Dame Nature

Snakes have small heads and no hands, a slithering contradiction to the symbol of wisdom. They are smart because they use others at times; Use others as their hands; Use others for survival. They are beautiful and fierce. They can be extremely dangerous and sweet. They have a great survival intelligence as shown through the survival of the species. They read situations acutely.

Some say one type of snake became the humans spine. They were granted this gift by the gods. By becoming the spine they were granted arms, legs, and a voice, all the things they had been jealous of. They could work the land, cultivate, discover and use corn, etc.

The pine cone or egg also symbolizes one of the greatest first offerings, corn. Pine was used in ships, corn became a staple of life for large quantities of people. Both have a social aspect. One got people together from far and wide and one sustained them so they could. It is said a man took a ear of corn divided it in half, giving the top half to his companion. This simple act allowed his companion a future because corn could provide, much like the pine cone or the egg.

A history of stories is what she knew. Some probably accurate, some undoubtedly more than made up. They all had their place in the history of stories. Most stories, even the most fictitious hold some truths. It's about deciphering them. Stories are like any other code, codes of culture.

Colel said Shua couldn't come on the first trip, but he could on the next one. She had told Colel that she was notifying the american consulate and a family member of her trip, so if he tried to kill her or be a psycho there would be people coming for her. Colel had laughed and reminded her he was a keeper of a book that he had kept from the world for decades. It's true, he had. Colel probably could have already killed her and taken his other book back too. He came into focus at this moment and it all seemed more real and a little unsettling. She found herself rubbling her necklace so hard between her fingers while she thought, that her skin hurt. So hard infact, she wondered if it would take her finger prints off. No finger prints would make it easy for Colel to Jane Doe her. However, Colel had followed up his point saying, "Believe it or not I'm a pretty normal boring guy. I could need protection from you. You are trying to be in the brotherhood or find a member". We had agreed on both of us being as normal as normal people are. He is weird bc he is a keeper, I'm quirky because of my habbit with my necklace and obsession with the brotherhood. It made us a match.

First trip is to be a week and a half. She was staying at Colels' house. Her boss was not pleased with her leaving, but found acceptance through her trips brevity. She couldn't make a digital copy of her book so she did something unthinkable until now, she made her own copy. She meticulously stayed up each night leading to her departure drawing and writing, making a copy of each page. She made a deal with herself. She decided she would keep it in her safe while she was gone and when she returned safely with the book she would burn her copy. She just could risk losing the book, even if Colel took his back. For all she knew, Colel knew she was making a copy. Either way he would have to get into her place and safe in order to get it. Writing down each page further cemented the contents into her memory. If both were ever taken, she could still recall the contents. She hoped it wouldn't come to this, but she had dedicated too much time to chance it. By tomorrow she'd be somewhere near La Venta or modern Veracruz and Tabasco. Colel didn't give her exact details, other than saying he'd be there to pick her up. She thought maybe he was worried she would still try to bring her friend.

All the important buildings, at La Venta, were built 8° West of North. It is thought this is due to a star in the constalation of the sky. She use to joke it was a metaphor. True north will lead you straight to heaven. It's a shorter vector. If you are 8° off, it gets you to the same destination, just a longer route. It's not then a straight shot there. The vector is slightly longer. It is to the West because people are always looking to the outcomes; To the setting sun; Looking to the heavens at the end.   Snakes were used for measuring at times too, literally and metaphorically. When pulled straight, they could resemble vectors.

