Vintage Tees

The Dalai Lama and Newton's Third Law

2010-07-06T14:10:00.000-07:00

You've not seen me around this blog in a long, long time, and in the meantime I've experienced many wondrous journeys I will share as time allows. But since it's His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 75th birthday today, I am going to touch upon the subject of Newton's Third Law in respect to my photo-op with His Holiness.

Let me remind you of Newton's Third Law: 'For every action, there is an equal and opposite re-action."

I re-learned this lesson after posting the photo online of the Dalai Lama and me holding hands in his garden at his home in Dharmasala, India. This photo was precious to me as it reminded me of the semi-private audience myself and three others shared one magical day many years ago with His Holiness. At the end of our time together, the Dalai Lama walked us to his garden outside, and a member of his staff used my digital camera to capture this special photo-op and moment in time.

My partner and I had our photos framed, and they still remain on the wall of our study/gym. However, they are no longer posted on the internet because of the reaction from others. Our joy & experience didn't translate to 'some' for I soon encountered the 'opposing' reactions of jealousy and envy. These reactions went something like this: How dare she have an audience with him! Who does she think she is? Why not me?! And so on and so forth.

There is always a reaction to one's good fortune it seems. There is the famous Academy Award winner reaction. If a woman win's this award, inevitably she has something equally horrible to experience not long after wards. Such happened to Sandra Bullock after her recent win.

The universe constantly balances itself. Lottery winners often meet adversity shortly after their grand win. Winners of anything unfortunately encounter this immutable law. We live in a polarity world. I've become incredibly keen on observing how often this law operates ever since my lesson of posting the Dalai Lama photo online.

And today, July 6th, on the Dalai Lama's 75th birthday, I'd like us all to IMAGINE and INTEND a world of UNITY--a world of balance, love, and compassion.

It's time to move on from this 3-D world and Newton's Third Law. Aren't we all finally ready to graduate?!

The Valley Of The Immortals--Vilcabamba

2008-10-21T18:14:00.000-07:00

We traveled to Vilcabamba, Ecuador to sample tranquility and see for ourselves what a stress-free locale feels like. We hadn't experienced anything even remotely stress-free in years, and Vilcabamba is the town and area made famous because of the rumored longevity of its citizens and the Immortals.

What did we find? A low-key vibe where men still riding horseback through town. A temperate climate. Friendly people. Great hiking in remote valleys of the Andes. A developing expatriate community. Cellphones. Computers with off and on again service. Charming, local restaurants serving fresh food at unbelievably low prices.

Vilcabamba is off the beaten path to be sure. Flying from either Quito or Guayaquil, you land in Loja. And from Loja, you'll travel another 45 minutes or so along curving mountain rounds to reach your final destination.

When you finally make it to Vilcabamba and gaze upon Mandango Mountain, you may have a chill run down your spine and know you have arrived at a sacred place. I sure did!

Flying Over The Circles

2008-08-15T17:04:00.000-07:00

In 1992 we flew over the Marlborough-Swindon area of England in a Cherokee 180, a small plane. We hired a pilot who was familiar with crop circles who knew this area.

Our purpose was to view crop circles from the air. We departed from Thruxton Airport in Hampshire and flew North/Northwest. According to my notes from that day, we flew over crop circles located in these areas: Hungerford, Marlborough, Ogbourne, Avebury, Alton Barnes, Alton Prior, and Pewsey Vale.

We were blown away by the many crop circles that we saw, never expecting to see so many. Now that I review these crop circles in 2008, they look like 'kindergarten' crop circles compared to the much more sophisticated ones of recent years.

We also walked in many crop circles, and the first photos are of the flattened grain I photographed in some of these crop circles. Frankly, I didn't care for the energy within them, and I was more than happy to leave them. My partner heard weird sounds in one of them. He said it sounded as if someone was dragging chains behind him plus he saw something in the sky which was unidentified.

The Mysterious Kuan Yin Temple

2008-07-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

Many years ago my partner and I spent several weeks in Northern Thailand, and every day our driver would drive us to different sacred sites. His English was poor as were our Thai language skills, but he knew what we most wanted: temples, sacred sites, and holy places.

On one of these outings, we discovered this colorful Kuan Yin shrine. We were the only two visitors, and so we had the place to ourselves. As you can see from the following photos we took while visiting this shrine, COLORFUL can't even begin to describe this place. It was like Disneyland on steroids.

The central structure consisted of a large dragon which you walked inside of and snaked around until coming out to a Kuan Yin area with statues (shown below) and eventually you exited through the dragons mouth. The experience for us was very trippy and surreal.

On the grounds of this temple there were other deities with their own structures.

I've been researching the name of this Kuan Yin shrine online, but I can't find any reference to it, so if someone reads this blog and knows of the name of this place, kindly leave it's name and exact location in the comments.

The Stones of Stonehenge

2008-01-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow --June 1st-- there will be a National Geographic special about Stonehenge. Here's a link to a MSNBC story titled, "Did Stonehenge start out as a royal cemetery?"

And here's the link to the National Geographic Special called Stonehenge Decoded.

I have somewhat of a similar viewpoint about the "cemetery" part, but mine is much more far out version given what happened to me at Stonehenge....but that's another story!

Below are some of my photos of the stones of Stonehenge.

And below is a video of yet another theory!

The Wonder Of The Taj Mahal

2008-01-18T18:37:00.001-08:00

Here's the "official" story as written on Wikipedia about the Taj Mahal:

"The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, that was built under Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal."

However, an alternate theory speculates that this story is just that--a story!

The alternative version goes like this:

"This story has been challenged by Professor P.N. Oak, author of Taj Mahal: The True Story, who believes that the whole world has been duped. He claims that the Taj Mahal is not Queen Mumtaz Mahal's tomb, but an ancient Hindu temple palace of Lord Shiva (then known as Tejo Mahalaya), worshipped by the Rajputs of Agra city.

In the course of his research, Oak discovered that the Shiva temple palace had been usurped by Shah Jahan from then Maharaja of Jaipur, Jai Singh. Shah Jahan then remodelled the palace into his wife's memorial. In his own court chronicle, Badshahnama, Shah Jahan admits that an exceptionally beautiful grand mansion in Agra was taken from Jai Singh for Mumtaz's burial. The ex-Maharaja of Jaipur is said to retain in his secret collection two orders from Shah Jahan for the surrender of the Taj building." Read the rest by clicking here.

Whatever the truth, this huge structure is a testament to BALANCE and BEAUTY! Our small group were awestruck by this edifice. Having only seen photos of it, we never imagined the hordes of people walking around and perched in corners everywhere. (See photos). But then again, we should have considered that we were in India after all where people seem to be everywhere! And since this is one of the Great World Wonders, is it any wonder that so many would want to experience this beautiful building and grounds?

Searching for Nessie

2008-01-12T11:35:00.001-08:00

On our Scottish adventure, we covered a lot of ground-- not only physically, but also metaphysically. My partner-- being the ardent golfer he is-- had to check-out the famous golf courses of Scotland such as St. Andrews and Gleneagles.

I, on the other hand, wanted to experience Findhorn, Callanish (the former post), and most of all, Loch Ness. Somehow we managed to fit all of our interests into our adventure. We even managed to do touristy things like visit old castles and watch bagpipers pipe. We stayed at one expensive hotel where we actually pulled a long fat cord which rang the bell of the establishment and let them know we had arrived--something out of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. We oohed and ah'd at the subtle color of wild purple heather as we whizzed past the Scottish Highlands. (see photos)

BUT the highlight of our Scottish adventure for me was Loch Ness. We had no idea how immensely popular Loch Ness was (and still is!) with British tourists as well as international tourists. We hadn't booked a reservation, and when we showed up late one afternoon in Loch Ness, we quickly discovered there were no rooms available...anywhere! I had so much wanted to spend time the next day scanning the lake for a sighting of Nessie, the famous Loch Ness 'monster'.

We were both bummed that we hadn't planned ahead with a room reservation, but I suggested to my partner that we get a bite to eat at the charming inn (see photo on top) before heading back down the road. The prospect of sleeping in our car overnight didn't excite us, and we might as well leave with a happy tummy I reasoned.

So we returned to the first inn we had discovered upon driving into Loch Ness. It had a charming bar and restaurant and we proceeded to chow down on great food and drink. As we were dining, my partner received a tap on the shoulder. The proprietor remembered that we had been seeking a room for the night, and one had just opened up. Did we want it she asked. Once again our traveling angels had arranged the perfect set-up! All we had to do is fetch our bags from our car in the parking lot and kick back for the night. Then we would have hours to roam around the lake in the morning.

And that's exactly what we did. The biggest surprise was finding a local newspaper the following day with the headline and photo that showed a sighting of Nessie on the day we arrived!

