is hidden beside the stairs. Both of the masks represent a person’s face adorned with a headdress that is supposed to represent a crocodile. Beneath the temple is another preclassic temple that also contained a plaster mask. It is believed that even after the city was abandoned the Mayan people would return and leave offerings at this temple. It was also the burial site for a man and a woman, who were possibly the city’s rulers.
The energy at Lamanai is dynamic, uplifting, and empowering. There is a sense of strength, as seen through the connection with the crocodile, and purpose in the energy at the site, which can enable you to become purposeful, strong, and inspired to reach all that you want to achieve.
21. Palenque—Chiapas Region, Southern Mexico
Categories: Monasteries/Temples, Mountains/ Mounds/Cliff Locations, Ruins/Archeological Sites
The Palenque Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque is located in the Chiapas region of southern Mexico in the Carretera a Palenque-Zona Archaeologica. The site is located in the Tumbalá mountainside so that it overlooks the jungle. The location is a unique balance of buildings constructed in harmony with nature, as mahogany, sapodilla, and cedar trees surround it. There are two entrances to the site, the first being the main entrance by the museum, and the second is a little higher up the mountain.
Palenque was built around 226 BC. It rose to power during the seventh century under the ruler Pakal. It has 1,400 buildings on the site but only ten percent of those have been excavated including the palace and observation tower. The remaining buildings are still covered with jungle vegetation.
The architecture, relief carvings, and sculptures are some of the most comprehensive found at any of the Mayan ruins. The detail on the monuments and the abundance of hieroglyphic inscriptions has enabled archaeologists to learn a lot about the history of the rulers, the people, and what life was like for the Mayans at Palenque when the city was thriving. Archaeologists also found the tomb of K’inich Janaab Pakal, also known as Pakal the Great, inside the Temple of the Inscriptions. This pyramid is the largest one in Palenque and was specifically built as the ruler’s tomb. The Temple of the Inscriptions also contains the second longest text in glyph form from the Mayans. It details approximately 180 years of the history of the city. In the building called Temple XIII, also known as the Tomb of the Red Queen, a woman’s remains were found covered in cinnabar, a bright red powder and it is thought that this noble woman was the wife of the ruler Pakal.
Some of the other structures within the city include the Temple of the Cross complex, which consists of three separate step pyramid structures. These are the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Cross, and the Temple of the Foliated Cross. The Temple of the Beautiful Relief, which is also known as the Temple of the Jaguar, has a carving of the king, in the form of a jaguar, seated on a throne. There are many more temples with their own unique carvings located within Palenque.
The energy at Palenque is very tranquil, spiritual, and relaxing. It will leave an enduring impression upon you and the transformational properties of the energy in this location will also last a lifetime. Once you connect with the energy at Palenque, you will feel inspired to achieve greatness. It allows you to form a deep and long lasting connection between your spiritual self and the connection to the Divine found in the energy at Palenque. The frequency here feels pure, loving, and inspires a sense of awe and childlike wonder within. The energy at Palenque can take you wherever you want to be on the spiritual plane or in the earthly realm.
22. Popocatépetl—Morelos/Puebla, Mexico
Categories: Glaciers, Mythological Sites, Volcanoes/Volcano Cones
Popocatépetl is located in the eastern part of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt in the states of Morelos in Central Mexico and Puebla, Mexico and is forty-five miles from Mexico City. Since 1345 AD it has erupted at irregular intervals and is one of the country’s most active volcanoes. It was dormant for approximately fifty years until it erupted in 1994 and has been erupting on and off since that time. Popocatépetl’s elevation is over 17,800 feet and is snow capped all of the time with glaciers at the summit.
The legend surrounding Popocatépetl includes the nearby volcano Iztaccihuatl. In the Nahuatl language Popocatépetl means “smoking mountain” and Iztaccihuatl means “white woman.” According to Aztec mythology, the volcanoes represent the Princess Iztaccihuatl and the warrior Popocatépetl. When Popocatépetl asked to marry Iztaccihuatl, the princess’s father, a tribal king, said that he would allow the marriage if Popocatépetl fought their enemies and brought back the leader’s head as proof that he had been victorious in battle. Popocatépetl won the battle but another man who wanted to wed Iztaccihuatl sent word to Izataccihuatl’s father that he died in battle. Iztaccihuatl was devastated and died from a broken heart. When Popocatépetl returned home and discovered that Iztaccihuatl had died he carried her body to the mountains and built a funeral pyre where he laid her body in a position where it looked like she was sleeping and then burned her body and killed himself on the same pyre so they would be together. Some versions of the legend say he didn’t build a funeral fire but sat by her until he was frozen and they were both covered in snow. The gods turned them into mountains with Popocatépetl being taller so that he could watch over Iztaccihuatl. Legend says that when he thinks of her his heart beats faster and, to remind others that he is always watching over his beloved, Popocatépetl will spew smoke and ash while Iztaccihuatl continues to sleep.
