I am taking up the challenge again with Robyn at Captivate me and we process a photo four different ways each week for the month. Do check out all the great submissions!
and a short story: chapter one ( of four)
The Journey
It was not a mission to be taken without intense spiritual preparation, and Smoke Jaguar had performed the necessary prayers and blood letting. He knew that his journey along the Sac-be (white road) which connected the hub of the Empire to the outlying areas of the jungle was a solemn undertaking. According to belief all duty was holy ritual. Like the tree that rose up from the bowels of Xibalba, the messenger’s quest would parallel the voyage of souls from the underworld to the ultimate portal in the Milky Way. Within the great dream, the tree of life joined earth and heaven, and as branches grew into the turtle constellation of Ak- Ek, the leaves trembled constantly from the shimmering rain of stars.
Smoke Jaguar carried the long count symbols of the grand order that the high priest had rolled into the codex. He paused to ask for the blessing of Kinich Ahau and acknowledged the four pillars of the earth, the Bacabs, who prevented the heavens from collapsing into catastrophe! As he walked in reverence through the gate of the ceremonial city he knew he was passing into another sacred dimension.
Mayanketzal
(Apologies to any true historians of ancient mesoamerican civilizations and mythology)
continue to Chapter 2– The Meeting
and for more Mayan history and images visit
In the Jaws of Kukulkan
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some background information
I can imagine the wonder of the two explorers in the Yucatan Jungle coming across the remains of this ancient civilization. Frederick Catherwood was a draftsman and architect who beautifully sketched these cities of stone and John Lloyd Stephens was a writer and diplomat who wrote of their adventures in Incidents of Travel in Central America.
Sac be– the white road- I walked part of this in the city of Coba. The Mayans built roads to connect everything- like the Romans
Xibalba– the fearsome underworld
AK Ek – is Orion in our astronomy
Kinich Ahau– the sun god
Bacabs – four brothers that corresponded to north, south east and west. The earth resided on the back of giant turtle.
codex – a book made of tree bark- the most famous Mayan codices that survive are called The Popol Vuh. The Mayans had great knowledge of astronomy and mathematics and the divine order of the cosmos was wrapped up in religious ritual.
I decided to use an older photo from my own wonderful Mayan journey a few years ago. Starting with the original and an overpexposed sky I tried to achieve a Catherwood sketch look, so I added a glow, antique plate and vintage effects. I added a hint of colour as per Catherwood.
the runes of the gatekeeper's daughter- dedicated to Nick 
Me hubby shouted up the stairs there about something before I could say…what a brilliant post. He quite tore me away from this sun and stars world here I am still sitting in, so he couldn’t have really. But your power was such I was in that other world. The image is amazing. I want to know more about Calderwood
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Thanks Sehanne, oh yes, very interesting story of Stephens and Catherwood in 1839. I hope you will enjoy all the installments of that little story of Smoke Jaguar.( 4 in all) I am very fascinated with the Mayan history and dark mythology and traveled all through the area a few years back. I wrote a few posts on my travels there as well.
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Oh I will red them all, you can be assured. xxxxxxxx
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thank you Shehanne, sorry for my late reply!
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Clicked the link from the post I was reading and you captivated me in here with your fabulous story and the sacred gate to the ceremonial city … You are unique Cybele dear,a great narrator and photographer 🙂
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oh Doda, thanks so much for reading!! I do love stories and writing them – when I have time and am inspired of course- the nine muses have all touched my shoulder from time to time with poetry, dance music and astronomy!!
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Yes,Cybele dear,it’s quite obvious that the divine nymphs have touched your shoulder in so many fields.Exhilarating for us to read and for you to have this spiritual surge come out of your sensitive soul 🙂
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oh thanks Doda but you live in the country of muses- as your own posts show!!
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🙂 ❤ xxx
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Photos and story! Yay! Double joy! Greeat job, Cybele!
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Thanks Lizzie- go glad you like it!!
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What a great rendering of this image, Cybele. You sparked my curiosity and I went off to look up Catherwood, a very interesting and well travelled chap. When I came back to your picture, it looked just like one of his watercolours, beautiful. Thanks for sharing a bit of Mayan culture with us. 🙂
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so glad I succeeded Katie! Thanks!! And yes a very interesting civilization!
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I love the changes you made to the photo–simply magical!
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thank you so much Bethany! and for your visit!
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What an amazing transformation!
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Many thanks Naomi!
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Cybele, how do you do? I love what you’ve done with the photo, the second one. So Gothic, so lovely.
And where is the whole story? I want to read more of it. There is a traditional wholeheartedness in the way you tell stories. Your characters have a strong moral significance, and the spirituality, the essence, is affecting and deep. You know those kind of stories you read and something tells you that there is more to them than just the wonderfully woven words, something deeper, sometimes subtle, but certainly magnetic and powerful. That’s how it is with your stories–Niamh’s Journey and the rest, even the Arabian one. I love the quality–simple, captivating, profound.
