Ayana stepped into the caves for the second time in her life, and was immediately enveloped by the chill air of the ancient, sacred inner womb of Sanuela, as Ignisia had called it. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she began to make out how mystical and wondrous the air seemed, as if it was emanating from another realm, illuminated by the luminous glimmer of the phosphorescent moss and mushrooms that grew on some spots in the walls. Drops of molten gold appeared to dance in the air, while the walls were glowing and sparkling as the light reflected off them, creating a magical, surreal atmosphere. The spectrum of colours from sky blue to emerald green cast an ethereal glow. Ignisia flew around, as well lighting a path for Ayana with her glowing wings.
The aroma of wet earth, dew, and moss clung to Ayana's nostrils, with a faint scent of something sweet and spicy that seemed to pervade the cave, invigorating her senses. It was an unfamiliar yet comforting feeling, like a long slow kiss, or the smell of leather and the sea.
The walls of the cave seemed to sparkle with life as Ayana touched them. She ran her fingers across their rough and jagged surfaces, feeling the dampness in some areas. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like stony icicles, formed over centuries by trickling water seeping through them. The stalagmites protruding from the ground had grown and merged over time to create a magical landscape within the mysterious darkness.
Their journey continued on, further into the depths of Sanuela's holy body temple. Occasionally, Ayana noticed curious beings living in these depths. In some areas, bats clung to the ceiling of the cave, their wings gleaming in a soft, warm light. Small frog-like animals hopped about, and a few fish swam around in small pools of water.
As they continued their exploration, Ayana noticed something that sent a chill up her spine; a soft heavenly voice that echoed through the cave chambers, filling them with ancient melodies. On closer inspection, she realised that it was coming from Ignisia's glowing wings! These beautiful sounds filled the air with life and energy, soothing Ayana's soul as they made their way further inwards.
Ayana began to sense a divine presence settle around her; it felt like she was being embraced by the Mother Goddess Sanuela. Ignisia's wings flickered brighter, as if her magic was amplified, creating a magical aura in the space.
The further they travelled down, the more peaceful Ayana felt. All her worries and fears melted away, replaced by a deep sense of calm and contentment. She could feel her spirit connecting with Sanuela's here; a spiritual communion that filled her soul with joy.
She felt safe here, with Ignisia's wings fluttering around her in many loops and eights, like a personal tour guide showing her all the beauty and sights of this magical place. Every corner of the cave held a different surprise; Ayana saw glittering crystals that glowed and shimmered in diverse astral colours. Every so often, they encountered mysterious symbols and hieroglyphs that held the secrets of the past carved in, or painted by some wise soul of ancient times.
The cave extended deep into the mountain. As they delved further into its depths, Ayana's senses became more alive with every step. Sometimes, a hidden smell of wildflowers or a faint taste of ancient spices filled the air, as if a gentle breeze was blowing it from beyond the walls. Every now and then, a soft song or a light melody seemed to drift from within the depths of the cave. As if something deep within the cave was calling out to her.
Ignisia explained that deep within these caves lay powers so great they could open up portals between worlds – something sacred enough to be used only when the inner calling was felt. Ayana had a sense of knowing that this place held untold wonders for her, just waiting to be discovered.
She began to sense a connection with everything around her; each being seemed to communicate with her without words. Every movement, every sound felt so familiar yet so foreign at the same time – it was as if Ayana could feel their spirits connecting beyond what was visible or tangible.
As they ventured deeper into Sanuela's holy womb, Ayana found herself beginning to understand why this place had such great significance among the people. Here was a place where one could find true peace – a sanctuary for body, mind, and soul – where one can put aside their worries and just become present in the moment.
The further they went inward, Ayana felt something growing within her; a powerful yet gentle energy that surged through her veins like electricity, filling her astral body with sparks of bright energy from within. It was then that she knew this was what she had been searching for: a connection with something greater than herself, a connection with Sanuela's Spirit, which lives on forever here within these sacred cave chambers!