Today Popocatépetl is very active while Iztaccihuatl is considered an extinct volcano. Both volcanoes are sacred to the Aztec culture and religious shrines were found on the sides of both volcanoes when archeologists climbed them in 1889. Looking at Iztaccihuatl’s summit today, you can imagine the shape of a sleeping lady. Throughout history, volcanoes were thought by Aztec religions to produce signs from the god Xiuhtecuti, who was their god of heat and fire that also embodied the concept of life after death.
The energy of Popocatépetl is love, power, and protectiveness. It means watching over those you love by offering unconditional and undying support. Connecting to the energy of Popocatépetl can empower you to become more consciously aware of those you care about instead of taking them for granted. It can enable you to deepen your ability to love without conditions, helps you to see through smokescreens that others might put up around them, and helps you to reach out and care for others even when they might think they don’t need help.
23. Pyramid of the Magician—Uxmal, Mexico
Categories: Power Places, Pyramids, Ruins/Archeological Sites
The Pyramid of the Magician, also known as the Pyramid of the Soothsayer and the Pyramid of the Dwarf, is located in the city of Uxmal in the Puuc region of Yucatán in the northern Maya Lowland of Mexico. The name comes from a Mayan legend of the god Itzamna, a magician, who built the pyramid in one night. Another version of the legend says that a magical dwarf, assisted by his witch mother, built it in one night and then the dwarf became ruler.
The city was built and occupied by 25,000 people between 700 and 1000 AD. The central part of the ruins occupies 150 acres but the residential section surrounding the central part includes many more. The Pyramid of the Magician is the tallest of the Uxmal ruins at 115 feet. It was built in five phases between 600 and 1000 AD with one phase being built over the previous one. These different phases can be seen today in the different architectural styles within three distinct sections that are evident as you climb to the top of the pyramid. It has two large staircases, one on the eastern side and one on the western side. The western stairway faces the setting sun during the summer solstice and the whole city is aligned to the position of the planets particularly the rising and setting of Venus. The pyramid is built primarily in the Puuc style, which used limestone as the primary element of the construction, but they also used a stucco finish to give the walls a smooth surface. They built in horizontal lines, and added masks of the rain god Chaac to the structure.
The site at Uxmal also has other buildings including a ball court, the Governor’s Palace, the House of the Tortoises, and the Quadrangle of the Nuns. The nunnery was so named by the Spaniards because its shape reminded them of their convents. It is made of four rectangular buildings and has seventy-four rooms. It is believed that this was a dormitory for students or priests who were studying the sacred arts and was used as a training center for priests, healers, shamans, mathematicians and astronomers. It is also theorized that soldiers may have stayed in the building at some point. The whole central part of the ruins is thought to have been involved in sacred ceremonies; and the study of sacred practices, particularly astronomy, was a primary purpose of this city. The city was abandoned in 1450 AD.
The energy at the Uxmal and the Pyramid of the Magician is one of contentment, of being connected to universal flow. It is vibrant, dynamic, and feels alive with spirituality. Connecting to this energy can help you when you are undertaking new areas of study especially those concerning spiritual and metaphysical topics. It will help you find the knowledge you need to know at this point in your spiritual growth and guide you to new ideals that you are ready to discover. Guided by the universal consciousness, this energy will empower you and expand your consciousness through knowledge.
Categories: Mythological Sites, Ruins/Archeological Sites
Quiriguá is located in the Department of Izabal, in southeast Guatemala in the valley along the Motagua River in the Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quiriguá. The site was occupied around 200 AD, but some historians and archeologists believe it could have been settled around 1500 BC due to its location. Construction on the Acropolis began around 550 AD and construction on other buildings continued until 850 AD, at which time all new construction stopped. By 900 AD the city was abandoned. The reasons are unclear as to why the people left the city but it is theorized that it could have been due to war, a decline in natural resources that were required to live, or, because it is in a seismic zone, an earthquake may have caused the people to leave.
Quiriguá is known for its sculptures, specifically the stelae and zoomorphs, which have been dated between 426 AD and 810 AD. Zoomorphs are when a large boulder was carved to look like an animal and then additional glyphs and figures were added. Some of these boulders are enormous. The carvings in Quiriguá differ from other Mayan sites because they are carved out of sandstone instead of limestone. There are a total of twenty-two such sculptures in Quiriguá, which archeologists say are the best examples of Mayan stone carvings that are still in existence. The tallest stela ever found was discovered in Quiriguá and it stands thirty-five feet tall and weighs sixty-five tons. The stelae at Quiriguá contain a wide variety of information including social events, Mayan mythology, their rulers, astronomical events, calendar events, and stories.
