Off A Cliff

4/30/10

As I approached Mt. Gilead, there was a sign that said, “Montgomery County, North Carolina: A Golden Opportunity.” So I said, “Okay Spirit, I’m looking!” I had been so hot and uncomfortable on the trip, the thought that passed through my mind was that maybe I would find an opportunity to swim and comfort my body. Then, I went right past a county park with a swimming pool! I checked it out but, alas, the pool was not yet open. Little did I suspect that the opportunity waiting for me was at the mounds themselves.

When I arrived at Town Ck. Mounds, there was a busload of school kids there, picnicking after apparently having just been on tour at the site. Some of them had bought souvenir sticks which, of course, were not really Indian in origin so much as “Made in China.” As kids are prone to do, they had turned the ceremonial wands into clubs and were proceeding to have fake fights with them, pretend-whacking one another on the noggin. It brought to mind a scene from the film Terminator — some visiting alien or visitor from the future perhaps – looking at our war-like nature and wondering how we could have survived so long. Then one of the boys got creative. He held up the end of his staff, which had a “god’s eye” type design on it, made a woooo-oooo sound, and declared, “This hypnotizes you so you can’t attack! Haha!” A budding little shaman! Haha indeed!

I ate lunch, waiting for the kids to clear out before entering the site. Watching the orientation film, I learned the residents here have been named the Pee Dee, after the nearby river by the same name, and that they were part of the Southern Appalachian Mississippian culture. I was interested in this site because it was the place where the priests lived and held the energy and rituals for all the clans thereabouts. The main mound held the ceremonial lodge, in which all their rites were performed. I was also interested in it because over sixty years of continuous excavation have been carefully performed at the site, so much so that archeologists believe they have a very good picture who these folks were and how they lived. What I didn’t expect was the fact that they had actually rebuilt replicas of some of the structures, including the ceremonial lodge! In the same shape and size as the original, on exactly the same spot as the ancient one had been, stood the newly-constructed lodge. They had also rebuilt the defensive barrier that had once been around the village.

Though this is a now a historic site, I asked permission of the ancestors for permission to enter before doing so. Feeling their consent, I worked my way nonchalantly toward the main mound, checking out the other structures as I went. To this point, I hadn’t yet climbed any mounds at a site, being little interested in all the “tourist energy” that collects atop them. This mound beckoned me, however. The energy of the priests and shamans called me. I ascended the mound, again asking humble permission to enter. Feeling that had been granted, I circled the room respectfully, taking in the feel, the architecture. Then I lay upon one of the log platforms, greeting the ancestors, asking if they had any messages or energy they wanted to share with the people at this time.

As I lay there, I began to get a headache. A bad one. Shortly I realized something was happening. The headache was centered in my third eye, which soon began to pulse like a great drum. Then my heart chakra joined, pounding far harder than it should have been while in a relaxing, reclining state. I attended to this, continuing to keep my “antenna” up to Spirit and the ancestors there. The energy began to come through the 4^th and 6^th chakras very intensely, and I felt them synchronize and come into perfect harmony. At that point, I began to perceive the “spirit” of the place, the energy of the “Busk,” which was the main ceremonial cleansing all the people, under the guidance of the priests, performed annually. During this ceremony, all fires were doused in all the villages in the region. In preparation, they forgave all who had wronged them, sought to make amends for wrongs done, and cleared all debts. Then the people, gathered from all around, fasted and purged and cleansed their hearts, minds, and bodies. Afterwards, the priests lit a new fire in the ceremonial temple, which was then carried out to re-light the fire in all the other villages. For this reason that the people were called, “The People of One Fire,” for this represented their unity in Spirit.

So, as I lay in the temple sensing the purification energy, it is no surprise the answer I finally got to my question. “What message or energy would you have me share with my people in this day and age.” The answer, “Purify yourself. Release anger and offense and walk from the heart.” Ho. May it be so.

Upon leaving this place, it was so hot I again began contemplating the “missed” swim, and what “golden opportunity” could be coming my way, when Spirit told me to pay attention, that I was missing something. To my delight, when I checked in with myself, I realized my heart and brow chakras had been activated to a new level. Interestingly, these two are also brought into entrainment together in the practices of the Incan lineage into which I was initiated. For it is taught that the head without the heart and the heart without the head are both ways of being out-of-balance and, to be a seer, you must see from both as a whole. So, a Golden Opportunity indeed! Ho! Thank the ancestors!