The new movie, "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep" calls me, and it's on my list of must-see movies. Ya see, I believe in Nessie. I KNOW she's there, and no matter how mythical she appears in movies or stories, I feel that in that Scottish Loch, Nessie lives on.

That's my fantasy, and I'm sticking to it!

The Standing Stones of Callanish

2007-12-28T14:34:00.000-08:00

The trip to Callanish, Scotland involves quite a bit more travel than going to Stonehenge, England. Thus, this is why Callanish is not very crowded. Actually, when we visited, we were the ONLY two people visiting for a long time--just us and the massive, magical stones!

Here's what we had to do to travel to Callanish: take a ferry from the Scotland Mainland to the Isle of Lewis. Rent a car at Stornoway (the closest big town). We already had a reservation at local lodging arranged before arriving, so we checked in and deposited our few bags in our room, and then we headed directly for the stones down winding country roads.

The Isle of Lewis is in the Western Isles of Scotland, the Outer Hebrides.

What are these massive stone circles and single menhirs doing here? No one really knows, but there is speculation that in the days of wizardry, these stones were once giants that were turned into stones. I like this version of the story, although it's rather sad if the giants were good giants.

The stones are said to date back about 5,000 years, and altogether there are around 50 stones here with a heighth of anywhere from 8-13 ft. The tallest one is about 16 feet. The stones are all over the Isle of Lewis, and there are EIGHT different locations. We only spent time at what is known as Callanish 1, and the photos shown here are all from this location. The stones are made of lewisian gneiss, and the theory is that they were used as an astronomical calendar and for sacred ceremonial temple functions.

Since we had the stones all to ourselves, and there wasn't a guard anywhere, we felt incredibly privileged to be able to spend time with these gentle giants. We could touch them all we wanted, and bless them too! We could put our ears to them to hear their secrets, and we could marvel that they had been hidden for so long before being discovered by a farmer.

What other mysteries are out there in this big wide world of ours waiting to be discovered?

Monaco Mon Amour

2007-08-17T18:42:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with Monaco before I ever laid physical eyes on her. I fell in love with the IMAGES of Monaco I'd seen in magazines and television---images of Princess Grace's marriage, of casinos, of wealth, of yachts, of palm trees, of the Beautiful People. These are the images of Monaco most displayed in glossy publications. If there are any ghettos or slums, I'm sure they're hidden far, far away from all cameras. Maybe there aren't any!

The first time I saw Monaco I was traveling around Europe with my husband, and we briefly stopped in Monaco. However, we were driving to Greece at that time with a scheduled appointment awaiting us, and so we didn't stay for more than one day. Since I was already in love with Monaco, I was saddened to say goodbye after ONLY one day.

It wasn't for another long stretch of years that I FINALLY made it back to Monaco, this time with two French girlfriends. However, once again, the timing wasn't for me to stay long, and we had to leave after TWO days. I tried to soak up as much Monaco as I could in this one brief stay. We gambled and lost (Las Vegas is much better for gambling!)...we dined at fine restaurants...we drove through tunnels and walked up stairs and escalators for Monaco is really built on the side of a mountain. We got stuck in traffic. We shopped. We ogled incredible yachts in the harbor over breakfast.

Here's what I didn't see: the glamorized images of my youth didn't strike me as all THAT glamorous with the eyes of experience and maturity. Sure, there's still glamor in Monaco, but not the way I had imagined the GLAMOR in my youth.

This was Monaco's gift to me the second time around: Monaco revealed herself to me as a dowager, a well-maintained aging beauty with a few wrinkles here and there--but artfully concealed. Still well-manicured. Still proud. Still moneyed. Not seeking to impress. Sure of herself. She has friendly citizens, wonderful shops, and beautiful views.

How could I ever fall out of love with this grand dame?
Here I am posing with a giant teddy bear sculpture in the main square near the casino.
Here's the three of us posing in front of the harbor.

Linking to Travel Blogs

2007-07-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

One of my bad habits is reading delightful travel blogs and then neglecting to post on my OWN travel blog! As you might notice, ahem....I haven't posted here for awhile! It's certainly not because I don't have plenty of travel tales and photos!

However, reading the delightful blog A Month In Venice, I couldn't resist adding to this link train. Please jump onboard this train by adding your blog at the end, and then posting it on your blog so we all can get some more link love!

Start Copying Here___________________

The Originals

___________________End Copying Here_______________________

Newgrange Didn't Disappoint Me

2007-06-16T14:26:00.001-07:00

There are some famous and historical places that have disappointed me. I guess I built them up so BIG in my mind that when I finally viewed them, they seemed much smaller and less dramatic than I had fantasized....like the Great Pyramid for instance.

However, Newgrange wasn't one of these let-downs! No, the moment I laid my eyes on Newgrange set like a precious jewel in a large field of green, my mouth fell open for the site is simply magnificent....and just as big as I had seen in my mind's eye.

For those that don't know about Newgrange, it's a stone age (or megalithic) passage tomb structure in the Boyne Valley of Ireland and best known for it's illumination passage chamber on the Winter Solstice. After paying the entry fee, our tour leader took a group of us into the small interior and showed us where the beam of light on the winter solstice will strike the interior, and even though we weren't there on that special day, the feeling was still quite magical. I imagine the interior of Newgrange on the Winter Solstice must be one of the toughest reservations to acquire!

If you'd like to read more about Newgrange, here's a good place to start:

101 Facts about Newgrange

Tara Forever

2007-06-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

My very first psychic reading happened in an high-rise office building in Hollywood, California. I was twenty-one and a greenhorn. Coming from a Midwest religious background, I knew nothing about psychics or for that matter history, for I had only been exposed to a narrow range of thinking (or programming)at that time.

My husband went with me, and we both had readings. The psychic sat behind a basic business-looking desk, and he looked not at all 'woo-woo'. He wore business attire, and he spoke with authority. We sat in chairs facing him at his desk, and we were more than a bit stunned as we heard what he had to tell us for it sounded like science fiction!

This is a short paraphrase summary of what he said:

He said that I was of the race of the Tuatha De Danann, and that it wouldn't be until my older age that I would meet many of my kin.

I had been brought here on a starship piloted by my current husband who at that time was an android. It took him a long time to gain a soul on Earth, but he had succeeded. We were together as a couple in this lifetime for me to thank him for getting me safely to Earth as this was to be my last reincarnated lifetime.

When we arrived on Earth, the constellations were different, and there was no Libra. At the time we arrived, Virgo and Scorpio were one. (You can see the similarity in their astrological glyphs.)

There was more information, but the info given for this post is enough.

And this reading is what began my research into ancient sites, the Tuatha De Danann tribe, myth, power places, metaphysics, Ireland...and TARA!

Many years later my current partner and I traveled to Ireland to see for ourselves certain ancient and mythical sites which related to the Tuatha De Danann. We rented a car and traipsed around on our own with me at the wheel.

When we finally arrived at what is called the "Stone of Destiny" or "Lia Fail" at Tara, Ireland, we had the stone and the hill all to ourselves. The photos below were taken that day. The stone is "said to roar when it is touched by the rightful King of Tara", but it didn't roar for us. However, I have read in some books that the current stone wasn't the original stone placed there, and the original was moved away long ago. The energy of Tara was serene, and the area pastoral. So though no big downloads or revelations took place that day, I was happy I finally made it there.

For more information on Tara, click here.

To help save Tara, click here.

Can you imagine--they're attempting to put a roadway right through Tara!

Visiting The Ancient Yew

2007-06-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

Many years ago when my partner and I were spending time in England, we heard from some locals about the oldest yew tree, and since the tree wasn't too terribly far from where we were staying, we had a taxi take us to this ancient yew tree in the English countryside.

Many people probably wouldn't go out of their way for a TREE, but I'm different because I'm a passionate tree lover, and I believe trees are living beings. I commune with trees.

The second photo isn't really that great, but if you examine it, the age of this yew tree is stated as 1700 years old! That's a tree who's been there and done that! Imagine the wisdom of this tree, and imagine the things it's witnessed!

However, I now read on the net that another yew tree in Scotland hold the record of being the oldest tree.

Yews were often planted on ley lines, and later on in history churches were built on these sacred power places, and that is why you often find yew trees near churches in England.

For those that don't know much about trees, yews were holy guardians in many cultures and considered the MOST sacred tree! Click here for more info about yews.

Yotel Opens

2007-06-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I received an email from Yotel notifying me that their Gatwick Airport Hotel at the South Terminal is now open for business. I put myself on their mailing list after I had blogged about their hotel concept on another one of my blogs, Way Khool Sites, sometime last year.

