In this post I’m diving into the landscape of caves, the inner journey that Merouac traverses in Book 1 of the Bitroux series. I hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the themes I’ve been exploring as part of my creative work. Book 2 is out soon – and while you’ll be able to read it as a standalone book, it’s a great time to jump into Book 1 and get acquainted with the characters!
Going underground in Book 1 of the Bitroux series – an exploration of self and how we can open up our interior spaces in order to grow and evolve.
Spoiler alert! This blog post gives some of the Book 1 story away – but keep reading if you don’t mind that!
At the beginning of Book 1, Merouac is just a blacksmith working on the TransContinental Railroad. By the end of the story, he’s helped to shepherd an alien race, fleeing their imploding world, into the core of his own planet, Ahm.
How caves play a role in the book
The story of Bitroux takes place on the planet of Ahm, on the continent of San Aurelle, made up of seven individual countries. They are all now independently governed; after having originally been a federated country.
Under the continent of San Aurelle’s power grid is a deep and extensive cave network, that extends eight levels down below falling away into a seemingly endless abyss. This cave network seems to have existed outside anyone’s awareness, and it’s only the emergence of a mysterious, pale pink planet that has many seeking shelter underground. It’s when Merouac’s niece falls down a shaft in the caves and he must do everything he can to save her, that he gets his first glimpse at the spaces deep below the city and realises he can put them to good use.
Limited time offer – Download Book 1 of the Bitroux series for free!
Book 2 is on its way, due for release in late 2024.
While Book 2 works as a standalone book, meaning that you don’t need to read Book 1 first to enjoy it – you might like to check out my first novel anyway! Here are three things you can do to step into the world of Bitroux – I’m excited to welcome you!
1. Download the free PDF version of Book 1 and get stuck in.
2. If you enjoy the book, write a positive review on Amazon to help others find it!
3. Sign up to get news about the launch of Book 2 – and go in the draw to win a special prize pack, including your own printed edition of the book, and a postcard set featuring illustrations from both books.
Empathy had a role to play in Merouac settling an alien race in vast abyss beneath the cave system
Caring for Malaena’s daughter, his niece Evra, makes Merouac more empathetic, caring, aware of others, and aware of the gifts of the young children around him that he may not have otherwise noticed.
And, as he starts to learn more about his own arcane abilities, he starts to realise just how much is going on in the universe around him that no-one seems to be talking about. Throughout the story we see him start to move from an impatient and skeptical mind set to a place where he can take instinctive action in a moment of turmoil, even if those actions are ones he never thought possible –creating a frequency bridge that allows migration between one world and another.
Merouac’s challenge is the same as our own – at some point, we all need to make our own evaluation of what is important, what matters, and what to act on. Merouac has little time to make his decision; it is evident that the planet visible in their night sky is about to implode. The Helara have asked for help; and he responds, with only gut instinct to go on.
Illustration from Book 1 by Jordan
Early painting sketch of a city and what lies beneath
Another early painting sketch of energetic activity underground
How I started sensing my way into caves through my intuitive writing and painting process
The abyss below the cave network under Suron City is where Merouac guides the Helara to take shelter.
I find caves intriguing, and full of mystery. Caves are organic in shape, and no cave is the same. The underground tunnels found in many parts of the world are often an eccentric, bewildering, non-linear maze, going this way and that – far more interesting that the planned urban grids we are so used to above ground.
I painted the artworks above at the same time I was starting to get interested in caves, probably around 2014. At the time, and as usual in my painting process, I don’t set out to paint anything in particular. I can only see things appearing after I’ve stopped painting. And even after I stopped painting these (actually some of the first paintings I ever did!), I didn’t really know what they were. Planets? Plain old spherical shapes? But more and more, what I sensed was an above / below ground idea, and a sense that they could be connected in many different ways.
