Howdy!
Last time we connected I mentioned that I was about to head into the ceremony. Well...now I am finished!
The day of the ceremony I had some time to kill before I made my way to the grounds. so I figured I would go for another hike up Mt. Blue. On the way to the mountain, I happened upon a trail that led to a different mountain, Mount Tumbledown.
I didn't quite know what I was getting myself into...but I enjoyed the challenge and I especially enjoyed the scenery.
I actually started out my hike by going up the trail that people walk down (the easy trail) and down the trail people go up (the difficult trail.) Yea yea...always have to walk against the norm (story of my life.)
The top of the mountain had a beautiful lake where people could swim, fish, etc. and plenty of ground where people could camp out for a night or so. On the way down there was even something called the chute. A small little hole where people had to throw their backpacks up before climbing it themselves. It was a tight squeeze...and I had to go down it! A young backpacker told me stories about climbing up through the chute as massive amounts of water made way down through the chute. Scary!
Eventually I met Dee, Charo, and Najeh at the local market in order to drive up together. This place was waaaayyyy up in the mountains. I am surprised my little baby hatchback made it up there (a few loud clunks along the way won't hurt too much...).
I couldn't tell you how many people were there total. My guess is around 50-60. They had a huge outdoor kitchen where we prepared food for the community. Tents were strewn about the woods in order to sleep in the shade. Most of the time people would sleep during the day and stay up during the night for the dance. Kids ran around playing with all the other little ones (myself included) while the adults would tend to their chores or hang out in the shade. All in all, it was a great time. We carried with us the power that the women moondancers provided through their sacrifice and commitment to honoring themselves and the larger community. They would dance at night with the moon. Three of the nights I sat just outside the circle with my sleeping bag wrapped around me, completely taken into the calm-abiding teachings that this ceremony threw my way.
I spent a lot of my time helping and learning out in the kitchen with one of the grandmothers. She was sweet as could be and said that she would want her son to be like me (if she had one) and to tell my mother to be proud of who I am.
Surprisingly, I did not sweat that much. If I wasn't helping in the kitchen you would find me playing with the kids, swimming in the nearby mountain stream, or talking to one of the many kind folk that attended.
All in all, it was a very beautiful ceremony. I did have one major event take place while I was there.
My Aunt Linda passed away. I was supposed to visit her in Indiana...five or so days from now. I knew that she didn't have long to live, but I didn't think she was going to pass so quickly (I was initially told a month or so.) Both my parents sent messages my way and told me she was close to going and to help her out if I could. I was torn between leaving the ceremony and driving straight to Indiana or finishing the ceremony. In the end, I stuck with the latter. I entered into the next sweat (the only one I did) and told the spirits to give her a message. I asked them to let her know how grateful I am for having her in my life. She was my first spiritual mentor. I looked up to her. She was intelligent, good-natured, hard-working, and a good storyteller. On top of that, I told her that she can give me any pain that she needs to and that I will bear it for her. I'm not sure if anything was sent my way...but she died a few hours later and the spirits confirmed that she is in a good place.
I'll still make my way to her house in order to help my family in any way possible. On top of that, she helped to set up a ceremony in the town where she lives.
I left the ceremony and began driving. There was an estimated 17 hours of driving through the back-roads between ME and PA. I would say that Vermont is by far one of my more favorite areas in the states to visit (the others are what I have seen of the four corner states and MI.)
It turns out that my brother feels the same way about Vermont, as he drove through it just a few weeks back.
New York has some beautiful country too. I thoroughly enjoy the lakes with a backdrop of small, steep mountains.
Along the way I stopped at a gas station/restaurant and ordered a burger. When I walked outside a native man struck up a conversation with me. He saw my drum/sign and became excited, since they make drums and other native spiritual items. He made the offer to come join him and his wife back at their cabin. They took me right in and gave me food, drink, stories, and good conversation. Actually, I am now heading to a stone-tool craft show where I will sleep in a teepee...my first time!! I am looking forward to what else our interactions bring. For those of you who don't know, I have been keeping an eye out for a new drum for several months now.
Out of curiosity, I texted my friend Dee and asked her for the name of the Seneca Medicine Man that she is going to visit on her way home. It turns out that Tweedy and the Medicine Man know each other! How crazy is that!
