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
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