Mexico's Stunning Crystal Cave

Wow--I bet those things could balance your chakras in no time!

Have you heard about this place? Guess I've been out of the loop. It's a cave beneath Mexico's Chihuachua Desert, filled with giant crystals, some over 30 feet long. The cave was identified several years ago, but the crystals weren't uncovered until the water was pumped out and exploration began sometime in 2007. "National Geographic" ran a story , with excellent photos.

The giant crystals were formed as a result of essentially perfect conditions--mineral-rich water, a steady temp over 100 degrees and lots of gypsum (calcium sulfate).

Lately, I've been rediscovering and indulging my fascination with crystals, and these are stunning. Click here for even more amazing photographs. Fortunately, nature is prohibiting the cave's development as a tourist attraction. The intense heat keeps people away, and it isn't easy to reach, either. A steel door has been placed at the entrance to keep out the adventurous and stupid. Here's hoping this cave is seen only in photographs---you just know some crazy crystal hunter will start trying to chip off pieces for his magic wand!

Mexico's Stunning Crystal Cave

Wow--I bet those things could balance your chakras in no time!

Have you heard about this place? Guess I've been out of the loop. It's a cave beneath Mexico's Chihuachua Desert, filled with giant crystals, some over 30 feet long. The cave was identified several years ago, but the crystals weren't uncovered until the water was pumped out and exploration began sometime in 2007. "National Geographic" ran a story , with excellent photos.

The giant crystals were formed as a result of essentially perfect conditions--mineral-rich water, a steady temp over 100 degrees and lots of gypsum (calcium sulfate).

Lately, I've been rediscovering and indulging my fascination with crystals, and these are stunning. Click here for even more amazing photographs. Fortunately, nature is prohibiting the cave's development as a tourist attraction. The intense heat keeps people away, and it isn't easy to reach, either. A steel door has been placed at the entrance to keep out the adventurous and stupid. Here's hoping this cave is seen only in photographs---you just know some crazy crystal hunter will start trying to chip off pieces for his magic wand!

What You May Have Missed About the Obama Inauguration

Amid all the hubbub, here are 2 things I wanted to highlight:

Those Peruvian shamans were once again sending their energy our way on Tuesday! I love these guys. This time, however, they gathered fellow shamans from Mexico, Brazil and Bolivia to participate in an ancient Andean ritual to protect Obama, give him strength and help him usher in peace worldwide. According to the report, the shamans danced, shook rattles, blew smoke and tossed flower petals and coca leaves at a photo of Obama (I'm sure the conservatives just LOVE the coca leaf ingredient). Thanks guys--we appreciate the support!

Did you love Obama's speech? It was great, but I had one problem with it. About halfway through he said:

"...We will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents ..."

I really have a problem with the "We will not apologize for our way of life." Or maybe I'm just confused. On one hand, Obama delivered a rousing rebuke to America's enemies, which rallied the crowd. I admit it even got me a little worked up. But it's such a vague phrase, that everyone can ascribe to it whatever they want. But what did Obama mean, "our way of life?"

Was he talking about a free press, free elections, equality and opportunity? Well, that's certainly worth defending. Or did he mean our tendency to guzzle gas, bully our way with other economies and the planet, and generally pressure everyone to be just like us? Well, that I do feel we should apologize for. Because it's that way of life that frequently has caused us to sacrifice our higher ideals in favor of the almighty dollar. And that's why we're the No. 1 target of terrorists today.

Maybe it isn't anything to worry about. But Obama and his speech writers carefully crafted each and every word of that speech. The cynic in me says he put that in there to appease the conservatives, those who fear Obama will somehow surrender American prestige and power.

I dunno, but to me, a way of life isn't necessarily good or bad. Yet we Americans frequently tell others they must change their way of life and that ours is better. So--how dare we say we'll never apologize? Isn't that just arrogance? How can you negotiate and lead to a better tomorrow when the only way you see is your own?

Maybe I'm just being picky but it gives me pause.