Such a small, small world.
There isn't much else to report at the moment...
Oh! Guess what?
I shaved my head! I have officially joined the ranks of my Buddhist friends and bald-headed family members. I took a couple of the locks up to the top of the mountain where the moondance was held and offered them. That felt nice to do.
Sooo soft.....and cold....but I like it. More than I thought I would. Why did I do it? Well, I had a growing question in my mind as to whether or not I should do it. When I can't decide something, I ask someone else to say yes or no based on what they feel they should say (they don't know the reason.) I did this and received a yes. So I did. In a Wal-mart parking lot...at 10pm...with people driving by looking at me. It was fun.
About one week and I will be back home!
Hope you all are well.
Cheers!
Justin
Friday, August 23, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Entering the Sacred
Tomorrow, at about 3pm, I will make my way into the sacred grounds for the Danza De La Luna ceremony.
I don't know what to expect. All I know is that this is a dance for the women, for the feminine. The men are there to support their journey and handle all the mundane tasks.
In looking back I can remember more than a few times where the coming lessons were intuitied and, as a response, feared. This one seems to be similar. I find myself questioning whether I should go or move on, despite my commitments to help. The first time this feeling happened to me, almost four years ago, I opted to back out from being the recipient of the healing and letting someone else take my place. Thankfully, I had a teacher who saw beyond my immediate needs and knew what was going on. I remained as the recipient and ended up receiving one of the more important healing sessions of the last several years. One that is directly related to the practice and vision that I have today. You could even say it was the first that is directly related to the present connection that I have with my ancestors.
Now that I know what that feels like, I can recognize when similar situations arise and respond appropriately.
I think back to the many sweat lodges I have been to over the years and the way in which each elder presented different experiences and ways of working with the spirits. My mentor Toby, for example, would pour really brief, but physically demanding, sweats. They would be very hot and hard on the body. Much like the sun beating down on you while you are working outside. This was my first sweat and was what initially attracted me towards the sweat lodge traditions. Our other elder, Celia, would pour sweats of a very different nature. They would be very mild when it came to physical exertion. The emotional exertion however, would be much more demanding. In the end I always found it more difficult to work through her sweats.
This, I feel, is what is going to be arising for me as a helper. An analogy that explains the way I feel when I am in her sweats is this: Love until it hurts...and it usually really hurts.
After the Moon-dance my trip is pretty much over! As much as I love traveling I am ready to be home for awhile. I'll be making two stops on my way home. One in Pennsylvania to visit family, and one in Indiana for both a ceremony and a visit to another family member. My Aunt in Indiana is going through a really rough period in her life. She was my first spiritual mentor when I was seeking help and she gave me a proper foundation for spiritual development. Visiting and being with her in her time of need is but one of the small ways in which I can show her my gratitude.
I've spent the bulk of my time just hanging out in the small towns that I've randomly come across. I spent some time in Belfast and then made my way down to Rockland. While I was there I met a lovely family that took me in and offered me dinner and a place to stay in both their camper and in their cabin. So I took to both and thoroughly enjoyed my time at the cabin. I was also a guest to a black and white movie performance in the old theatre in Rockland and was shown some of the old Schooners in the town harbor.
For the past four days or so I have been in Farmington, ME. This city is just a few miles away from the ceremony and is a college town. So there are some neat places here. I've been spending most of my time at the public library unproductively watching episodes of Dexter, wallowing in the strange funk that I had been in for almost two weeks (It is over finally!)
Yesterday I happened to make it out to the Mount Blue State park for a beautiful hike to the top of the mountain. The hike was physically demanding - A straight hike 1.6 miles up to the top, with small rocks and boulders scattered about on the pathway. Along the way I found an old abandoned house and streams of fresh drinking water (delightful!) I met plenty of nice families and even offered to take many of their pictures for them. The view at the top was magnificent! I have some pictures to post through facebook (again, they will posted once I get home.)
After the hike I drove back to Farmington and walked around the downtown area, eventually walking into a restaurant and grabbing a drink to watch some live music. Afterwards I had a short conversation with Uel, a worker at one of the nearby shops.
