* + a number suggests endnote for further reading
I think it is about time I go into an explanation about the work that I am beginning to put together. It is quite a multi-faceted vision with many different angles/approaches all coming together under one main theme: To continue entering into deeper understanding of reality and the contemplative practices that help us to do that.
In my personal life I have found two main traditions that have helped me to come to a deeper understanding of who I am: Shamanism and Buddhism. These are both traditions that are lesser known in modern American culture and, quite naturally, I want to help make them more accessible. So this is how I will do my part in the world and within the next major cultural revolution.
I am wanting to return to Grand Rapids sooner than I planned for a few reasons. Here is what they are:
1. Turn my vision into a non-profit organization:
This is not something that I know a lot about, but will need to know if I am going to take my spiritual path "out into the world." Rooting myself in one area will enable me to do the necessary research and focus on doing the work that is necessary to get this up in running.
The non-profit will essentially have two different sections:
- The establishment of Soto Zen Temples and Monasteries
- The establishment of Mask Shamanism
Most money that is raised over these next several years will go to the first section. This will help to fund building projects, land purchases, school organization, research libraries etc. On top of this there will be funding sources established to help pay tuition for people who wish to immerse themselves in monastic or temple settings, as well providing stipends for residential monks, priests, etc.
Mask shamanism will not need as big of a section because it is a fairly non-centralized religion. In fact, it probably won't even grow to be very big. Funds will be going towards research projects, publication of written materials, materials for mask making, and eventually to provide free opportunity for anyone who wishes to engage in the deeper practices of this shamanic path.
This will be morphogenic, or an evolving process from Vision to Reality.
ALL of the money raised from these ceremonies will be going to the non-profit once it is established. I will NOT be loading any of this money into a retirement plan or for a house near the equator. Along with the non-profit information I will have sections describing, in detail, what the money is used for.
2. Pay off any remaining debt that holds me back from engaging more fully in this work:
I am fortunate in that I do not have a lot of debt. However, what little debt I do have holds me back from making this next cycle of my life more conducive to the work I will be doing. I have been complaining about this for years. Since my endeavors have led to more practice/study than monetary work, I have not been able to properly engage in this.
Now that I have a vision I feel as though I can move into short term work to help build the foundation for the long term vision.
3. Trade in my car for a cargo van and fully pay it off:
Buying a cargo van allows me to do a couple of things that will be of immense help to the project.
First off, I will be able to convert a diesel engine to run off a combination of waste veggie oil and diesel. I may even be able to rig up some sort of photovoltaic system to continue aiding the vehicle to run cheaply off of alternative energies. The latter is more expensive and may not be as conducive as it sounds.
Secondly, I will be able to convert the back of the van to living quarters. A small bed, small kitchen, study desk and bookshelves enable me to do all of the things that are extremely difficult in my current situation.
I can also have the car painted with certain designs/logos to help people come into contact with this work.
These are also things that I know little about and will be able to dive into while I am not traveling. Working at a machine shop will give me access to the tools to be able to do this.
4. To plan a much better route for my ceremonies that include a much wider region/territory.
Ideally, I would like to make a country wide circuit set up with locations that I can come back to each trip around. I'd like to make it around each circuit in about 1-1.5 years. Intermittent internet access and limited phone availability have made this nearly impossible.
I originally planned to continue with setting up ceremonies while on the road. Not being able to do this is one of the biggest reasons for me to come home early. An enclosed van with a study desk will also make this easier in years to come.
5. To set up my work/study situation that allows me to begin preparation for the book that I will be writing.
Basically, this means researching most of the Zone #2 UL quadrant researchers that I need in order to have a legitimate ground paved for explaining the stage development behind the practice of Mask Shamanism.
Although I remind people now and then that this practice of mask shamanism is different from most shamanic practices, it will help the larger movement in general. Creating a more structured and precise conceptual map will be necessary for the evolvement of shamanic practice and its legitimacy.
6. To find an assistant...if possible
I have absolutely no idea if anyone out there will be as crazy as I am and go live in a van for several years traveling around the country doing the things I will be doing...but I will try. Having an assistant will prove quite invaluable to the flow of the actual ceremonies. So this will involve sitting down and writing up a few papers involving what the position entails. Aside from the ceremony and a few other things, the requirements will be mostly guidelines.
An assistant wouldn't have to go with me for multiple tours either. Rather, that person would have to sign up for a one-tour commitment and stick to it.
*1
This is a real hot issue with me, as it is akin to people trying to suppress gay rights.
Culturally speaking, I have been reprimanded and looked upon as lazy for not seeking to make a lot of money or getting a job in the "real" world. This is a limited cultural viewpoint based upon mis-understanding. It is work...just of a different type (An extremely important type if we are going to progress as a culture/world and begin to create any real, lasting change that looks at long term solutions to many of the problems we face instead of our typical quick fix solutions.)
I have a right to spend my entire life working and living within spiritual/religious dimensions for the betterment of myself and the world. It is not a running away from the real world. It is a part of the real world. People have different make-ups that enable them to walk along different paths and these paths need to be made accessible to people.
Without the contemplative dimensions of life, you would lose access to the only real knowledge fields that can tell you what this reality really is on the most fundamental level.
Cheers,
Justin
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
It's a bloody good thing I took a piss beforehand!
Yes, as the title says...
I entered into the Algonquin Highlands shortly after my last blog. I chose this path because it seemed to be appropriate to my physical condition. I haven't had much backpacking experience before...none aside from North Manitou...so I didn't want to go out too far into the wilderness by myself without experience.
All in all, the route was about 35-36 kilometers and consisted of many steep climbs up high into the mountain ranges. Beforehand I had to drive to the Mew Lake Campus to pick up a permit. I planned for four days and packed up food consisting of dried fruit and high quality nuts. No cooking + fat and protein = easy, sustainable nutrition. I packed lightly too, bringing just a tent, sleeping bag, clothes, knife, as well as other common backpacking items.
Right at the beginning I met two gents that were finishing up their hike. One was in between jobs while the other was going to school to be a civil engineer. Both men looked like they were tired (and happened to be caked with sweat.) I talked to them for a bit and then headed on my way.
Excitement, trepidation, and the change of pace from busyness to a woodsy stillness all arose within me. I took a lot of pictures in the beginning and, as time went on, began taking less as much of the scenery through the trails became thick woods. You will see in my pictures the gorgeous waterfall I came across in the beginning. My first "experience" happened shortly after.
I came upon a part of the trail that walks alongside of a small lake. Not too far ahead of me I saw a curious bird that had long legs, a slender body, and a curving neck leading up into a face with an extremely penetrating gaze. This bird let me get fairly close in order to take pictures. So I snapped a few and then tried snapping some more as it flew off.
I continued walking up until the trail split off. One trail led off to the right and, as I looked down the path, could tell that this was the direction I needed to go. Compared to the other path, this one had an unobstructed view for quite the ways. So, I spun around towards the lake to have a nice view while I was taking a piss. When I was finished I zipped up and swung myself about....right into the face of the biggest bloody wild animal I have ever seen in my life! It was a bloody good thing I took a piss beforehand! My body immediately went into fight or flight mode and, having never encountered such a creature, panicked into four beings. One wanted to run and scream, another wanted to reach for my camera, and a third thought about fight tactics. This was real funny because all the while my instinctive self slowly made its way behind a tree. The moose then began walking down towards the lake on the other side of the tree. It was around this time I snapped a few pictures and then scrambled away in case it decided to come out of the water.
This moose was not more than 15 feet away from me! It was exhilarating. I have been half joking with people saying, "I will come across a moose and a bear on my trip." Well....one down. ; )
I passed by my designated first camp and hiked on. It was too soon and I didn't want to stop there anyways. By the time I made camp there was still a few hours of daylight...with nothing to do. No reading, no meditation cushion, nothing. Just me with my thoughts and feelings. It was quite lonely. I wasn't alone...I was lonely. I have always considered the two different.
In the morning I woke up, packed camp, and headed on! I came across many beautiful places and took a lot of pictures. I am figuring out fast that my favorite part of backpacking is the hike, not the camp. So I did just that. Walk. I turned a 4 day trip into one full day and two partial days.
The second day also had a really funny incident.
In the middle of the woods I came across a very strange bird call. Immediately there was the recognition that the bird was injured. My sights confirmed this as you could see the bushes moving where it would run about, occasionally fluttering. It, of course, knew I was there and was warning me off. The bird ran in front of me and slightly towards where I was standing, letting me know that it would attack. I backed up behind a tree and it ran off into the bushes on the other side of the path. Curiosity got the best of me, so I looked to see if I could see it. I could not tell what kind of bird it was. White with brow-ish stripes perhaps? It was definitely big as far as birds go. Smaller than a turkey. I got bored and started walking on the path away from the bird. It screeches and, as I turn back around, see a fluffy, PISSED bullet flying STRAIGHT towards me. This thing, whatever the HELL it was, scared me more than the moose and I took off in a sprint that I didn't even know existed...especially with weary bones and a backpack on. I ran up a steep hill and jumped over some rocks...pretty awesome run if it was being filmed. I think we'd have to edit out the TINY bird and put in a bunch of drug cartel with guns or something. That way I could look macho...
So on I walked. Nothing exciting enough to talk about...But I did happen to run into another moose before I broke camp. This one ran away from me before I even noticed it was there.