Think of it like a triangle. There is a start point for an individual, for a marriage, for a business. All have end points. Most times this path strays from the true north or "right" path. Humans are not perfect, some would say perfectly flawed. The two points arrive, but are seperated by time, degrees of difference. Life for humans, is built on having a compass that doesn't always point true north. This is where intent, lying for the right reason, and hiding info that might cause harm enter. The reason it wasn't 10° or more is because that would be too much, especially in a base 20 or so system. Eight in Mayan culture is 3 dots with a line representing the point they started at and the two points where they ended up, the three dots. If people are units of measure, 8° also is representative of the family in this system. If 8 is divided by twenty you get 2.5. 2.5 could represent a mother, father and baby. If in a decimal form it would be .4, The number necessary in a relationship to make it work for a couple. Either each person has another, or if one has another they have to have two or it seems like favoritism. For an individual .4 would represent the self, the loved one, and the parent figures. It's all points and units. Although, I doubt these people were thinking in decimals, it's an interesting view.  It's a fantastic story and some how more romantic than just following a star in the constellation. The principle still is a good lesson for today's world too. However, she also believed it is the founding principle of the brotherhood. Sometimes bad things can be done to force answers or results for good reasons. No different than the idea behind batman really and countless others in stories. The point is both vectors eventually lead to the same place though a different path could be taken. Stray too far and the vector doesn't make it or the points end up so far away they are lost to each other. This could also be a warning and explaintion to people about journeys in earlier times. 8° also accounts for both the human eyes. The Mayan eye alone has a numerical value of 4. With two it would be 8. Two solar right eyes would equal 8. The buildings are set to look at the sky in the perfect way to view what the sky looked like on the day the two met, or were birthed. 

She finished prepping for her trip and fell asleep thinking of this.

Stepping off the plane and into the airport she felt like an explorer. This must of been how the spanish felt, she thought. A new world was opening up to her.

She noticed Colel standing to the side, waiting for her. He is punctual.

"Hello Colel, again. Where are we going? Do you live with anyone?"

"I live alone."

We got in his truck and drove to his home. The 3hr and 40 minute car ride mostly consisted of listening to Gipsy Kings and Ry Cooder amongst others. I looked out the window knowing I lost our route directions while I scrutinize the surrounding terrain. Getting swept away with the breeze, carried by the sea and lost in the green jungle grasses and trees. A wonderous mix of topography.

"Wont people think it's a bit improper for me to be staying with you?"

"I don't ask people to think about it.", responds Colel.

"Oh, well, wont they see?"

"Didn't ask them to look either.", he responds.

"come on", she says while glaring at him.

"You could be a sister, a romantic interest, etc for all they know."

"Oh, not real neighborly huh?"

"I'm neighborly just fine, just not personable."

"Got it."

"Shall we go inside, I mean what will my neighbors think, us just sitting out front so long.", He laughed as he got out of the truck and opened his front door.

"Let them talk", she said through a smile.

She went in. It did not look like a bachelor pad. It looked like a home. A picturesque ranch home. It had a couple wooden rocking chairs in the Livingroom. There were doilies under the lamps on the tables and a classic floral couch with a knit blanket adorning the back rest of it. It was comfortable, familiar, like a grandparents home just with more pictures of bulls and horses on the walls. The smell was a mix of garden and bacon and a male cologne. A nice smelling one.

"The room over here is where you will stay. I know you are tired, but I thought you could look over my book before you go to bed. You want to go to bed early, I start early. You will be too. We have a lot to cover in a week."

"Week and a half"

"Short amount of time, lots to cover is the point."

"What time is considered early?"

"I will let you sleep until 5:30am."

"Let me? 5:30am? okay, well 5:30am it is. Thirty minutes earlier than normal.", she flashed a look at him. She didn't want him thinking she's a princess.

"I have a plate of food for you in the kitchen, you just need to microwave it."

"You have a microwave, thank goodness. And a stove?"

"Yes, I'm part of the modern world even though I partly dwell in the past."

"Yes, of course. Sorry. I'm just happy. I could even cook us dinner a couple nights."

"We'll see. Well I'll leave you to it. The book doesn't leave this house. You don't copy this book. Agreed?"

"Yes sir."

"Okay, well get to it, busy days ahead."

Not exactly the easing in she expected, but she liked to hit the ground running and she was in a sprint. She set her things down in the room. The bed had a quilted blue covering that was faded, but charming. The bed had a wood frame and a small dresser across from it. There was one painting of a woman dancing with a man as horses galloped in the background. It had a movement to it. The whole room was just so comfortably charming she wished she could just cozy up in bed. Instead she went to the kitchen, heated the food and ate. It was a meat and potato meal. The meal was very delicious, she wondered if he cooked it. If he had he is a better cook than most. After eating she washed up in the small bathroom attatched to her room. It felt like a ritual cleansing her before touching the book. The book that was a remaining portal to the past. The cover looked identical to hers. It felt identical to touch as well. She opened the cover excitedly and began.





Sent from my Galaxy





Sent from my Galaxy