In her 2003 “Palenque account,” spiritual teacher Aluna Joy Yaxk’in relates her 1990 vision quest in the Temple of the Sun at Palenque. Her guardians and mentors, the Star Elders, show her the highest form of the energy which is coming to the Earth in the end times. They revealed to her the creative power of the mind. She sees all history in a moment out of time. (2)
Getting There ~ An Amazing Palenque Story
Aluna Joy Yaxk’in ~ 01/2003
https://www.kachina.net/~alunajoy/2003jan.html
Nothing seems more frightening than jumping into the unknown. It is simple human nature to want to keep life predictable. But we learn from countless experiences that life is anything but predictable. Profound lessons are revealed when our lives take an unexpected turn and we are pushed to our limit.
Sometimes we are pushed and sometimes we are the ones doing the pushing by asking for growth. This is how I felt as I left the comfort of my home to venture out into the jungles of Chiapas, Mexico for my first visit to Palenque. I don’t know if I was pushing myself, or my destiny was calling so profoundly that it was doing the pushing for me. I was being pushed to break away from the safety of my known world to enter a new world that would challenge me to grow.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was
more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” — Anais Nin
It was the year 1990 and this was my second trip to Mexico. I had heartily prepared to this trip. I spent 3 years meditating, fasting, and recreating myself. I had faced the demons of my past. I had begun to re-envision my future and call on my purpose in life. I was asking for growth because my life was not making sense any more. Palenque was never far from my mind. I guess you could say I was a little obsessed about getting to Palenque. Three years after my first trip to Mexico, I was on my way.
I knew sacred sites send out a different, more cosmic-oriented energy at night, so my first day in Palenque was filled with simple exploration. I wanted to introduce myself to the site and pick out a place for my all night vigil. I could go into great detail about how amazing this site is. I could tell you how beautiful, how otherworldly it is. I do not think I could do this site any justice with mere words. My goal was getting to what I could not see with my eyes. I was looking for what can only be perceived while tuning within while sitting atop a pyramid under the stars.
I decided on Temple of the Sun for my all night stay. I arranged a taxi to pick me up at my hotel and drive me out into the jungle at 10 PM that evening. I planned to hike up the back trail through old Palenque to enter the site. I wanted to avoid the guards at the main gate. No sooner were the plans set than the tests began.
Everyone I met from that point on broke out into their favorite Mexico horror story. It was just like when you tell your friends you are going to Mexico for a vacation and you hear about the pick pockets and El Turista. It was a little like that only the Palenque version. One guy said he spent the night in Temple of the Sun and 3 scorpions fell from the temple ceilings and stung him….
Another woman told me she heard a story of a woman getting raped by guards. Just when I thought I heard it all, I discovered that this will be the first night the site was going to place guard dogs at the back gate! Jeeezzz… This is not the harmonious and blissful quest I had hoped for. I still felt driven to go. Why is it you always hit a block when you decide to experience life outside the box?
I went back to my hotel room and ate a simple dinner and showered to get ready for the evening. I was more than a little scared, and by now you’re thinking maybe I am a little crazy too! The push was getting stronger than ever to go. I sat on the edge of my bed praying for the right answer, or maybe a way out.
An amazing decree came to me within the confusion the fear created. It is human nature to feel fear when we intend to break past comfort zones. I knew some how I was being prepared for my all nighter vision quest. I know there was no going back now. I chanted the prayer over and over to myself. I knew I was opening myself to a new world.
May I have eyes to see as you see.
May I have ears to hear as you hear.
May I have the heart to feel as you feel.
May I have mind to know as you know.
May I Love as you Love….
The hours passed painfully slow, but soon I was in the taxi. 15 miles later I was dropped off in the jungle, in the middle of nowhere. I knew that there was no way back home until morning. I walked up the road and kept watch for the narrow path into the jungle, the back door to Palenque. There were clouds in the sky blocking a lot of the star light. I was concerned a flashlight would be visible out in the open, so I had to walk slowly in almost total darkness.
Once I found the back forest trail I used my flash light sparingly. The back trail was slippery and wet. About half way up the trail I passed a huge earth mound I spotted early that day. I didn’t know what it was. Termites maybe? The question I had early that day was answered with Fire Ants, The trail was bright red with them and I feared they would carry me off for supper if I slipped in the mud. I carefully jogged up the trail to avoid the ants crawling up my legs.
Once at the top of the trail head I entered the back side of Palenque. I sighed with relief. No ants here. I walked slowly without the flash light through what seamed to be a very open area. Just when I thought I was in the clear I walked into a HUGE spider web. I didn’t walk between two trees or between anything at all. I did not understand where this spider web was connected to.
It seemed to be out in the open just waiting for me. The web was so thick and strong I freaked out as I imaged a 2 foot spider as the creator of this trap. It is funny how fear exaggerates things – well maybe not so funny. Anyway I had to do a quick check over to make sure I didn’t have any hitchhikers with a killer bite.