I am quite taken with the concept and the design of their mini hotel rooms. In a space of 7 square meters, you can fit TWO people with all these amenities: a flatscreen tv, cabin menu 24 hours a day, free internet access, shower, hairdryer, towels, etc.

What I particularly like about it is that you can rent the rooms hourly or overnight, and they are located right at the airport! How many times have I wished for the convenience of such an accommodation on a long layover!

Now if they'll get successful and expand so that when I travel, I can book a room online, I'll be a happy camper!

Right now I don't plan to go to England or Europe this summer, but should my plans change, I'll book a room with them just for the heck of it to check them out.

What's Your Favorite Island?

2007-05-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

Since I'm a frequent contributer to Concierge, I decided to submit my island in their latest email offering to me. I don't think you win anything with this contest, but there's another contest running right now which you might want to look into as the prize is very GOOD!

The contest I contributed to today is their latest one: Submit Your Favorite Island!

Since I live on Maui and blog about Maui on THREE blogs, how could I pass this opportunity up?! I saw after I had submitted two other people who had already submitted Maui, so that made me happy! Like I said in my submission, Maui is 'No Ka Oi' which means Maui Is The Best! And that's how we feel who live on Maui!

I saw some of my other favorite islands already submitted: Santorini, Ibiza, Moorea, and St. Barts!

Concierge also has a social networking set-up online where you can create your own suitcase, make friends and invite friends, and make comments.

What's your favorite island?

In Search of Sacred Stones

2007-05-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

I don't know how I became so fascinated with ancient, sacred stones. Through the years, I've made pilgrimages to out-of-the-way places around the world to be in the presence of sacred stones, and I've been graced with energies and wisdom-- either installed or intrinsic-- in the stones.

The strangest, most shocking experience was with one of the giant blue stones in Stonehenge. For more information about these famous blue stones, click here. Our group leader had arranged for our small thirteen member group to be allowed inside Stonehenge and experience the stones up close and personal. Knowing this was to be, I had schlepped a large crystal bowl tuned to the base chakra from my home in Maui.

Sitting on the ground against one of the large blue Stones with the sun going down behind me, I spread my legs apart with the crystal bowl resting on the ground (and it's rubber base) between my legs and began running the small mallet around the edge of the bowl to make my bowl sing. If you're unfamiliar with singing crystal bowls, click here.

Why I was drawn to go through this exercise of bringing this one crystal bowl to England to play for the stones is up for debate, and I've heard many theories and much psychic speculation about what happened to me that day. In any event, I had been playing the bowl for about ten minutes when a charge which felt like lightening went through the right side of my body and down my leg and into my foot. At that time, I used to wear a gold ankle bracelet and a gold toe ring on my second toe. I mention this because gold is an excellent conductor of energies.

Ouch! The Pain! The Shock! The Surprise!

I jumped up to stomp out the painful energy on the ground which remained in my calf and foot. All of my toes were sticking straight up in the air, and as I continued stomping my foot, all but one toe relaxed and went back into their normal position. Of course, it was the toe with the gold toe ring which wouldn't go down! I cried out for my partner to come help me.....he was off communing with another stone somewhere in the circle. He came running and began massaging this toe. It still wouldn't go down. I was getting a little freaked out by now, and I wanted my toe back to normal! He decided to remove my toe ring, and after it was off my toe and with more massaging, my toe eventually lined up with the rest.

Moral of the story: these stones are powerful. Be careful what you do around them.

Here's some photos of other stones I've photographed and encountered--not all of them by any means. Of the three stones shown here, two are in Peru, and one is in Crete, Greece.

One Day Blog Silence

2007-04-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

Visiting Yoganada's Childhood Home

2007-04-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

On one of our trips to India, we had the distinct honor and privilege of being invited into Yogananda's childhood home in Calcutta. We were first invited to meditate in his attic bedroom where four of us each experienced an altered state. My partner swears he heard someone chanting Om. I saw a vision of Krishna. And our two friends each had an equally distinct experience.

After our meditation, we were offered tea by the nephew of the uncle of Yogananda and the opportunity to purchase vintage photos of Yogananda. We sat at the kitchen table, and I wept bhakti tears because of this treasure trove of incredible photos spread out before us on the table.

Here are some of the incredible photos I purchased that magical day as well as the ones I took of the bedroom and the exterior of the home in Calcutta.

And by all means read the classic book Yogananda wrote called "Autobiography of a Yogi"--a book which has changed many lives.

Brave New Traveler Five Hilarious Travel Photo Contest

2007-04-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

I've sorted through tons of old travel photos, and this is the best I can do for my entry to Brave New Traveler's Hilarious Travel Photos contest. The deadline is April 23rd! Here are my five with my commentary--I don't know HOW hilarious they are to others, but I find them funny.

What do ya think? Gold and Low?

I hope the dragon doesn't see me!

Up Yours!
Which one has the longer one?

The monster who came in from the cold...

Photo Journey of Tibet

2007-03-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

I finally uploaded some of the thousands of photos I took when we journeyed to Tibet in 1998 which correlates with the post I made on Oct 18th titled "Tibet Tee-Shirt Tells Its Version of The Trip." Under each photo, I will leave a brief caption of the photo. Some of the photos are in black & white, but most are in color.

This is the mini-bus our group traveled in from Nepal into Tibet. Note the rocky road! This was a very dangerous road, and sometimes we had to get out of the bus while the driver was aided by an assistant in especially difficult spots.
Here the driver is being guided through a glacier!
The Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet

Me at 18,000 feet altitude at one of the very highest passes bundled up with many layers
A altar and mural painted on the side of a mountain
One of the many statues of important deities inside the temples
A wall photo depicting the body of Mother Earth with locations in the Himalayas
Lama Tenzin didn't wear his robes while visiting Tibet.
Another mural before entering Lhasa
My partner and I celebrated on Freedom Bridge between Nepal and Tibet.
This is the boat/barge our group traveled on to cross the river to Samye Monastery.
This was a caravan photo taken from the front of the mini-bus inside Tibet.
My first view of the Himalayas from the airplane
Yak herds are everywhere in Tibet
This photo was taken at Tsurphu Monastery.
Samye Monastery--considered the oldest monastery in Tibet
Another statue covered with katas
This mural is painted on the wall in Tashilumpo Monastery.
A monk chanting and drumming
A sand mandala newly created inside a monastery
Two Chinese shop girls smile for me.
Prayerwheels are everywhere.
These prayer wheels look older.
The creating and polishing of new prayerwheels
Altar and statue in the background
Prayer flags often decorate small streams.

Deep In The Heart of Big Ol Texas

2007-01-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

Texas is so big you don’t realize HOW big it is until you drive it! If you drive the width of it from East to West, you seriously think you’ll never EVER get out of Texas, especially by the time you get into West Texas. When you finally cross the state border to New Mexico, you feel exhausted and at the same time exhilarated. If you travel North to South from the Oklahoma border down to say Padre Island on the Gulf of Mexico, same thing. Dang! Texas takes up a lot of space!

(To illustrate this large quality, I have gone over the border of this blog for fun!)

Having explored Texas somewhat in my life, I would need at least three more lifetimes to say I’ve seen most of Texas. It’s best to take Texas in bite-size chunks, small trips where you concentrate on one neighborhood to explore so you don’t overwhelm yourself with the vastness.

My most recent trip to Texas I did just that: Central Texas or what is called “Deep In The Heart of Texas!” This meant not covering too much territory: only Austin and San Antonio. This area is often called the “Hill Country” because it’s characterized by the Edwards Plateau and the Balcones Escarpment. Basically what this means is that this part of Texas isn’t as flat as other parts of Texas. The main roads running through this neck of the woods are Interstates 10 and 35.

My partner and I began our adventure in Austin, the state capital, which straddles the Colorado River. We stayed nearby Town Lake in the heart of the downtown area, or at least close-by. There was a great running-walking recreation trail by this lake which goes for about 10 miles, and this is the lake where we went out on a bat-watching boat to watch the famous free-tailed bats come out from under a bridge at duskand darken the twilight sky with their thousands and thousands of bat bodies. Apparently, this is a big deal to observe this bat-emergence, and we looked up from our boat to see many people lined up on the “bat bridge” above-- a not-uncommon site—locals and toursist alike who wait to see the bats come out to feed every night on insects. These winged creatures make their home in Austin and are one of the largest bat populations in North America. This was a really cool experience as we watched teams sculling by us in the tranquility of the early evening. I wonder if Batman has a penthouse nearby too?

We had come to Texas primarily for a football game because my partner is what is commonly known as a Bucknut which is a crazed Ohio State University football fan, and he had a ticket for the game. We arrived a couple of days before the game to explore Austin—several days in a hotel at first and several days as the guests of friends, a wonderful couple who were incredibly gracious hosts. This was my partner’s first time to Austin, and I hadn’t been in Austin for a long, long time, so we enjoyed playing tourist.