What You May Have Missed About the Obama Inauguration

Amid all the hubbub, here are 2 things I wanted to highlight:

Those Peruvian shamans were once again sending their energy our way on Tuesday! I love these guys. This time, however, they gathered fellow shamans from Mexico, Brazil and Bolivia to participate in an ancient Andean ritual to protect Obama, give him strength and help him usher in peace worldwide. According to the report, the shamans danced, shook rattles, blew smoke and tossed flower petals and coca leaves at a photo of Obama (I'm sure the conservatives just LOVE the coca leaf ingredient). Thanks guys--we appreciate the support!

Did you love Obama's speech? It was great, but I had one problem with it. About halfway through he said:

"...We will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents ..."

I really have a problem with the "We will not apologize for our way of life." Or maybe I'm just confused. On one hand, Obama delivered a rousing rebuke to America's enemies, which rallied the crowd. I admit it even got me a little worked up. But it's such a vague phrase, that everyone can ascribe to it whatever they want. But what did Obama mean, "our way of life?"

Was he talking about a free press, free elections, equality and opportunity? Well, that's certainly worth defending. Or did he mean our tendency to guzzle gas, bully our way with other economies and the planet, and generally pressure everyone to be just like us? Well, that I do feel we should apologize for. Because it's that way of life that frequently has caused us to sacrifice our higher ideals in favor of the almighty dollar. And that's why we're the No. 1 target of terrorists today.

Maybe it isn't anything to worry about. But Obama and his speech writers carefully crafted each and every word of that speech. The cynic in me says he put that in there to appease the conservatives, those who fear Obama will somehow surrender American prestige and power.

I dunno, but to me, a way of life isn't necessarily good or bad. Yet we Americans frequently tell others they must change their way of life and that ours is better. So--how dare we say we'll never apologize? Isn't that just arrogance? How can you negotiate and lead to a better tomorrow when the only way you see is your own?

Maybe I'm just being picky but it gives me pause.

Sacred Places: Road to Mayan Underworld Found!

This isn't breaking news, but an archaeologist in Mexico continues excavating sinkhole caves, or cenotes, in the Yucatan Peninsula, and he's found a series of caves that appear to be the real-world representation of Xibalba, the mythical Mayan underworld. Apparently, he keeps finding cool, creepy stuff!

This is pretty crazy--you descend into an underwater sinkhole and then, for whatever reason, crawl through darkness and human bones, around sharp stalactites and nasty critters like scorpions as part of some spiritual passage? Its purpose is unknown, but the series of caves and chambers faithfully depict the conditions Mayans would've expected upon reading about Xibalba in the Popol Vuh, a sacred text. Things like rivers of blood, bats and "knife chambers."

Some caves contain the ruins of underground temples and even a 100-yard paved road. Crazy.

Other similar sites have been discovered, and this site was also reported on back in August. The most recent report does a good job of explaining how the various caves depict specific conditions in Xibalba (stalactites for knives, for example), as well as Spanish efforts to wipe out the indigenous Mayan religion.

The last photo is of a beautifully lit cenote. I actually swam in one myself, but I can't imagine working to create such a dark vision as Xibalba--underground, in the darkness, the bugs--I'm starting to freak myself out! My swim was pretty tame--and well-lit.

Sacred Places: Road to Mayan Underworld Found!

This isn't breaking news, but an archaeologist in Mexico continues excavating sinkhole caves, or cenotes, in the Yucatan Peninsula, and he's found a series of caves that appear to be the real-world representation of Xibalba, the mythical Mayan underworld. Apparently, he keeps finding cool, creepy stuff!

This is pretty crazy--you descend into an underwater sinkhole and then, for whatever reason, crawl through darkness and human bones, around sharp stalactites and nasty critters like scorpions as part of some spiritual passage? Its purpose is unknown, but the series of caves and chambers faithfully depict the conditions Mayans would've expected upon reading about Xibalba in the Popol Vuh, a sacred text. Things like rivers of blood, bats and "knife chambers."

Some caves contain the ruins of underground temples and even a 100-yard paved road. Crazy.

Other similar sites have been discovered, and this site was also reported on back in August. The most recent report does a good job of explaining how the various caves depict specific conditions in Xibalba (stalactites for knives, for example), as well as Spanish efforts to wipe out the indigenous Mayan religion.

The last photo is of a beautifully lit cenote. I actually swam in one myself, but I can't imagine working to create such a dark vision as Xibalba--underground, in the darkness, the bugs--I'm starting to freak myself out! My swim was pretty tame--and well-lit.