4/24/10

Today I visited the Eagle Rock Effigy. As I approached, I saw a stone tower built in 1936 out of leftover rock from a defunct quarry — which I thought was great — as they had recycled it and used no new stone. This 3-story tower, built to view the effigy from above, was itself a really cool structure, built from stone and giant wood beams as it would have been hundreds of years ago. I climbed to the top and looked out and viewed the effigy from all three levels, looking at it from differing perspectives. At top, I spoke with an environmental educator up there who, while waiting for a group of girl scouts, wowwed me with his tree identification skills.

Getting no hits from the tower, I left and walked back on the property for a few minutes, just connecting with the land and the area. Then I walked around the effigy itself, looking at it from ground level. The mound of stones is 8 feet deep on the breast. Then I sat and began to speak to the spirits of that place and the spirits of the ancestors there. I greeted them and apologized for what the white people have done to them (it seemed to be the week for apologies). While I was in communication, a dragonfly tapped me on the right shoulder and flitted away. The Girl Scouts went by and then I had a few moments alone there before more people came. I decided it was all I could do that day. A storm was coming in and I didn’t yet know where I was spending the night. So I told the ancestors I’d be back, either in person or spirit, to that place.

That evening, at the campground not too far away, I “journeyed” there. I    lifted out of my body and, as I neared the effigy, the spirit of Eagle rose up and said, “Come with me.” She flapped her wings several times and rose into  the sky and I followed. I asked eagle what we were doing but she just said to be patient. The Eagle went higher and higher and began circling around in great circles and I followed, doing the same. I became aware my body back in the van was vibrating intensely. I didn’t know what was happening, and I didn’t really see anything, but Eagle told me, “Just watch.” Shortly thereafter, a vision emerged. I saw a large group of people – the ancient natives – gathered around the rock effigy, dancing. Outside the circle of people, was  a great circle of bonfires. Then eagle took me in for a closer look and I saw that the people were dancing and drumming around the effigy. “What are they doing?” I asked. The Eagle appeared a little impatient with me but he said, “Look with your eye!” and I knew she meant my third eye. So I began to look with my third eye and I could see that the people were accessing the spirit of eagle to journey shamanically. By their enery i could see that they were all in a very altered state, as if they had taken hallucinogens, though I know of none that the people of this area used. They appeared to have just danced themselves into such a state, and they journeyed away for visions and guidance for the people. Their third eyes were way open. On myself, I felt my first, second, third, and fourth chakras open wide, particularly my solar plexus. As the priests danced and sought visions, others just danced in joy, celebrating and praising the spirits of the region, the land, the trees, but especially eagle.

Suddenly I had an understanding. I turned to Eagle and asked if he was really an eagle at all, or if she was, perhaps, a deva of the wind in the guise of an eagle. Eagle was pleased that I noticed its ruse for she was indeed the deva of the wind carrying me up and up. The natives would ride on the deva of the wind in the guise of an eagle and fly far and high, seeking game for hunting and other important things. Mostly they reached for Great Spirit, for wisdom and understanding and answers to questions; guidance to live by. When the messages would come thorugh the shamans, there would be a shout and a great celebration.

Finally, Eagle began to circle down lower and lower and I landed in the form of a person and moved among the people. I tried to see what they were doing but they were too swept up in their trance to explain. That was when I began to detect their chakras were open and how they were drawing the energy in through all their chakras. They were fully connected to the earth, the sky. It was magical.

Then I began to feel I couldn’t learn anymore and lifted off, flew back to my body and reintegrated here. As I dictate this, my body is still extremely alive with energy. Though I am not yet fully integrated, I can tell that my body is highly altered, activated.I thank the Eagle/deva and the ancestors for allowing me this vision of times past and secret rites.

Spirits of the ancestors, I am open to messages if you wish to speak, if you wish to teach anything for our people today. Ho!

4/22/10

Today I visited the Etowah Indian Mounds, a native city-state dating from about 700 A.D. to 1500 or so A.D., reaching its peak around 1350. This was once a thriving city with as many as 2,000 people in permanent residence. The decline of the city began when Hernandez DeSoto, the Spanish invader (who history kindly calls an “explorer”), came through and, though their numbers were greater, the natives could not overcome the advanced weapons and horsed soldiers of the Spanish. The French followed the Spanish, followed by yet other Europeans, bringing diseases that decimated the natives while continuing to attack and harass them until the indigenous residents had no choice but to abandon their homes, fleeing to the swamps and other inhospitable lands in the region. Separating by agreement in order to keep competition for resources to a minimum, their way of life was forever lost as they became hunters and trappers, adapting to the “white man’s” ways by trading the skins and furs of their hunt for beads and blankets and, eventually, guns.