It was with my very next step that I spotted the guard dog! Oh no…. maybe I should have listened to my fear and stayed back in my hotel room and had a nice dinner on the square. WHAT A FOOL I AM. That next step landed on a rock that crunched under my weight…. The dog looked up to see who was there. Well, I thought, I have just evolved from ant food to dog food. Good progress Huh? Now that is growth!
I was already standing in the light of one of the back buildings and new home to the pooch in question. I froze thinking he might see me. He didn’t! I don’t know how, but I walked right by him. It must have been Mayan Magic, I thought. I was halfway into the main plaza now. I really felt I was in the clear after all I had checked out the site earlier that day.
Yet again I relaxed too soon. In the pitch darkness I found myself falling into a hole in the ground. I didn’t get hurt but something was down there with me. I don’t know what it was, an iguana, a snake or some earth monster, but as it scrambled out one side of the hole, I was jumping out the other.
At this point, after 3 years of preparation, I had lost all sight of the vision quest that inspired me to begin this journey. I just wanted to survive the night. I didn’t want to be a food source for anything in the jungle. After all I am a human and top of the food chain, right? Gulp! I was beginning to doubt if that rule applied here in the jungle.
I was over halfway to my destination, the Temple of the Sun. The last challenge was to cross over a log that was a make-shift bridge over the little river that runs through Palenque. I did this humbly on hands and knees. No ego was left in me now. I felt totally at the mercy of the jungle, the earth, and the creator. I surrendered. I had been respectfully stripped of any desire to have a great vision or obtain any knowledge. I was just glad to take my last steps and be atop the Temple of the Sun, safe above the dangers of a dark jungle.
I sat on the top step of the temple facing east. The jungle was out in front and the amazing Temple of the Sun was behind me. I felt like a little kid. I felt childlike and almost giddy. I was swinging my legs back and forth just happy to be alive and to have a good safe place to sit for the night. I felt innocent, pure and untouched. Maybe I was experiencing post-traumatic stress. I didn’t know and I didn’t care. I didn’t care if I had a vision or not. I felt free from desire. I was just happy to be in one piece and breathing. I felt so good!
I kept hearing little sounds of something dropping in the back of the temple. What is that, scorpions dropping form the ceiling? As I settled myself down to meditate, I felt something swoosh over the top of my head. Oh now what?? It was BATS, big bats. Images of nasty-looking vampires raced through my head triggered by Saturday afternoon horror shows I saw as a kid. The bats kept flying right overhead. Interesting enough I got use to them as they flew into the temple to eat fruit and drop the large seeds. The swooping sound they made added to my mediation.
I was beginning to see on the inner planes. I began to see a huge energy pyramid coming up from the earth and another coming down from the heavens. When the 2 energies began to merge a diamond shape appeared at the center. I was placed in this center spot. Hmmmm, what does this mean? I thought to myself.
In the distance I began to hear a roar. The roars got closer and closer and seamed to surround me with a strange wind that was not a wind. I threw my hands up and I shouted …”OK , give it to me God. What do you have for me now!” Am I being sized up for a late night snack by hungry jaguars, I thought, or is it a mythical dragon come to take me into the underworlds?
Oh Great! This is just perfect. How arrogant of me to think I can come down here, enter a site at night and the Gods would just open up the hall of records for me to scan for my personal enjoyment! Is the universe testing me to see if I really want what I am asking for, or is this yet another warning to turn back and run like hell? The roar sounded like a huge breathing dragon. A huge monster breathing in and out. What is it? I screamed inside myself.
I got the nerve, or maybe pure audacity, to ask a question, even though I was not getting any answers and seamed to be completely ditched by God, the Maya and every other ascended being in the known universe. What is this? What does it mean? Quickly after I got the question clear in my thoughts, my long time childhood invisible buddies (whom I now call the Star Elders) came in just like they had so many times before in my life. In childhood, it was easy to hear them. When I got older I was told by my mother to grow up and I tried I really hard to act like everyone else, but it didn’t work. I was miserable. So here they were again, as clear as could be.
It was at this point that the evening took a unexpected turn. The Star Elders guided me into the sound of the wind that was not a wind. I was shown a world of energy. This energy that permeates the entire universe and binds it together like some kind of cosmic glue. This energy is what we use everyday to manifest and what every living thing uses to manifest, grow and create with.
The Star Elders allowed me to see the highest form of this energy. They continued by saying this energy was coming slowly but surely to the planet. As it gets more refined, clear and powerful, the earth and all life will have to change. Some of the changes will be resisted and cause challenges and chaos. Some of the changes will be joyously accepted thus making evolution easier.
They showed me that this energy, through heart intent, defines what is manifested. If I thought there was a dragon in the forest – a dragon would appear instantly. I may not have consciously wanted the dragon to appear but the fear and the unconscious belief in the mind that it might be a dragon would make it happen. It is not just what we think with our heads, but also our heart and body reaction to the situation – our total BE-ingness that we create from.