You will see the place where I camped when you look at the videos (posting later.) Watching the sunset with birds on the little islands off in the distance was absolutely magnificent. I was able to think a lot during these few hours.
Backpacking it seems, is going to become a hobby of mine.
I woke up in the morning, packed my gear, and set out on an intense hike that took me back to my car. I showered, ate food, read, and made my way out of the Algonquin towards Ottawa. Along the way I took a detour by following a sign that talked about caves.
Ooooooohh......interesting.
Well...I didn't see the caves, but I did find an overflowing body of water with two guys and a dog sitting on the edge. I walked my way down and made my way towards them to say hi. They were nice enough to invite me to stay with them for the night. We talked, listened to American metal bands, ate some dogs, and watched a little bit of an Eastwood film. I left with a souvenir! A squirrels tail.
So we come to my current position. Ottawa. I spent the night in the Wal-Mart parking lot and headed off in the morning towards the downtown area. I was quite nervous about driving. So I drove around for an hour purposely getting lost and adjusting to city driving. I spent the morning walking through an Indigenous art exhibit.
Unfortunately, since this weekend is the celebration of Canada day, we could not set anything up ceremonially. Two in a row! I didn't have too many to begin with either. I also canceled my Connecticut ceremony and will soon be canceling the Rhode Island ceremony.
I am not expecting this road to be an easy one. Religion/spirituality tends to be the MOST confused area of human exploration. Better to learn this on the trial run...
So I'll be in Ottawa for the weekend. It is going to be pretty exciting. A major city packed full of people for a celebration, staying in a house (located downtown) by myself, and possibly hanging out with people I have met here.
Later tonight I will finish up my second blog. This blog will begin to talk about my vision with a little bit more detail, as well as why I am coming home earlier than expected.
Cheers!
Justin
I entered into the Algonquin Highlands shortly after my last blog. I chose this path because it seemed to be appropriate to my physical condition. I haven't had much backpacking experience before...none aside from North Manitou...so I didn't want to go out too far into the wilderness by myself without experience.
All in all, the route was about 35-36 kilometers and consisted of many steep climbs up high into the mountain ranges. Beforehand I had to drive to the Mew Lake Campus to pick up a permit. I planned for four days and packed up food consisting of dried fruit and high quality nuts. No cooking + fat and protein = easy, sustainable nutrition. I packed lightly too, bringing just a tent, sleeping bag, clothes, knife, as well as other common backpacking items.
Right at the beginning I met two gents that were finishing up their hike. One was in between jobs while the other was going to school to be a civil engineer. Both men looked like they were tired (and happened to be caked with sweat.) I talked to them for a bit and then headed on my way.
Excitement, trepidation, and the change of pace from busyness to a woodsy stillness all arose within me. I took a lot of pictures in the beginning and, as time went on, began taking less as much of the scenery through the trails became thick woods. You will see in my pictures the gorgeous waterfall I came across in the beginning. My first "experience" happened shortly after.
I came upon a part of the trail that walks alongside of a small lake. Not too far ahead of me I saw a curious bird that had long legs, a slender body, and a curving neck leading up into a face with an extremely penetrating gaze. This bird let me get fairly close in order to take pictures. So I snapped a few and then tried snapping some more as it flew off.
I continued walking up until the trail split off. One trail led off to the right and, as I looked down the path, could tell that this was the direction I needed to go. Compared to the other path, this one had an unobstructed view for quite the ways. So, I spun around towards the lake to have a nice view while I was taking a piss. When I was finished I zipped up and swung myself about....right into the face of the biggest bloody wild animal I have ever seen in my life! It was a bloody good thing I took a piss beforehand! My body immediately went into fight or flight mode and, having never encountered such a creature, panicked into four beings. One wanted to run and scream, another wanted to reach for my camera, and a third thought about fight tactics. This was real funny because all the while my instinctive self slowly made its way behind a tree. The moose then began walking down towards the lake on the other side of the tree. It was around this time I snapped a few pictures and then scrambled away in case it decided to come out of the water.
This moose was not more than 15 feet away from me! It was exhilarating. I have been half joking with people saying, "I will come across a moose and a bear on my trip." Well....one down. ; )
I passed by my designated first camp and hiked on. It was too soon and I didn't want to stop there anyways. By the time I made camp there was still a few hours of daylight...with nothing to do. No reading, no meditation cushion, nothing. Just me with my thoughts and feelings. It was quite lonely. I wasn't alone...I was lonely. I have always considered the two different.
In the morning I woke up, packed camp, and headed on! I came across many beautiful places and took a lot of pictures. I am figuring out fast that my favorite part of backpacking is the hike, not the camp. So I did just that. Walk. I turned a 4 day trip into one full day and two partial days.
The second day also had a really funny incident.
In the middle of the woods I came across a very strange bird call. Immediately there was the recognition that the bird was injured. My sights confirmed this as you could see the bushes moving where it would run about, occasionally fluttering. It, of course, knew I was there and was warning me off. The bird ran in front of me and slightly towards where I was standing, letting me know that it would attack. I backed up behind a tree and it ran off into the bushes on the other side of the path. Curiosity got the best of me, so I looked to see if I could see it. I could not tell what kind of bird it was. White with brow-ish stripes perhaps? It was definitely big as far as birds go. Smaller than a turkey. I got bored and started walking on the path away from the bird. It screeches and, as I turn back around, see a fluffy, PISSED bullet flying STRAIGHT towards me. This thing, whatever the HELL it was, scared me more than the moose and I took off in a sprint that I didn't even know existed...especially with weary bones and a backpack on. I ran up a steep hill and jumped over some rocks...pretty awesome run if it was being filmed. I think we'd have to edit out the TINY bird and put in a bunch of drug cartel with guns or something. That way I could look macho...
So on I walked. Nothing exciting enough to talk about...But I did happen to run into another moose before I broke camp. This one ran away from me before I even noticed it was there.
You will see the place where I camped when you look at the videos (posting later.) Watching the sunset with birds on the little islands off in the distance was absolutely magnificent. I was able to think a lot during these few hours.
Backpacking it seems, is going to become a hobby of mine.
I woke up in the morning, packed my gear, and set out on an intense hike that took me back to my car. I showered, ate food, read, and made my way out of the Algonquin towards Ottawa. Along the way I took a detour by following a sign that talked about caves.
Ooooooohh......interesting.
Well...I didn't see the caves, but I did find an overflowing body of water with two guys and a dog sitting on the edge. I walked my way down and made my way towards them to say hi. They were nice enough to invite me to stay with them for the night. We talked, listened to American metal bands, ate some dogs, and watched a little bit of an Eastwood film. I left with a souvenir! A squirrels tail.
So we come to my current position. Ottawa. I spent the night in the Wal-Mart parking lot and headed off in the morning towards the downtown area. I was quite nervous about driving. So I drove around for an hour purposely getting lost and adjusting to city driving. I spent the morning walking through an Indigenous art exhibit.
Unfortunately, since this weekend is the celebration of Canada day, we could not set anything up ceremonially. Two in a row! I didn't have too many to begin with either. I also canceled my Connecticut ceremony and will soon be canceling the Rhode Island ceremony.
I am not expecting this road to be an easy one. Religion/spirituality tends to be the MOST confused area of human exploration. Better to learn this on the trial run...
So I'll be in Ottawa for the weekend. It is going to be pretty exciting. A major city packed full of people for a celebration, staying in a house (located downtown) by myself, and possibly hanging out with people I have met here.
Later tonight I will finish up my second blog. This blog will begin to talk about my vision with a little bit more detail, as well as why I am coming home earlier than expected.
Cheers!
Justin
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Entering the Algonquin Highlands
Tomorrow morning I will be heading off on my second backpacking trip! Where you ask? The Algonquin Provincial Park. I'll be entering into the Highlands for a several day excursion.
For the night, however, I will be hanging around in Huntsville, ON. This a pretty nice feeling little town. I haven't experienced too many to my liking to be quite honest. The town here is about 20,000 people and has a progressive vibe to it. So they have a lot of places for things like yoga, massage, green living, health, etc. It's refreshing! Though I wonder if it isn't based largely on tourists coming to the Algonquin. Most shops today are closed, being a Sunday and all.
Most places that I pass through have a population of 5,000 or less. A few places here and there would have 10,000 or 20,000 people. The biggest place was North Bay, containing about 50,000 people.
The drives have been really, really nice. If anyone is looking to just drive for the heck of it I recommend going through the 17...quite possibly Canada in General. I am just floored by how much nature abounds in this country. There are places you can see just driving by that I would have to backpack to see in the states. Of course, that is a highly relative statement. But I have seen quite a bit of the states.
I spent some quality time hiking through some trails in Elliot Lake. I met a really nice couple that talked to me quite a bit and recommended some places to visit. The woman was from the states. The man was from Canada and worked in Flint for quite a number of years up until his retirement in...2002? Near the end of my trip I was walking along one of the roads back to my car and stopped to talk to two friendly gentleman who were about to head out into the park to clean up beaver debris. I also happened upon a friendly old Englishman that seemed to relish in sharing some old travel stories from his youthful days.
Let me tell you about Sudbury! The complete opposite. I took about a 15 minute walk through one of the downtown areas and fled from there faster than Speedy Gonzalez. I don't know if it was just the time I went or if it was the city in general, but I felt like there were a ton of heavy drug users in that city. It was a very old school industrial town that looked as though it were falling to shambles. Nearly everyone avoided eye contact...or looked like they wanted to create trouble of some sort (shivers.) It wasn't a very fun night because I had been driving for a long time and was really looking forward to getting to a big city again and spending the night prowling about. It had probably been my most frustrating and tiring portion of my journey so far...to the point where I pulled into a rest stop, parked my car, and pitched up a tent in front of it in order to get some rest. Yea...people avoided me...but I was in a mood!