Today I have been sitting in a coffee shop waiting for 4pm to roll around. There is a small group of musicians playing somewhere around here for a couple of hours and I would like to catch them. Other than that I will probably do a lot of reading.
My current reads are the Tibetan Book of the Dead, Emotional Intelligence, People-Centered Organizations, and Non-profit for Dummies. The former is a pretty well known text that provides instruction material for spiritual practitioners to engage in practices that simulate the experiences of death in order to prepare one for actual death and dissipation of the gross material body. The next book is a pretty simple read and is based on Howard Gardner and his development of multiple intelligences. Coleman, the writer of the book, displays research data that suggests emotional intelligence helps to offer a better view of what constitutes intelligence, which is basically the development or two or more intelligences in a healthy manner, compared to the older perspective of intelligence resting solely within the logico-mathematical developmental line. Some of his other books include research into other lines, such as the social/interpersonal lines.
This research will end up being an important aspect to my future writings, showing how mask work helps with the development of some lines and not others.
When I say that I will be researching the UL quadrant of the AQAL from a zone #2 perspective involving states, stages, types, lines, this would fit under the lines category. Other lines can be ego-identity, aesthetic, moral, interpersonal, etc.
Even though I mention the book, don't expect it to come out next year or anything. Important enough as the book will be, I have other obligations set before me. Working and setting up the non-profit are my next two obligations, followed by building/converting the van and continuing to connect with communities. Once I have those set in motion I will begin to dive into research/writing.
That is all for now!
Cheers,
Justin
I don't know what to expect. All I know is that this is a dance for the women, for the feminine. The men are there to support their journey and handle all the mundane tasks.
In looking back I can remember more than a few times where the coming lessons were intuitied and, as a response, feared. This one seems to be similar. I find myself questioning whether I should go or move on, despite my commitments to help. The first time this feeling happened to me, almost four years ago, I opted to back out from being the recipient of the healing and letting someone else take my place. Thankfully, I had a teacher who saw beyond my immediate needs and knew what was going on. I remained as the recipient and ended up receiving one of the more important healing sessions of the last several years. One that is directly related to the practice and vision that I have today. You could even say it was the first that is directly related to the present connection that I have with my ancestors.
Now that I know what that feels like, I can recognize when similar situations arise and respond appropriately.
I think back to the many sweat lodges I have been to over the years and the way in which each elder presented different experiences and ways of working with the spirits. My mentor Toby, for example, would pour really brief, but physically demanding, sweats. They would be very hot and hard on the body. Much like the sun beating down on you while you are working outside. This was my first sweat and was what initially attracted me towards the sweat lodge traditions. Our other elder, Celia, would pour sweats of a very different nature. They would be very mild when it came to physical exertion. The emotional exertion however, would be much more demanding. In the end I always found it more difficult to work through her sweats.
This, I feel, is what is going to be arising for me as a helper. An analogy that explains the way I feel when I am in her sweats is this: Love until it hurts...and it usually really hurts.
After the Moon-dance my trip is pretty much over! As much as I love traveling I am ready to be home for awhile. I'll be making two stops on my way home. One in Pennsylvania to visit family, and one in Indiana for both a ceremony and a visit to another family member. My Aunt in Indiana is going through a really rough period in her life. She was my first spiritual mentor when I was seeking help and she gave me a proper foundation for spiritual development. Visiting and being with her in her time of need is but one of the small ways in which I can show her my gratitude.
I've spent the bulk of my time just hanging out in the small towns that I've randomly come across. I spent some time in Belfast and then made my way down to Rockland. While I was there I met a lovely family that took me in and offered me dinner and a place to stay in both their camper and in their cabin. So I took to both and thoroughly enjoyed my time at the cabin. I was also a guest to a black and white movie performance in the old theatre in Rockland and was shown some of the old Schooners in the town harbor.
For the past four days or so I have been in Farmington, ME. This city is just a few miles away from the ceremony and is a college town. So there are some neat places here. I've been spending most of my time at the public library unproductively watching episodes of Dexter, wallowing in the strange funk that I had been in for almost two weeks (It is over finally!)