I didn’t need to walk around and sense the energy here. Before I had even begun, I perceived strongly the trauma that the people of this place had experienced. I walked therefore straight through the middle of what was once the main plaza to the back of the complex where it abuts the river, seeking an appropriate spot to do my work. There was a beautiful park there, with benches and a lovely swing, in which I sat for awhile, enjoying the flow of the Etowah River. It has quite a strong current and it carries you along, out of the ordinariness of your everyday cares. The spirit of the place is sweet and, if you are attuned to nature, it will usher you into an altered state. A goose visited briefly. I communicated with him, collected wildflowers, and admired the trees while listening to Spirit as to why I was there and what I was to do. I was aware of a sadness in me for the loss of this and so many other indigenous civilizations, and the guidance came to me to take responsibility for my race.

And so I found a sweet spot to lay myself upon the ground near one of the two major mounds there. I drew in energy of earth and sun, grounded myself, put up protection. I opened myself, sending out love to all the spirits of the place. When I felt I had the spirits’ attention, I began to apologize in humility to the ancestors of that place — for the ignorance, cruelty, and callousness of “my” people. I pulled in as much light as I could and sent out love to everything: all of nature there, the earth, the sky, the elemental spirits, the ancients… all the way out into space.

Having finished, I headed back across the plaza. As I did so, I could visualize the life there: adults having sporting competitions, the children playing and learning new skills, people trading with visitors from other villages and regions. Again I was overcome with a sense of grief at the destruction of their way of life. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered once again, “so sorry.” To which a voice replied, “Change happens, little sister.” And in that simple word, I felt acceptance. Not just for myself by the ancient ones, but for all the ways things come and go, begin and end. And so I left there in great gratitude and humility for forgiveness and the lesson.

Day 11: Moundville Archeological Site 4/19/10

Spent last night at one of the nicest rest stops I’ve ever seen, just west of Tuscaloosa, AL. on I-20. They even had 24 hours security there. Had a fairly restful night, though I wish I could have slept in more. In the morning, I drove down to the Moundville site and arrived by 8:30 a.m., even before they opened. After viewing the film, I drove around the site, getting a feel for it. I was so tired and in pain, I felt like I was just going through the motions. I found myself feeling a bit discouraged, unworthy — all those crazy emotions that sneak up on your in that vulnerable state of exhaustion. After getting no immediate “hits,” I decided to go to the picnic area, overlooking the Black Warrior River, and have a bit breakfast. The Army Corps of Engineers built a lock system on this river to allow river traffic to go all the way down to the Gulf. While sitting there, I saw a huge barge go by, pushing six other empty vessels to be filled up, no doubt, downstream somewhere. Reminded me of the olden days of steam ship trade.

The Moundville site, a thriving Native American city-state from about 400 A.D. to 1450 A.D., was home to about 2,000 people within the city proper, while ruling over a total population of about 10,000  throughout the region. It is believed to have been the major trade center for the Mississippi region during that time, as well as a main ceremonial site. The Mississippi Valley flood plain deposited mineral-rich silt there each year, making it an ideal place for the people to farm the “big three”: corn, beans and squash. They also ate widely of fish and shellfish from the nearby Black Warrior River. No one knows why they would leave a site so easily cultivated, with everything they needed to sustain their way of life, but, like so many other tribes the “Mississippians” just disappeared. With the number of tribes that have disappeared, you have to wonder if something mystical was going on with these people.

Having eaten and gathered my energy, I again drove around the mounds, finally getting a strong hit on one of the mounds. I parked and walked over to it and, sitting in the grass, began a shamanic journey to contact the guardian spirit of the land. A spirit in the guise of one of the ancient Native Americans from that region appeared to me, asking me what I wanted. I spoke with him at length about how much the world had changed, how most people no longer honor the land as sacred, and about how that particular site – though once home to many of his people – was now a tourist attraction, a place people come  out of curiousity about the people of old. I told the spirit that I wanted to release the energy saved on that land to help the people of my time to have greater vision in how to honor the earth and live closer to the earth and to Great Spirit. Satisfied, the guardian presented me a key to the energy configuration there.

When I used the key I was bombarded with so much energy it was like standing near a blast zone and feeling the force of a explosion. Amazingly, I managed to not pass out, though I felt right on the verge, funneling the energy through my body and out in concentric circles, blessing first the immediate area of Alabama, which I felt led to do in honor of the ancestors in that place. I then funneled the rest of the energy up through my crown, forming a great cloud or umbrella, which began to cover the eastern U.S.