Even though it was September, the weather was hot! We discovered this fact after we began our walking expedition around Austin where we walked everywhere because my partner wanted to see everything up-close. After one exceedingly hot day of walking all over the sprawling University of Texas Campus and up and done Sixth Street, Congress and other streets called SOCO. This area contains shops, galleries, restaurants, pubs and LOTS of clubs. Even though we had access to a car, he insisted on walking. I finally convinced him the second day to jump on the free trolley from the campus which took us back not too far from our hotel. Whew!

One of our BIG adventures in Austin was trying to find internet cafes, and surprisingly for a city the size of Austin, these internet cafes are few and far between. We finally located one at Shotzky’s deli where they were available for free. We asked people why there were so few of these internet cafes available, and the response we got was that Austin was a college town and practically every student opened a laptop and used the Wifi. And my response to this is what about the tourists?! There were only two computers available at our hotel for ridiculous prices for usage. So if you go to Austin, take your laptop or Blackberry if you want to stay connected.

Of course, the highlight of the trip for my partner was seeing the stadium and attending the OSU-Texas game. His team (OSU) won, and the partying around the city was quite something afterwards as we drove around with our hosts with whom we were staying at this time. I went with our hosts to a party at the home of a famous television newscaster while my partner attended the game, and the vibe of the evening with these fellow Texans rooting for their team changed a lot in the television room as it became apparent that Texas was NOT the winner. I observed all this football folly as I always do with a quiet reserve as football doesn’t do it for me.

Let’s backtrack a bit here: I grew up in football territory: Oklahoma and Texas. I graduated college in Texas. I dated football players-- even some that went on to become famous football stars. I cheered at football games for many years. One day I woke up, and I realized I could care less about football—the football players were still hunky and alluring, but football—eh! Football suddenly seemed barbaric, preposterous, over-the-top, and totally boring. I have remained being a non-interested-in-football- person, though my partner’s a fanatic fan. He accepts this state of affairs, and so do I. Whatcha gonna do?

Austin has the reputation of being a party town, the hip city. It’s famous for its music scene, clubs and bills itself as “the live music capital of the world”. Leafing through their papers, I realized this MUST be true because of all the clubs, concerts, and music advertising. However, we missed out on all that, and we didn’t see one group perform live because….

It was time to move on to San Antonio and the next leg of our journey. San Antonio has the feel of a much of a much bigger city. I read it was the 9^th largest city in America, and the flavor is definitely Spanish. Neither of us had ever been to San Antonio before, and thus it was an adventure in finding our way around via freeways and weird side roads that ran alongside the major highways.

We had heard from others how beautiful the 2.5 mile Riverwalk or Paseo del Rio is, and we were eager to experience this for ourselves. Supposedly this famous Riverwalk symbolizes the beauty and romance of the city. We decided to stay outside of San Antonio because I had read so many complaints about the noise on the Trip Adviser website. Thus, we stayed on the perimeter of San Antonio close to Sea World at a beautiful, peaceful resort and drove into the city.

The day we arrived in San Antonio, it was pouring cats and dogs. So at the Alamo gift shop, we purchased two bright yellow ponchos (could we look any more as tourists?!) as we didn’t have an umbrella with us. The highlight of our adventure at the Alamo was when I cut my hand trying to pull down a horse mobile I wished to purchase. The tin of the horse cut my hand which began bleeding profusely, and so I was directed to the infirmary where I could get a bandage and some ointment. It was there that a kindly old man with a badge and a gun (a Texas Ranger?) dabbed my bleeding hand with an antiseptic ointment and gently placed a bandage on me. It was a very sweet moment to watch this Marlboro-type man perform this nurturing act. I felt like a little girl again. I couldn’t help but notice the blood-letting as a weird omen.

Did you know the famous Davy Crockett died at the Alamo? I looked at the old manuscript (under glass) of those that had died in the great battle which took place here. The Alamo feels quite ghostly and old-world enchanting at the same time.

The Riverwalk didn’t measure up to my expectations for the water seemed rather stagnant. Maybe it’s because we were there on a rainy day, and beauty is perceived less beautiful on a dismal day. I also sensed there was not as much prosperity around this area in (maybe) former years, even though some grand and expensive hotels have located themselves right on the Riverwalk.

Once again, we walked all over the place as we followed our nose(s) and explored. With the humidity of the day and wearing the hot yellow poncho, I was about ready to pass out and felt eager to get out of the city to the peace and quiet of the countryside. We dined at a delicious Italian restaurant situated facing the Riverwalk, and we marveled at how inexpensive the food was in Texas as compared to Hawaii.

I had gone to Texas hoping to see the stars because like the song goes: “the stars are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas.” Never saw those. Too many lights everywhere we went and stayed.

What we saw were people very PROUD of being Texans. We ate at delicious restaurants with inexpensive food. I took along two stuffed mermaids (one which was a teddy bear mermaid) and posing these stuffed toys in all sorts of weird places, such as the canon on the lawn of the state capitol. I got this idea from the movie “Amelie” with the Gnome showing up all over the place and in the most ridiculous places. We experienced history. It was all good. Texas has been and continues to be a ‘hoot’ for me!

If you’d like to read more, here’s the link to my travel blog which I kept on this journey.

Thailand Tee Tells Its Side of the Story

2006-11-14T15:33:00.000-08:00

It was June of 2001, and our group of ten or so were preparing to return to Tibet. Some members of our core group were there in 1998 making our film about Tibet which went on to become a PBS success. Now we were going back, but this time our primary destination was the holy mountain of Mount Kailash.

My partner and I had made a fatal mistake in inviting two of our other friends to join our group. Although devout Buddhists, the male of the two was also an activist and a Grand A Plus Alpha Male. He conflicted with the other Alpha Male Leader of the group, and because my partner and I had been the one to issue the invitation for them to join the group, we were (uncomfortably) caught in the middle of the rivalry and conflict. On top of the alpha clash, as soon as we had arrived, we heard from our guide that Kailash was closed and would remain closed indefinitely. Apparently, there had been a Tibetan demonstration near Kailash, and thus the Chinese closed Kailash to all pilgrims.

Amidst this stew of group dysfunction and blockage to our destination, the King of Nepal was assassinated. Kathmandu, our staging platform, was nearly closed down, and the normal hectic, crazy street traffic had disappeared . Even the cows and goats which normally mixed in with the haphazard street traffic seemed to know the streets were closed for they were absent as well--only a rickshaw here and there was to be seen. The city had an eerie vibe, and ever now and then, we would hear shouting mobs in the streets. Americans were warned not to go out into the streets from the hotels.

King Birendra along with Queen Aiswary and nine other members of the royal family had been slaughtered--apparently by Birendra's eldest son and heir. What was going to happen to the country of Nepal? No one knew! The airports were closed. Finally, the authorities allowed a one-day departure for all the foreigners who wanted to leave Nepal. My partner and I had already made up our minds. We were going, going, gone and separating from our group. One part of our group elected to stay in Kathmandu--one part went on to Tibet and eventually Kailash--and four of us went to the airport to different destinations. We were relieved to be leaving the Nepal chaos, the quarrelsome group and the doubt. Yes, we were super disappointed that our goal to go on pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash had been diverted, but we knew in our hearts that we weren't with the right group of resonant others.

Since my partner and I had only visited Bangkok, Thailand, we elected to spend our three weeks exploring Thailand from top to bottom. After flying into Bangkok, we first flew up north to Chiang Mai. We visited temple after temple after temple, and even though I love temples, I became templed-out after many days of visiting temples! We treated ourselves to Thai massages every day. These massages are done with your clothes on, and the girls stretch you in all kinds of crazy ways. The best part is that massages are inexpensive, and so a massage a day is affordable. Most of the masseusses couldn't speak English, but we communicated through sign language. They giggled a lot and were totally charming.

We hiked with a guide into the Hill Country, and we made excursions to every Kuan Yin temple I could locate. We swam in GIANT swimming pools and ate delicious Thai food which is different than the Thai food you eat in America. We shopped, gave donations and gifts to individuals and temples, took elephant rides through the jungle and fell in love with Northern Thailand.

After our wonderful restful retreat there, we headed to Southern Thailand to Phuket. Once again, we had gorgeous accommodations and amazing adventures with various guides. One day we went to Phi-Phi Island and swam in THE most turquoise of turquoise waters in a secluded bay I have ever swum in. That's saying a lot!! Phi-Phi Island was completely destroyed by the giant tsunami which happened in recent years, and much of Phuket was also destroyed. It saddened us so because we know how much the Thai economy depends upon tourism. The Thai people are attractive, sweet, lovable and gracious, and their culture, art, cuisine, and architecture really appeal to me. I will return one day because I left a huge piece of my heart there.