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I am overwhelmed by the compliment from such a tale weaver as yourself! For some reason there does seem to be an underlying spiritual tone to my stories. When I was young I was deeply moved by Oscar Wilde’s writing and also stories about the Holy Grail!! Seeking is a huge part of it all. Thank you so much my friend for your eloquent description of the longing for something more, something close yet so far!
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ps: I used an editing program called Topaz to and another called Perfect Effects to achieve that faded sketch look.
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Love the photo treatment Cybele, the story and the facts behind it.
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oh their story is really fascinating and still so mysterious! Thank you so much Andrea!
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You changed ordinary foto becomes beautiful skectch, Cybele. Wonderful works, as always..
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Many thanks Nurul!! Glad you like it!
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I haven’t done photo editing, but I do like how your final photo turned out. It’s interesting, too, how cropping can change the whole feel of the photo. Nicely done 🙂
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thank you Janna!
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I love the way you’ve linked your edit to Catherwood and his sketches. Great picture and I look forward to seeing future edits. Brilliant story, too. 🙂
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thanks so much Louise!! Yes I loved his sketches and the whole story of their explorations.
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I love how you edited the photo. Made it quite mystical and historical (if that makes sense) and it went so well with your story. 🙂
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thank you Linda!! It was fun to do and I’m glad that comes across!
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Very inspired story Cybele and fantastic photo!
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thanks so much Della for your lovely comments!
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I just love what you did here. Wow.
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thanks so much Debra! Now I have to think of what else I can do for the next 3 weeks!!
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So much wonder in this post – Mayan journey, very jealous! Although that’s not what I should be feeling ;-). Love the combined elements, the transportive image, ‘the leaves trembled constantly from the shimmering rain of stars.’ A magical combination, with much to mull over… 🙂
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thanks for your great comment Stephen!! I hope you can visit there sometime- it can profoundly inspire the storyteller in us.
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I really love the post processing effect that you have given to this photo. It adds to story and shows the history of this old structure.
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your comment is much appreciated Norma!!
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The zoom / crop was a great choice for applying this effect, Cybele!
Looking forward to the rest of the story…
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thanks so much Anita!! Ouch now I have to think some more!
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That’s what everyone’s thinking! 🙂
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🙂 yes!
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Cybele, you never cease to amaze me! What an incredibly beautiful transformation of this image. I just love how you “see” things! And I am just fascinated with how you come up with your stories and the facts you weave into them. What a wonderful post for me to read first thing this morning.
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I am thrilled that you enjoyed the story along with the edit!! It’s such a fascinating civilization and history and so full of sacred rituals or quests, astronomy and mystery. – all the things I love! lol! Thanks so much Stacy for your enthusiastic support!
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😃
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I absolutely agree with Stacy’s comment here. Every word!
As always a gorgeous image and process Cybele and I was thrilled to read that Eliza totally gets this, knowing the artist and place.
As usual – awesome! 😃
I jumped the queue 😜😜
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So glad you like it Robyn!! It’s such a great challenge!! I love the Mayan mystery! Yes Eliza knew of my inspiration – very gratifying! Thank you- and thank you!!
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Always a pleasure to watch and read your beautiful creations 😃
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🙂
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👍🏻to you, Robyn 🙂
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😃😃
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super edit. I have never heard of Catherwood before…
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Glad you liked it cool!! Thank you!
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Nice treatment of your beautiful original image, Cybele. The hint of faded colour, the blur on the edges, all help to focus our eyes on the gate. And as always your writing helps put it all in context and transport us to a sacred world.
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thanks so much Chris- I’m glad it all tied together and the effect was fun!
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I like it! I’m reminded of one of those old photographs that have been painted.
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so glad it worked!! Thank you Ann!
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I love the development of the image! It looks very old. The story is intriguing. I’m ready to turn the page. 🙂
Thanks for adding the word definitions and history. It really helped to bring the story alive the second reading.
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Glad I succeeded with that old look!! Thanks so much for reading the story too Deborah!
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My pleasure!
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Love your processing here, Cybele….just right for the subject. And I liked the information about Catherwood.
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Thank you Sue!!
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I love Catherwood’s etchings and took Stephens’ book with me the first time I went exploring Mayan ruins of which Labna was one. This is such a lovely way to present the sacred gate of Labna – really puts me in the mood of being one of the early explorers of Mayan archeology.
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Yes!!! Thanks Eliza – so glad you like it and Catherwood and Stephens!
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Great story of your journey,the photo is beautiful
Great post
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thanks so much for your lovely comment Sheldon!!
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That is a nice treatment of the subject.
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Many thanks!
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