The Visionary Mayan Queen: Yohl Ik'Nal of Palenque (2 page)

“She is known to disappear, not infrequently,” Lahun Uc observed dryly. “It is my suspicion that she journeys alone, and this is dangerous.”

The mother bowed her head, acquiescing.

“Journeys across time and space should be undertaken with supervision. It is especially difficult to time travel, for the spirit becomes disoriented through multiple veils and may lose the thread of consciousness linking it with the body. Your daughter could be lost in a past or future time; if spirit wanders too long the body will die.”

Lahun Uc was stating the obvious, but she knew that Xoc Akal had little interest in Maya occult arts. Weaving, dancing, feasting and children – the usual noble women’s pursuits – had occupied her attention.

“This must be controlled,” Xoc Akal said, hands fluttering in dismay. “She respects you, Holy Priestess. Will you speak with her, set rules for her? As you say, she is in danger, both from wandering in the jungle and forays to other dimensions.”

Asserting her high rank to regain face, she added firmly:

“It is time she realizes her sacred obligation to the Bahlam family and our B’aakal polity.”

“It is so,” the priestess agreed. “Soon she will be of age for the transformation ceremony into adulthood. Should our ruler, Holy Lord Ahkal Mo’ Nab continue with no issue, Yohl Ik’nal will be the only direct descendant in the family. This becomes of greatest concern, that she be capable of transiting portals to the Triad Gods and ancestors appropriately. She must learn to control her journeys . . as well as her worldly explorations.”

“You speak truth . . though it pains the ruler that succession might not pass through his children. I will speak at once to Kan Bahlam. My husband recently mentioned the ritual to confirm Yohl Ik’nal as bearer of the royal lineage. He must obtain consent from Ahkal Mo’ Nab, and this is delicate, as you appreciate.”

“Yes, delicate but necessary for the Bahlam dynasty to continue.”

“We deeply value your loyalty,” said Xoc Akal.

Lahun Uc nodded. Long had she supported the royal family of Lakam Ha, and would continue while breath infused her body.

“This shall we decide,” she stated with finality born of authority. “Once you speak with Kan Bahlam, and he obtains consent from his brother, will I begin concentrated training to prepare Yohl Ik’nal for the transformation and bearer of royal blood ceremonies. She must remain with me in the temple. Our priestesses will constrain her movements, and I will discipline her journeys. So shall we mold a potential heir to the throne.”

Xoc Akal’s eyebrows shot up, forming crescents on her slanted brow.

“Ruler? Never has a woman ruled B’aakal. Mother of rulers she might be, but ruler herself?”

“She is the last of the purest bloodlines to the founder. The Bahlam dynasty will end if some other high-ranked noble succeeds to the throne – even if married to Yohl Ik’nal.”

“Think you this is possible? There will be much resistance from the men.”

“Except for one man, her father Kan Bahlam. Your husband, My Lady, has both the prowess and the passion to seat his daughter on the throne.”

YOHL IK’NAL - II

Baktun 9 Katun 6 Tun 14
(568 CE)

1

The stones in the firebox were ashen-gray, signaling readiness to receive the waters that would produce waves of steam. Already the sweat chamber, with its low ceiling and narrow entrance, radiated intense heat. Smooth stones formed a seating platform along the sidewalls, absorbing the heat, waiting, anticipating. Stooping to enter the
Pib Nah
(oven house), the attendant brushed sweat from her eyes as she gauged the stones’ readiness. Giving a nod of satisfaction, she backed out and hurried down the long corridor leading to the quarters of the
ahauob
(nobles).

The corridor was flanked on one side by square pillars and the other by a thick-walled chamber. A low corbelled arch formed the ceiling, joining pillars and wall. The pillars opened onto a sunken courtyard with stairs ascending to corridors on all sides. Carved stone figures of stylized jaguars with pudgy faces and large teeth adorned the stairs. Bright sunshine heated the smooth white stucco of the courtyard, while the covered corridor retained morning coolness. When the attendant reached the ahauob quarters, she clasped her left shoulder with right hand and bowed to the priestess standing by the entrance.

The High Priestess Lahun Uc was dressed in a white cotton shift bordered with woven red and yellow bands, anchored above her breasts and falling just below the knees. A lizard headdress clasped her hair in a topknot, from which dangled braided strings ending in azure droplets of jade. Colorful cloth bands crossed in mid-forehead and sprouted a lotus blossom. Woven reed wrist-cuffs dangled shiny copper discs that clinked melodies as she moved.

Without speaking, the priestess pushed aside the cloth screen hanging across the doorway and entered the room. Inside the small chamber the young
ahau
(noble) waited, seated meditatively on the wall bench. Only a single T-shaped window allowed light to enter, and copal smoke undulating from several incensers increased the chamber’s obscurity. The young woman looked up as the priestess entered. Their dark eyes met knowingly, nothing more was needed. Both knew what must happen. Rising slowly, the young woman gathered her loose robe and on bare feet followed the priestess out of the chamber.