There was a close connection between Quiriguá and Copan and it is believed that it was once under the rule of Copan. But the leader that the king of Copan placed in charge of Quiriguá, K’ak’ Tiliw Chan Yopaat, soon decided that he didn’t want to be under Copan’s rule and proclaimed himself the holy lord of the city. This led to war, which is thought to have begun the city’s demise.
The area of Quiriguá is small in comparison to other Mayan sites but it contains one of the largest plazas, called the Great Plaza, of all of the other sites in the area. Set in the valley with the Sierra de las Minas on one side and the Montana Espiritu Santo on the other and surrounded by banana plantations and kapoks trees, the energy in Quiriguá is calm, quiet, and peaceful. The setting is tranquil and there are a lot of birds that live in the area. As you look at the carved sculptures in the area, consider the creation of the art. Patience, focused attention to detail, and the ability to create exquisite art out of a natural stone or boulder are important here. Connecting to the same energetic qualities can enable you to create something amazing in your own life, to have the patience, a calm attitude, and the peace of mind to know that you will be successful in the end.
25. Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve—Honduras
Categories: Mountains/Mounds/Cliff Locations, Regions
Located in northeastern Honduras, in the Mosquitia Hondureña region, the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve is a protected area that goes from the headwaters of the Río Plátano River, which are located in the mountains, to the river mouth at the Caribbean coast. This entire area is what remains of a tropical rain forest. It is comprised of nearly 865,000 acres.
The Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve includes mountains, lowlands, and a plethora of plants and animals. The land was named to the world heritage list in 1982, but it was set aside in 1964 for protection. There are over two hundred archaeological sites within the reserve, including the landing point of Christopher Columbus, ruined settlements, ancient buildings, and roads. Local traditions say that La Ciudad Blanca is located within the reserve. La Ciudad Blanca, which means The White City, is a legendary city that people have reported seeing from aerial views but which cannot be found on land. It is a mystery that has yet to be solved.
The diversity within this biosphere reserve is tremendous. To date, over 721 different species of vertebrates have been reported. This number includes more than half of Honduras’s different types of mammals. Also documented are over 411 species of birds, 108 species of reptiles and amphibians, 4 species of marine turtles, and numerous species of freshwater fish. In addition to the animal life, over 586 different species of vascular plants in the low lands were documented. There are many endangered species, which currently live in the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve.
While the government has set aside these acres in order to protect the forest and the animals and plants that live in the area, in recent history it appears that many illegal activities are happening within the central part of the reserve including illegal fishing and hunting, clearing land without permission in order to graze cattle, and even drug smuggling. Future conservation plans are ongoing in order to protect the area. The people who live within the preserve have maintained their indigenous way of life, but now feel threatened by the illegal activities. The area is still safe for tourists to visit. Due to its remote location, it is recommended that you visit in a group tour instead of going alone.
The energy here is pure, strong, and raw. There is an underlying darkness and sense of danger, due to the remoteness and the unknown possibilities, which exist within the area. The energy here will serve you well when you have to be strong in the face of adversity, when you need to be pure of heart, and when you need the inner strength to move forward through difficult times. In addition, the energy is light, hopeful, beautiful, and filled with love. It is a divine connection to creation and an appreciation for all that is.
26. Sendero Los Quetzales and the Highlands—Panama
Categories: Forests/Trees, Regions
The Sendero Los Quetzales, also known as The Quetzales Trail, is located in the Highlands of Panama between Cerro Punta and Boquete. It is located in the cloud forest within Volcan Baru National Park, which is also the native habitat of the Resplendent Quetzal bird, after which the trail is named. There are more than three hundred pairs of quetzals that live in the park and the species is currently on the threatened list and is in danger of extinction.
The Sendero Los Quetzales are Central America’s most gorgeous trails, according to numerous sources, and is home to the Resplendent Quetzal. The Resplendent Quetzal bird has really long tail feathers which were important to many ancient Mayan communities and were often used in headdresses, were sold or traded. While you’re hiking, keep a look out for these birds who live high up in the trees.
You can hike the trail in either direction, however, Cerro Punta is higher in elevation so if you’d like an easier hike then start at Cerro Punta and hike down to Boquete. If you’d like a more difficult hike, start at Boquete and hike up to Cerro Punta. The rating of the trail is moderate and some sections are steep. You will be hiking across rivers, most of which have bridges, around big boulders, through dense vegetation, and some of the areas can be very slippery because you’re walking through a cloud forest. The people who maintain the trail have put log stumps along the way so you can walk over them instead of traipsing through the mud. A lot of people who enjoy bird watching frequent this trail, not only for the Resplendent Quetzal bird, but for viewing many of the other birds that are native to this area. Other animals live here including howler monkeys, many insects, bugs, reptiles, and amphibians.