Technorati Tags:Kathmandu, Tibet,Thailand, Phuket

Yellowstone Redux

2006-10-29T20:39:00.000-08:00

The first time I saw a grizzly bear, I thought it was a live teddy bear, and I broke free from my Mother's grasp and ran to pat it in Yellowstone Park. People in the campground backed away in fear as the bear slowly ambled through the grounds. I felt no fear. It was a teddy bear to me. My Mother said she gained all her white hair that day. Of course, the grizzly paid me no heed, for I was fearless, loving and foolish. It just kept walking. I loved Yellowstone because of the bears, the geysers and the energy!

That scene was a long time ago, and when I finally returned later with three others passing through on a roadtrip in the 2,000's, forest fires had ravaged much of Yellowstone, and we saw black stumps and charred forests everywhere. The park and energies were eerie, and it was the time of the Full Moon (see photo).

We stayed at the prestigious Old Faithful Inn, an amazing place with 65 foot ceilings, railings made of lodgepole pine, and a massive, roaring rhyolite fireplace. We all became quite drunk which helps to explain why I bought this t-shirt. My partner won't wear it, nor will I. It's too... something...maybe too shiny? In any event, all the tee-shirts on this blog are FOR SALE for the right price. Make me an offer I can't refuse.

Technorati Tags:Yellowstone Park, grizzlybears,Old Faithful Inn, vintage tee shirts

Tibet Tee-Shirt Tells Its Version of the Trip

2006-10-18T21:27:00.000-07:00

This is a special edition tee-shirt made in Kathmandu, Nepal after returning from the arduous journey for which the documentary, "Journey Inside Tibet" was produced in 1998. I made this tee-shirt as a batch of 10 for those of us that perserved and were the primary leaders of this journey. The stars of the film are the renowned flautist Paul Horn and the (now deceased) Lama Tenzin, the former Tibetan Buiddhist Lama of the Dharma Center of Maui, Hawaii. Twenty-eight people made the pilgrimage to Tibet from their respective homes in Hawaii, Arizona, California and Canada to the forbidding, rugged land of Tibet where the air is thin and two miles above sea level. It was an epic journey, and one which resulted in the documentary being very successful with many awards and also playing on PBS for several years.

Here is some of the back story about the pilgrimage to Tibet:

Three sides of Tibet are formed with the highest mountains in the world. Tibet has long been known as the Roof of the World, and it's capital city, Lhasa, sits at 12,000 feet. Since most of our group were coming from homes at sea-level, these oxygen-deprived heights were challenging to many of our group, and some got extremely ill with altitude sickness. How did we get to Tibet? By none other than the most challenging route: overland by bus. At one point we called one of the buses in our two-bus convoy, the Hospital Bus, because nearly one half of our group were suffering with altitude sickness.

When we made it to the 18, 500 feet elevation, there were only a few there to celebrate the highest point we achieved on the trip. The prayer flags blew wildly because the winds were gusty, and thirteen of us hardy souls de-boarded the bus to dance around like drunken sailors. We celebrated because of the challenge to get this far was a miracle!

Paul Horn was chosen as the musician because he was well-known for pioneering the playing of sacred music in temples: the Taj Mahal in India, the Great Pyramid in Egypt to name a few. Thus the Potala Palace was a perfect capstone for his career and a dream come true for him, an opportunity he had longed for years to accomplish.

Lama Tenzin hadn't seen his family in nearly forty years, and he knew he had to see them. As it turned out, his intuition was right because after returning home to Maui, he later became ill with cancer and died. However, while in Tibet, he was overjoyed at reuniting with his family, and his homecoming was lovingly documented in the film directed by Tom Vendetti. Lama Tenzin had left his homeland travelling by foot over hazardous mountain passes when still a boy after the Chinese had invaded Tibet. This was the first time he had been back since that fateful time.

The Tibetans believe their race to have descended from a monkey-saint and a she-demon, whose children became human from eating a diet of grain. Early kings descended from the sky on rope and returned the same way. Until the 10th century, the Tibetans were a warlike people, and the shamanistic Bon religion was the only game in town. Then in the 7th century, Buddhism was introduced into the country, and the character of the people began to undergo a drastic change. Tibet became a nation of spiritual seekers instead of warriors. Monasteries were built, and with 6,000 flourishing monasteries, the land was teeming with spiritual warriors...until the Chinese invasion that is. The larger of these monasteries were like villages, housing thousands of monks. This is being recreated in Nepal today, and I have witnessed these new monasteries built to hold this legacy.

I had brought along with me sacred waters which people from all over the world had sent me for a sacred waters ceremony. Outside Shigatze, I found the right place, and three of us performed the ceremony for the regeneration of Tibet's precious rivers and water supplies. It was a memorable day, and one that will be remembered when the river pollution is finally reversed and once again the River of Living Light flows through this land, this primal country.

Technorati Tags:Potala Palace, Tibet,storytelling blog, Paul Horn

Egyptian T-Shirt Talks Story

2006-10-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

It was early morning. It was cold. Our group walked quietly to the Great Pyramid of Giza before it was officially open to the public, and we waited impatiently outside for the guard to let us in. Inside we were to perform an initiation ceremony in the "Pit" (the lowest accessible part of the Great Pyramid allowed to tourists) with the famous presenters from the tour group and a well-known Egyptian guide leading this ceremony. My stomach was queasy, but I didn't know why. I just knew that my stomach always "knows" something is important and to pay attention. I (usually) listen to my gut. It speaks truth. My gut was telling me to not go in. And yet, I had come so far, and were I to back-out now and not participate, many of my fellow group members would be disappointed that I had abandoned them. So I shuffled ahead with the group into the stinky urine-drenched pyramid and crawled on my belly down a long tight tunnel to the opening that is called The Pit.

It was with many years of hindsight and other people weighing in with their information that I have finally understood why I became so ill that morning. Apparently, the Pit is the absolutely worst place to conduct a spiritual ceremony as the energy there equates to "pea green" (which is very, very bad), or so said one famous Sedona spiritual teacher. Another wise being said that the Great Pyramid is not the best place for a ceremony as everything gets magnified there, both good and bad. The people conducting the ceremony were obviously out of their depth and not knowledgeable enough to do so.

I am a sensitive empath/intuitive, and as such, I have to be very careful and discerning and keep my boundaries up. The combination of the Pit, the powers of the Great Pyramid, the other participants, the stagnant air inside the pyramid, the location of the initiation ritual in the Pit, and certain "darker" energies within the group consciousness, and who knows what else combined to make me become violently ill for the next four days. My stomach had warned me, but I didn't listen to it as I usually do. I ended up vomiting in BOTH the sacred Queen and King's Chambers....something I was very embarrassed about. After barely backing it back to my nearby hotel room, I laid in delirium for the next four days. Finally my partner summoned a doctor to my hotel room at the Mena House, and I was given a shot and antibiotics.

During the four days of hallucinating from whatever had come over me inside the pyramid during the ceremony, I kept re-living the same imagery over and over. I didn't know if this was a past life of mine or a thought form I picked-up-on which had been magnified during the ceremony or a collective group memory which I had tuned into. I still don't know for sure. All I know is that I kept seeing a boxcar rounding up Jews to be hauled away to Auschwitz. I heard the screams. I felt the horror and disbelief. I smelt the foul odor and stench of piss and fecal matter as there were no bathrooms on the boxcar. I saw certain of the presenters playing a role. One famous jewelry maker of our group turned into a mean-looking Nazi guard. An unmarried couple in our group became a husband & wife crying softly and consoling each other and saying their goodbyes as soon they would be separated. The leader of the group (a famous writer/publisher) took on the role of leader in the boxcar: calming and quieting the others with her power. It was as if I was witnessing a slice of hellish time repeating over and over like the movie The Groundhog Day.

The t-shirt above was purchased on this trip and remains a memory of the painful Cairo journey. Not only did I get sick, I witnessed a group of powerful, dysfunctional "presenters" hired by the touring company battle one another for power and control. At one point I was asked to spy on them by the owner of the company and report back to her...which I flatly refused to do.

This journey has left such a bad taste in my mouth that when I return to Egypt again as I have been told I will by many psychics (and also by my gut), that I plan to return with only trusted friends who are wise, aware and clear. Needless to say, I won't make a journey to The Pit.

Technorati Tags:storytelling blog, Egypt,Great Pyramid, tee-shirts talk story

Another T-Shirt Talks Story

2006-08-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

THE FACE IN THE ABYSS

“Imagination is the eye of the soul.” Joubert

Flying over the Nazca designs and peering at them from the vantage point of a small plane, I reflected back upon my altered-state experience in the small town of Aguas Calientes. My thoughts were of the magic that happened there and how it had shifted me to another level.

