Off A Cliff

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!