The hike itself will take anywhere between four and eight hours to complete. While you do not need a guide to hike the trail, it is recommended because some people have gotten lost along the way. There is a spot approximately three miles from both trailheads where you can camp overnight and finish the hike the following day.
The energy along the Sendero Los Quetzales trail is vibrant, full of vigor, and dynamic. It is a positive force that can propel you forward with an optimistic point of view. As you take part of the energy in this natural world you can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and joyfulness. This connection can make you feel more self-assured, and gives you a new sense of respect for nature, of which we are part. You can take this vibrant energy with you whenever you need to be braver, or as you embark on a new endeavor on your life path.
27. Stone Spheres— Delta of the Térraba River, Costa Rica
Categories: Mythological Sites, Power Stones
Beginning in the 1930s the stone spheres of Costa Rica have been an archaeological mystery. They were first discovered in the delta of the Térraba River, which is also known as the Diquis River, the Sierpe River, and the Genergal River, near the southern Caribbean. Since their discovery more than three hundred of these strange spheres have been found all over the country. They have been found as far south as the mouth of the Coto Colorado River and as far north as the Estrella Valley. These spheres are man-made and were found in a variety of sizes. Some are six and a half feet in diameter and weigh sixteen tons and others are only a few centimeters wide and weigh ounces. When they were discovered they were usually found in groups, with the largest one including twenty spheres found together. Today only a few of the balls are still in their original location. They are considered endangered because treasure hunters blew them up to see if gold was inside; some were destroyed when farmers ran over them with equipment, not realizing they were there; and people moved them from place to place.
For some reason the stone spheres have been coveted as a lawn decorations and moved all over the country. There are even two balls on display in the United States at the National Geographic Society Museum and at the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnography.
The balls are made of granodiorite and a few are made from coquina. They have also been found in other archaeological sites in the burial chambers. Archaeologists think that they can be dated between 200 BC and 1000 AD. The age of the stones places them in a period when they would have been made by using other stone tools.
While their original use is unknown, there are a few different theories on the topic. One of the theories is that they were somehow used in the creation of pottery vessels during ancient times. Another theory, based on some of the alignments the balls were in when discovered, (which included straight, curved, triangular, and parallelograms) is that they had some navigational purpose or had something to do with astrological alignments. Some think they were laid out in specific ways to be some type of compass. We will never know for sure because people moved them so much.
There are many myths that are associated with these stone spheres. Some say they come from Atlantis; others believe that the people who lived during that time had a magic potion that made the rock soft and easy to make into a sphere; and other legends say that the center of the stones holds a single coffee bean or gold.
The energy surrounding the stone spheres is solid, strong, powerful and is a reminder to be firm and long-standing in your beliefs. The energy moves in a circular motion without beginning or end, it lifts from the earth toward the sky, with a stone in the center of each spiral of energy. Imagine yourself touching or holding one of the stone spheres. Feel the energy from inside it as it circles around you lifting you up and filling you with positivity, mindful awareness, and clarity of spirit.
28. Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves—Panama
Categories: Forests/Trees, Glaciers, Mountains/Mounds/Cliff Locations
On the border of Panama and Costa Rica is the Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves in La Amistad National Park. The Talamanca Mountains contain one of the last segments of natural forests in Central America. One of the unique features of this mountain range is it is the only one in the area that contains lakes and valleys shaped by glaciers, called quaternary glaciation. This process created deep U-shaped valleys where the glacier was previously located. These mountains also have high-altitude grasslands, which provide spectacular views. Many rivers and creeks run throughout the area. La Amistad International Peace Park is a total of 479,000 acres. Other protected areas surround it so getting to this remote location must be accomplished on foot after you go through one of the entrance stations.
The wildlife and plant life in this area is very diverse and wide reaching. It is home to over 1,000 fern species, 900 lichen species, over 10,000 flowering plants, and 4,000 nonvascular plants. There are over 215 species of mammals, 600 species of birds, 250 species of reptiles and amphibians and over 115 species of freshwater fish. Researchers believe that over two thirds of the total species found in Costa Rica live within La Amistad International Park. This park, more than any other place in Central America, contains the largest amount of jaguars.
Most people visit the park to hike and view the animals and vegetation. Some choose to camp overnight or spend several days in the forest, however, make sure that you check out and read reviews of the area of the park where you plan to stay prior to making the arrangements. There are also opportunities where you can actually stay in the village of the indigenous people of Amistad Park.
The energy at Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves and National Park is inspirational, spiritual, and a connection to the Divine. Connecting with the energy of this park can make you more contemplative of your life path and can lead you to be more introspective as you experience the energy of nature surrounding you. The vastness and beauty of the region feels sacred and can boost your own sense of intuition and spiritual awareness. Infused with the lightness of being, the strength of its ancient existence and the beauty that can bring about enlightenment, this energy will support and strengthen you in all areas of your life.