With ninety percent of Gringo Bill’s hostel empty, I began exploring the original one-of-a-kind rooms which were left with doors open. I found a second- story room with a huge wraparound deck looking out over the main plaza of the village and homesteaded it so I wouldn’t have to deal with Diana for awhile. The room had been painted a bright fuschia color with a round tantric-style mural of a couple making love painted on one wall. Outside on the deck, I pulled up an old wooden chair and parked myself squarely in the corner…queen of the castle! From here I had a marvelous view of the mountains in the distance, the people coming and going on the plaza down below and a quaint Catholic Church to my left. I put my feet up on the rickety wooden railing and made myself comfortable.

My eyes were drawn upwards where I saw a condor (a large bird with wing spans of up to ten feet) making circles in the sky. Condors have lived in the Andes for thousands of years, and they are said to represent Hanakpacha, where higher spiritual beings dwell. The Quechua Indians believe them to be symbols of spirit, messengers from the heavens, representatives of the mountain deities and a lucky omen! I snapped a picture against the cloud-filled sky and my spirit flew to join this awesome being soaring admidst the high mountain slopes.

I pondered what it would be like to live here. If it was anything at all like what I have been experiencing in merely one day, then it must be a mind-blowing place to reside. On the other hand, I recalled from reading the history of this area how fragile life was for this little village and for the surrounding area. In recent years there have been a number of natural disasters. Beginning in February, 1995, a huge landslide destroyed the entire hot springs complex at Aguas Calientes, just barely missing the village below where I now sat. Later that year, there had been another big landslide that swept through the serpentine road that curls around to Machu Picchu. Five months later, there was another avalanche. In October of 1997, a huge fire broke out in the area around Machu Picchu, which turned many of the emerald green mountains black. In 1998 there was another avalanche much greater than the first which dammed up the roaring Urubamba River at one place. The locals feel that the reason for all these disasters is because the local gods (apus) were angry with the desecration of their sacred lands. Perhaps the tourists should be advised to acknowledge the spirits and to make offerings--when they buy their train tickets to Aquas Caliente, they would receive such a warning note and advisory.

Living in this little village would make one feel very small and insignificant in comparison to the tall mountains and high-flying condors for living here would probably serve to humble the ‘ego’ part of the human so as to experience being ‘small’ for a change. Community with nature would most likely become one’s existence, as it has been for the Quechua Indians who have made this area their home for thousands of years. The community would consist of the sacred mountains, the apukuna, the rocks, the springs, the plants, the animals, the ancestors, the family members and the Great One Herself, Pachamama. This is something I could definitely get used to for I am a pantheist and Nature is my religion.

The clouds gave way to dusk, and I watched as the light faded on the mountains. The mountains became silhouetted against the dimming light of the sky. Suddenly my eyes spied an image of a Face on one of the cliffs of the mountain directly to my right. It reminded me of one of those Easter Island statues for the Face was immense. The eyes, the nose, and the mouth were clearly formed to portray a face. Could this be a natural rock formation, or was my imagination getting the best of me I asked myself, and before I could give myself the answer, I knew! This Face had been given the job of guardian to the vortex. I felt riveted to my chair! The moment I connected to this Face I had sensed an energy flow between us. It was the guardian of this sacred area, and it was expressing itself to me energetically! What is more, I felt the energy of great love and compassion emanating from it and merging with me. My heart zoomed out of my body, twirled around the mountain peaks and landed back in my chest with a thump. This heart connection between us felt so very real! I felt honored that it had revealed itself to me. Then I merged with it.

After a period of time (who knows how long) I came back into my body, and my thoughts were brought back once again to the Ancients who lived here so very long ago. Did they engineer this Face and entrust it to guard the sacred area around here or was it just a natural formation that had been magically enlivened? Had anyone else ever noticed this Face? How many had experienced the energy of the Face as I had? Did the face point to a treasure, or was there an entrance to the Etheric City inside Machu Picchu through the Face? Was it merely a guardian or did it serve multiple functions? Whom could I tell about this Guardian without seeming totally bonkers?

Reluctantly, I peeled myself off my wooden chair and returned to my room. All was dark in the room, and I was relieved to discover that Diana was not around. I laid down on my bed, switched on the table lamp and picked up a book that I had purchased in one of the shops, “Journey to Machu Picchu” by Carol Cumes. I randomly opened to a page, and my eyes fell upon this passage, “The three world are interconnected, and it is possible to pass from Kaypacha to Ukhupacha through the the kkocha (lakes), pujyu (springs) and pakkarina (place of origin). One passes from Kaypacha to Hanakpacha through tombs, special rocks, and crosses. There is a continuous interconnection between the beings of the three worlds, an important aspect of the Andean cosmology.”

Upon reading this passage, the light went off over my head. Of course! Just as I had sensed with my interchange with the Face, the Face was a connecting place. “According to Andean cosmology, the Andean universe is arranged on three planes of existence. The universe is divided into three “worlds”: Kaypacha, Hanakpacha, and Ukhupacha.”

Kaypacha is the world where humans, animals and plants live. Hanakpacha is the upper world where highly evolved beings live and Ukhupacha refers to the underworld inhabited by supernatural spiritual beings. Now I could put all the pieces of my magical afternoon together: the condor came to me as a messenger to initiate my understanding of what then followed. I had accessed the upper world of Hankpacha through the Guardian, the special rock, and then had been given a blessing from the upper world. That was why I had perceived so much Love Energy course through my system. The Guardian was a portal or stargate to the upper world! I was so excited after putting all this information together that I screamed outloud with joy and danced around the room. Life was so delicious, mysterious and fun!

Technorati Tags:storytelling blog, Peru,Machu Picchu, tee-shirts talk story

What Tequila Will Do

2006-08-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

And so I offer yet another t-shirt saga with the story conceived in Las Vegas under the influence of tequila at the Hard Rock Resort and Casino. Maybe this t-shirt and story will excite a better trade at Craigslist. Then again...maybe this is merely a storytelling blog. Time will tell where the energies are going to lead. Leave your comments on which stories you would like to hear more of.

RETURN OF THE WHITE DOLPHIN

As the movie opens we see a group of children aging from 6-14 sitting around a campfire on the beach with an older man, their scout-master/leader. There are no stars in the sky as the firmanent has now been replaced, and the night sky is muted and appears to be of an opaque silver tone. This camping trip is an exciting outing for the children as they rarely get to set foot on land. Now their homes are structures which float on the water held down by cement pilings. The former land masses worldwide had been diminished in size at the time of the Great Shift, and the diminished human population accomodated to this upheaval and developed floating islands. Thus, the children are elated to have this rare experience of camping on land.

They are in great spirits and beg the old man to tell them "The Story of the Return Of The White Dolphin" once again. They have heard it many times before, but they like the way the aged Storyteller puts another spin on it each time he re-tells it. The 'White Dolphin' is their cultural myth since the time of the Great Shift.

When the Great Shift happened many years prior to their being born, humanity collaborated with the dolphins to ensure the survival of the human race. Certain wise ones, star seeds and crystal children guided the development of the development of the ever-changing, evolving Earth civilization. These children and their families now live with a synergistic human-dolphin connection, and the former technological age of the 21^st century is history. There is now the inner-net, versus the internet of times past. Storytelling never dies despite catastrophic change, and so the wise Storyteller clears his throat and begins.

Meanwhile the Borgs plot....

Technorati Tags:storytelling blog, dolphins,science fiction, tee-shirts talk story

No Takers

2006-08-12T12:43:00.000-07:00

Thus far I've had a very poor response to my online ad on Craigslist, so I posted on another upstart online free classified site this week. Nada. Zip. Zero action. This feeble return is why I've decided to up- the- stakes with a bolder headline this coming week as the headline "Be A Part of History" is only attracting a few traders for the vintage t-shirt.

I'm considering a way more outrageous headline to attempt to move this blog along to fame and fortune. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

Say What!?

2006-08-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

Another offer from Craigslist for the Machu Picchu t-shirt: "I would be willing to trade a pomegranite tree for your tee-shirt. You dig up this 6' tree out of my back yard, and it's a trade......"

Next!

First Offer To Trade for T-Shirt

2006-08-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

Photo: terragalleria

"Re: the Machu Picchu t-shirt. First of all what size is it? I have fresh papaya and avocado. If you can post a picture I may throw in a large fish steamer, a french bread pan, and a professional chef whisk.
Thanks for your consideration,"

Name Removed by Me (Kuanyin)

Note: I had uploaded two photos of this t-shirt to Craigslist when I posted the barter ad, but when I went back to check today, I didn't see them. Where did they go? I have a mystery on my hands.