Yesterday I happened to make it out to the Mount Blue State park for a beautiful hike to the top of the mountain. The hike was physically demanding - A straight hike 1.6 miles up to the top, with small rocks and boulders scattered about on the pathway. Along the way I found an old abandoned house and streams of fresh drinking water (delightful!) I met plenty of nice families and even offered to take many of their pictures for them. The view at the top was magnificent! I have some pictures to post through facebook (again, they will posted once I get home.)
After the hike I drove back to Farmington and walked around the downtown area, eventually walking into a restaurant and grabbing a drink to watch some live music. Afterwards I had a short conversation with Uel, a worker at one of the nearby shops.
Today I have been sitting in a coffee shop waiting for 4pm to roll around. There is a small group of musicians playing somewhere around here for a couple of hours and I would like to catch them. Other than that I will probably do a lot of reading.
My current reads are the Tibetan Book of the Dead, Emotional Intelligence, People-Centered Organizations, and Non-profit for Dummies. The former is a pretty well known text that provides instruction material for spiritual practitioners to engage in practices that simulate the experiences of death in order to prepare one for actual death and dissipation of the gross material body. The next book is a pretty simple read and is based on Howard Gardner and his development of multiple intelligences. Coleman, the writer of the book, displays research data that suggests emotional intelligence helps to offer a better view of what constitutes intelligence, which is basically the development or two or more intelligences in a healthy manner, compared to the older perspective of intelligence resting solely within the logico-mathematical developmental line. Some of his other books include research into other lines, such as the social/interpersonal lines.
This research will end up being an important aspect to my future writings, showing how mask work helps with the development of some lines and not others.
When I say that I will be researching the UL quadrant of the AQAL from a zone #2 perspective involving states, stages, types, lines, this would fit under the lines category. Other lines can be ego-identity, aesthetic, moral, interpersonal, etc.
Even though I mention the book, don't expect it to come out next year or anything. Important enough as the book will be, I have other obligations set before me. Working and setting up the non-profit are my next two obligations, followed by building/converting the van and continuing to connect with communities. Once I have those set in motion I will begin to dive into research/writing.
That is all for now!
Cheers,
Justin
Monday, August 5, 2013
Back in the Maineland
Howdy!
Amber and I parted ways in Halifax. Our adventures were great, and we got to know each other very well. Our time together was pretty much as expected with two people vagabonding together. You have the good times and the bad times all wrapped up in the lifestyle of being around each other for nearly 24/7. Our situation was unique. For two years she was looking to meet a shaman. She was lined up to meet one the week after I left Barrie too. However, we came together before that happened. I gave her the opportunity to travel with me for two weeks or so. We didn't know a lick about each other. My advice, which is how my Buddhist teacher often presents an option to you, was this: Don't do it unless you have to. So she packed her suitcase and came on the road with me.
By the time we arrived in Halifax I was ready to part ways. I spend most of my time by myself, so this was a big lesson for me. It is always easier to think that you have a strong character and a good sense of communication if you only have to deal with people and the world in certain ways. I always give myself the credit of being a person that can communicate well, or at least try to with the best of intentions. That only works well enough for me if I have a reprieve...which I hardly had. So I enjoyed the growth experience.
We had a little difficulty in parting ways. We ended with an Indian dinner (Amber's treat) and a glass of wine. We both know we were brought together, but neither of us are entirely sure why. So it will be interesting to see what comes of it in the future.
I felt the need to drive though, so drive I did. I spent no time in Halifax. This made me somewhat sad, since there are many thriving Buddhist communities there. It will have to wait until next time though.
On I went up to New Brunswick. I was heading towards Maine and decided to sleep an hour or so away from the border. So I found some nice country and pulled off for the night. I woke up to deer grazing off in the distance. It was really nice.
In the morning I had the idea pop into my head to work. I wanted to get my hands dirty. To use my body for something. This is how the hostel came into being...I woke up with a thought. When I pulled over to a gas station, I asked the lady inside if she knew of any work. She did not. So on I drove. A little ways away, in Edmunds, I was driving along the Coastal one and felt inclined to turn my head and look back. As I did, I saw a sign for a farm and it lit up for me. So I turned around and drove into the farm.