29. Tarascan ruins at Tzintzuntzan— Michoacán, Mexico
Categories: Bodies of Water/Waterfalls/Springs, Monasteries/Temples, Power Places, Pyramids, Relic Sites, Ruins/Archeological Sites
Tzintzuntzan is located in the state of Michoacán, Mexico on the eastern coast of Lake Pátzcuaro. The Tarascan ruins are situated on a cut out section of a hill above the town. The name Tzintzuntzan means “place of hummingbirds.”
The Purépecha civilization, which was named for their language and is also known as the Tarascan civilization, were a powerful force in the post-classic period of Mesoamerica. The Tarascans thrived between 1000 and 1530 AD. Tzintzuntzan was their capital city, spiritual and religious center, and where the rulers lived. The Tarascans reigned over a vast amount of land, over 18,530,000 acres which is almost 29,000 square miles. They often conquered people who could produce, mine, or obtain through agricultural means, items that they liked including gold, copper, salt, honey, feathers, and cotton. They then required the people to give a certain amount of their products to the Tarascan leaders. The Tarascan also created tremendous armies to accomplish their goals. They had 1,500,000 people under their control during the height of their power.
The Tarascan and the Aztec were sworn enemies. The Aztec tried to take over the Tarascans many times but were never successful in their attempts because the Tarascan armies far outnumbered the Aztec armies. In 1519 the Spanish arrived and in 1521 they overtook the Aztec capital in a horrific battle. The Aztecs knew they were coming and sent some of their people to ask the Tarascans for help but they sacrificed them instead. In 1522 the Spanish overtook the Tarascan capital of Tzintzuntzan and the king, instead of fighting, surrendered. After his surrender, all of the villages and towns under his rule also surrendered peacefully to the Spanish.
Archeologists have discovered many relics that tell the story of the Tarascan people. They didn’t keep records of their history like many other groups of people but when the Spanish came, they wrote down some of the history, which is how we know more about them today.
The ruins at Tzintzuntzan consists of five yacatas, which are semi-circular basalt slabs, that were used as the foundation for wooden pyramids and temples that the Tarascans built on top of the yacatas. The five yacatas face Lake Pátzcuaro and from them you can look out over the town and the lake. The yacatas are part of the Grand Platform, which is a large rectangular, flat surface on which the yacatas were built. Behind the rounded front of the yacatas are stepped structures that link them all together. Excavations at the site have revealed more traditionally styled pyramid structures underneath the yacatas.
The energy of Tzintzuntzan is one of strength, nobility, and is stoic in nature. It is a determined power of forward motion that shows an intense inner strength which gives you the ability to take action when needed or to take a step back if necessary. The energy here flows forward to the mountains on the other side of the lake and back again in undulating lines. It expands and grows and then comes back into itself. This energy can help you to find balance as you grow along your own spiritual path, to know when you’re moving in the right direction and helps you act with directness and conviction and also helps you know when you need to pause and consider other options.
Categories: Ceremonial Sites, Power Places, Pyramids, Relic Sites, Ruins/Archeological Sites
El Tazumal, also known as Tazumal, is located at Calle Tazumal, Chalchuapa, in the department of Santa Ana, El Salvador. It is about forty-five minutes from San Salvadorwithin an area where there are a lot of Mayan ruins sites including those at Trapiche, Casa Blanca, and Las Victorias. Of all of these sites in the region, Tazumal is the best preserved and has been extensively restored, and because of this, it is the area’s most famous archeological ruin site and a source of pride for the people of El Salvador. The site is even featured on the country’s currency and stamps.
The name Tazumal means “the place where people are burnt,” which makes you wonder what happened at this location and if there were human sacrifices by burning. The city dates from 100 to 1200 AD but archeologists believe that the area was inhabited beginning in the fifth century BC. The site covers an area of six square miles. Tazumal was a prosperous ceremonial center. The site contains pyramids, palaces, tombs, a ball court, and a water drainage system. The main pyramid at the site is seventy-five and a half feet tall. The way the buildings are constructed and the sculptures and other relics found at the site suggest that the city was influenced by Copan in Honduras and was tied to Kamina Juyú in Guatemala and Teotihuacan in Mexico. It was a major city for trade between the Mayan civilizations and Mesoamerican civilizations. Jade, metal and other relics and artifacts were found at Tazumal as well as a life-size sculpture of the Aztec god Xipo-Totec. It is believed that this statue was traded from Mexico and that it wasn’t created in Tazumal. It currently resides in the Dr. David J. Guzman National Museum of Anthropology in San Salvador. Three gold ornaments were also found at the site, which makes them some of the earliest reported metal artifacts from the Mesoamerican world.