Let the stories of the vintage t-shirts begin!

2006-08-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

Date With Destiny

“The important thing is this: to be able at a moment’s notice to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.” Charles du Bos

Maria reached into her white apron and pulled out a handful of silvery green leaves and then gently and expertly cast them on the worn woven cloth. Our foursome was mesmerized as we watched the exotic Maria interpret the patterns that were displayed for we knew that Maria, an elderly Aymara Yatiti native ceremonial healer and seer in Peru, was communing with the spirits and that these piles of coca leaves were revealing the essence of our lives. She squinted into the high altitude sun. Her eyes sparkled like tiny twinkling orbs, and with her unfocused gaze, I felt as if she saw beyond time and space.

Each time she threw the hundreds of coca leaves again for more information, the leaves would speak to her in more detail about our individual stories. The translator relayed our questions to her, and in turn relayed the answers from Maria. Before asking questions, she told us about ourselves. “You are lucky with money,” she said to me. “And you have a husband and a daughter.” She was almost right as my partner is my common-law husband even though we have never officially tied-the-knot. I asked the translator, “How does she see this?” The answer translated back from Maria, “There…..see those three leaves?” Yes, I saw three little leaves set apart from the other leaves, and I smiled: the three of us, our happy little family showing up in coca leaves all the way across the sea from Hawaii! What an amazing universe we reside in I thought. There is no hiding the truth! Thus my reading went: much confirmation of many truths plus many fascinating predictions.

Maria told me many positive things and answered all my questions swiftly, but the most important question I saved for last. Actually, I already knew the answer, but I just wanted to hear it coming from her or through her, so it would be voiced in the third dimension. So I asked, “What is the purpose for my visit to Peru? Will I find what I seek here?” The answer: “The Ancestors have called you here, and they they are pleased you answered the Call.”

Ah, yes. I knew this truth. I knew the moment I had heard from a girlfriend of this potential pilgrimage that it was FINALLY my time to return to Peru. I wanted to listen carefully to the Ancient Ones and build a rainbow bridge from my home, Hawaii, which was another part of the Old Holy Land. I wanted to physically touch the stones of Peru which vibrate with the MeMUries of the starseeds. By traveling and being immersed in the energies of this land, I would be able to access higher levels of consciousnesss and lift the veils of forgetfulness. I would awaken to even more Self-Remembrance. This was Soul Work...pure and simple. And so it was that many elements of arranging and organizing the journey flowed smoothly with my intention and focus. I purchased a round trip ticket from Los Angeles to Lima, Peru at an unbelievably low price. My partner felt happy about my journey, and the timing worked for our mutual schedules. Yes, the Ancestors had called me to a date with destiny.

And yet there were some unresolved fears that came into this perfect picture of bliss with this prospective journey. Night after night, I would have nightmares about Peru, and I could not shake this feeling of dread. Normally I experience certainty about my choices, for answers and solutions make themselves very obvious and clear: yes or no. However, in this situation, there was a feeling that a nameless ‘something’ was lurking below the surface of my consciousness, and the only time that this ‘something’ would reveal itself would be through unsettled dreams and nightmares.

Eventually I decided to investigate my fears with others who are gifted with intuition and psychic powers. The first person I consulted was a shaman that worked at a local metaphysical bookstore. I walked into the store one day and asked the ‘reader’ to read my cards. The pictures on the cards actually foretold much of what would occur to me in Peru that was of a troubling nature. And when I left there, I knew that my dreams had been revealing to me the shadow side of the journey, for there would be both sides that would play-out…..the light AND the dark. Apparently, there was no way around this: for me to accept the Call, I had also to accept the initiation into the Shadow, the dark and the unknown. The cards said that I would survive and be strengthend by these encounters, but that it would be uncomfortable for all of us. “See those two little fishes there?” she said as she pointed to two small goldfishes. “These fishes will be your traveling companions, and they have to live in a certain temperature controlled water. Therefore, they can not dive as deep as you, nor swim as high. They will limit you to some degree, and for your trip to be successful, you must swim away from them.” This was my first glimpse into the traveling situation, for as it eventually turned out, there were going to be only three of us going to Peru: me and the two delicate fishes.

This information magnified my uncomfortable feelings , and while visiting in Sedona, Arizona, I spoke about my trip to two friends. The man, Many Hawks, was an extremely wise, intuitive 77- year -old Lakota Indian, and his vibes about the journey were not good. He advised me to stay home. His partner felt I would fine, and she stated that I should go ahead and go. The feedback from this twosome was a perfect mirror of what my dueling voices was saying to me: go... don’t go... don’t go.

Returning home to Hawaii, I called my favorite intuitive on the East Coast, and finally two days before the trip, I received an email from him: Stray from the group as much as possible, and then you will be fine. This was the second warning about the group I was to be traveling with, and at one point I seriously considered if my timing was off. I checked in with Divine Mother, my Higher Self, my angels & guides and questioned them. The answer was clear: I was to go now! And to make matters worse, my dear friend who had known me through the years stated emphatically, “Now, you’ve gone and done it!” She was obviously not getting good vibes about my journey!

As if these fears and feedback from others were not enough to trouble me, right before leaving, another huge Fear appeared. Possible revolution in Peru. The stories of the contender, Toledo, and Fujimora, the current President of Peru, were popping up front page in all the major newspapers. Apparently Toledo had felt the last election had been rigged, and many of his supporters were calling for an ousting of Fujimora. Many angry demonstrations were taking place in Peru. The day I left for Peru, May 28th, was the date set for the re-elections, and many felt there would be a military coup or something drastic happen. I left anyway, for by this time I knew I had a Date with Destiny. When there is so much energy around something, there is really zero choice but to walk through the fears or give in to them. Show up and be counted was what my inner voice was saying! I had to keep a promise made somewhere in time. I had to sacrifice my fears.

These were my thoughts/feeling/vibes that called me onward despite these fears:

Consider the possibility that at one time Peru was part of or outpost of the ancient legendary continent of Lemuria or Mu (depending upon who tells the story, either Lemuria or Mu is the correct name), a vast landmass that spanned the enormous reaches of the Pacific Ocean. Lemuria was a beautiful tropical paradise, a Garden of Eden, and some Lemurian researchers believe that it dates back over 50,000 years ago or more. The Pacific Islands (my home) are the remaining mountain peaks of the lost continent, for the majority of this continent went down under the waters in an epic event. This event was caused either by a massive catastrophic earth change or destroyed by an enemy in war. A very advanced culture which was feminine -based (yin), non-power oriented with a loving society existed on this landmass at one time, before the 'something BIG' that happened. Whatever this 'something big' was, it caused the magnetic force to shatter, and most of the land slipped under the water. However, some parts of the land mass were pushed up, and mountains were formed that reached to the skies. Thus, Peru and Lake Titicaca were in the rushing energies pushed up and away from their former base. Lake Titicaca was disconnected from its Pacific waters, and to this day remains the highest navigable body of water in the world. Wiracocha, the original teacher and creator god of the Andean myths, is said to have risen from the foam and claimed to have been invited to the Andes and initiated into the ancient Solar Brotherhood from Lemuria. There were supposedly two brotherhoods established by the Lemurian Kumaras: the Solar Brotherhood and the Brotherhood of the Seven Rays. These were attempts to ground the light of the Solar Spirit in the newly formed land. George Hunt Williamson under the pen name of Brother Philip wrote about the Monastery of the Seven Rays in his now classic book of the 60’s, “Secret of the Andes.”

I had read this book in the 60’s when I was 'waking- up', and I remember thinking that I would like to journey to this place someday. But it was not until the 80’s and I was receiving a psychic reading in Phoenix, Arizona that this monastery would again be brought to my attention. The reader saw me journeying to Peru when I was much older (which is now twenty some years later, and believe me, I DO feel much older in many ways!) and sitting in front of the great Solar Disc. This Solar Disc had previously hung within an important temple in Lemuria and had been transported for safekeeping to this Monastery when the Spanish had invaded Peru. The Incas had to get it out of Cusco quickly before it fell into the wrong hands. Supposedly it held many incredible powers, and later I will share with you my experience of being with this Solar Disc, for yes, the psychic had been right, and I did get to experience this incredible disc in this lifetime although not in the 3rd dimension but in an altered reality.

I discovered a local legend while reading an obscure tourist manual in Peru that connects with other legends about Noah and floods. This legend states that their forefathers used to live in the Lake before there was a shining sun and the lake was much bigger then. A war came about between these people and people that lived in dark places in the caves and hills. It was during this time that the sun came out for the first time, and many people were destroyed on both sides of the conflict. Then the Father of the Gods came down and brought people with him, and when this Father became offended, he left the Earth and sent heavy rains which flooded everything. The only couple left was an Uro couple in a reed boat that began a new community.

