The Feathered Serpent

Since my return from Mexico City, I’ve been asked the question:

“What were some of the greatest takeaways from your pilgrimage?” 

The truth is, I’m still figuring that out…

So much happened for me in those ancient cities, in such a small period of time. There’s many things I can’t yet explain, experiences I can’t share details about on the internet and moments that I’ll keep between Spirit and myself.

When I returned home from Mexico, I jumped head first-back into life, the holidays, momhood and you guessed it…work. I “should have” known to give myself space to process, digest and integrate, but we all know what happens when we “should on ourselves,” so-I accept it all as it is. Since the hustle and bustle of the holiday season has passed, I’ve been able to slow down enough to reflect, move, write, sing, dance, paint & more. I believe it’s through these types of practices that we can begin to shape what is inside, and tell the stories our hearts long to tell.

Since so many have asked to hear more about my pilgrimage, I decided to put it in blog form. Plus, it’s been a goal to dedicate myself to more writing, so here I am! This is the first short piece of many. My hope is to share about how I found my way to Mexico City-where I experienced two earthquakes in a week, my visit to Teotihuacán, my walk to Tepeyac, and everything in between. This is also the start of my blog and site Thread of the Rose, which will house the creativity that I birth from rest, inspiration and the voice within…

Where shall I begin?

(Bringing Guadalupe to visit Quetzalcóatl)

I woke from a dream last night about Quetzalcóatl, a Mayan and Aztec God also known as “the Feathered Serpent.” There’s a sacred temple built just for him and is the only pyramid in Teotihuacán (which translates as “the place where men become gods"), that has stone heads built in. It was also the first temple we saw and got to intimately visit with upon our arrival. While we were visiting the pyramids, my group had a miraculous opportunity to learn more about this specific pyramid. We learned that it is believed to be one of the only pyramids where no human sacrifices were made, as they have not yet found any human remains inside this pyramid. Further more, it is believed that this might have been a place where the ancient people believed all life was birthed and where people came to lay their offerings, engage in rituals and pay their respects to the goddesses. They’ve found ancient artifacts in here that are over 2,000 years old and I might have even got to see one up close and personal…

Now, back to my dream, a part of me wishes I would have written down the content as soon as I woke…

Maybe my dream was weaving together the spirit of the serpent that lives in my spine, with the feathers of the birds I’ve been feeling in my skin for quite some time. Or maybe the dream was triggered by a friend randomly telling me last night, that her dog was named Quetzalcóatl when she first got him…🤔?

Either way, I’m paying attention because this deity has been showing up in spaces and places when I least expect it…

Let me rewind a little…prior to leaving for Mexico, I ran into two dear humans and teachers of mine. One of whom came by my studio and offered a Tarot reading. (I’ll talk about in a separate piece). After the reading, he gifted me my Natal Chart and other readings for the year, as I had just had a birthday not long ago and a lot has been shifting in my life. When I opened my chart, I was reminded: I am ruled by the planet of Venus.

Why’s that relevant? 

Well, when I woke this morning, I started reading about Quetzalcóatl and learned that in some Aztec stories, it is believed that he transformed into Venus. My jaw dropped a little as I started to make connections. I wondered, “Hmmm, maybe that’s why my heart clenched, and I became short of breath, as I stood underneath the Earth that day in Teotihuacán?” Maybe my heart was skipping with joy to have been in connection with a teacher it once knew. Maybe my heart was remembering.

Has Quetzalcóatl been here with me all along?

On Christmas Day, I opened a gift from from my partner, he could hardly wait for me to see. I knew it was going to be something magnificent, as it had the signature of “Heidi Lowe” on the lid, but what I didn’t know was just how significant this long lost necklace would be. The moment I laid eyes on it, I started to cry. Back in July, I walked into Heidi’s studio, tried it on and knew that I needed to take it home. However, I hesitated, left, walked around a bit and couldn’t stop thinking about it, so I went back to her shop. When I informed her that I wanted to buy this necklace, she said that someone had literally just left her store with the necklace in their hands. WHAT?? What were the odds that of allll the jewelry inside that shop, this mysterious person and I were looking at the same piece, on the same day? Heidi could probably see the sadness in my face and let me know that she could order me another one if I wanted, but as one does…I let it go and honestly just forgot about it.

So, on Christmas morning, those tears were for great joy that the necklace found its way to me, for gratitude for Heidi and Trey coordinating such a thoughtful gift (while I was in Mexico), and tears of awe that this necklace now holds more meaning than it did that literal rainy day in Delaware. This time, when I picked it up and held it in my hands, I said to myself, “Whoa, it’s the Feathered Serpent.” The skinny snake like turquoise piece with red feathers wrapped all around. To give you more context, I pulled this picture up for Trey in an attempt to help him understand my connection and I’ll share to now help you.

(Image Credit: History Skills)

A few days later, I created a little ceremony for myself, lit some candles, put on some music and picked up a paint brush…

All of a sudden, my hands were turning what I first thought would be the element of water, into the what now appears to be the movement of wind. Around the curve of the wind, the brush began to create what looks like the spikes of a dragon. But, as I was putting it all together this morning, it makes me wonder…are they actually the feathered rings around the neck of Quetzalcóatl, as seen on the front side of the pyramid and around my necklace? After all, Quetzalcóatl did not have wings to fly, it was his relationship with the wind, that allowed him to soar. As I write this, is it a coincidence that the wind is crushing through the trees, into the vents of my home and straight to my ears? I don’t know, but it all feels quite connected.

(My unfinished painting)

(Heads of Tlaloc on the Left & Quetzalcóatl on the Right; The pyramid of Quetzalcóatl)

I’m not sure what the Feathered Serpent is trying to tell me just yet, but what I do know is that the intimate time I got to spend with this pyramid alone, was enough for me to process for years to come. Something happened to me at this ancient site and I will never forget it. I’ll share a quote by Dr. Sue Morter who wrote the book The Energy Codes to help sum up a bit of what I think happened for me: “When the soul meets consciousness, humanity awakens to its truth, and we know peace.”

My soul met a new consciousness and it definitely woke something inside of me up…

I believe that when one of us wakes up, we all wake up, for we are all connected in this sacred thread we call life.