The Archangel Chronicles Chapter 5 Part 1

By Marty Boyle

(An excerpt from Barachiel,
From the 15-book series, The Archangel Chronicles.
On this stop, Ginger meets an incredible spirit.)

Chapter 5, Part 1
Cozumel
Quintana Roo, Mexico


Again, Ginger blinked her eyes to adjust to the change in place. Her first instinct was to check that Barachiel remained with her. When she spotted the archangel, great relief flooded her face, causing her guide to chuckle.
“A few lingering Trust issues, sweet human?”
Ginger’s face reddened, and she shrugged. “I’ve been told that I’m a work in progress.”
Barachiel grinned. “So that’s what you’re going with, eh?” Without awaiting a reply, the angel continued.
“Take a few minutes and stretch your legs. Look around, and when you’re ready to chat, we’ll talk about your observations.”
Without another word or thought, Ginger gazed around where they had landed – blue sky, with small, passing white clouds, a beautiful breeze, green grass, sunshine, afternoon heat and humidity, and lots of trees and birds. Make that lots and lots of beautiful birds and their glorious birdsong. This could be Iowa in August in a bird sanctuary! Suddenly, a bright green iguana darted in front of her, startling her. She gasped and jumped closer to Barachiel.
The archangel couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s an iguana, Ginger. It’s not going to eat you! This island has many iguanas in a variety of colors, all of which are harmless!” The archangel paused. “Does that give you a clue as to our location?”
Ginger grinned. “Well, I can rule out Iowa because the only iguanas I saw in that lifetime were at the zoo. I’m guessing we’re in a tropical region, given the heat, humidity and wildlife. Am I close?”
Barachiel smiled. “Well done! We are on Cozumel, an island off the eastern coast of Mexico. We’re here to visit another dear friend of mine.”
Ginger looked around, expecting to see the angel’s friend walking toward them the way Elias had, but they appeared to be alone. Suddenly, a gust of wind played havoc with Ginger’s hair, and she reached up to tame it.
“Please, leave your hair loose and wild,” came a voice that most definitely did not belong to her archangel guide. “It’s glorious!” Ginger spun around. There, behind her, stood a most remarkable woman. Remarkable spirit. Remarkably powerful entity-of-sorts. Ginger gulped audibly, but moved her hands from her hair to nervously clasping and unclasping them in front of her.
The entity gently smiled. “My name is Ixchel [ih-SHELL]. Barachiel and I are longtime friends – very longtime!” Ixchel smiled, which further lit up her beautiful face, and continued. “In the Mayan language, Ix means Goddess; Chel means Light. I am the Goddess of Light!”
Ixchel was taller than Ginger, but not by much. She had flawless, beautiful brown skin, and long, flowing blue-black hair. A simple braid rested on one shoulder, while the rest of her hair cascaded to her waist. Her dark brown eyes seemed to pierce through Ginger’s right to her soul. Warrior Queen!
Ixchel did, indeed, look like a Warrior Queen with her ornate bronze headpiece, studded with turquoise, which encircled her forehead with a thin band holding it in place. Exquisite soft blue, light brown, and cream-colored feathers made up the rest of what could only be described as a crown.
Delicate blue lines and symbols were painted across Ixchel’s delicate cheek bones and forehead. She wore an ornate necklace and dangling earrings made of turquoise and shells. Bronze bands encircled the top part of her arms, with several on each wrist. The Goddess’s gown seemed to be fashioned out of supple bronze and soft brown leather, adorned with more exquisite turquoise, with the short bodice revealing her beautiful, toned abdomen. The skirt consisted of turquoise-colored leather strips, joined by an ornate belt, matching her necklace. Simple sandals laced up her calf with thin leather straps. All, in all, the being in front of her was beyond anything Ginger had ever imagined, and words uncharacteristically failed her.
Ixchel smiled gently at the young girl, giving her a moment to collect herself, and moved to Barachiel, to embrace her.
“Hello, my dear friend,” Ixchel began. “It is good to see you here at my temple.”
Temple? thought Ginger, surreptitiously glancing around, but finding no such thing. She watched as the friends continued their conversation.
“Ixchel, it is good to be here with you again,” Barachiel replied. “I have brought a friend with me today. I would like you to meet Ginger, a most remarkable spirit.” The angel turned to her young charge. “Ginger, I would like you to meet the Ancient Mayan Goddess Ixchel, another most remarkable spirit!”
