Sedona Vision Quest: Episode 2- Snowflakes,People, and Trees

M = MMMMmmmmmm  I wonder?

It's Alaskan winter...so even though I'm writing about Sedona, AZ; this little ditty seems appropriate:

Every friend is like a snowflake, unique in beauty and design. Each sparkles in a different way—some are playful, some refined. But, unlike fragile snowflakes that fade when the sun appears, friends grow even more beautiful with every passing year.  (Author unkown)

I= Look inside:
I leftoff sharing my Sedona Vision quest Episode one when I made it to the end of Boynton Canyon.

  It is said that this is where the spirit of First Mother and her Beautiful Women live today.  (Kind of like Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men!)

  I had just added a rock to one of the alter piles travelers leave to honor our journey.

 As I entered the pool of the forest energy, I felt it was sacred ground.  I stopped taking pictures.  That is why you do not see the Chasm of Growth that used to be the vibrant flow of water. 

( I feel like Anne of Green Gables as I write names for places I just met.) 

There are no photos of the gentleman, Russell, who sells ionized water.  He accompanied me up the steepest challenge.  He was an amazing metaphore for my own life. He gave me hope for the situation I faced so fearfully the previous few months.

There are also no pictures of the man I met who is touring the Vortexes around Phoenix.  I pray he finds the source of energy he seeks.

There are, sadly, no pictures of my new friend Maia and the ladies she accompanied through the Canyon.  Thank you, Maia for heeding your own calls!

You see, Maia finished the story of First Woman for me.  I had asked all around the resort for anyone who knew more information.  I thought it would stay a mystery. 

The night before,  I tried to come down the canyon. I only made it 3/4 the way when I knew I was to stop.

I'd written First Mother a letter and read it then and there.  Briefly, it was an apology for controlling things in others' lives that were not mine to maintain.

 I  had the impression that I had done what I needed to and I was supposed to go home.  Flights, however, were not available.  I traveled all the way down the canyon this time to pay homage and leave my offerings.

At the seat, Maia explained the missing pieces.  As the surviving tribesman, the young girl saved from the flood was not to populate or recreate the tribe.  Her purpose was to "Call the Tribe back." 

Legend says: "All of us who come home to the canyon ARE THE ORIGINAL TRIBE."

Could it be that my spirit is part of the tribe called home?

As I turned to come down the hills, I saw this beautiful couple.  They were on a birthday hike and had no camera.  I knew it was okay to start taking photos again so they could have this souvenir.  Thank you, Oliver and Joanna, for sharing!



I'll show on later posts what Alaskan vegetation looks like.  Suffice it to say that these trees are much taller and wider! The air in the forest is wonderfully cool, moist and comfortable. 





 The trees of the forest are as unique as the people.

You can tell by the woods in back that there are MANY beautiful and healthy trees around.  My subjects, however, are far more interesting.  This reminds me of a lightning strike- sharp and sudden.



This is more like the results of a life lived in the straight and narrow- guiding it's surrounding offspring to do the same.

Here the knarled branches hide a treasure of life and fertility.  If I were a bird, I would build my nest here.



This is the stump I lovingly refer to as "The Giving Tree."  Re: Shel Silverstein.  It has given all there is to give, and yet it is still a comfy seat for two people and surrounded by forest alters and friends.

These are the "Brambles of Confusion."  I knew I needed to enter the center to meditate. 
The impression I received, is that I had apologized to God for trying to control the lives of my family.

I had not apologized for trying to control my own life.
This was an example of what my life looks like when I try to do too much- all my way.

The forest was filled with sturdy platforms on which to sit or stand and pray or meditate.   A surprise answer came to me when I envisioned that I could use Conscious Loving and yoga practices to help other women find peace and their place.

Back to the Giving Tree.  I dedicated a long session to my mom.  As sad and lonely as this trunk can look, another amazing moment happened as I took this picture.



A couple came along in Santa hats looking for a sight for their Christams card picture.  They told me about trees like this one- Nursing trees.  A trunk holds and nurtures a seed into full and beautiful life.  An amazing gift for Mom! 
Thanks, Santa!

Here is my "Tree of Life."  My husband thought this looks like a juniper.  Most of the juniper's I've seen are about knee high.  Make no mistake: This tree is HUGE.  I'm about 5'4" and my head comes to the bottom branch. 

Could be pretty cool if my life can blossom like this tree.

Willing: What can I bring into Brighter Focus?
I had an amazing flight home.I usually don't sleep deeply and I barely sleep when I'm not home. The flight away from Phoenix, however, was so turbulent that the airline wound up changing out the plane before we could fly the next leg.  Me?  I was out cold from take-off to landing!

