mayans remain

These atmospheric 'ruins' at Palenque more than live up to expectations.  We were there at the beginning of June. I went there with a feeling that I was going to receive some guidance.  It came in more tangible way than I had imagined.   Rather than intuitions rising from the stones (though perhaps they did!) the guidance came from a real Mayan guide, a tour guide in fact (descended from, yes, the Mayans who lived here long ago) who gave us a wonderful tour and a description of life in those times, even what they ate.  He said go to San Cristobal (de las Casas).  Soon after we did and we have been here ever since.

pyramid of the moon

almond, avocado and mango tree at the Mayan ruins, Palenque

Prior to this we had gone along with the storied that the Mayan people had in some mysterious way 'disappeared'.  No, many were killed in the Spanish conquest, many also escaped, probably mostly to the Lacandon jungle, the mountains and to what is now Guatemala.  The 'ruinas' at Palenque were deserted before this though and no-one is quite sure why and where to.  The surrounding jungle is so magical.  We tasted mumo leaf growing there amongst other edible plants.  The Mexican dish of tamales is made by wrapping mumo leaf around the corn dough with a filling, so delicious and loved by Mexicans. and me too.  More on Mayan Mexican food later.

unexcavated ruins in the jungle

On reaching San Cristobal we found ourselves immersed in wonderful Mayan culture.  Sixty per cent of the local population is indigenous and the culture permeates the town.

jaguar magic

jaguar at Na Bolom

Jaguars have special significance for the peoples of southern Mexico, you see models of them everywhere, and I have been feeling pretty inspired about jaguars too.

This article about animals using psychoactive substances describes how jaguars eat the ayahuasca vine.
http://reset.me/story/psychoactive-substances-natural-8-animal-species-use-wild/
According to this Discovery article, humans aren’t the only ones that use Banisteriopsis caapi (one of the two plants used to make ayahuasca) as a psychoactive. This Amazonian jungle vine contains several compounds called beta-carbolines that potentiate the DMT in the ayahuasca brew by inhibiting bodily enzymes that would otherwise be responsible for breaking down the DMT. It turns out that jaguars also seek out the leaves of this jungle vine.
Higher doses of harmala alkaloids often result in vomiting and diarrhea characteristic of ayahuasca, so one possibility is that they consume the vine to purge the intestinal tract of possible parasites; a study of the Amazonian Piaroa tribe published in theJournal of Psychoactive Drugs suggests that eating the leaves grants the jaguar heightened sensory perception, helping them hunt. However, the jaguars are also known to roll around in ecstasy after consuming the vine, suggesting to some that its use is primarily for pleasure.

You can even see a jaguar on ayahuasca here.

This article tells of  jaguar symbolism:
http://www.shamanicjourney.com/jaguar-power-animal-symbol-of-solitary-path-reclaiming-power-shape-shifting-psychic-vision
'The Jaguar’s medicine includes seeing the roads within chaos and understanding the patterns of chaos, moving without fear in the darkness, moving in unknown places, shape shifting, psychic vision, facilitating soul work, empowering oneself, reclaiming power.
The Black Jaguar’s medicine includes the same as jaguar but in addition keeper of the circular time continuum, gatekeeper to the unknowable.'

na bolom house of the jaguar

 Na Bolom was the home of Trudy and Frans Blom.  The name means Jaguar House in the language of the Lancandon people whom the Bloms befriended.   The Lancandons were the last remaining peoples not to be be conquered by Spanish culture and religion.  Frans explored and surveyed ancient Maya sites all over Chiapas (including Palenque, Toniná and Chinkultic), Trudy researched, photographed and fought to protect the Lacandón people and their homelands in the jungles of southern Mexico. The museum contains enchanting photographs, archaeological and anthropological relics.  It’s a highly atmospheric and beautiful place in the old colonial town of San Cristobal de las Casas.

Chan K'in, the last spiritual leader of the Lancadon

Lancadon in  jungle

shrine in Mayan house

replica of Mayan house

By the way Mayan crosses carry a different nuance to the Christian crosses that arrived with the Spanish conquerors.  They denote living trees and are decorated with flowers.

come alive

the lacandon

Believed to be descendants of ancient Mayans, who moved into the jungle following the arrival of the Spanish in Southern Mexico.

the B17 secret

Some researchers believe that cancer is a metabolic condition whereby natural healing gets out of hand in the body due to lack of B17 which would be part of a natural diet in the past.  It's so easy to get into the diet with food yet so easy to miss out in a modern diet.  It is found  in many (though not all) seeds, including berries and also in the multiple varieties of grains that were traditionally used to make bread before the industrial revolution brought in wheat only bread.  Of course pollution in the modern world poses extra challenges.

http://reset.me/story/vitamin-b-17-the-greatest-cover-up-in-the-history-of-cancer/

walking