Ixchel returned her gaze to Ginger. “I am pleased that you have come to visit me,” she said. She motioned to several simple rock benches. “Let’s sit for a bit so that you can get your bearings and we can talk.”
When the three were seated, Barachiel began the conversation.
“Ginger, Ixchel has many names throughout many lands, but, besides The Goddess of Light, she is best known as The Mayan Moon Goddess. She is very learned, and is filled with Wisdom, Compassion and Love, so I could not pass up the opportunity for you to meet her, and broaden your horizons a bit more!”
Ginger’s gaze never left the Goddess. “Just seeing you broadens my horizons more than a bit!” Ginger whispered. “You are so beautiful, your Royal Highness, …, your Majesty!” A wind gust picked up Ginger’s hair once again, as if playing with it. She swiped at her hair, not wishing to give this vision of loveliness a poor first impression.
“Thank you, Ginger, but you don’t have to call me anything but Ixchel, or Goddess, if you prefer, for that’s who I am. Now, let’s do something about that glorious head of hair that seems to want to have its own way.” She waved her hand, and a simple, brightly colored woven headband appeared. When the goddess raised her eyebrows to ask permission to place it on her head, Ginger nodded shyly. Instantly, the headband felt as if it had been made to her exact head measurements, fitting perfectly, but allowing her hair its freedom without causing challenges.
“Thank you, Goddess. It’s beautiful.” Awe threatened to overwhelm Ginger. How could I possible have a conversation with such an exquisite woman?
“I think I can solve that little problem, as well,” Ixchel replied. Suddenly, Ixchel, Warrior Queen, was gone, and in her place sat Ixchel, young Mayan maiden, seemingly nearer to Ginger’s age. Ixchel’s thick hair still flowed, but she, too, wore a simple headband, similar to the one she had gifted Ginger. A simple, form-fitting, sleeveless, vee-necked, soft yellow dress fell to her calves. She wore a simple leather necklace with turquoise gems around her long, graceful neck, with bands wrapped around her upper arms and wrists. A simple, loose belt, with a small, flat, soft brown pouch, hung from her waist, both of which matched the necklace. Her delicate feet were bare. And even though the glorious Warrior Queen was no longer present, the young Mayan maiden remained stunningly beautiful.
“There. Is this better, Ginger? Do you think you can more easily have a conversation with a simple maiden instead of a mighty Warrior Queen?”
Ginger smiled. “Yes, Ma’am.”
Ixchel chuckled. “Ginger, Ma’am isn’t necessary among three good friends, for that is what I hope will happen by the end of our visit today.”
      A goddess wants to consider me her friend? Ginger shook her head gently, trying to come to terms with everything that was happening. She took a deep breath and smiled at Ixchel.
      “I would like that, Madame Goddess.” Her eyes darted to Barachiel, who just smiled at Ginger encouragingly. Ginger returned her attention to the maiden and said, “Our last visit was to the Sámi indigenous people of Northern Norway. Do you represent the indigenous Mayans since you’re the Mayan Moon Goddess?”
       Ixchel nodded. “Indeed, I do. I may not look like it, but I am an ancient goddess, having walked the Earth thousands of years ago. My story became known in the Yucatán Peninsula and Guatemala, around 1,500 BC. Simply, I helped my people defend our village from neighboring tribes, intent on our lands. I fell in battle, and afterward, my soul was taken into the heavens, where my true nature was revealed: a goddess advocate for my people.”
      “Wow,” breathed Ginger. “That really happened? You were a human one day and a goddess the next?”
Barachiel smiled. “Sounds like your description of your own passing, Ginger – there one day, but the next!”
“But a goddess? Isn’t that a little unusual? How did you become a goddess?”
“In my last human lifetime, I spent my life embracing spiritual growth, self-discovery, unconditional Love, and Compassion. In Essence, I embodied Divine Feminine Energy, which led me to goddesshood.” Ixchel saw the confusion on Ginger’s face, and added, “I didn’t suddenly become a goddess. By joyously living my life within the Divine Feminine, goddesshood had always been a part of me.”
“Wow. This is all very exciting. I have already learned so much on my journey, but there is still so much I want to understand.”
“It’s confusing to many humans, Ginger, so you’re not alone in feeling that way. Let’s look at the Big Picture for a moment. The Universe can be thought of as a massive hologram, in which we are all part of a matrix – a grid.” Ixchel paused when she saw the confusion hadn’t left Ginger. “I’m losing you. Let me try it again. A matrix deals with the nature of reality and whether or not what you think of as Life is actually real or merely a simulation, a game of sorts. I know that may be a stretch for you, but I believe you can understand it.”