Today if you visit the ruins at Tazumal, you’ll notice that the sides of the main pyramid are no longer straight but look as if they were pushed up some in the middle, which also caused cracks in the structure that have been repaired with concrete. This is due to the earthquakes in the area that caused damage to the building. Because it is a city layered upon another city, Tazumal is still being excavated today by archeologists in the hopes of discovering more about this city and the people who lived there.42
The energy at Tazumal is calm yet feels alive with anticipation. It is energetic, productive, and feels like a heartbeat. It moves like a pulse that comes up from the earth in a straight line and moves upward into the atmosphere. Imagine a beam of light pulsing upward into the air. The energy at Tazumal can help you be more productive, be successful in business, and keep you in forward motion.
Categories: Burial Sites, Caves, Monasteries/Temples, Ruins/Archeological Sites
Teotihuacan is located in the municipalities of San Martin De Las Piramides and Teotihuacan De Artista approximately thirty-one miles northeast of Mexico City. Before the 1400s it was the largest city in the entire Western Hemisphere. It was built between 100 BC and 650 AD and covered eight square miles. It is unclear how many people lived in the city during its height of power but some sources say 25,000, others say 100,000, and still others say 200,000. Teotihuacan was considered a holy city. The original names for the city and the buildings in it are not known but the Aztecs named the city Teotihuacan, which means “the place where the gods were created.” The city is well known for the painted murals on the walls of the buildings, the majority of which are found in the apartment complexes, palaces, and even the temples.
The city is unique because it contains a central road through it that is more than two miles long, which is called the Avenue of the Dead. Along this road there are three pyramid complexes. Beginning at the north is the Pyramid of the Moon. This began as a small size platform between the years of 1 AD and 350 AD. The people added more and more layers until it became the size it is today, which is 150 feet high with a base of 550 feet x 490 feet. It is believed that the Pyramid of the Moon was used for important rituals that could be easily watched by the people who were standing on the ground. Based on the artifacts found within associated tombs, archaeologists believe that these rituals included both human and animal sacrifice.
Less than a half mile south on the Avenue of the Dead, is the Pyramid of the Sun. This pyramid is over 200 feet tall and the base is 730 feet on each side. The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest structure created in the pre-Columbian world. It is believed to have been completed around 200 AD. Archaeologists discovered a tunnel that went to a cloverleaf-shaped cave underneath the pyramid that may have been used for some type of ritual.
Further south along the Avenue of the Dead is the third Temple complex, which is called the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, also known as the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. This is a six-step pyramid, smaller than the other two, which was completed in the third century AD. This pyramid contains carvings of the feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl and what is thought to be the ancient storm god, Tlaloc. Near this Temple are apartment compounds and burial sites for two hundred warriors who appear to have been sacrificed. There are also thousands of residential compounds outside of the central part of the city.
The energy at Teotihuacan is one of feeling in control; powerful, and confident. Imagine yourself at the top of the Pyramid of the Sun looking out across the land with the mountains in the distance and thousands of people looking up at you with the other structures of the city behind them. Now imagine yourself during the time when the city was prosperous and thriving. Feel the energy from that time, and the people, as it is imprinted on this place. There is happiness, a sense of true loyalty, and the energy of knowing what is expected of you. This energy is also transformative in that it can allow you to move past expectations that may be holding you back and allow you to grow and become more than you are today and be all that you can be tomorrow.
32. The Great Blue Hole—Lighthouse Reef, Belize
Categories: Caves, Sink Hole
At the center of the atoll named Lighthouse Reef off of the coast of Belize in Central America is The Great Blue Hole, a large underwater sinkhole that has a rich blue color. It is approximately forty-three miles from the mainland. The Great Blue Hole is the largest sea hole in the world. It is in the shape of a circle, is 984 feet across, 410 feet deep and is part of the Belize Barrier Reef System.
Scientists believe that during the last ice age, the sinkhole began forming as a limestone cave underneath a glacier. As the glaciers receded, the waters of the ocean filled the sinkhole. If you were to dive into the sinkhole today, which is a very popular thing to do, at approximately 132 feet deep you would see huge stalagmites and stalactites that are between thirty to forty feet long and that developed when the area was dry land hundreds of thousands of years ago.
You can enjoy the Great Blue Hole in two different ways. If you are a scuba diver, you could choose to dive with the group into the sinkhole. This is a different type of dive than you would experience just diving around a colorful coral reef. It is important to remember this was a cave system before it became a sinkhole so don’t be disappointed at the lack of color. While there are some colorful coral at the top, once you begin to dive deeper you’ll see limestone walls, stalactites, stalagmites, and other formations that you would typically find in a cave. The deeper you are able to dive, the more complex these formations become. If you are not a diver, you can still enjoy visiting the Great Blue Hole while remaining on the boat or doing some snorkeling around the edge of the reef where you can view the coral and a few species of fish.