Maybe if I'm willing to relax and enjoy the scenery more often, I'll find more peace along the way.

Like the snowflakes in the beginning, beauty is all around us in the uniqueness of our circumstances and the uniqueness of the people we meet.

 I think the key is simply to stop and look around, look up.
To look someone in the eye and hear their story. 

I  am willing to see beauty.

May you see beauty where you are as well!

Sedona Vision Quest: Lesson #1- Rocks

M= Mmmm, I wonder:
  I think most of us know the story about big rocks.  To "fill" a jar, you start with big rocks, then add pebbles, then sand, then liquid.  That way everything that matters fits in the jar. 

 Here are the rocks I found on a vision quest near Sedona, AZ.

Mii Amo is a resort nestled in Boynton Canyon just outside Sedona, AZ. 
I was attending an amazing David Romanelli "Yoga for Foodies" retreat Dec, 2010.

This is the first lesson of my supplemental vision quest walking down the canyon.



Red rocks establish the canyon.  They encompass the area like watch guards forming god's perimeter of solid sunshine, pigment and majesty. 

The point to the right is the Vortex.  It is said that the energy of God comes straight down at this cone.  I spent the middle of a night there offering Mother Earth thanks for my persence on this beautiful planet, dedicating my services for Her work, and cradled in Her arms receiving comfort.



 "First Woman's Landing:"  Early natives placed a young woman from their tribe in an ark so she could survive the coming floods.  This formation shows where the ark landed.

W/the vortex to the right, turning left carries me down a trail deep into Boynton Canyon.  I'd heard that the energy vortex is like a faucet and that the Energy flows down this canyon.  First Mother is said to reside there still.



Heading down the Canyon had me sweltering in the Phoenix sunshine.  Those beautiful red rocks radiate heat like an oven.  This Alaskan was MUCH more comfortable with the walks I took in the middle of the night! 

 I thought this dry river bed was a result of too much heat- That I could understand!



I was very surprised to find out that there is  a FOREST down in the canyon!

 I asked locals where the water comes from that feeds this vegeatarion. 

Turns out the river did not run dry on its own.  Rumor has it a developer tried to blast the mountain open to get more water.  The plan backfired damning the river and taking water underground instead.







Coming to the end of the trail is a steep climb, an open space, and a beautiful seat.  When you get there, you've earned it!    I must say, I was befuddled at how little I felt any energy pulses at the vortex. Here, though, I SWAM in the abundance of Mother's Love.



I've seen many places around the world where these alters are built.  My husband likes to say they are homage to gods long forgotten and now wandering the hills of loneliness as people become more submerged in development and technology.  I'm always encouraged to see these standing as I believe they are formed by people who refuse to forget.



This is the alter I used to offer my service to Mother Love.  If I can be an example of Conscious Living and Loving, if I can bring wonder to the body in yoga. If I can find a way to help others explore their own joy- Count me in. 

 

I= Look inside: 

 Back to the jar of rocks: At the end of the story comes a moral - yet what that moral is depends on my perspective. 

As I review decisions I've made in the past, I see many times where I would agree to do any sort of "important" requests.  From that perspective, it seems that a likely moral would be:  "No matter how full your schedule is,you can always fit more things into it."   I don't think this approach made me any happier.  I know I felt more stressed.

A problem is, however, that I would only feel the stress AFTER I was elbow deep in a commitment I made without Conscious Consideration.

Had I taken the time, I'm pretty sure what I would have felt in my body were- 
     a) turtle withdraw where my shoulders ride up and my head comes down;
     b) anal retraction indicating that any desire or wisdom my body wants to express is being ignored;
     c) bear-attack back: a slight tucking sensation that adds a locking mechanism to the anal retraction and lengthens my back to protect my innards but creates gurgles in my belly as denying my body wisdom expands.

This must be like the decision blasting rock to find more water only to cut if off entirely.

Instead, Consider the Wisdom of Creation as seen in Sedona.

When I look at the rocks from Sedona, these images are crystal clear:
1) Boundaries:  There are HUGE cliffs framing the canyon.
              Gay Hendricks had great suggestions for bringing this to life in the newsletter: Dancing with Time, Space,  and The LIST. "When hurry-up mode squashes your sense of space, you can recover with three relaxed, easy belly breaths, any time, anywhere. When you move, especially pleasurable stretching, you drop into a sense of inner space that refreshes."

2) Landmarks: The Vortex and First Woman's Landing. In my life, this is taking time to check body wisdom BEFORE committing.  What does my back feel?  My throat? My belly? Etc.  A quick body scan gives all the info I need.

3) Gestures:There are small piles left to honor our journey when we come to the end of the trail.  Likewise, a small gesture to choose what I love adds dimension over time. It means one moment, I chose to focus on what matters most to me. 

