Lubaantun, Lxacoca Chocolate Factory, and Drum Lessons

After applying a fresh coat of sunscreen and bug repellent we headed out for Lubaantun to continue our exploration. At the entrance we encountered the Ceiba tree, or what the Mayans referred to as the "tree of life". With it's roots winding their way in to the earth representing the underworld and it's branches reaching towards the sky representing the upperworld, it's body represented our time here on Earth.



We were also greeted by another tree which they refer to as the "sun burnt tourist".

We were required to have a local Belize guide on our trip and our guide Leo, was awesome. Lubaantun was built with black rock instead of the more common limestone and was believed to be active during the 700s. Leo said it was a very spiritual or religious city, but I looked around, and if that was the case where were all the stelaes? I asked and Leo said there were not any, and that didn't feel right to me. Scott said it felt like it was more of a place of military conflict. We explored the idea a bit more and with the help of Malcolm came to the conclusion that it probably was a very spiritual place with stelaes. But that it was invaded and they took their stelaes as that was considered a source of power. When one Mayan city invaded another they did not take it over but rather just took their king, so it was not too far fetched to think that they also took all their stelaes. Some archaeologists start with facts and then use them to further their agenda. Instead of pursuing your own agenda you need to listen to the site, what feels right and what does not. The facts, writing/carvings, clearly state this was a spiritual city. To me it seems more logical that this city was conquered and had their stelaes taken in victory. Rather then being a very spiritual city that contained no stelaes.





The Mayans were one of the first civilizations to understand the concept of zero or nothing. Today this might not seem like much, but what really is zero or nothing? In my third Ayahuasca ceremony I experienced many dimensions. At one point there was a dimension of nothing, and if you have read my other blog you know I mean nothing, not even a conscious thought, because that would have been something. It was a download or feeling I received but never explored it until today. Malcolm was explaining how amazing it was that the Mayans understood zero, but it was not making sense to me, it did not feel right. I went back and forth with Malcolm trying to get my head around this. Malcolm has an amazing talent to bring logic in to the abstract, a place it does not belong. We explored deeper to the point that nothing is the point of creation. I still struggled, but then for a brief second felt I got it, but it went away again. Slowly it started to sink in and then all of a sudden, wow! My mind was blown away, and the only mind altering substance I had the last few days was a few Belikin beers. My third Ayahuasca ceremony took on new meaning and it was making more sense then ever. Zero or nothing is the point of creation because you can't have anything before creation. Otherwise it would be the thing before creation, rendering it no longer creation.

As I walked around I began to feel what each part of the city was. I stopped relying so much on my eyes and what it looked like but rather what it felt like. Instead of using my mind to go out and decipher what it was and what it was not, I simply let it come in to me. Here was a ball court, here was the ruling family's quarters, here was the entrance, and here was the market. It felt right.



I was learning to trust my heart more and echos of my fifth Ayahuasca ceremony were resonating from deep within me. I was starting to find answers. It was impossible for a question to exist without the answer also existing, you just need to stop searching for it and it will come to you.



I continued my exploration of the site, listening and connecting, now understanding what this actually meant.



Malcolm gave my mind a bit of a rest with a few simple, but interesting facts as we continued working our way though the site. There are roughly 36 words that directly translate across all languages. Among them, One, Two, and Many. Which means that after two some languages do not differentiate between three, four, five, etc. They group it all together as "Many".



We then headed out to connect with the spirit of Cacao. Inside of the fruit are many white pods that are quite sweet, and inside of those white pods are little beans.

Cacao is actually a very powerful and healthy plant, In fact it was a large part of President Jimmy Carter's diet which helped him defeat cancer. Of course you can't cure cancer with a Snickers bar and that is largely because it only has around 15% chocolate. But 100% Cacao is what can be referred to as a "super food". You begin by crushing the bean.

No liquid is added but with enough effort it becomes one.

Once fully crushed we added some sugar, this mixture would be 75% Cacao and 25% sugar. Sorry Mom but at best your most expensive Fran's chocolate tops out at around 60% Cacao. Cacao contains a mild amount of THC which is probably why so many of us enjoy the euphoric feeling it gives us. So maybe I should start leaving a joint on the guest room pillow for my guests instead of a chocolate mint.

We would later explore the Cacao plant and its medicine space. For now we piled into the van to go have a lesson in drumming. The van was spacious and our driver Kurt was awesome. Just one problem was that due to a leak in a pressure hose, anytime the engine hit a certain RPM the heater would kick in. So at times we had to drive slow to avoid being cooked alive inside.

After a bit of a drive it was good to see that our drum instructor offered facilities in his backyard.

This guy was awesome and a great instructor. You could see the passion in his heart and that he loved what he did. Tonight's lesson went way beyond the drum. The universe was re-enforcing lessons I had already learned. Yet I continue to struggle with past habits, afraid to let go of what is comfortable.

His father built the drums we used and if I thought I had a chance of getting one home I would have gladly purchased one.



I found that I could actually keep the beat, that is until I heard any other noise, like a cricket or bird, and God forbid someone else starts drumming, at which point I'm screwed.

We headed back to town for dinner.





I was going for an artsy shot here but I not only screwed up the framing but the lighting was pretty bad as well.

I ordered lion fish for dinner and it was quite good, a pretty sweet white fish. A local youth group called "Drums not Guns" entertained us while we ate. It quickly became clear I would need another couple of years of drum lessons.



Loretta and Sergio tore up the dance floor with an act that was impossible for any of us to follow.

Tonight we encountered a second group of missionaries, a bunch of teens with a few adult chaperons, all wearing some kind of "Jesus Saves" t-shirt. I fear that these kids are being bombarded with the beliefs of others who are too insecure, and have to convince others to confirm their own understanding. I hope that these teens examine the knowledge forced upon them and take what they need, what makes sense to them, and then leave the rest behind. Share your wisdom and let others decide what knowledge they take with them and what knowledge they run away from, it's not your choice, it's theirs.

The world is filled with the tiniest moments that have the ability to change your life. Tiny moments capable of erasing all the numbness, moments of understanding, moments of beauty that are impossible to describe. These moment have the ability to make you feel widely alive.

VIDEO: Mayan Cosmology - Day 3