Speaking of which, there is one thing I have really noticed during my time in Canada. There is a general sense of hospitality to folks traveling through. I can sleep in my car nearly anywhere and won't get hassled or told to move on. In America, it seems as though you have to sleep with one eye open. It has been quite difficult to find showers though. Which in the states the opportunity abounds plenty.
West Nippising was small, but I found it quite appealing to take a rest there for a day or two. After the Sudbury event I just needed to sulk in a building and watch movies. So I watched three...in a row. The last two of the Harry Potter movies and a Jekyll and Hyde movie. I actually watched three by accident. I watched the part one Harry Potter movie thinking I was watching the second. So then I had to watch the second one. The Jekyll and Hyde movie was also good, but it was based off of the Amazonian plant medicine Ayahuasca. I just hope people don't develop views of the plant based off of the movie. They had a nice little beach where I sat and played guitar while watching some townspeople fish from a boat off in the distance.
North Bay was probably the nicest city I went to. I think I liked it mostly because I was always surrounded by a lot of people. The city life has grown on me very much since my first days in Grand Rapids. I didn't spend a whole lot of time in their library. The wifi was intermittent and not dependable because of some problem they were working on. So I spent a little time in a park that, by the end, sketched me out. I met a nice couple that seemed to be very, very intensely passionate about each other. It was very cute. Being a guy that hasn't been in a relationship for many years, I enjoy seeing that. However, by the end of the second time seeing them, I started to gather that they may have been having an affair. They would drive in separate cars and, after sitting for awhile outside on a bench, would disappear into the back of one of the vehicles for awhile. On top of that, several cars that would pull in and roll joints, pack bowls, or smoke down. That in itself isn't so strange to me. I actually went and talked to one group since they were young. I asked if they could point me to a hostel in order to strike up a conversation (even though I already knew where it was.) The conversation was awkward and ended quickly. I found my way to a late night coffee shop called Twiggs and hung out on the computer doing some work.
I almost had my first couchsurfing experience in the city too. Unfortunately, we couldn't find a time to meet up properly. Ahe seemed very involved with helping people and was working on the committee of a fundraising event. So instead I moseyed around the city and found my way to the university, a monastery, and some two tracking trails leading to nowhere. I really liked the layout and grounds of the university. A lot of nature. By this point I pretty much expect it anywhere I go. I slept in an empty parking lot with a tiny little stream next to me and the full moon in my view. I had a friendly chat with the campus security and fell asleep. In the morning I came very close to two male deer, each with one horn growing on the same side.
As I was preparing to leave the university grounds a woman and her child pulled into the lot. Following behind them was a man on a bike. The guy let the kid get on the back of his bike and rode him around the parking lot. You could sense the breadth of his smile through the helmet. For someone who sees energy very well...you could see it from 600 miles away. ; ) I was reminded of my dad riding with me on the back of his bike during my younger years. So I struck up a conversation with this mother after watching for some time with amusement. She was very nervous, but delighted in helping her little boy grow up and being there to witness it. We were making jokes about her kid popping wheelies on a crotch-rocket and her having to take anxiety medication and growing grey hairs. It was a nice trip down memory lane.
As I say often, "It is the duty of a child to give their parents grey hairs...look at my dad he is bald." ; )
And with that statement, I leave you all. Heading off into the wilderness of the Algonquin for a wonderfully wet, rainy, and beautiful experience.
Cheers!
Justin
For the night, however, I will be hanging around in Huntsville, ON. This a pretty nice feeling little town. I haven't experienced too many to my liking to be quite honest. The town here is about 20,000 people and has a progressive vibe to it. So they have a lot of places for things like yoga, massage, green living, health, etc. It's refreshing! Though I wonder if it isn't based largely on tourists coming to the Algonquin. Most shops today are closed, being a Sunday and all.
Most places that I pass through have a population of 5,000 or less. A few places here and there would have 10,000 or 20,000 people. The biggest place was North Bay, containing about 50,000 people.
The drives have been really, really nice. If anyone is looking to just drive for the heck of it I recommend going through the 17...quite possibly Canada in General. I am just floored by how much nature abounds in this country. There are places you can see just driving by that I would have to backpack to see in the states. Of course, that is a highly relative statement. But I have seen quite a bit of the states.
I spent some quality time hiking through some trails in Elliot Lake. I met a really nice couple that talked to me quite a bit and recommended some places to visit. The woman was from the states. The man was from Canada and worked in Flint for quite a number of years up until his retirement in...2002? Near the end of my trip I was walking along one of the roads back to my car and stopped to talk to two friendly gentleman who were about to head out into the park to clean up beaver debris. I also happened upon a friendly old Englishman that seemed to relish in sharing some old travel stories from his youthful days.
Let me tell you about Sudbury! The complete opposite. I took about a 15 minute walk through one of the downtown areas and fled from there faster than Speedy Gonzalez. I don't know if it was just the time I went or if it was the city in general, but I felt like there were a ton of heavy drug users in that city. It was a very old school industrial town that looked as though it were falling to shambles. Nearly everyone avoided eye contact...or looked like they wanted to create trouble of some sort (shivers.) It wasn't a very fun night because I had been driving for a long time and was really looking forward to getting to a big city again and spending the night prowling about. It had probably been my most frustrating and tiring portion of my journey so far...to the point where I pulled into a rest stop, parked my car, and pitched up a tent in front of it in order to get some rest. Yea...people avoided me...but I was in a mood!
Speaking of which, there is one thing I have really noticed during my time in Canada. There is a general sense of hospitality to folks traveling through. I can sleep in my car nearly anywhere and won't get hassled or told to move on. In America, it seems as though you have to sleep with one eye open. It has been quite difficult to find showers though. Which in the states the opportunity abounds plenty.
West Nippising was small, but I found it quite appealing to take a rest there for a day or two. After the Sudbury event I just needed to sulk in a building and watch movies. So I watched three...in a row. The last two of the Harry Potter movies and a Jekyll and Hyde movie. I actually watched three by accident. I watched the part one Harry Potter movie thinking I was watching the second. So then I had to watch the second one. The Jekyll and Hyde movie was also good, but it was based off of the Amazonian plant medicine Ayahuasca. I just hope people don't develop views of the plant based off of the movie. They had a nice little beach where I sat and played guitar while watching some townspeople fish from a boat off in the distance.
North Bay was probably the nicest city I went to. I think I liked it mostly because I was always surrounded by a lot of people. The city life has grown on me very much since my first days in Grand Rapids. I didn't spend a whole lot of time in their library. The wifi was intermittent and not dependable because of some problem they were working on. So I spent a little time in a park that, by the end, sketched me out. I met a nice couple that seemed to be very, very intensely passionate about each other. It was very cute. Being a guy that hasn't been in a relationship for many years, I enjoy seeing that. However, by the end of the second time seeing them, I started to gather that they may have been having an affair. They would drive in separate cars and, after sitting for awhile outside on a bench, would disappear into the back of one of the vehicles for awhile. On top of that, several cars that would pull in and roll joints, pack bowls, or smoke down. That in itself isn't so strange to me. I actually went and talked to one group since they were young. I asked if they could point me to a hostel in order to strike up a conversation (even though I already knew where it was.) The conversation was awkward and ended quickly. I found my way to a late night coffee shop called Twiggs and hung out on the computer doing some work.
I almost had my first couchsurfing experience in the city too. Unfortunately, we couldn't find a time to meet up properly. Ahe seemed very involved with helping people and was working on the committee of a fundraising event. So instead I moseyed around the city and found my way to the university, a monastery, and some two tracking trails leading to nowhere. I really liked the layout and grounds of the university. A lot of nature. By this point I pretty much expect it anywhere I go. I slept in an empty parking lot with a tiny little stream next to me and the full moon in my view. I had a friendly chat with the campus security and fell asleep. In the morning I came very close to two male deer, each with one horn growing on the same side.
As I was preparing to leave the university grounds a woman and her child pulled into the lot. Following behind them was a man on a bike. The guy let the kid get on the back of his bike and rode him around the parking lot. You could sense the breadth of his smile through the helmet. For someone who sees energy very well...you could see it from 600 miles away. ; ) I was reminded of my dad riding with me on the back of his bike during my younger years. So I struck up a conversation with this mother after watching for some time with amusement. She was very nervous, but delighted in helping her little boy grow up and being there to witness it. We were making jokes about her kid popping wheelies on a crotch-rocket and her having to take anxiety medication and growing grey hairs. It was a nice trip down memory lane.
As I say often, "It is the duty of a child to give their parents grey hairs...look at my dad he is bald." ; )
And with that statement, I leave you all. Heading off into the wilderness of the Algonquin for a wonderfully wet, rainy, and beautiful experience.
Cheers!
Justin
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
AQAL
Hooray! I am in Canada!
Last night I hung out with two young kids hitchin' from Montreal to British Columbia to pick cherries. Today, I drove my way to a small town called Elliot's Lake and went for a wonderful hike through some of the woodlands and then made my way up to a cliff where you can see as far as lake Huron. Next stop? I've decided to stop at Chute's Provincial park just outside of Massey. I would head up to the Mississagi Provincial...but they aren't opening for a few more days.
