In the heart of the Yucatan jungle, surrounded by dense vegetation and the eerie sounds of nature, lies Chichén Itzá, one of the largest cities built by the Maya almost a millennium and a half ago.
At its centre stands an architectural marvel, the Pyramid of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo. Each of its four sides is made up of steps with a code inscribed, which is revealed through light and shadows. During every equinox, sunlight falls with precise alignment on the steps, creating a shadow that resembles a snake slowly descending toward the earth.
The Maya had a unique understanding of the rhythm of nature, which allowed them to perceive time and connect with the universe. In their worldview, time does not follow a straight line; instead, it is cyclical. Just like the sun returns to the same position in the sky and the Kukulkan snake descends the pyramid twice a year, time is not seen as something that passes and disappears. Life does not simply march toward an inevitable end; it transforms and continues.
The Maya understood the world through a dynamic interplay with their surroundings—interpreting the shadows, the winds, and the waters. They saw a connection among the sky, the moon, the trees, and the cenotes-sacred lakes that lead to the underworld. Everything was linked by an invisible web, leaving no part of their existence disconnected.
And what about us? When did we stop looking at the sky and start living solely by appointments and notifications? How did we lose the ability to perceive the world not through screens but with our own eyes?
Perhaps time is not something that haunts us but rather a space in which we can move freely. Maybe the pyramid is not just a monument to the past but a place where time takes shape and invites us to see it differently.
With my wandering pen, I take you on a journey to distant cultures and majestic landscapes.
Each time, one of my travel photographs will become a source of inspiration and motivation for writing.
An opportunity for self-reflection through cultural exploration and the power of the written word.