I particularly love images of caves show stone that appears warm, glowing, illuminated. If you’ve ever seen pictures of Antelope Canyon in the United States, you’ll know exactly what I mean. My hubby Chris and I visited Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Glacier and Grand Canyon National Parks in 2015, when I was writing Book 1. This is the kind of stone I imagined for my underground cave network in Bitroux.
According to geologyscience.com, the kind of rock we see in the stunning folds and formations of Antelope Canyon is Navajo sandstone, a sedimentary rock formation that dates back to the Jurassic period. It’s known for its vibrant red and orange colors, which are intensified by the sunlight filtering through the narrow openings above. I’ve actually started to see these colours make more and more of an appearance in my paintings over time, from very pale golden sandy tones to rich orange and burnt red.
Me at Antelope Canyon, 2015
From our walk in Zion National Park, 2015
A photo from our visit to Bryce Canyon, 2015
The spectacular colours of the Grand Canyon, 2015
Hubby and I at the Grand Canyon, 2015
Exploring Antelope Canyon, 2015
Caves as metaphor, and Merouac’s own inner journey
The cave is a sacred space, where we connect with the divine within.
The Cave, by José Saramago.
If we take the analogy of the cave as spaces that represent our own hidden depths and inner worlds, and our connection to the subconscious, then any journey into these caves is full of meaning, offering the chance for metamorphosis and evolution.
Our deep interiors are rich territories to mine. Our connection to them can help us to connect the dots in new ways, feel deeply connected to our life and allows us to act on things that we see as important. Underground caves – or any caves in that matter, could be seen as a metaphor for the places that feel closed off to us. Places that we can fear to go – perhaps because these spaces are too dark, too intimidating, too quiet, and we fear we may get lost in them.
All of of these themes equate to feelings that emerge when we do inner work; that is, when we take the time to look at ourselves with frank honesty, instead of running away or allowing ourselves to be distracted by the outside world.
Like all of us, Merouac is on a journey of discovery as he gets to grips with the talent that allow him to create bridges between realms. And he is remembering that the Top Hats, the other-worldly creatures that he first sees in his metalsmithing studio late at night, are creatures that he saw as a young boy. It is only when his twin sister, Malaena, reminds him of this, that he realises that the Top Hats have been there, drifting in and out of his conscious memory, all this time. And so Merouac’s journey it is not just a discovery of self, but a return to self.
Our deep interiors
Merouac’s awareness, journey through and connection to the caves can be seen as his deepening connection to his own memory and subconscious; expanding, deepening and becoming more accessible. The deeper he goes, the more potential he sees, and the more empowered he feels to act on his ideas.
The deeper the caves, the braver we must be; to navigate the inner journey and get comfortable with the fact that the journey can be one that must at least be started in solitude, and we may find ourselves in increasingly in a space of discomfort when we turn up to our real thoughts, our real dreams, desires and intentions, our real beliefs – as they start to emerge in the quiet of the cave and are no longer downed out by the noise of the outside world.
And then, beyond the deep and dark caves of our own interiors is, I believe, the next level of access that starts to open up to us – a whole other tier of caves and structures that lead us away from the framework of the world we live in. This is where things start to really fall away – all the beliefs that are imposed on us, all the social norms and standards and popular opinions.
This is where we start to have the space and the clarity of thinking to consider other ways of being in the universe and may even start to tap into other types of consciousness – vibrationally, through sensing and imagining and through intuition and dreams.
This is where we really start to find ways out of our own realm, and into the collective consciousness that can be called both the unconscious, the dreaming, the collective, and is where we might start to feel empathy for, and connection to, alien or other-worldly life. In doing so, we may carve out a space for them in our conscious lives; both literally and figuratvely. And this is what Merouac does.
About Jordan
I’m an intuitive artist and writer. I love to create, and I’m always learning. I also love holding space for others to explore their creativity and connect with their inner wisdom and the sacred universe. On this site you’ll find my own abstract artwork, books and opportunities to take courses and workshops with me, many of which integrate mindfulness with creative play. You can connect with me on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest, and Instagram. Thanks for visiting and I hope we stay connected!