The first people I came across were Aaron and Molly. Molly works on the farm with her partner James. James in a Soto Zen practitioner and has received Jukai. It was nice to run into a fellow Soto practitioner on my travels. Aaron ended up being the guy who ran the farm. He is young, intelligent, and full of farm-working vigor. He went to school for philosophy. Not being a scholar, he emphasized the ability to ask the questions as the main thing he walked away with. He quickly took me in and showed me some things I could do around the farm. I intended for a one night stay, but stayed for the weekend.
This farm is a bicentennial farm that has remained within the same family lineage right from the get-go. I believe they have been around for a lot longer than 200 years though. His family was originally given 10,000 acres of land. Nowadays they own 1,600. This farm is an Organic farm and they produce meat, dairy, and vegetables...I think I covered it all.
There is a rich history that I could not even begin to re-count for fear of inaccuracy. Needless to say it was a very beautiful part of my trip. I milked cows, caught chicken, fed cattle, scythed milk thistle, among other things. I even became a part of there history by doing some shamanic work on the farm. I don't think I have touched upon the shamanic sessions I have come across during the past few weeks...but they have happened. In places that I did not suspect either. They have all been very interesting.
One night Aaron and I skipped stones out on the bay while both his son and his daughter played around us with their dog. We were also in the company of three young travelers. I believe all of them were from Spain? Only two lived there though? I don't quite remember. We weren't able to say good-bye before they left. If you are reading this I hope you are well!
I feel as though I made some friends on that farm. Next time I am in Maine I will be heading back there for a visit. I hope the years between our next joining brings them health and prosperity.
I also drank a TON of raw milk. I love that stuff. It feels really good to drink too. Most lactose intolerance actually comes from the homogenization process. I can tell the difference.
If anyone is interested in checking them out they are: Tide Mill Farm, Edmunds, ME. They don't do any WWOOFing opportunities anymore. But they are a lovely bunch and have great produce.
Last night as I was driving I came across a Wal-Mart. This was good because I desperately needed an oil change. They were closed and I had to wait until morning. I did meet three young travelers that were traveling in a way beyond what I have done. Two have lived on the road continuously for three years, while the other has been for two. They had a dog and a cat with them too. Nothing but some packs and each other. Intense!
So I slept for the night in a parking lot with more camper vans than I had ever seen before (due to Bar Harbor.) While there I also met a lovely older man whom I ran into again way down the road at Fort Knox. Yes, Fort Knox. There is also one in Maine. The original one. They are both named after the same guy too. I took a ton of pictures. I also met a couple who gave me some useful information that I will write down here so I don't forget. I can take a cargo van to any camper retail shop and they can help me do conversions. That will be helpful for me.
I am currently in some beautiful little library in some small town on the coast of Maine. I am not doing too much since I am strapped down pretty tight on my funds because of the lengthy detour through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. So far, my feeling is that I like Nova Scotia more so than Maine. But I will wait until I give the place a fair chance...which may be on my next trip out here.
I'm not sure what adventures await me. Time and time again I am thrown a left hook when it comes to expectations. The stories that I have read about with travelers and unique situations is happening to me. Each different section being another adventure in and of itself. I cannot deny how much the experience of traveling has, and will continue to, change my life.
Ciao!
Justin
Amber and I parted ways in Halifax. Our adventures were great, and we got to know each other very well. Our time together was pretty much as expected with two people vagabonding together. You have the good times and the bad times all wrapped up in the lifestyle of being around each other for nearly 24/7. Our situation was unique. For two years she was looking to meet a shaman. She was lined up to meet one the week after I left Barrie too. However, we came together before that happened. I gave her the opportunity to travel with me for two weeks or so. We didn't know a lick about each other. My advice, which is how my Buddhist teacher often presents an option to you, was this: Don't do it unless you have to. So she packed her suitcase and came on the road with me.
By the time we arrived in Halifax I was ready to part ways. I spend most of my time by myself, so this was a big lesson for me. It is always easier to think that you have a strong character and a good sense of communication if you only have to deal with people and the world in certain ways. I always give myself the credit of being a person that can communicate well, or at least try to with the best of intentions. That only works well enough for me if I have a reprieve...which I hardly had. So I enjoyed the growth experience.
