Arriving on the first full moon of the year felt as though I was emerging into 2025 as a different person. I had just experienced an intense Temazcal in SMA that left me with the sensation of having been reborn into a new life. It felt transformative; a punctuation mark to a shift unfolding within me.

It makes me wonder how universal this shift might be. I can’t imagine I’m the only one feeling it. It’s been slowly seeping into my consciousness for a while now. Every step I take brings me a little closer to seeing it clearly. I wonder if Tepoztlán is another step towards that clarity, it being one of the “Pueblas de Magica” (cities of magic) in Mexico. So far I have not been disappointed in any that I’ve visited and Tepoztlán is no exception.

The town is quaint and brightly colored as most places in Mexico are. We visited some cute little churches and an old convent. I learned that the word “convent” didn’t mean it housed nuns, it was a gathering place of sorts. It was a place that welcomed travelers, there was even an infirmary there. The word “convent” became “convention center” in later usage.

There are mountains here that rise out of the ground like petrified prehistoric trees. One of them is locally known as a place where UFO’s land. (We didn’t see any.)

There’s a sacred pyramid atop one of them and we made the grueling climb to go see it. It was glorious and Juaquin, our guide, explained a lot of the symbolism carved into its interior sides.

The overall feeling of the place is what made the biggest impression. As I shed layers of unnecessary attitudes and beliefs, I am in a constant state of awe. There are so many places and people that are wondrous and magical.