From this perspective, the moral becomes "I have to put the big rocks in first if I want to get to them all."

Willing 2=  What Brighter Focus?
So, I want to emulate creation.  This requires creativity.

I commit to using my resources being resourceful for Conscious Living and Loving.

What matters most to you?  Does your time, money, and energy demonstrate that importance? Is your commitment Conscious?  RUWilling 2 find out?

Follow Up: M.I. Willing?

I commit to opening my heart to passion and letting it paint my life beautiful!
If I had known my reactions would be so personal, I might have chosen a different commitment!
This is my own self-approved reality blog, however, and I've learned not to argue with reality. Soooo....

Differences I've noticed:
1. RIGHT AWAY my libido was back. 

Back in September, something happened that triggered some PTSD for me.  One of the responses was that my libido shut down.  A total lockdown, solitary confinement, show no light of day kind of constantly turned off.

Well, I finished this post at some wee hour in the morning and Desire had follow-through that brought me sleep and my husband happiness.

2. Next night I actually enjoyed kissing.
Nothing like just diving out of the closet... I have never enjoyed kissing.
 Part desire for control.  Part having been molested as a child.  End result- fast food romance.

Well, as I waited for sleep last night, I noticed my eyes were dry and my head sort of ached.  Following up on these sensations did not seem to integrate committing to passion painting my life beautiful.

Instead, I wondered, "What happens if I just wait."

What happened- I wanted to kiss my husband.  I rolled over and that's what we did.  For an extended time.  Enjoyable!

Body Wisdom Connection:
Mula Bandha- Root lock.  Basically, the sensation of stopping the flow of urine.

What does this have to do with kissing? For me- it's all about control.  I cannot control my partner.  I cannot control what life brings to me.  I can, however, control what I am willing to feel.

When I focus on making sure I feel in control, I physically apply the root lock. This is subtle and usually subconscious.  Last night I consciously released the lock and voila- I allowed myself to feel enjoyment instead.

Yummmmm.

M. I. Willing?

M= Mmmmmm, I wonder...

I= Look Inside
Where am I?  Who am I? 

To blog or not to blog? That is tonight's question. 
How can I blog when, should you look back at my year, you would see that I cannot possibly know who I am for I have changed so many times since this morning. Every morning.  Every Week.  Every month.  ALL YEAR LONG!!!
  I do not know who I am.  Who would care who I am?
Will anyone read this?  Does anyone care?  Am I way out there? Am I even present here?

Oh how I love the caterpillar.  I love letters.  I LOVE words!  I love writing.  It is true.  It annoys my children.  It entertains my husband. If I blog, I can share my insights without expectation.  I can launch my musings into the vastness of the world wide web and see what catches as time passes.  I'm pretty sure there will be some pretty juicy surprises and some dry and boring moments.

I ADORE musicals and musings.  I want to share these connections and my passion for bringing that inspiration into our lives.  Just imagine- if I take a risk, I may  make some new friends.  There may actually be other people out there in this great big world that think or feel like I do.  Perhaps we could connect together.  Perhaps we'll inspire each other.

I am often like Alice.  Where I am seems a dreadful place to be.  Then I see the caterpillar become a butterfly and I seem to find an answer.  Do I chose the side that makes me smaller?  Do I choose the side that makes me larger?

Movies and musings are my deepest companionship.  Images and music are constantly with me.  They really do form the foundation of my view of this world.  I don't think an hour goes by where I don't compare or quote some song or vision. What if I have a view that others can enjoy?  What if I can share my filter for life and bring hope to someone in pain?  Without getting into details, let's just say that I have some experience with pain.  Movies and music are how I survived.  Using someone else'sartistic expression carries me above my short world limited view and into a larger world full of hope and faith.  I cannot deny an opportunity to show that relief to someone else.

Together we traverse the pitfalls and crevices of life.  Like late night flights, artistic inspirations through art, movies, and music give me a vision.  I take the quest.  I mount my noble steed, pick up my lance and charge forward  jousting away negative thoughts threatening to hold me back from my dreams.  When I wake up, I am ready to tackle life as well.

Through this blog, may zeal and zest arrive through the meeting of art and life. May the spirit of writers, the voice of singers,  the passion of composers, the courage of actors, and the brilliance of directors bring brightly to life the best in each of us.  May your true self wake a little more each day.

Willing 2 = What's a brighter focus?
So what do you say? Do you know who you are? Are you inspired? Is there room for improvement? Shall we make it up together?

I commit to opening my heart to passion and letting it paint my life beautiful!

I invite you to come along and explore your own beautiful life. =-)