Each step she made, she felt more connected to the magic and love of Goddess Sanuela. Ayana gradually became more open to the spiritual energies of her many blessings, more in tune with her, allowing herself to be healed and nourished by her. And she knew, her journey of self-discovery had merely begun.
Walking cautiously through the narrow and wider passageways, she took in all the wonders and marvels, feeling a strange, ancient connection to her surroundings, as if she belonged there. She was shown how to fetch enough water to stay hydrated and where to find the best moss and mushrooms to eat, though she barely felt any hunger at all. The cave seemed to nourish her.
At one point, Ayana found herself confronted with a narrow crevice between two imposing walls. The crevice seemed too narrow for her to fit through – but the surrounding rocks were too high for her to climb over. After some time of struggling and testing out various solutions, she decided to take a calculated risk and lie flat, pushing herself through with all her strength and determination, and eventually made it.
In some parts of the Mystical Caves, there was almost no light and sometimes Ignisia even dimmed her wings down, making it easier for Ayana to explore the many nuances between the light and dark, colours and shades. Her eyes improved over time in adjusting to this meagre light.
Ignisia told her, "There will be a long passage, further inside, where there is no light. It will likely take ten or twelve days to reach brighter parts on the other side. I shall join you again when you get there. This is a part of the inner growth journey to becoming a priestess of Sanuela. This will help you to experience what cannot be done in your everyday life back home. You must do this alone."
Ayana looked at Ignisia with a hint of fear in her eyes and asked, "What if I get lost? What if I don't make it out alive?"
Ignisia answered calmly, "Trust yourself, Ayana. Nothing is ever permanent, not even the darkness."
Ayana knew what she had to do, but she was worried. "I understand," she whispered, and she trusted. All will be well, she heard in her mind.
Soon, Ayana found herself in yet another challenging situation – the path ahead of her had drastically become steeper, and she was uncertain if she could make it. She searched for an alternate route, but discovered none. Ayana took a deep breath and began the difficult climb up the slippery rocks, making every movement harder than it already was. In this part of the cave, she could barely see her hand in front of her face, let alone anything else. At one point, she stumbled and almost lost her grip. She screamed in frustration and felt overwhelmed by the task ahead. She heard Ignisia's voice speaking softly inside of her, "Breathe… you can do this, Ayana."
The young woman took a few moments to steady herself before carrying on with her climb. Ignisia's words echoed in her mind like a mantra; she had to trust the process. She kept going, until eventually, she reached the peak. Despite being physically exhausted due to the climbing, she felt joy bubbling inside of her; a feeling of liberation, and she rejoiced at how far she had come already.
Ayana had long lost any sense of time. It always seemed to be 'now' for her. When she was hungry, she followed her instincts and found something to eat. When tired, she would sleep for a couple of hours or so – that's what it usually felt like. During her sleeping periods, Ayana experienced many wild dreams, with strange beings, vivid colours, and out-of-body experiences. Sometimes, she managed to remain conscious during her experiences, and it seemed to get much easier in the surrounding energies of the darkness and the caves.
"The alchemical influence of melatonia encourages the production of consciousness particles in the brain after several days," explained Ignisia when she described her altered dream experiences. "You will have even more of that when you are in complete darkness on your own, my dear. Don't fear, there is nothing dangerous ahead on this path. It's only you and yourself. You will find your way, but your inner images might be shown on the black canvas in front of you. These are magical experiences of the higher dimensions that you will need to follow through. Always remember to stay in your heart. Breathe and feel your loving centre, all the time."
Ayana learnt that there was nothing to be scared of. Nothing threatened her. Thanks to Ignisia, her inner heart centre breathing and the spirit of the cave, she slowly began to master some secrets of the caves and the many energies of Sanuela. She began to understand how the cave and the darkness was healing and nourishing her body and soul. She would meditate, explore and connect with the divine energies that were present in the cave. The inner womb of Sanuela had become her sanctuary. She felt a deep connection to the Goddess and her divine love.