There have been a lot of cool things happening to me already in Canada-Land...but I don't intend to write much about that. I do, however, finally have pictures uploaded. You can see them on my facebook page in a day or two.
Let's talk a little bit about this whole AQAL thing. What is it anyway? Let's talk about the basics. I have not included everything, just the things that I think are most pertinent to our current discussions.
Ken Wilbers AQAL:
Quadrants
Levels
Lines
States
Quadrants:
There are four quadrants, each approaching a different type of knowledge. This is an updated version of such ideas as "Good, True, Beautiful," or "Art, Morals, Science."
The Upper Left quadrant studies the interior of the individual, or I.
The Lower Left quadrant studies the interiors of culture, or We.
The Upper Right quadrant studies the exterior of the individual, or It.
The Lower Right quadrant studies the exterior of culture/society, or Its.
An example: When I am talking to you, certain emotions and thoughts are going on in your awareness. This is the UL quadrant. Each of these thoughts can be measured and studied empirically to see what physiological/neurological correlates there are. This is the UR quadrant. Interpretation of both arises not just within the subject alone, but with a background, or context, of shared cultural meanings. This is the LL quadrant. These cultural values end up rooting themselves somewhere in the physical world, these words are written and read through a laptop with physical letters all because of certain production lines in our society.
Levels:
Within each quadrant there are developmental structures. These are very crude examples. They are meant to help you "get the idea" so to speak.
Example:
UL - This one can be a little difficult to see, since quite often a person is unaware that their own thoughts have a developing pattern to them. When looking at the mind, for example, in order to form groups of concepts you need to first develop the ability to form A concept in the first place. Increasing complexity!
LL - Morality...you can be self-centric, ethno-centric, or world-centric. You cannot be world-centric without including all of the previous levels. There is a natural progression towards more inclusiveness.
UR - A human being...starts out as a sperm, develops into an embryo, becomes a fetus, then baby, then teenager, then adult. Notice the natural progression, as you cannot become an adult without first being a sperm.
LR - Societies...Hunter-gatherer, agrarian, industrial, technological. Again, progression...
From here, we turn our discussion to the UL quadrant, since this is the one that we will work with most of the time during this blog.
Lines:
Let's use the UL quadrant for this example. Research in psychology shows that a person goes through several lines of development. Moral, kinesthetic, spiritual, musical, etc. These lines all develop through the basic stages noted earlier.
States:
Within each level of development you have something that is known as state training. This is easiest to understand perhaps within the contemplative/spiritual/religious realm. Most religions partake in contemplative practices that involve higher states training. Ever hear the term "mystical experiences?" These states play a crucial role for developing to higher stages. Though they don't always necessarily do that.
I do not claim to be fully integral when it comes to my future writings. I instead wish to use the framework to help elucidate what type of knowledge I am working with within my own work at this point in time. Namely, this will be the UL quadrant. This will be extremely useful when it comes to bridging different fields of knowledge together.
I think that many of you are getting this idea quite simply. So let's dive into another area before I finish this blog.
The UL quadrant...can it be broken down into more parts? Yes.
The interior of an interior. This would be all of your thoughts and emotions going on currently in your own awareness right now, experienced by you.
The exterior of an interior (this is not the same as the UR quadrant.) This would be someone looking at you experiencing your thoughts and emotions and trying to find a psychological structure around how they operate. An example of a field of research doing this would be developmental psychology.
The library is about to close...
Cheers!
Justin
Last night I hung out with two young kids hitchin' from Montreal to British Columbia to pick cherries. Today, I drove my way to a small town called Elliot's Lake and went for a wonderful hike through some of the woodlands and then made my way up to a cliff where you can see as far as lake Huron. Next stop? I've decided to stop at Chute's Provincial park just outside of Massey. I would head up to the Mississagi Provincial...but they aren't opening for a few more days.
There have been a lot of cool things happening to me already in Canada-Land...but I don't intend to write much about that. I do, however, finally have pictures uploaded. You can see them on my facebook page in a day or two.
Let's talk a little bit about this whole AQAL thing. What is it anyway? Let's talk about the basics. I have not included everything, just the things that I think are most pertinent to our current discussions.
Ken Wilbers AQAL:
Quadrants
Levels
Lines
States
Quadrants:
There are four quadrants, each approaching a different type of knowledge. This is an updated version of such ideas as "Good, True, Beautiful," or "Art, Morals, Science."
The Upper Left quadrant studies the interior of the individual, or I.
The Lower Left quadrant studies the interiors of culture, or We.
The Upper Right quadrant studies the exterior of the individual, or It.
The Lower Right quadrant studies the exterior of culture/society, or Its.
An example: When I am talking to you, certain emotions and thoughts are going on in your awareness. This is the UL quadrant. Each of these thoughts can be measured and studied empirically to see what physiological/neurological correlates there are. This is the UR quadrant. Interpretation of both arises not just within the subject alone, but with a background, or context, of shared cultural meanings. This is the LL quadrant. These cultural values end up rooting themselves somewhere in the physical world, these words are written and read through a laptop with physical letters all because of certain production lines in our society.
Levels:
Within each quadrant there are developmental structures. These are very crude examples. They are meant to help you "get the idea" so to speak.
Example:
UL - This one can be a little difficult to see, since quite often a person is unaware that their own thoughts have a developing pattern to them. When looking at the mind, for example, in order to form groups of concepts you need to first develop the ability to form A concept in the first place. Increasing complexity!
LL - Morality...you can be self-centric, ethno-centric, or world-centric. You cannot be world-centric without including all of the previous levels. There is a natural progression towards more inclusiveness.
UR - A human being...starts out as a sperm, develops into an embryo, becomes a fetus, then baby, then teenager, then adult. Notice the natural progression, as you cannot become an adult without first being a sperm.
LR - Societies...Hunter-gatherer, agrarian, industrial, technological. Again, progression...
From here, we turn our discussion to the UL quadrant, since this is the one that we will work with most of the time during this blog.
Lines:
Let's use the UL quadrant for this example. Research in psychology shows that a person goes through several lines of development. Moral, kinesthetic, spiritual, musical, etc. These lines all develop through the basic stages noted earlier.
States:
Within each level of development you have something that is known as state training. This is easiest to understand perhaps within the contemplative/spiritual/religious realm. Most religions partake in contemplative practices that involve higher states training. Ever hear the term "mystical experiences?" These states play a crucial role for developing to higher stages. Though they don't always necessarily do that.
I do not claim to be fully integral when it comes to my future writings. I instead wish to use the framework to help elucidate what type of knowledge I am working with within my own work at this point in time. Namely, this will be the UL quadrant. This will be extremely useful when it comes to bridging different fields of knowledge together.
I think that many of you are getting this idea quite simply. So let's dive into another area before I finish this blog.
The UL quadrant...can it be broken down into more parts? Yes.
The interior of an interior. This would be all of your thoughts and emotions going on currently in your own awareness right now, experienced by you.
The exterior of an interior (this is not the same as the UR quadrant.) This would be someone looking at you experiencing your thoughts and emotions and trying to find a psychological structure around how they operate. An example of a field of research doing this would be developmental psychology.
The library is about to close...
Cheers!
Justin
Monday, June 17, 2013
A jourey isn't complete unless you have a guitar. ; )
About three years ago I decided to give up playing the guitar. I really enjoyed my time learning and tuning in to the world of sound, especially when it brought me to West Africa. Here I learned to play Malian blues with my brother and some folks from that region. Once I settled in Grand Rapids however, I decided that it was more beneficial for me to devote myself to my practices in both shamanism and Buddhism, as well as my personal studies. I am quite the tunnel-visioned person when it comes to pursuing something. So at the time I was playing guitar it was either all or nothing. It eventually became too stressful and became more of a chore than anything else.
My last session for the Foundation for Shamanic Studies took place in May of this year. Actually, I would say it was the start-off point for this journey. There was a practice during this week in which you would walk around and ask the spirits questions. This if often known as a divination. I didn't really have any pressing or important questions, so I walked around and asked each spirit the same question to see if there was any over-lap or inconsistencies. Not a single spirit gave me the same answer! Nor were there any conflicting answers. However, one of the answers was intriguing...
I was communicating with a spirit that my room-mate works with (On a little side-note, I had the same room-mate for the entire three years of the program. We had many a great talks and I enjoyed the time spent with him.) When I asked the question, the spirit gave me a few different items that needed to be brought along. One of them was a guitar! I wasn't too thrilled to be honest. I had already sold my guitar and didn't want to play anymore. So I left without one. Still, the thought stuck in my head. That is, up until today.
I left Traverse City last night and drove through the night up through Charlevoix and into Petoskey. It was late and I was tired, so I pulled off there for the night and slept. When I awoke, I ate my breakfast and picked a random route to drive. I try to avoid the highways, since you see so much going through the side roads. Most of the time I find roads that ride up right along the coastlines. This was no exception. I found this very small, cramped road without dividing lines for two way traffic. To be honest, I thought I began driving like my dad...down the wrong way on a one way street (I'm sure he knows what story I am referring to.) ; ) The road consisted of houses, each having access to their own little space overlooking the beautiful bay. Eventually I saw a sign for espresso and, having just woken up, decided to stop. You could say it caught my eye. ; ) This was a random place to have a coffee shop. I figured it was small and had some people that knew the area pretty well. So I stopped!