The Star Elders could feel my impatience…. They knew how hard I worked and that I wanted to become awakened and enlightened – Right Now or better yet, Yesterday! Yeah, I am a full-blown spiritual speed freak. I knew this energy was just the ticket! My passport to instant enlightenment! Yahoo!
But every time I tried to USE the energy the entire vision would stop. When I relaxed and began the mediate again the energy came back for me to observe. In frustration I asked why I wasn’t allowed to use the energy to awaken myself. They replied, “You can’t push the cosmic clock. It will happen when it happens.” Now this was not what I wanted to hear. This sounded like no matter hard I try, I cannot achieve enlightenment until a great cosmic alarm clock goes off! “Hey, that is not fair!!!” But they said we have to wait until everyone is ready to ride the wave.
In hindsight, I was glad the Star Elders had the wisdom to show the energy to me but not allow me to use it. I remember that evening and know how many times I would have blown it. Fire ants would have bit me. I would have been dog food and jaguar bait. I realized the universe and my buddies were protecting me. Until I had control of my mind, I would have created a mess for myself with my mind and fear. I guess all of humanity needs to prepare so we all can use this pure form of energy some time in the future.
Then more of the vision unfolded. Inside the sound of the wind, I began to hear angels singing, ancient chanting, music of the spheres. Simply put, the universe opened up to me. I heard the history of the universe in the wind. I heard the history out of time. I understood everything all at once. Eternity, in all directions was within my reach and not some unimaginable distance from me. Time and history merged into a present moment. Wisdom was no longer outside of me. It never had been. I knew everything that was, or will be in the sound of singing angels. There are really no words to describe the event correctly. It is a spiritual encounter people must have for themselves.
As the sun rose and the vision faded I could begin to see the pyramids of Palenque emerging out of the misty darkness like ghosts, and oh my… a guard walking in my direction. Yikes… So I quickly hopped down the side of the temple and hid in the jungle until the site opened. I was suddenly back in the world. There sitting in the jungle I had time to think. I began to doubt the entire night. It was so powerful, unexplainable and amazing. I must have fallen asleep and dreamed it.
It was at this moment I learned a powerful truth … Doubt always follows truth! (1) Why is it that we find it easier to doubt truth, and believe lies? Why is it is easier to believe terrible gossip, than accept beautiful compliments? Why do we try so to close our eyes to the light when all the time we say we want our eyes open wide? Why is it when God gives us a gift we doubt its authenticity or believe we are not worthy? I watched my old self struggle with my new awareness.
As time passed and I have had years to reflect on my experiential adventure inside Palenque. I have come to many conclusions and realizations that have changed my life in countless positive ways. I don’t think I will ruin the mystery and reveal all the secrets here, how could I in this little article anyway.
BUT I can tell you this… We are right on time! We have not missed the boat, the train or the cosmic ship or the next dimension. We can’t push the cosmic clock, nor can we sleep thought the wake up alarm when it goes off . We will know everything we need to know when we need it and no sooner. So relax and enjoy the adventure. We will arrive when we get there. It is not the destination we should covet as much as relish the journey getting there.
ALUNA JOY YAXK’IN is an internationally known author, spiritual life coach, sacred site guide, alternative historian, ordained minister and modern mystic. She inspires and encourages others to recognize and accept their own authentic divinity and connection to God. In the Inca world, Aluna is considered a Qawaq (cow-wak) Clairvoyant, or seer of living energy. Those who know Aluna, call her a modern mystic and/or a psycho-geographical healer. Aluna simply considers herself a Spiritual Archaeologist using her Clairvoyant/Clairsentient gifts to read ancient history of sacred sites. She helps others to tune their inner ears to hear, and also brings forward to modern times the wisdom and teachings of the past. She speaks on the subjects of Spiritual Archaeology and the Awakening of Spiritual Consciousness through the guardians and masters of ancient cultures of the Maya, Inca, and Egyptian/Atlantis worlds. Aluna’s work has been influenced by a life long interaction with the Star Elders combined with a series of shamanic experiences that accelerated over 2 decades of travel in the sacred sites of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Peru, Bolivia, Egypt, Greece, England, Australia and New Zealand. Aluna acts as a cross cultural Spiritual Guide on unique pilgrimages to Mexico, Guatemala and Peru, and occasionally Egypt. She is a carrier of one of the rare Stones of Ica from Peru. She also offers Star Elder Sessions, formulates Sacred Site Essences and is the inspiration behind the I AM Blessing Water Essences. She is the author of “Mayan Astrology”, “The Mayan Daykeeper” and “The Mayan Time Decoder.” Her articles have been published worldwide since 1994.
Footnotes
(1) In fact what Aluna Joy may have experienced was her “vasanas” kicking in. “Vasana” is a Vedantic term for a persistent reaction pattern triggered by a current upset which resembles a past upset. One of her vasanas may have been doubt. For another person, it might be fear. For another, unworthiness.
(2) My vision in 1987 was also a moment out of time. Like Aluna Joy’s, it was not enlightenment though it addressed a profound subject – in my case, the purpose of life. See https://www.angelfire.com/space2/light11/epilog.html.