We had a little difficulty in parting ways. We ended with an Indian dinner (Amber's treat) and a glass of wine. We both know we were brought together, but neither of us are entirely sure why. So it will be interesting to see what comes of it in the future.
I felt the need to drive though, so drive I did. I spent no time in Halifax. This made me somewhat sad, since there are many thriving Buddhist communities there. It will have to wait until next time though.
On I went up to New Brunswick. I was heading towards Maine and decided to sleep an hour or so away from the border. So I found some nice country and pulled off for the night. I woke up to deer grazing off in the distance. It was really nice.
In the morning I had the idea pop into my head to work. I wanted to get my hands dirty. To use my body for something. This is how the hostel came into being...I woke up with a thought. When I pulled over to a gas station, I asked the lady inside if she knew of any work. She did not. So on I drove. A little ways away, in Edmunds, I was driving along the Coastal one and felt inclined to turn my head and look back. As I did, I saw a sign for a farm and it lit up for me. So I turned around and drove into the farm.
The first people I came across were Aaron and Molly. Molly works on the farm with her partner James. James in a Soto Zen practitioner and has received Jukai. It was nice to run into a fellow Soto practitioner on my travels. Aaron ended up being the guy who ran the farm. He is young, intelligent, and full of farm-working vigor. He went to school for philosophy. Not being a scholar, he emphasized the ability to ask the questions as the main thing he walked away with. He quickly took me in and showed me some things I could do around the farm. I intended for a one night stay, but stayed for the weekend.
This farm is a bicentennial farm that has remained within the same family lineage right from the get-go. I believe they have been around for a lot longer than 200 years though. His family was originally given 10,000 acres of land. Nowadays they own 1,600. This farm is an Organic farm and they produce meat, dairy, and vegetables...I think I covered it all.
There is a rich history that I could not even begin to re-count for fear of inaccuracy. Needless to say it was a very beautiful part of my trip. I milked cows, caught chicken, fed cattle, scythed milk thistle, among other things. I even became a part of there history by doing some shamanic work on the farm. I don't think I have touched upon the shamanic sessions I have come across during the past few weeks...but they have happened. In places that I did not suspect either. They have all been very interesting.
One night Aaron and I skipped stones out on the bay while both his son and his daughter played around us with their dog. We were also in the company of three young travelers. I believe all of them were from Spain? Only two lived there though? I don't quite remember. We weren't able to say good-bye before they left. If you are reading this I hope you are well!
I feel as though I made some friends on that farm. Next time I am in Maine I will be heading back there for a visit. I hope the years between our next joining brings them health and prosperity.
I also drank a TON of raw milk. I love that stuff. It feels really good to drink too. Most lactose intolerance actually comes from the homogenization process. I can tell the difference.
If anyone is interested in checking them out they are: Tide Mill Farm, Edmunds, ME. They don't do any WWOOFing opportunities anymore. But they are a lovely bunch and have great produce.
Last night as I was driving I came across a Wal-Mart. This was good because I desperately needed an oil change. They were closed and I had to wait until morning. I did meet three young travelers that were traveling in a way beyond what I have done. Two have lived on the road continuously for three years, while the other has been for two. They had a dog and a cat with them too. Nothing but some packs and each other. Intense!
So I slept for the night in a parking lot with more camper vans than I had ever seen before (due to Bar Harbor.) While there I also met a lovely older man whom I ran into again way down the road at Fort Knox. Yes, Fort Knox. There is also one in Maine. The original one. They are both named after the same guy too. I took a ton of pictures. I also met a couple who gave me some useful information that I will write down here so I don't forget. I can take a cargo van to any camper retail shop and they can help me do conversions. That will be helpful for me.
I am currently in some beautiful little library in some small town on the coast of Maine. I am not doing too much since I am strapped down pretty tight on my funds because of the lengthy detour through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. So far, my feeling is that I like Nova Scotia more so than Maine. But I will wait until I give the place a fair chance...which may be on my next trip out here.
I'm not sure what adventures await me. Time and time again I am thrown a left hook when it comes to expectations. The stories that I have read about with travelers and unique situations is happening to me. Each different section being another adventure in and of itself. I cannot deny how much the experience of traveling has, and will continue to, change my life.
Ciao!
Justin
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