It wasn't a coffee shop. It was an antique store! I ordered an espresso and walked around the store sipping my cup. That is, until I saw an old beauty laying up against a wall. I picked her up and began plucking the strings that were there. I saw the price tag and read $50. So I figured I would charge it to my credit card and then pay it off once I start my work in Grand Rapids. But when I looked again, there was a one that I didn't see. So it was $150. Sadly, I put it down.
I struck up a conversation with the person who happened to be working at this antique shop and, quite quickly, began a conversation about traveling and the reason for my travels. This individual has worked within the healing community for awhile and has even worked with some of the more well known American shamans. Before I knew it, we agreed upon a trade!
Sometimes, the spirits will throw something in your lap that you don't want. This is a good example to talk about because I don't always understand, or agree with, what it is that the spirits are presenting. The spirits have work that they want to do in order to help people heal themselves and to transcend their current understanding of who they are and what reality is. Many years ago I gave myself to spirit, spiritual/religious studies, and the pursuit of Truth (Capital T.) Left to my own devices, I would probably throw massive grandiosity into whatever I would be doing. However, I have given my life to the pursuit of wisdom and compassion. In Buddhism, this is known as the Bodhisattva vow. "I vow to be with all beings."
This vision that I have isn't really MY vision. It is the culmination of insights gained from spiritual practice. I spent nine years trying to understand something that I could only intuit. Something that I knew was there but had no idea what is was. With the creation of this mask and connecting with this mask spirit, everything that has taken place in this realm has finally come together in a cohesive fashion.
Now I will spend the next chapter of my life bringing that vision into a reality. Instead of what, it is how. How do I bring this vision into reality? That is what this journey is all about. Meeting all of you. I hope one day you will decide to help me in these endeavors as they begin to fully present themselves. Do not take my word for it. Watch the vision as it unfolds and, should you understand and agree with what is happening, help because you sincerely want to help.
Cheers!
Justin
My last session for the Foundation for Shamanic Studies took place in May of this year. Actually, I would say it was the start-off point for this journey. There was a practice during this week in which you would walk around and ask the spirits questions. This if often known as a divination. I didn't really have any pressing or important questions, so I walked around and asked each spirit the same question to see if there was any over-lap or inconsistencies. Not a single spirit gave me the same answer! Nor were there any conflicting answers. However, one of the answers was intriguing...
I was communicating with a spirit that my room-mate works with (On a little side-note, I had the same room-mate for the entire three years of the program. We had many a great talks and I enjoyed the time spent with him.) When I asked the question, the spirit gave me a few different items that needed to be brought along. One of them was a guitar! I wasn't too thrilled to be honest. I had already sold my guitar and didn't want to play anymore. So I left without one. Still, the thought stuck in my head. That is, up until today.
I left Traverse City last night and drove through the night up through Charlevoix and into Petoskey. It was late and I was tired, so I pulled off there for the night and slept. When I awoke, I ate my breakfast and picked a random route to drive. I try to avoid the highways, since you see so much going through the side roads. Most of the time I find roads that ride up right along the coastlines. This was no exception. I found this very small, cramped road without dividing lines for two way traffic. To be honest, I thought I began driving like my dad...down the wrong way on a one way street (I'm sure he knows what story I am referring to.) ; ) The road consisted of houses, each having access to their own little space overlooking the beautiful bay. Eventually I saw a sign for espresso and, having just woken up, decided to stop. You could say it caught my eye. ; ) This was a random place to have a coffee shop. I figured it was small and had some people that knew the area pretty well. So I stopped!
It wasn't a coffee shop. It was an antique store! I ordered an espresso and walked around the store sipping my cup. That is, until I saw an old beauty laying up against a wall. I picked her up and began plucking the strings that were there. I saw the price tag and read $50. So I figured I would charge it to my credit card and then pay it off once I start my work in Grand Rapids. But when I looked again, there was a one that I didn't see. So it was $150. Sadly, I put it down.
I struck up a conversation with the person who happened to be working at this antique shop and, quite quickly, began a conversation about traveling and the reason for my travels. This individual has worked within the healing community for awhile and has even worked with some of the more well known American shamans. Before I knew it, we agreed upon a trade!
Sometimes, the spirits will throw something in your lap that you don't want. This is a good example to talk about because I don't always understand, or agree with, what it is that the spirits are presenting. The spirits have work that they want to do in order to help people heal themselves and to transcend their current understanding of who they are and what reality is. Many years ago I gave myself to spirit, spiritual/religious studies, and the pursuit of Truth (Capital T.) Left to my own devices, I would probably throw massive grandiosity into whatever I would be doing. However, I have given my life to the pursuit of wisdom and compassion. In Buddhism, this is known as the Bodhisattva vow. "I vow to be with all beings."
This vision that I have isn't really MY vision. It is the culmination of insights gained from spiritual practice. I spent nine years trying to understand something that I could only intuit. Something that I knew was there but had no idea what is was. With the creation of this mask and connecting with this mask spirit, everything that has taken place in this realm has finally come together in a cohesive fashion.
Now I will spend the next chapter of my life bringing that vision into a reality. Instead of what, it is how. How do I bring this vision into reality? That is what this journey is all about. Meeting all of you. I hope one day you will decide to help me in these endeavors as they begin to fully present themselves. Do not take my word for it. Watch the vision as it unfolds and, should you understand and agree with what is happening, help because you sincerely want to help.
Cheers!
Justin
Thursday, June 13, 2013
A Little Gem
Howdy!
Hanging out in an apartment complex, next to a strip mall, with all the big name corporations doesn't sound too fun...but it is!
This complex is a surprising little gem to me. Or rather, what lies on the other side of the complex. Irene and Emily manage to stay in this place because it has an absolutely beautiful view of woodlands from their porch. Their porch, by the way, is a feeding ground for the entire pantheon of bird types living in the woods. So I have been seeing them constantly (even in my dreams!) Yesterday, I decided it was time to take a walk through these small trails to process all of the conversations I have been having. I walked down to the lower portion of the woods and came across a small stream that had all manner of miniature waterfalls, winding curves, and deep water pockets. It was such a beautiful place to explore.
So when I awoke today I decided to go for a run. What I found, beyond the trails I walked yesterday, was a massive wooded land that, aside from the sound of cars in the background, would remind you of a small state park outside of town. There are several kept trails that run into each other, each having a variety of natural landscapes. No matter where you are, off in the distance you can hear the sound of cars. So when I ran I didn't worry about keeping track of where I was. I started off running on a trail and ended up with a combination of running through wild areas and finding my way to other trails. Some places I would have to walk through, others crouch through, even jumping between dry patches and walking along fallen trees (my favorite thing to do.) Quite the workout!
I even came across a few hobo camps here and there. This reminded me of my friend Jake. He would actually engage in conversation with the people in these little communities. He even came across a place like this in the woods that basically turned into a huge dumping ground. Being the great guy he is, he took a lot of time out of his travels to pick up every piece of trash, put it in bags, and take them to the appropriate facilities. I believe that, in the end, he collected some 20-30 bags of trash, if not more.
So...I have made a firm commitment to head out tomorrow and find a working memory card to take pictures. None of these places really mean much to you unless you have the visual component! So I hope to get that taken care of since many of these places are quite stunning. These pictures, when/if they come about, will be posted in albums on my facebook page.
I know I said in an earlier blog that I would have more about the Mask Shamanism/religion topic, but I've been having a lot of writer's block in getting them out lately. I think this is so because most of my mental processes have been geared towards the communicative exchange of ideas with people this last week (in a very intense fashion.) For all of you that know me well, you know that I spend most of my time to myself and don't really speak a whole lot about what goes on in this mind of mine. So it has been a great opportunity to connect with people in this way and it has also taken a lot out of me since I am not used to it.
Until we meet again. :)
Justin
Hanging out in an apartment complex, next to a strip mall, with all the big name corporations doesn't sound too fun...but it is!
This complex is a surprising little gem to me. Or rather, what lies on the other side of the complex. Irene and Emily manage to stay in this place because it has an absolutely beautiful view of woodlands from their porch. Their porch, by the way, is a feeding ground for the entire pantheon of bird types living in the woods. So I have been seeing them constantly (even in my dreams!) Yesterday, I decided it was time to take a walk through these small trails to process all of the conversations I have been having. I walked down to the lower portion of the woods and came across a small stream that had all manner of miniature waterfalls, winding curves, and deep water pockets. It was such a beautiful place to explore.
So when I awoke today I decided to go for a run. What I found, beyond the trails I walked yesterday, was a massive wooded land that, aside from the sound of cars in the background, would remind you of a small state park outside of town. There are several kept trails that run into each other, each having a variety of natural landscapes. No matter where you are, off in the distance you can hear the sound of cars. So when I ran I didn't worry about keeping track of where I was. I started off running on a trail and ended up with a combination of running through wild areas and finding my way to other trails. Some places I would have to walk through, others crouch through, even jumping between dry patches and walking along fallen trees (my favorite thing to do.) Quite the workout!
I even came across a few hobo camps here and there. This reminded me of my friend Jake. He would actually engage in conversation with the people in these little communities. He even came across a place like this in the woods that basically turned into a huge dumping ground. Being the great guy he is, he took a lot of time out of his travels to pick up every piece of trash, put it in bags, and take them to the appropriate facilities. I believe that, in the end, he collected some 20-30 bags of trash, if not more.