The energy around The Great Blue Hole is very relaxing, meditative, yet filled with a sense of mystery and wonder. The energy here feels warm, smooth, and moves at a slow and harmonious rate. It is stable yet fluid. Connecting to the energy at The Great Blue Hole can help you find a sense of peace within you. It can allow you to look at where you’ve been and consider where you’re going and determine if the path you’re walking is the one you want to continue to walk. If you decide it’s not, then now is the time to make changes that will put you in forward motion in a different direction to walk the path you choose. Always remember the choice is yours, not someone else’s, and you must live your life according to your own true soul purpose and not what another expects or wants you to do. The energy here makes the decision making process, regardless of the decision you need to make, easier, more simplified, and less dramatic than it would be if you had not connected to this energy while making your decision.
33. Tikal’s Maya Temples—Guatemala
Categories: Monasteries/Temples, Power Places, Pyramids, Relic Sites, Ruins/Archeological Sites
Tikal’s Maya Temples are located in the Tikal National Park in northern Guatemala, in the Department of El Petén. Tikal is a two-hour drive from the Belizean border. It is located deep within the Maya Forest. Tikal is the largest classic era Mayan city ever built.
Tikal is thought to have been one of the major superpowers of the Mayan Empire. The city was at its height between 300 and 850 AD. The city was believed to be the capital of the Mayan cities in Mesoamerica. A royal dynasty of at least thirty-three kings ruled Tikal for over eight hundred years. The city was powerful when it came to trade, political importance, and military presence. At the pinnacle of its power it is believed that 100,000 to 200,000 people lived in the city and surrounding areas and the rulers also used approximately seventy-eight square miles of property around the central part of the city.43
Only a small part of Tikal has been excavated. So far approximately three thousand of the sites within Tikal have been uncovered, which leaves approximately ten thousand more buildings to be unearthed. The nucleus of the city covers six square miles. In the middle of the site is the Great Plaza, to the north is the North Acropolis, to the south is the Central Acropolis, Temple I is to the east and Temple II is to the west. To the far West is Temple IV, which has an elevation of 230 feet with its summit rising high above the forest canopy.
The ruins at Tikal are popular because of the sheer size of the pyramids located at the site, the great number of ruins, and both the excavated and unexcavated potential discoveries that are contained at this location. It is known that the people who lived in the city were artistic in nature due to the extraordinary carvings in the buildings and stelae. The ceramic relics found at the site were of excellent quality in their artistic expression.
By the end of the tenth century, Tikal was abandoned. However, even after it was abandoned, the Mayan people would visit the structures, often times with religious reasons in mind. Archaeologists believed that people lived in the city into the eighteenth century. Tikal is a popular tourist attraction in Guatemala today. Many people who visit western Belize will also take a day trip over to the Tikal ruins. Due to its large size, the site never feels crowded. You are in the middle of the jungle so prepare for mosquitoes, rain, and heat prior to your visit.
The energy at this impressive city feels regal, active, and organized. It flows in a side to side, rising and falling manner that also dips and curves around the buildings into the sky and back again toward the ground. You can imagine it is a snake moving its way through the city. The positivity of this energy will lift you up. There are no doubts, no confusion, no what if’s, when you’re connected to the energy at Tikal. There is only a surety of action, positivity of success, and the kick-starting kind of power that will catapult you to where you want to be.
Categories: Monasteries/Temples, Power Places, Pyramids, Ruins/Archeological Sites
Tula is located in Tula de Allende, Hidalgo, Mexico. Its name means “place of the reeds.” The city was founded in approximately 750 AD, which coincides with the decline of the Teotihuacan empire. Tula reached its pinnacle of power between 900 and 1100 AD and occupied approximately five square miles for the central part of the city. It is believed that up to sixty thousand people lived in Tula and that it was the capital of the Toltec civilization, known as Tollán. The city sits on a long hilltop and today there is an onsite museum as well.
Legend says that Tula was begun by the Plumed Serpent Quetzalcoatl, who the people believed to be the god of Venus. The archeological site at Tula is smaller in size when compared to other Mayan ruin sites but it has features that sets it apart and makes it unique. It is known for the Atlantes of Tula, also known as the Giants of Tula. These “giants” are telamons—structural supports that portray human figures. These four columns are carved as warriors and are over seventeen feet tall, located on the top of a five-stepped pyramid temple, called pyramid B, and that faces east. Additional uncarved columns are also on the top of the temple, all of which are thought to be support columns for the roof.
