I have finally settled in and feel back in balance with my regular schedule after an adventurous vacation in Mexico. One of the highlights of my holiday in Mexico was a visit to the Mayan archaeological site of Chichen Itza. The astounding ruins reminded me of a tarot reading I did where both the Death Card and the Sun Card sat harmoniously together. The two cards may feel like opposites, but like Chichen Itza, they hold compatible energies that illuminate transformation, rebirth, and a sacred reverence for the passage of time - lessons that deeply resonate with the approaching Winter Solstice.
The Platform of the Skulls reminded me of the Death Card. It is believed this platform was a place that displayed the decapitated heads of sacrificed victims and captives from war. Here there are carvings of skulls in the walls, but also of warriors, sacrifice, and blossoming fruit trees. The Tempolo de Kukulacan, or El Castillo, is the centerpiece of Chichen Itza and dedicated to the feathered serpent god Kukulacan. El Castillo feels like a living site to me, and seeing that the structure meticulously chronicles their calendar through reminds me of the Sun Card. At the base of El Castillo's stairs are serpent sculptures, and at each spring and autumn equinox the sun casts shadows along these stairs, creating the illusion of a serpent slithering down the pyramid. And, what we are looking at is layer three: there are two structures underneath it, the first being a complete mystery to archaeologists. Even more intriguing are the archeo-acoustics of El Castillo: if you clap at its base an eerie high pitched chirp reverberates through the area. This chirping is said to be in honor of the Resplendent Quetzal, a bird revered by the Mayans.
In the simplest sense the Death card indicates transition, transformation, and the endings of cycles. The Sun indicates hope, abundance, good health, good fortune, and rebirth. For me, the Death and Sun cards show the passage of time and the wondrous cyclical nature of existence, both on a very personal level and on a grander scale. Great civilizations rise and fall, and as they do we breathe in deeply and expressively sing the songs of their history and mythology. While roaming Chichen Itza I was reminded of the the Mayan calendar's conclusion of a "Grand Cycle" in 2012, and how the death of one cycle also heralds the birth of a new one. Change can be difficult for some to handle, and it can be easy to react instinctively to change with resistance or fear. But change can lead to opportunities for personal growth, gained wisdom, and new perspectives. Passage and transition is always happening, and even when we feel blocked or stuck, time is still moving forwards. Nothing is stationary, progress can be refreshing and beneficial. If you find the Death and Sun Cards appearing in your tarot readings, consider what in your life is coming to a close and how this might actually be and opportunity for personal growth. Endings of jobs, relationships, and chapters are natural. George Harrison sings “All Things Must Pass” and also “Here Comes the Sun.” So, perhaps consider that when an old cycles concludes a new one awaits you with brighter, more powerful, and more fulfilling opportunities. Acknowledge the stress and challenges of evolution, but celebrate the rewards of it as well.