Ixchel paused again. “Tell me, did your mother ever ask you to just lay low and play the game when your Spirit was yearning to take on all of the bullies in your world?” When Ginger nodded, she continued. “If you can, think of everything in our Universe as an illusion – a hologram – a game. Actually, everything and everyone in all Universes everywhere – and there are many –are just illusions. It is the sacred task of humans to look beyond Illusion. There, you will find the Divine.”
Ginger thought a long moment. “I admit that the whole illusion thing is a tough concept for me, but given all that, what’s the point of life if it’s all just one big illusionary game?”
“First, may I assume you are aware of reincarnation?” When Ginger nodded, Ixchel continued. “Souls have unlimited options when considering a possible reincarnation. They may incarnate as a human, of course, but this big, beautiful Universe is filled with an incredible number of amazing galactic opportunities. Each soul has its chosen tasks and lessons, and their ultimate location choice supports those lessons and tasks.” She smiled at Ginger. “Still with me?” A bit tentatively, Ginger nodded, anxious to learn more.
“Now, let’s talk about time for a moment. Basically, linear time is only found on Earth, in which minutes become hours, which become days, which become weeks and months and years and decades and centuries and millennia. The rest of the Universe, however, operates on simultaneous existence – everything is occurring at the same time. All your many lifetimes – in all those many locations – are existing simultaneously, although a veil of forgetfulness is put into place with each new incarnation.”
Ginger put up a hand. “Let me see if I have this right. You are with me right now at the same time that you are defending your village and moving into the heavens – which is also mind-blowing, by the way – and becoming a goddess – even though you were always one and didn’t become one suddenly? We’re all playing the Hologram Game at the very same time with all of our lifetimes, learning our lessons and completing our tasks simultaneously?”
Ixchel beamed at Barachiel. “You didn’t tell me that Ginger was brilliant, as well as lovely!” She turned back to Ginger. “That’s exactly right, precious girl.” The young human locked eyes with the archangel and grinned.
“I’m brilliant and lovely, Barachiel!”
“I know, Ginger,” Barachiel replied. “I knew that the moment we met. Your soul’s brilliance just bursts forth from you!”
Realizing that Barachiel was serious, Ginger blushed, unsure how to take such a compliment from an archangel. So, instead, she returned her focus to Ixchel.
“Could I ask more about you, Goddess?”
“You may ask me anything, Ginger. Use that brilliant mind of yours, which matches your brilliant spirit. What would you like to know?”
“So, you’re a Moon Goddess, but I’m guessing that there is more to you than that.”
Ixchel and Barachiel chuckled. When Ginger realized that they were not laughing at her, she chuckled, as well.
“Okay, I don’t think that came out the way I thought it would, but I would like to learn more about you.”
“Where have you been all my life, Ginger? I am so pleased to now have you in my life, as I am in yours.” Ixchel paused. “If that is also something you would like, all you need to do is invite me into your life the way you did with Barachie. You know, In for a penny … and all.”
“I would like that, Goddess. I would like to invite you into my life.”
Ixchel smiled. “I accept. Now, in answer to your question, I am also known to people in many lands as Rainbow Woman, Big Rainbow, White Moon Lady, Lady of the First Brush, and Goddess of Childbirth.”
       “Wow,” breathed Ginger. “That’s a whole lot of titles. What does Lady of the First Brush mean?”
“I am the goddess of weaving, fertility, childbirth, medicine, rain, and the moon. Part of my chosen duties include the arts, particularly painting and weaving. There have been many depictions of me over the years as a woman at a loom, weaving. You can think of it as me weaving together Destiny and Life, helping humans navigate the paths that they have chosen to undertake.”
“As the Moon Goddess, I work with lunar cycles, which impact agriculture and fertility. With this title, I am often depicted holding a rabbit, a symbol of the moon in Mayan culture.”