After finishing there, I returned to what was believed to be the main ceremonial mound, or that of the chief, and an adjacent area that had been an underground chamber, possibly a council chamber or sweat lodge in the earth. I lay on the ground, in the midst of many happy mosquitoes, feeling out the spot for any further work needing to be done. Nothing else presented itself. I thanked the guardian spirit, who thanked me in return and, paying my final respects to the ancestors, left.

Dipping my Toes: Ancient Earth Works

The past week has been an interesting one. Amidst overwhelming exhaustion and physical pain, I embarked on this Journey of light. I’ve done more lying around campsites trying to recover from my adventures in packing and moving than creating than new adventures but… a few I have had. Here is a recounting of the work I’ve done so far.

As mentioned elsewhere, I consciously arranged to visit a few archeological sites first, affording me opportunity to dip my toe into the energetic waters, as it were, before plunging into the deep end. I am more glad of it now than I could have imagined, as I have needed the time to get things “right,” both internally and externally before hitting the work heavy duty.

Mother Earth/Father Sky

The cards I drew for today are Dog, which represents taking the shamanic journey  while staying connected to where you are from, and the goddess of Wind, which represents wind, breath, spirit: reminding us that, like the wind and our breath, spirit is with us and around us at all times. Today, may the breezes that blow around me keep  me in remembrance of the presence of Spirit always.

Toltec Mounds

The first site I visited was the Toltec Mounds in Scott, Arkansas. These mounds, which have nothing to do with the Toltecs, were a good place to begin this journey, as they were believed to be a prehistoric ceremonial site from 600 – 1150 A.D. The Natives, named by archeologists as the Plum Bayou Indians, traveled to this site, mostly via canoe, from all around the region to gather the branches of the tribe for rituals, games, and other gatherings. The state of AR has done a good job of restoring these mounds, painstakingly removing all the trees that had grown atop them over time, without damaging the mounds. Now one can now see the original pyramidal shape to the earth works. Due to farming and other practices of the early settlers, only four of the original eighteen mounds now stand. When intact, however, the mound complex was arranged so that each solstice could be noted by the sun’s rising and setting behind the various mounds. Also of interest is the fact that the entire compound was built using multiples of 47.5 meters. So if any of you readers out there are good with numerology, I look forward to reading your comments.

The main mound, which still stands, is believed to have been the ceremonial mound atop which the shamans or priests permanently lived. One can imagine these tribal holy men making prayers and offerings and various rituals on behalf of the tribe on a daily basis. This was definitely the mound where I sensed the most energy. I sat on the ground before it, opening myself to any impressions, messages or dreams with which the ancient ones might choose to grace me. A fleeting but clear rush of images hit me, like a time bomb exploding upon my consciousness, and then was gone as fast as it came. Tears formed in my eyes at the intensity of it. That night, I dreamt of the natives performing rituals and playing a strange game with sticks and rocks, similar to hockey, upon the field there.

Before leaving, I took a little tour of the museum, fascinated by some of the technology for drilling holes, starting fire, etc. How very clever they were! My treat of the day was learning how to throw a spear with an alatl, a sling-like implement that extends the reach of the arm while releasing the spear, providing further momentum. After only one practice pitch, I managed a straight, long throw using the alatl. Fun!

Poverty Point

The second site, Poverty Point, is located outside the small town of Epps, Louisiana. This site, which dates back to the time of old Egypt, was one of the first ancient cities in North America and probably the very earliest settlement of the Mayans as they migrated up from the Yucatan area. Inhabited by 1000 – 2000 people at any given time, it was a major trade as well as religious center. Artifacts uncovered include copper from the Great Lakes, over one thousand miles away; wood beads, plummets, spear heads, and other items from materials as far east as Florida.

Surrounding a 37-acre plaza, which was probably the place of trading and games, is a series of earthworks comprised of six concentric half-circles, upon which simple homes were built. There were also great mounds, a few of which still survive. One appears to have been created in the shape of a great bird which can only be detected from at least 1000 feet in the air. Taking into account 4,000 years of erosion, it is estimated that at one time the mound was possibly 100 feet high. Today, at 72 feet tall, it is composed of over 300,000 metric tons of soil and covers over six acres. Considering the builders had no wheelbarrows, pack animals or wagons, carrying the soil in baskets that could hold 50 pounds at best, the immensity of the effort it took to build just this mound, let alone the city, is truly mind blowing.

Birds and goddesses appear to have played a major role in the beliefs of these ancients. Since carvings of these are abundant in the artifacts found, I chose to sit at the foot of the bird mound to test the energy. It was difficult, as this particular day found two busloads of teenagers on a tour of the place and the energy was obviously degraded by time and a history: agriculture plowing over the area, a county road being built right through it, etc. After settling in, however, I again experienced a brief rush of energy and feelings from the place. The images were not clear, but there was again that sense of living history, of people calling a place sacred, that brought tearing to my eyes. It is a shame that not more of this place survived. In a country that teaches its children that its history begins with the coming of Europeans, it is incredible to think about this city thriving here before the Great Wall of China, the founding of Hinduism, Socrates and Plato.