So...I have made a firm commitment to head out tomorrow and find a working memory card to take pictures. None of these places really mean much to you unless you have the visual component! So I hope to get that taken care of since many of these places are quite stunning. These pictures, when/if they come about, will be posted in albums on my facebook page.
I know I said in an earlier blog that I would have more about the Mask Shamanism/religion topic, but I've been having a lot of writer's block in getting them out lately. I think this is so because most of my mental processes have been geared towards the communicative exchange of ideas with people this last week (in a very intense fashion.) For all of you that know me well, you know that I spend most of my time to myself and don't really speak a whole lot about what goes on in this mind of mine. So it has been a great opportunity to connect with people in this way and it has also taken a lot out of me since I am not used to it.
Until we meet again. :)
Justin
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
From Leland to Traverse City/Mask Ceremony #2
A nice couch and a good shower to prepare me for...a wine festival?!?
Well...I didn't partake. But I did enjoy walking about the busy streets watching all of the people. The festival ended at 6pm and my ceremony began at 6:30pm.
The room in Pure Prana yoga was very spacious and set up beautifully. Many of the people I talked to when I first arrived wanted to come. Since this is the tourist season, many were unable to come since they were working. So it was a very small group. Nonetheless it was a very beautiful ceremony. There was an interesting question raised that I would like to share and talk about, since it is a very common question coming from people who want to learn something about shamanic practice.
"Do I have a protector/guardian animal?"
Yes! Quite often, a person will not know who their protector is until they meet them (directly or through a medium.) My advice is, and will always be, do not let a person tell you who your protector is and what s/he is like! Find someone who will help you to meet them directly. This is your relationship to your protector. You wouldn't bring a friend on a date in order to be the medium between you and your date would you? Nah...
Most everyone I know already knows their protector. Rather, the protector shows up in many ways throughout your earlier life to let you know s/he is there. Let me give a personal example...
Many years ago I was going through a lot of turmoil in my life and sought solace in anything that could really take me out of my present situation and put me somewhere else. This ended up being a fantasy novel series of a dark elf character who escapes his treacherous homeland in the underworld and seeks to find himself in the lands on the surface. Dark elves live to be hundreds of years old, so he quite often spent a lot of time on his own. However, he carried with him a carved figurine of an animal. When he called the name of this figure, an animal would come to the material world from it's astral home and stay with him for certain periods of time. This series has, all in all, about...25-30 books. I read every...single...one of them...in rapid succession.
So what does this have to do with my protector? Well...first of all I could relate myself to the main character. I felt like I was leaving my homeland (present life circumstances) into the vast unknown that lied beyond. Except...I had no companion! So I became intensely interested in this characters astral companion, falling in love with the compassionate nature of the being.
Several years later, after I began training in shamanic journeying and healing practices through the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, I came across my protector. To my astonishment...my protector was the same animal that I read about it so many of those books! Ok...not the same exact character...but the same animal and the same gender. The spirits always let you know that they are with you. So even when I felt completely alone I was always supported by the spirits.
I am not alone in this experience! If you ever decide to meet your protector, you may have a similar experience. My recommendation is this...don't let someone else tell you who your protector is. Find someone who will help you to meet your protector first hand! That way, you are also taught very important ways to interact with your protector whenever you want/need to. Developing deeper relationships with your spirit teachers is a vital aspect of growth in shamanic practice.
The ceremony lasted for about 2.5 hours and, afterwards, I was graciously offered a bed to sleep in for the night in Williamsburg.
Lately, I've been hanging around the library in Traverse City. I know, I know....it is a wonderful city and I should be out exploring! But the comfort of a good chair and a good book in a beautiful library is more appealing at the moment. So I've been spending my days inside, cooped up, devouring pages of books, organizing information for the future, and writing these blogs.
Tonight I am going to be heading out to a meditation/book study group in TC. This group is a part of my Buddhist community in Battle Creek (meaning we all have the same teacher.) I don't think I've met the majority of these folk, so I am pretty excited! For the longest time I did not have a community to learn, practice, and hang with in the Buddhist realms. Unfortunately, I think this is common for many people who identify with this religion at this point. It is beginning to change for many of us.
Stay tuned for my next post on Shamanism and religion!
Cheers!
Well...I didn't partake. But I did enjoy walking about the busy streets watching all of the people. The festival ended at 6pm and my ceremony began at 6:30pm.
The room in Pure Prana yoga was very spacious and set up beautifully. Many of the people I talked to when I first arrived wanted to come. Since this is the tourist season, many were unable to come since they were working. So it was a very small group. Nonetheless it was a very beautiful ceremony. There was an interesting question raised that I would like to share and talk about, since it is a very common question coming from people who want to learn something about shamanic practice.
"Do I have a protector/guardian animal?"
Yes! Quite often, a person will not know who their protector is until they meet them (directly or through a medium.) My advice is, and will always be, do not let a person tell you who your protector is and what s/he is like! Find someone who will help you to meet them directly. This is your relationship to your protector. You wouldn't bring a friend on a date in order to be the medium between you and your date would you? Nah...
Most everyone I know already knows their protector. Rather, the protector shows up in many ways throughout your earlier life to let you know s/he is there. Let me give a personal example...
Many years ago I was going through a lot of turmoil in my life and sought solace in anything that could really take me out of my present situation and put me somewhere else. This ended up being a fantasy novel series of a dark elf character who escapes his treacherous homeland in the underworld and seeks to find himself in the lands on the surface. Dark elves live to be hundreds of years old, so he quite often spent a lot of time on his own. However, he carried with him a carved figurine of an animal. When he called the name of this figure, an animal would come to the material world from it's astral home and stay with him for certain periods of time. This series has, all in all, about...25-30 books. I read every...single...one of them...in rapid succession.
So what does this have to do with my protector? Well...first of all I could relate myself to the main character. I felt like I was leaving my homeland (present life circumstances) into the vast unknown that lied beyond. Except...I had no companion! So I became intensely interested in this characters astral companion, falling in love with the compassionate nature of the being.
Several years later, after I began training in shamanic journeying and healing practices through the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, I came across my protector. To my astonishment...my protector was the same animal that I read about it so many of those books! Ok...not the same exact character...but the same animal and the same gender. The spirits always let you know that they are with you. So even when I felt completely alone I was always supported by the spirits.
I am not alone in this experience! If you ever decide to meet your protector, you may have a similar experience. My recommendation is this...don't let someone else tell you who your protector is. Find someone who will help you to meet your protector first hand! That way, you are also taught very important ways to interact with your protector whenever you want/need to. Developing deeper relationships with your spirit teachers is a vital aspect of growth in shamanic practice.
The ceremony lasted for about 2.5 hours and, afterwards, I was graciously offered a bed to sleep in for the night in Williamsburg.
Lately, I've been hanging around the library in Traverse City. I know, I know....it is a wonderful city and I should be out exploring! But the comfort of a good chair and a good book in a beautiful library is more appealing at the moment. So I've been spending my days inside, cooped up, devouring pages of books, organizing information for the future, and writing these blogs.
Tonight I am going to be heading out to a meditation/book study group in TC. This group is a part of my Buddhist community in Battle Creek (meaning we all have the same teacher.) I don't think I've met the majority of these folk, so I am pretty excited! For the longest time I did not have a community to learn, practice, and hang with in the Buddhist realms. Unfortunately, I think this is common for many people who identify with this religion at this point. It is beginning to change for many of us.
Stay tuned for my next post on Shamanism and religion!
Cheers!
Manitou Islands!
mmm...well I feel like it has been forever since my last post! A lot has gone on...from the few days I spent hangin' around N.Manitou to my current destination, Traverse City.
I was supposed to head out to the island on a Sunday, as previously stated. But since the weather was really ferocious the ferry was postponed. So I rambled around this small town called Leland until Monday.
The ferry took off around 10am or so and was about a two hour ride, stopping first to let the folks off at S.Manitou. The ride was terribly cold and somewhat wet. So I didn't enjoy that too much. Eventually I started to think and realized that I was sitting in a spot where there was no wind coverage. Moving to a different seat helped a lot. ; )
N.Manitou was absolutely wonderful! The weather was perfect (can't say that for the group who went there before me.) The island was much larger than I anticipated and had a lot of variety for an island. I hiked straight away to the big lake within the island and set up camp on a hilltop overlooking this magnificent scenery. The water was the perfect temperature to take a dip in...so of course I took the opportunity.
After walking about the woods for awhile I came upon a group of gentleman camped out on the south-side of the small lake in order to fish for small-mouth bass. Apparently, this island is one of the (or THE....can't remember which) best places in the world for this type of fishing. I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with one of the members. This man has read many books on Zen/Buddhism, works for bettering animal rights, and is working toward certification for hang-gliding, among other things. Some of the people in this group have been friends for 40+ years. That is absolutely incredible! It says a lot about their character.
I woke up early in the morning and, because of the cloud coverage, thought I was getting a late start. So I hurriedly packed up my gear and headed north. I decided I was going to walk the perimeter of the island. This route was where I met most of the groups. During this early part of the trip, I came across a truck body graveyard consisting of really old trucks that were from Detroit. I didn't expect to see that! The island used to have people living on it, so there are buildings scattered about.
Since I spent so much of my time walking the perimeter, I didn't get to see some of the really cool side-sights like the giant gaping sand pits going down into the earth. How exciting! Had I known it wasn't as late into the day as originally thought, I would've taken more time to see these areas.