“The Goddess of Fertility and Childbirth is pretty self-explanatory. I help young girls as they grow into childbearing age, through those child-bearing years, and afterward. As a matter of fact, the priests and priestess at my temple here on Cozumel, welcomed and nourished women whose husbands had forced them to flee their homes because they were barren – unable to have children – and had nowhere else to turn. Orphans were also welcomed, knowing that without parents, they would fall prey to those who wished to sacrifice them in temples elsewhere, but never in my temple. We cherish and protect all life.”
“Wow! Priests and priestesses and everything? The whole shebang?” Ginger looked at Barachiel, who winked.
Ixchel chuckled. “The whole shebang, Ginger. The priests and priestesses had equal roles in my temple, and led rituals and ceremonies, helped journeying pilgrims, interpreted sacred knowledge, as well as healing and sharing wisdom.”
“Pilgrims?”
Ixchel nodded. “Yes, over the centuries, thousands of Mayans – mostly women with their husbands or fathers in tow – came to my temple to pray, pay homage to me, or seek guidance. Even today, these pilgrimages continue to come to Cozumel, although the temple now lays in ruins.”
“What happened to your temple?”
“It is a sad story, Ginger. In 1518, Juan de Grijalva, a conquistador, led the first Spanish expedition to Cozumel. It was a peaceful exchange of cultures. The following year, however, Hernán Cortéz stopped at Cozumel on his way to conquer the Aztecs, which was another sad story. He witnessed the Mayan rituals and deep traditions, and instead of a continued peaceful exchange of cultures, he became incensed with what he termed idolatry and paganism, and sought to destroy what he saw, and replaced it with crosses and images of the Virgin Mary. He built a Catholic church, in his effort to dismantle all vestiges of Mayan indigenous beliefs.”
“What we haven’t talked about yet, is that the ancient Mayans were highly advanced, and collected their knowledge, maps, history, practices, information about eclipses far into the future, as well as other astronomical events, in books called codices, which is just a fancy name for ancient manuscripts in book form.” Ixchel paused.
Ixchel could see Ginger trying to process it all, so wasn’t surprised when Ginger spoke up.
“Ancient paper books?”
Ixchel smiled. “We used bark paper, often made from the inner bark of fig trees. This was coated with a type of stucco, which was then painted with glyphs and images using vegetable dyes, and often bound with deer hide.” When Ginger nodded, the goddess continued.
“The Spaniards found many of our codices, and destroyed them, as well, in their attempt to rid the islanders of paganism. In the end, only four codices survived Hernan Cortéz. But one book was hidden well – so well, in fact, that it only came to light in 1739, after purchase from a private owner in Vienna. Your archaeologists hypothesize that perhaps Cortéz may have sent it to King Charles I of Spain in 1519. This particular codex eventually found its way to Dresden, Germany, and is now known as the Dresden Codex, a 74 accordian-style page book.”
“Why wouldn’t the codex be returned to its rightful owners, the Mayan people?” Ginger asked, her eyes flashing with the injustice of it all.
“Isn’t that an interesting question, Ginger? I’m afraid I have no answer for you. Perhaps, one day, my people will have one of their greatest treasures returned to them.”
“And so, Cortéz did as he wanted – ridding Cozumel of you?”
“For many years the island was uninhabited, but not from Christianity. When the Spaniards landed, they brought smallpox to the island, and, as a result, most of my people died. Those who survived eventually left the island.”
“That saddens me so much, Goddess. I am so sorry your people and their beautiful beliefs were destroyed.”
“Ah,” replied Ixchel, “my beautiful Mayan people may not have had my temple anymore, but continued to secretly practice their faith, allowing no one to take it from them. ” The Goddess paused. “I believe Ákkhu spoke about the Sámi community having to practice their traditions and beliefs in private when they were threatened, as well. It was the same with my people – they held onto their faith secretly until such time that they could once again publicly celebrate our traditions and beliefs.”
Ginger thought a long moment and then asked, “Your beautiful temple not just eroded over time, but was destroyed. Oh, I wish I could have seen it before the Spaniards arrived on Cozumel.” Ginger paused, as an idea formed in her head. “Ixchel, if, as you say, everything is a hologram, is it possible to see your temple as it once was?”
Ixchel nodded, seemingly once again pleased with the young human. “Let’s stretch our legs and walk a bit and we’ll see it together, shall we?”

(Excerpt from Barachiel from The Archangel Chronicles © Marty Boyle 2025. All Rights Reserved.)

/www.martyboyle.com

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