I’m having some camera issues so sorry I don’t have any photos as yet. But here’s some links to view these sites:

http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/toltecmounds

http://www.lpb.org/programs/povertypoint/pp_transcript.html

Stayed tuned for future posts, as I move deeper and deeper into the journey of earth energies, ancestors, and other wonders of the world! 🙂

Hi friends! First of all, greetings and welcome to my new fans and Facebook and here at this site. Thank you all for being here, holding my journey, and doing your own special part for the earth’s illumination and ascension.

I began my journey Friday, April 9th, but — as sometimes happens — had exhausted myself beyond my resources in the packing, cleaning and loading phase. I got twenty minutes out of town and knew I had to rest. After a 3-hour nap, I was able to drive another hour or so before I began getting a migraine from my neck issues. Thus went my first day. My second day I made it Hot Springs, AR, where I rested the whole day. The next day, I unloaded my car and tried repacking in a way that was more livable. I sorted my clothes, giving away a bunch of stuff only recently purchased and shipping some off to my son (for storage) as well. Because I am moving as well as traveling, my car is more loaded than it will be later on my journey. Until I get to my storage unit in Oregon, however, this first part of this journey is going to be rather cramped and uncomfortable. So, having dealt with that as much as possible, I spent another day mostly resting, attempting to soothe my body, while re-orienting myself to my spiritual mission.

In preparation for this journey, I did a Toltec Oracle reading shortly before I left. As I journey, you will hear me refer to some of the aspects which presented themselves in the reading. One of those aspects, which also came to me in many other messages, was Atl, the goddess of water. The message I was given was to enter the waters, both physically, and figuratively, allowing cleansing and refreshing of mind and body. Hence my stop in Hot Springs, town of some of the purest water in the U.S. of A. Yesterday, I availed myself of these magnificent waters with a mini “spa day,” soaking in the mineral waters that emerge from deep in the earth, followed by a too-brief massage. There is also a place in town where you can fill up your bottles with the water for free.

This morning, I continued the water-work. Arising early, I hiked up the creek abutting the campgrounds, sitting beside the flowing stream for prayer and a mini draw of the Oracle. I pulled the dog, a Toltec symbol for the shamanic journey, with dog acting as our “double,” which keeps us connected with this world as we journey elsewhere. The “Ruler” card (similar to major arcana in a regular tarot deck) was Ketsalkoatl, the feathered serpernt. This is a major deity representing balance of all forces, similar to the Yin-Yang symbol of China. So, loaded with living water and immersed in messages to walk in the balance as I journey deep and far, I now depart Hot Spring for my first destination.

I will check in again when there is more to share. Blessings of Love and Light and Peace to all. Your prayers and positive intentions for this pilgrimage and the healing of all beings everywhere is deeply appreciated. Ho!

Adventures in Spirit: Part One!

Southeastern United States

This is the tentative route* for Part One of Lightquest 2012. As the journey is Spirit-led, there will no doubt be times when I am diverted from the plan, though this is in no way being pulled “off course.” Though not exhaustive, this will at least give you an idea if I will be passing through or near your area if you wish to donate aid, contribute highway or weather information or otherwise help, as well as allow you to send up more specific prayers with regards to “travel mercies.” I am also open to teaching workshops or leading group events while in your area if you would like to facilitate that happening.

1. From Newton County, AR to Little Rock, AR
2. From Little Rock, AR to Hot Springs, AR
3. Hot Springs, AR to Epps, LA
4. Epps, LA to Tuscaloosa, AL
5. Tuscaloosa, AL to Colchis, GA
6. Colchis, GA to Eatonton, GA
7. Eatonton, GA to Cartersville, GA
8. Cartersville, GA to Cisco/McCayesville, GA
9. From Cisco, GA to Cullowhee, NC
10. Cullowhee, NC to Bryson, NC
11. Bryson, NC to Waynesville, NC
12. Waynesville, NC to Mt. Gilead, NC
13. Mt. Gilead, NC to Charlottesville, VA
14. Chalottesville, VA to Washington, D.C.
15. U.S. capitol to Waynesboro, VA
16. Waynesboro, VA to Palmyra, VA
17. Palmyra, VA to Knoxville, TN
18. Knoxville, TN to Clingman’s Dome, TN