All in all, I hiked a little under 27 miles. Half of that was with my pack on. I guess you could say I got a lot of exercise! I walked the entire perimeter of the island. This way, I got a good feel for the layout and see where I would like to spend more time hiking and camping in the future (the southwest side.) The water surrounding the island is beautiful enough to remind you of the vacation hotspots down along the equator! Except for the temperature...it was enough to take the breath out of your lungs while bathing. ; )
I actually made it around the entire island by 5pm. I was whooped! So I set up my tent in the campground where I met the biggest group. They were camping out for their last Senior high school get-together. The entire senior class was under 20 people and everyone hailed from different regions of the country/world. The school was specialized and took a more individually tailored approach to learning...one that probably could have benefited me growing up. They were nice enough to invite me to eat dinner with them. A few of the guys I talked to earlier in the trip.
All in all, everyone that I met was really cool and I enjoyed seeing all of the different people come together for some backcountry experience! I had the opportunity to meet some really unique characters. We were so remote that there weren't even rangers on the island!
So what did I do after that? Well...I drove to TC to sleep on a couch and get a fresh shower and shave. Thanks Irene and Emily! This gave me the rest I needed in preparation for the upcoming ceremony in Leland at Pure Prana Yoga.
I was supposed to head out to the island on a Sunday, as previously stated. But since the weather was really ferocious the ferry was postponed. So I rambled around this small town called Leland until Monday.
The ferry took off around 10am or so and was about a two hour ride, stopping first to let the folks off at S.Manitou. The ride was terribly cold and somewhat wet. So I didn't enjoy that too much. Eventually I started to think and realized that I was sitting in a spot where there was no wind coverage. Moving to a different seat helped a lot. ; )
N.Manitou was absolutely wonderful! The weather was perfect (can't say that for the group who went there before me.) The island was much larger than I anticipated and had a lot of variety for an island. I hiked straight away to the big lake within the island and set up camp on a hilltop overlooking this magnificent scenery. The water was the perfect temperature to take a dip in...so of course I took the opportunity.
After walking about the woods for awhile I came upon a group of gentleman camped out on the south-side of the small lake in order to fish for small-mouth bass. Apparently, this island is one of the (or THE....can't remember which) best places in the world for this type of fishing. I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with one of the members. This man has read many books on Zen/Buddhism, works for bettering animal rights, and is working toward certification for hang-gliding, among other things. Some of the people in this group have been friends for 40+ years. That is absolutely incredible! It says a lot about their character.
I woke up early in the morning and, because of the cloud coverage, thought I was getting a late start. So I hurriedly packed up my gear and headed north. I decided I was going to walk the perimeter of the island. This route was where I met most of the groups. During this early part of the trip, I came across a truck body graveyard consisting of really old trucks that were from Detroit. I didn't expect to see that! The island used to have people living on it, so there are buildings scattered about.
Since I spent so much of my time walking the perimeter, I didn't get to see some of the really cool side-sights like the giant gaping sand pits going down into the earth. How exciting! Had I known it wasn't as late into the day as originally thought, I would've taken more time to see these areas.
All in all, I hiked a little under 27 miles. Half of that was with my pack on. I guess you could say I got a lot of exercise! I walked the entire perimeter of the island. This way, I got a good feel for the layout and see where I would like to spend more time hiking and camping in the future (the southwest side.) The water surrounding the island is beautiful enough to remind you of the vacation hotspots down along the equator! Except for the temperature...it was enough to take the breath out of your lungs while bathing. ; )
I actually made it around the entire island by 5pm. I was whooped! So I set up my tent in the campground where I met the biggest group. They were camping out for their last Senior high school get-together. The entire senior class was under 20 people and everyone hailed from different regions of the country/world. The school was specialized and took a more individually tailored approach to learning...one that probably could have benefited me growing up. They were nice enough to invite me to eat dinner with them. A few of the guys I talked to earlier in the trip.
All in all, everyone that I met was really cool and I enjoyed seeing all of the different people come together for some backcountry experience! I had the opportunity to meet some really unique characters. We were so remote that there weren't even rangers on the island!
So what did I do after that? Well...I drove to TC to sleep on a couch and get a fresh shower and shave. Thanks Irene and Emily! This gave me the rest I needed in preparation for the upcoming ceremony in Leland at Pure Prana Yoga.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Off to North Manitou I go!
Hello again!
Technically, I should be in North Manitou right now, soaking up the beauty of an island uninhabited. However, the winds have been a bit strong and they postponed the trip until Monday. So I have been filling my time until then. I've done quite a lot of socializing with people in the area compared to other areas.
One of the first places I ventured to when I arrived in town where I met people was a small art exhibit. They had beautiful artwork, followed by free snack foods and wine. Although I wasn't hungry, I made my way for a little bit of wine after perusing the art on the walls and it was here that I struck up a conversation with the artsy looking fellow who was serving. Artsy was right! He had some artwork up in the exhibit. I remember being struck by the beauty of the Italian city in his work before I knew it was his. It wasn't long until I happened to meet another very kind gentleman. We talked a lot about various things but, mostly, talked about his daughter. She also happens to be a traveler. She is currently in one of the southeastern states working in some fashion with birds. She also has met the Dalai Lama. From here I met some other kind folks and, eventually, made my way out of the exhibit and strolled along the streets.
I had been walking about the town asking locals where I can find the hangout for young people. I wanted to do a bit of mingling with my own age group. Most everyone pointed me to a restaurant called the Bluebird. Although I did go there for a bit, I did not see many people my age and left shortly. Tired, I parked my car in the lot for the small beach and laid down to sleep.
Not long into my un-restful snoozing I heard two woman talking outside of my car..."Is someone sleeping in that car?!" I perked up right away and, since I knew that I had been seen, poked my head up and said yes. They invited me down to a beach fire where I met some people my age. From the conversations I had with people earlier in the day I pretty much assumed this wasn't happening. So I was very glad this happened! We talked about a lot of things, mainly travel, spirituality, and shamanism/mask work. This made me very happy since, more often than not, anyone who is sincerely interested in this work tends to be in their 50's or older.
When I awoke the next morning I bought my ticket for the Manitou ferry and walked amongst the small shops. There are a bunch of old shacks down along the channel that feeds out into the lake. They are very well taken care of since they are part of the history of the town. Most of them are converted to shops. They look very small from the outside...but boy are they big on the inside! I walked into the hat shop and struck up a conversation with the lady behind the desk. Once she found out I am living out of my car, she told me all kinds of interesting stories from her travels. It sounds as though she started traveling in this way a little bit later in the game (though it is never too late for the average person, since I see all age groups traveling in this way.) Gosh...I must have been down there for an hour or so...I can't remember. But it was very fun. I bought a wide brimmed straw hat to cover my face in the shade (one that my brother would like) and, at her advice, headed north to the tip of the peninsula.
On my way I stopped at a park that...doesn't appear to be on google maps. I spent a good hour or two walking the trails and ended up walking about 5 miles total. This is one of my favorite smaller state parks in MI so far. I was taken back to the times I would hike out in PA with my cousin Josh, since the terrain looked very similar. I love walkin' the trails with him and his dogs and hope I get the opportunity to do this when I head back home, since I will be passing through PA.
Next stop...Leelanau State Park! This place....was absolutely beautiful. It is a preserved lighthouse that use to be in commission back in the day. I walked among the many rocks at the very tip and sat my butt down and watched seagulls fly about looking for a meal. When I was done I happened to see a white-cedar tree that was very old and very beautiful. Cedar is used quite often in the sweatlodge ceremonies back home...so I have a beautiful connection to cedar trees. I asked the spirit if I could take some leaves to make for tea. So I have that to look forward to today.
Not much else happened. Today is Sunday and things seem kind of relaxed right about now. I am really turning the gears in my head when it comes to making this next chapter of my life more suitable for the long-term. So much so that I have decided to end my trip in October and make my way back to Grand Rapids. Once there, I will be working between 50-75 hours (hopefully around 60) a week. This is something that I really, really dislike and it will probably be a cold, wintery hell for me. But I feel that I must do it in order to get myself off on the right foot.
In previous years, I have always worked the minimum hours necessary in order to work on the things that were more important to me and, eventually, more important for our culture and our world in times to come. So I spent all of my time in the endeavors that I do now. Mainly, meditation, shamanic practices, and healing work. On top of that, I have done a lot of reading/studying with currents in religion, spirituality, and philosophy and have done a lot of thinking and observing these trends in the world around me. However, now that I see the path that lies ahead of me very clearly, I am willing to do whatever I need to do to make it happen. So, suffering through the deprivations of working in a field that I don't care much for isn't so bad. I'll just have a calendar marking off, day by day, the days until I don't have to do it anymore. :)
I will still be doing ceremony during this time. I am planning on twice a month, on Saturdays, around MI, OH, IN, IL. Mostly places that are within a few hours driving distance from Grand Rapids. If you know of someplace that may be interested, please let me know! When the time comes near, I will also be sending out information to people who are interested in becoming an assistant. Basically, I would be looking for someone to help me during the ceremony. I am not looking to find people who want to apprentice with me.