Yohl Ik’nal had been fasting and making oblations to the deities for three days. Taking only water and fruit juices, she repeated chants and incantations for hours on end. Hunger disappeared after the second day. Now her body felt transparent, so light it nearly floated. Dizziness resolved into infinite space, and she entered an unbounded reality where she might become lost in vastness.

Instructions from the High Priestess for this purification were explicit. She must search her conscience for any grievances she had committed against her people, family or the gods. Any jealousies, any resentments, any accusations must be purged. Any false thoughts she held must be identified and rectified.

The effort required for this inner accounting kept her linked to her body, though she would prefer to float in timelessness. She summoned to mind, as precisely as possible, many hours of teachings and practices given to noble children. After that came rigorous training in the Temple of the High Priestess. Had she lived according to the highest principles? Had she regularly recited the names and kept the days of the gods? Had she been duly obedient to authorities?

No. All these obligations had not been well met.

Memories of training in the High Priestess’ temple burst through her mind like crashing cascades in Lakam Ha’s tumultuous rivers. She had resisted the discipline, resented the confinement, yearned for her former freedom to wander jungle paths and travel to distant places. The shamanic techniques demanded by Lahun Uc were double-edged: they gave control over visioning and dimensional travel, and brought her in profound contact with Maya deities and ancestors. But they restricted spontaneity and imposed a culturally defined focus on her journeys.

Using the High Priestess’ vision serpent technique, she imbibed mind-altering concoctions of plants or frog secretions. These drew her consciousness into spirals of incense that became the vision serpent, from whose mouth deities and ancestors emerged. She could then ask questions or receive instructions. Using the Wakah Chan Te – Jeweled Sky Tree technique, she learned to descend into deep underground caves, meet her power animal (
uay
), make requests and be guided to ascend the Three-Level Jeweled Tree from its roots in the Underworld, through the trunk in the Middleworld and along branches into the Upperworld. Toward the end of this training, she made journeys deeper into the dangerous Underworld, with close supervision.

The deep Underworld journeys frightened her. One time her uay took the form of a lizard and guided her through watery caves dripping calcareous spines from ceilings. On a slippery boulder, wraith-like figures danced around blue flames, their spindly limbs flapping as bloated bellies jiggled. Skeletal faces leered in toothy grimaces and bloodshot eyeballs popped out of open sockets. They signaled her with bony fingers to come closer. Chills ran up her spine, teeth chattered and body shivered in the cold gloom. Splashing through knee-high water she approached the mirage, nudged forward by the lizard. Suddenly the flames shot higher and twisted into a huge blue snake. It reared its fanged head and fastened red beaded eyes upon her. Tongue forking and vibrating it hissed commands that drew her like a magnet.

She resisted but could not hold back. Terror flooded her body and she twisted frantically, but the magnetic force pulled her up against and into the snake. She became the snake. Primal power surged through her. Pounding heart became the earth’s drumbeat; surging blood became the sap of plants and flowing
itz
(life force) of creatures. Creation, death, transformation and rebirth were her essence. All moved by and through her as the serpent of the life cycle.

The lizard helped her return and the High Priestess interpreted this journey. It was a great gift from the creator goddess and sign of empowerment. She was designated as one who could work with primal life forces to benefit her people. Mayas of high rank, rulers and priesthood must navigate all three worlds, learning to handle Underworld powers, to fully manage the needs of their society.

But she was unable to return to the cold, windy place on the grassy hilltop. Maybe the only way to journey there was using the crystalline sunrays of her special place. She wondered about the pale girl Elie, and her strange world. Would they ever meet again?

On one occasion she found opportunity to slip away to her special place. It was during the family celebration for the birth of her brother, a time when she was released from temple confinement for a few days. In the hubbub of ceremonies and feasting, when her attendants were recovering from quaffing fermented fruit juices, she crept out before dawn. Stealthily she plied the path beside the cascades, her feet noiseless as a jaguar’s paws on the dry humus, it being the season of bright sun and less rain. Settled on her stone, she waited until the rising sun ignited the quartz into flames, and projected her consciousness on the brilliant rays.

The season was also warmer on the windy hilltop. She welcomed the weak sun, inhaled fragrances of dry brush now tipped with seed pods, and peered across endless waves of grasses tawny with seeds.

“Elie!” she called in her mind. “Elie, come visit!”

Time seemed long in the waiting. Could Elie still receive her calls? Would Elie respond, was she able to return to the hilltop?

There seemed to be some difficulty. Yohl Ik’nal could sense Elie’s consciousness though the girl’s form had not appeared. Perhaps Elie no longer was capable of making the journey into another dimension.