The site also contains two additional temple pyramids, a palace complex, a civic center, and two ball courts. The carvings at Tula are very detailed and are found everywhere. For example, the carvings on the warrior columns have detailed feathered headdresses that cover their ears, breastplates, spears, spear throwers, shields in the shape of the sun on their backs, what looks like braided leather belts, and boots that come up to their knees, which appear exposed. There are also sculptured friezes that depict scenes of huge snakes eating skeletons, birds of prey eating human hearts, and both canine and feline looking animals that appear to be marching.
In front of the main pyramid is an enormous central plaza that has many columns that were supports for a ceiling or roof, over 3,200 feet of benches for people to sit on, and it can hold 100,000 people. The benches have warriors carved on them, and it is believed that the ceremonies that were held here were often military-themed.
Today the energy at Tula is very calm, serene, and refreshing but there is an underlying tone of purposeful power, strategy, and preparedness, which is connected to the people who previously lived at Tula. This energy can be especially helpful if you’re in the process of planning a big event or if you’re conducting business where you need to have all of your I’s dotted and T’s crossed. It can propel you to success, especially in business, when dealing with your competition. This energy also has a calming effect if you’re feeling stressed over completing tasks on time, or making sure everything is done for your event. It can help you find balance in the chaos of activity to ensure that everything goes according to plan.
Categories: Mythological Sites, Oracle Sites, Volcanoes/Volcano Cones
Volcan Masaya is located in the Department of Masaya in the municipality of Nindirí in the Masaya Volcano National Park in the Pacific region of Nicaragua. Volcan Masaya is an active caldera volcano, with a lava lake that is viewable intermittently, usually at times when the volcano is more prone to eruption. In the Chorotega language Masaya means fire. It is the most active volcano in Nicaragua and has a fluid basaltic lava flow. It is a basaltic caldera with steep sides about 985 feet tall and it is part of the Pleistocene Las Sierras pyroclastic shield volcano.
In the early 1500s, Spanish conquistadors discovered Volcan Masaya. At that time, the volcano had an easily seen and very active lava lake. The Spanish conquistadors, who called the volcano the Mouth of Hell, decided that it would be a good idea to take the molten gold from the volcano and Brother Blas del Castillo went down into the crater to retrieve it. Close to the same time Friar Francisco Bobadilla built a cross on the rim of the volcano in order to exorcise the devil from hell. Back then the lava lake was in the old Masaya crater, which is known as the Nindiri crater today. The lava lake has moved several times due to changes of the earth, which causes the lava to have to redirect itself to find another outlet for release.
The legend of the Witch of Chalchihuehue is associated with Volcan Masaya. According to the legend the chiefs of the tribes in the area would go to the crater of the volcano where a deity, which they called a witch, would emerge from the fire and give them predictions about upcoming events, similar to how an oracle would predict the future. In this case, the witch would tell when to expect earthquakes, eruptions of the volcano, droughts, and other types of natural phenomenon. In order to appease the witch, the native tribes would have elaborate ceremonies where they would sacrifice young children and teenagers by throwing them into the volcano. The Spanish conquistadors believed the witch was a devil. They described her as an old woman with breasts that hung to her navel, long fangs for teeth, and eyes that burned. Because of the Spanish conquistadors’ disbelief, during her last appearance the witch told the chiefs of the tribes that they would never see her again during the predictions because they had not expelled the invaders from the territory. Today she is known as the goddess of water and rain, the Chalchihuehue, in Nahuatl mythology.44
As you might expect, the energy at Volcan Masaya is hot, volatile, and unpredictable. Have you ever had someone say to you that you need to light a fire under your butt? The energy at Volcan Masaya can do just that. If you’re having issues getting started doing anything that you want or need to do, connecting to the energy of Volcan Masaya will give you the fire, passion, and motivation that you need to start, maintain, and be successful at whatever it is you choose to do.
37. Sanchez, Miza, “Danza de los Quetzales,” 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySAFZt-DXAU
38. Carpe Viam, “Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyers),” 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9gO9qAT7MM
39. AztecHistory.com“Cholula Pyramid,” http://www.aztec-history.com/cholula-pyramid.html
40. Mundo Maya, “Izapa,” http://mundomaya.travel/en/arqueologia/top-10/item/izapa.html#descubrelo.
41. Atwood, Roger, “Maya Metropolis,” February 16, 2016, https://www.archaeology.org/issues/209-1603/letter-from/4152-maya-metropolis-kaminaljuyu-guatemala-kaminaljuyu.
42. Hoffmann, David, Davidsbeenhere, “Tazumal ‘Mayan Ruins’ El Salvador,” January 7, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUz46OwwXFk.
43. CyArk, “Tikal,” 2006, http://archive.cyark.org/tikal-info.
44. Nicaragua Turismo e Inversión, “Masaya Volcano, Between Truths and Legends,” February 28, 2017, http://nicaraguaturismoeinversion.com/masaya-volcano-truths-legends-2/.