I was planning on going over the next few usages of religion and how they pertain to shamanism and mask work...but this has been pretty long. When I get back from N.Manitou I will continue with those definitions and pump them out so we can get to other topics. So expect some heavy stuff upon my return. ; )
Instead, I will talk a little bit more about what I am working on while on this trip. My book. For a few years now I have been wanting to sit down and write a book about shamanism. Mostly, shamanism looked at through an AQAL framework. So, if you haven't guessed it already, many of the articles I am writing here will eventually be published in this book! It is a call to look at, with a stronger lense, what is going on within shamanism. I will explain in more detail the integral framework later on. But for now, I am beginning with what is known as an UL quadrant, Zone #2 perspective. But in the book I will also work with UL, Zone #1 perspectives. Once these are fairly fleshed out I will begin writing other books about shamanism within the other quadrants so much as I am able to. Again...anything that I talk about I will be going over at some point in this blog. So don't worry if you have no idea what I mean when I say AQAL, zone #1, or zone #2 at this point. Understanding the AQAL framework is pretty difficult in the beginning (once you get the hang of it though...)
Writing through the AQAL is terribly difficult. Especially since there isn't much out there to look at with these two topics (AQAL and shamanism.) So I will be probably be banging my head against the wall a lot. ; ) Hopefully the people in the library won't care too much....
Last but not least: I want to sincerely thank all of you out there reading my blog. There are many more people reading this than I expected at this point. I know quite well that there are many other things out there you could be filling your time with. So I am grateful to have you following what I am doing. Especially since so much of it is...largely unclear to you at this point. I kindly remind you with my mantra that this will take awhile. So save my websites somewhere. It doesn't matter if you read every post the week that I post. You could put this on the cyber shelves for months at a time at this point. But please, if you feel some kind of connection or pull to what I am doing, keep returning and reading everything that I write. See the progression of how my personal life experience unfolds. This subjective account will eventually play a role in the UL, Zone #1 perspectives and catalogs the process. Even though I am working largely through shamanism and Buddhism, this is really working with larger currents outside of these two forms and asking you to step into methodologies that will help you to understand what reality is on an experiential level. Not just theoretical. No beliefs...no "this is what I think." Rather, this is what I see after performing this injunction.
The movements that are going on today are immensely important. The movements with Monsanto, human rights, etc. To me, I see them as already solved and am looking down the road to what lies next. If you follow this work for long enough, You WILL have your entire world flipped upside down. Quite the statement isn't it?
Cheers!!
Technically, I should be in North Manitou right now, soaking up the beauty of an island uninhabited. However, the winds have been a bit strong and they postponed the trip until Monday. So I have been filling my time until then. I've done quite a lot of socializing with people in the area compared to other areas.
One of the first places I ventured to when I arrived in town where I met people was a small art exhibit. They had beautiful artwork, followed by free snack foods and wine. Although I wasn't hungry, I made my way for a little bit of wine after perusing the art on the walls and it was here that I struck up a conversation with the artsy looking fellow who was serving. Artsy was right! He had some artwork up in the exhibit. I remember being struck by the beauty of the Italian city in his work before I knew it was his. It wasn't long until I happened to meet another very kind gentleman. We talked a lot about various things but, mostly, talked about his daughter. She also happens to be a traveler. She is currently in one of the southeastern states working in some fashion with birds. She also has met the Dalai Lama. From here I met some other kind folks and, eventually, made my way out of the exhibit and strolled along the streets.
I had been walking about the town asking locals where I can find the hangout for young people. I wanted to do a bit of mingling with my own age group. Most everyone pointed me to a restaurant called the Bluebird. Although I did go there for a bit, I did not see many people my age and left shortly. Tired, I parked my car in the lot for the small beach and laid down to sleep.
Not long into my un-restful snoozing I heard two woman talking outside of my car..."Is someone sleeping in that car?!" I perked up right away and, since I knew that I had been seen, poked my head up and said yes. They invited me down to a beach fire where I met some people my age. From the conversations I had with people earlier in the day I pretty much assumed this wasn't happening. So I was very glad this happened! We talked about a lot of things, mainly travel, spirituality, and shamanism/mask work. This made me very happy since, more often than not, anyone who is sincerely interested in this work tends to be in their 50's or older.
When I awoke the next morning I bought my ticket for the Manitou ferry and walked amongst the small shops. There are a bunch of old shacks down along the channel that feeds out into the lake. They are very well taken care of since they are part of the history of the town. Most of them are converted to shops. They look very small from the outside...but boy are they big on the inside! I walked into the hat shop and struck up a conversation with the lady behind the desk. Once she found out I am living out of my car, she told me all kinds of interesting stories from her travels. It sounds as though she started traveling in this way a little bit later in the game (though it is never too late for the average person, since I see all age groups traveling in this way.) Gosh...I must have been down there for an hour or so...I can't remember. But it was very fun. I bought a wide brimmed straw hat to cover my face in the shade (one that my brother would like) and, at her advice, headed north to the tip of the peninsula.
On my way I stopped at a park that...doesn't appear to be on google maps. I spent a good hour or two walking the trails and ended up walking about 5 miles total. This is one of my favorite smaller state parks in MI so far. I was taken back to the times I would hike out in PA with my cousin Josh, since the terrain looked very similar. I love walkin' the trails with him and his dogs and hope I get the opportunity to do this when I head back home, since I will be passing through PA.
Next stop...Leelanau State Park! This place....was absolutely beautiful. It is a preserved lighthouse that use to be in commission back in the day. I walked among the many rocks at the very tip and sat my butt down and watched seagulls fly about looking for a meal. When I was done I happened to see a white-cedar tree that was very old and very beautiful. Cedar is used quite often in the sweatlodge ceremonies back home...so I have a beautiful connection to cedar trees. I asked the spirit if I could take some leaves to make for tea. So I have that to look forward to today.
Not much else happened. Today is Sunday and things seem kind of relaxed right about now. I am really turning the gears in my head when it comes to making this next chapter of my life more suitable for the long-term. So much so that I have decided to end my trip in October and make my way back to Grand Rapids. Once there, I will be working between 50-75 hours (hopefully around 60) a week. This is something that I really, really dislike and it will probably be a cold, wintery hell for me. But I feel that I must do it in order to get myself off on the right foot.
In previous years, I have always worked the minimum hours necessary in order to work on the things that were more important to me and, eventually, more important for our culture and our world in times to come. So I spent all of my time in the endeavors that I do now. Mainly, meditation, shamanic practices, and healing work. On top of that, I have done a lot of reading/studying with currents in religion, spirituality, and philosophy and have done a lot of thinking and observing these trends in the world around me. However, now that I see the path that lies ahead of me very clearly, I am willing to do whatever I need to do to make it happen. So, suffering through the deprivations of working in a field that I don't care much for isn't so bad. I'll just have a calendar marking off, day by day, the days until I don't have to do it anymore. :)
I will still be doing ceremony during this time. I am planning on twice a month, on Saturdays, around MI, OH, IN, IL. Mostly places that are within a few hours driving distance from Grand Rapids. If you know of someplace that may be interested, please let me know! When the time comes near, I will also be sending out information to people who are interested in becoming an assistant. Basically, I would be looking for someone to help me during the ceremony. I am not looking to find people who want to apprentice with me.
I was planning on going over the next few usages of religion and how they pertain to shamanism and mask work...but this has been pretty long. When I get back from N.Manitou I will continue with those definitions and pump them out so we can get to other topics. So expect some heavy stuff upon my return. ; )
Instead, I will talk a little bit more about what I am working on while on this trip. My book. For a few years now I have been wanting to sit down and write a book about shamanism. Mostly, shamanism looked at through an AQAL framework. So, if you haven't guessed it already, many of the articles I am writing here will eventually be published in this book! It is a call to look at, with a stronger lense, what is going on within shamanism. I will explain in more detail the integral framework later on. But for now, I am beginning with what is known as an UL quadrant, Zone #2 perspective. But in the book I will also work with UL, Zone #1 perspectives. Once these are fairly fleshed out I will begin writing other books about shamanism within the other quadrants so much as I am able to. Again...anything that I talk about I will be going over at some point in this blog. So don't worry if you have no idea what I mean when I say AQAL, zone #1, or zone #2 at this point. Understanding the AQAL framework is pretty difficult in the beginning (once you get the hang of it though...)
Writing through the AQAL is terribly difficult. Especially since there isn't much out there to look at with these two topics (AQAL and shamanism.) So I will be probably be banging my head against the wall a lot. ; ) Hopefully the people in the library won't care too much....
Last but not least: I want to sincerely thank all of you out there reading my blog. There are many more people reading this than I expected at this point. I know quite well that there are many other things out there you could be filling your time with. So I am grateful to have you following what I am doing. Especially since so much of it is...largely unclear to you at this point. I kindly remind you with my mantra that this will take awhile. So save my websites somewhere. It doesn't matter if you read every post the week that I post. You could put this on the cyber shelves for months at a time at this point. But please, if you feel some kind of connection or pull to what I am doing, keep returning and reading everything that I write. See the progression of how my personal life experience unfolds. This subjective account will eventually play a role in the UL, Zone #1 perspectives and catalogs the process. Even though I am working largely through shamanism and Buddhism, this is really working with larger currents outside of these two forms and asking you to step into methodologies that will help you to understand what reality is on an experiential level. Not just theoretical. No beliefs...no "this is what I think." Rather, this is what I see after performing this injunction.
The movements that are going on today are immensely important. The movements with Monsanto, human rights, etc. To me, I see them as already solved and am looking down the road to what lies next. If you follow this work for long enough, You WILL have your entire world flipped upside down. Quite the statement isn't it?
Cheers!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)