Closing her eyes and focusing strongly, she mentally communicated to Elie:

“Can I help you? Here, use my awareness as a thread to follow.”

She sensed a struggle, then a bursting forth of Elie’s awareness and suddenly the girl was beside her on the hilltop.

Elie was bigger and surprisingly tall. Her complexion remained moon-pale framed by corn silk hair. The sky-blue eyes were startling in their clarity.

Eagerly the girls embraced, touching each other’s faces and clothes. Yohl Ik’nal felt how happy Elie was to meet again, and sensed her fear that they might not have another visit. Standing apart, they appraised the changes several years brought. Elie was much taller, her people of larger stock.

“Are things well with you?” Yohl Ik’nal mentally asked.

“I have difficulties. Not much freedom. My father plans marriage for me soon. To a man I do not like. My mother watches me closely. I cannot visit the fairie realm. Until you called me now, I was not sure I could travel here any more.” These ideas were transmitted and Yohl Ik’nal understood. She communicated back:

“Our lives are similar. I have lost my freedom too. I am being trained by a strict priestess to become bearer of the royal blood. They will marry me to whoever best suits their needs. This may be the last time I can come here.”

Holding hands, the girls gazed longingly into each other’s eyes. Both desired to escape their worlds and go somewhere together where they could have the lives they wanted. Elie sent a strong plea:

“Don’t forget me, Yohl. Somewhere, sometime we will know each other again.”

“You
will
come to my world. I can sense it.” Yohl Ik’nal surprised herself with the certainty of her knowing.

Elie smiled and her blue eyes sparkled. She asked to know more about Yohl Ik’nal’s world. Through vivid mental imagery they shared about their families, cities and activities, each in wonderment over how exotic the other’s world appeared. All too soon, the girls realized the moment of return had arrived. In parting, the poignancy of Elie’s intention echoed in Yohl Ik’nal’s memory:

“My greatest wish is to be in your world. May Spirit make it so!”

Oscellated turkeys gobbled in the distance, pulling Yohl Ik’nal back into her self-examination. Untwining her legs, she stretched tight muscles. Attendants had placed a gourd of fruit juice inside the door flap and she drank with gratitude. Taking a deep breath to revive her brain, she resumed her examination of conscience.

Not only was she disobedient in her journeys, but also jealousy and resentment had marred her emotions. Resentment over how dramatically life would change when she was designated as bearer of the royal bloodline. Already gone was her freedom to journey and losing this source of adventure was frustrating. In addition, she was jealous of her friends and worried about how their friendships would change.

Her three closest friends were noble girls whose family compounds were nearby. They played, explored, danced, dreamed and laughed together as equals. They were close and shared intimately. But once she was designated, courtly protocol would require her friends to treat her with deference, to hold her at a distance.

Tears trickled down her cheeks with these thoughts.

“It is not fair. They can have some choice about their lives, the men they marry and things they want to do. But I will have very little choice about anything.” Her life would not be her own, but in service of her city and dynasty. Why could she not be resigned to her fate? Surely this failing displeased the Triad Deities.

An even worse offense, she reflected, was how she came to resent the birth of her little brother. At first she was delighted with a new baby, holding and singing to him. After the novelty wore off, she found herself jealous of her father’s affection for his son. She had been the focus of his attention before, basking in his praise: “My precious Heart of North Wind (that was what her name meant), you blow sweetly into my arms, has there ever been so beautiful a girl?”

Her confinement in the temple and the new baby changed everything. Now she was not often home and lacked opportunity to attract his attention. Yohl Ik’nal adored her father, Kan Bahlam. She loved everything about him, his smell, his strength, the large fine hands and gleaming jade insets in his teeth. She thrilled at his rich baritone voice, doted on his stories told while she sat in his lap. Just the pure maleness of him was a delight. He seemed infinitely wise, masterful and kind. It broke her heart that he was so taken by his son, and she resented both his affection for her brother and being a girl.

Then the tragedy happened. Before a solar year had passed, her baby brother was dead, stung by a scorpion in his bed. Just remembering it now brought tears to her eyes. She was flooded with guilt. Had her evil thoughts summoned the scorpion, directed his venom into her brother? She had desperately entreated the Triad Deities for forgiveness, and now she again called for their absolution. She had meant no harm. She just wanted her father’s love back. Her father’s grief was intense, and her accusatory thoughts toward him dispersed in waves of compassion. She vowed to make it up to him, to replace in his heart the son he so loved.

Now that opportunity was upon her. As bearer of the royal bloodline she could perpetuate the Bahlam dynasty descending through her father, should his brother Ahkal Mo’ Nab remain childless. She must perform the ritual perfectly, embody the sacred qualities of the B’aakal lineage, and convey to the nobles and people of Lakam Ha that she was worthy.