Consider the possibility that this is the identical legend that has been shared in many cultures, for it has much in common with many other worldwide legends which speak of the various Noahs that were saved by a God-like being from a disastrous world flood. Also, at one time, there was supposed to have been a firmanent above the Earth, a water-filled firmanent which blocked out the Sun and which kept the Earth temperate. During a major conflict, this firmanent was dislodged, and the water that was in it became the oceans of the world in a massive flood. Thus, this local legend is witness to these other ancient legends and would seem to confirm that each locale of the world kept a version of the story intact even to present times.

So who were the people that the legends refer to that lived IN the lake, the LARGER lake? Consider the possibility that these amphibious beings were the original caretakers of Earth and what people commonly refer to today as mermaids, although the correct term would be Mer- Folk. These Mer people were the first beings that populated Earth long before pre-man came along and took over the designation as humans, eventually becoming the men and women of our age which are a fairly recent appearance in the evolutionary scheme of things. Many ancient records tell stories about Oannes, Vishnu and others who were the amphibious beings (the Mer Folk) that came from the waters to re-establish culture, science and knowledge on Earth after the floods.

Consider the possibility that these beings, the Mer Folk, were the original inhabitants of a planet that was the first Earth, a 4th planet, that was shattered by another planet that came roaring through our solar system. Mars was then the 3rd planet. The planet on its way through our solar system (Nibiru) impacted the 4th planet, and the remains of the 4th planet became our present day Earth. Maybe 70 % of this former planet is present day Earth, and the rift where the shattering took place is the Pacific Ocean area. The rest of the fomer 4th planet is the present day Asteroid Belt. This planet is the memory of Mu or Lemuria. And that is why so many people that do regression work or touch into their cellular memories can recall this devastating cosmic encounter. They have recall of having been of One Mind... One Heart...One Being, and they can also recall the terrible impact and resulting havoc.

Some channeled material and many indigenous tribes describe the appearance of these Lemurians who might have been the amphibious beings later known as the Mer Folk. From a channeling by Gordon Michael Scallion, they are physically described thusly: “large in stature, about nine feet tall. Their skin had an aqua cast changing from blue to green in conjunction with two seasonal cycles each year. Their faces were elongated and oval. Their eyes were large with lids running vertically. The texture of their skin was slightly scaly. They breathed through their skin, not lungs…the first Lemurians were androgynous—neither male, nor female.”

Or another possibility is that the original caretakers placed on this planet Earth after a catastrophe were amphibious beings, known as the Nommos, a soul group from a planet near Sirius B that take the physical forms of dolphins, whales, or mermaids/mermen. However, many of the Nommos also walk upright, and many are now incarnating into the human form. Once upon a time (and who really knows when) their former home imploded, and they were given the earth as their new home. They were sent to Earth from Sirius for the benefit of humankind, and are saviors and spiritual guardians for the developing species and souls in the Earth School. Many ancient civilizations mention these fish-like beings: Oannes from Babylonia, Ea from Acadia, Enki from Summer, Isis from Egypt, Dagon from Philistia and Nomo from the Dogons. They were also described as beings with scaly, fish-like skin.

Consider the possibility that these Mer beings exist and telepathically contact certain ones who are a part of their soul group and assist them to remember their Star Ancestry. Most likely they collaborate with the cetaceans, specifically the dolphins and whales, who then begin contact by initiating a relationship with them. In recent years there has been a huge world-wide activation by the dolphins, either in the dreamtime, meditation state or through real-time water encounters. The dolphins see humans as if we were a hologram, for they can see all our states in one scan, and they don’t even need to do this in the physical. For once a person begins raising their consciousness, they become known in the etheric realms, and the dolphins, who live in higher consciousness, then begin their activation process.

We each have an Oversoul, our original pattern, and during the ascension process, we are working our way back to remembering this Original Pattern, our long-forgotten roots, consciously Re-Membering our Higher Self, our Cosmic Identity. Maybe one of these archetypal patterns for some of us is an etheric amphibious being. Through the process of linear time, we have been working our way back Home in successive reincarnations to our authentic state of Oneness where we will be focused on light-body living once again.

Consider the possibility that these Mer Folk were the Ancestors that Maria had spoken about to me in her coca leaf reading and the ones that had called me to Peru, specifically to the Lake Titicaca area of Peru & Bolivia where soul memories awaited me to be reclaimed in full consciousness in this lifetime. Certain areas of the world have been shown to me by my spiritual mentors to be connected to these amphibious beings, and Peru, specificially Lake Titicaca, was one of them. Lake Titicaca and the surrounding area is known to be the primary portal for the Divine Feminine on this planet, as Tibet is the primary portal for the Divine Masculine. I had already journeyed to Tibet two years earlier and now it was time for the opposite polarity, the Feminine.

Consider the possibility that not only were the Mer Folk ONE of the surviving races, but that there were also giants that survived the great Deluge. There have been tantalizing clues found all over the world that suggest the world was once populated by gigantic beings that stemmed from the pre-flood era. Tall mummified remains have been found in California, Nevada, Greece, Italy, the Middleast and Peru. All of these mummies are evidence that once giant beings walked the earth. These Titans were mentioned in the Sumerian clay tablets, in the Bible and many other legends of indigenous tribes all over the world. Apparently they were in excess of seven feet tall, had six fingers and toes and an extra row of teeth. They were fearsome to the smaller species of man that followed. Scientists conjecture that under better atmospheric conditions than we have today, giants could have lived. After the Flood, most likely the atmospheric conditions and ozone layer would have changed.

After flying into Lima and spending one night at a hotel nearby the Lima airport, our group of three flew into the high altitude city of Cusco, Peru, the ancient capital of the Inca empire. Relaxing in a rustic wooden chair on the terrace of our hostel after a lung-wrenching climb in the high altitude, I had a panoramic view of the city of Cusco and the sacred terrain of the Cusco Valley. I could see beautiful terracotta tiled roofs on adobe structures as far as the eye could see cradled between dry barren hills. Out of site were the twelve sacred mountains. These mountain deities are called Apus (or Apukanas) by the indigenous peoples. The Apus are considered Sacred Beings and are believed to control various aspects of the Divine that is part of everything. It is customary to call upon the Apus when one arrives in Cusco, make them an offering and ask for their blessings, so I called upon the Apus and asked for their aid on my journey ahead. I specifically put a request to the Apu that aids in recovering knowledge for this was my primary mission. Even though I did not know which Apu correlated to which mountain, I knew that these Spirits operated like tuning forks and that through resonance, we would connect. I felt a warm response and acceptance.

Cusco translates to navel, and it is easy to why when one view the sacred landscape of the city. The main plaza, the Plaza Des Armas, sits like a navel would in the human anatomy, surrounded by graduated levels of buildings and rising hills on all sides, with mountains ringing the whole. Cuzco is a charming city, full of life and nightlife. The locals like to make parades around this main plaza at night with costumed youngsters of all ages participating in song and dance. This nightly partying, the fiestas, has been going on for thousands of years. There are many young foreigners from all over the world running around which makes it feel very international. I liked that there were also lots of internet bars, cafes and great restaurants. Many of the original Inca stones make up the foundation walls along the small, winding cobblestoned streets that gather into different plazas. And for me, the Mer folk made their statement loud and clear: at the very center of the navel (at the center of the main plaza of Cusco: the Plaza Des Armas) is a beautiful fountain which is designed with Mermen blowing their conch shell horns! This was confirmation for me when I saw this for the first time, and chill bumps went all the way up and down my spine. Observation of the Obvious. This is one of the main tenents of higher consciousness. Yes, indeed, this was just one of the first Mer people clues that would be coming my way throughout my pilgrimage.

During the time of the Inca empire, Cusco was both an administrative center and a holy city. The empire stretched over 2,000 miles from Columbia in the north to Chile in the south and was ruled with absolute authority by the Sapa Inca, the supreme ruler and a god-king, the Son of the Sun. The guesswork for the time span of this empire was around AD1200 until their cultural destruction by the Spanish in the sixteenth century. There was a vast system of roads which allowed rapid communication. Some were paved, while others were simply marked by a line of stones. The four main roads left Cuzco from the present-day Plaza de Armes which at one time was much larger and called Huacaypata. However, the major center of ancestor worship and where the Incas would sit on state and ceremonial occasions was at the Coricancha, or what the Spaniards called the Temple of the Sun. Radiating out from this site were 41 lines or ceques, alignments of sacred places which could be any natural topographical feature in the landscape. It was the water theme that was predominant amongst the various attributes of the ceque system with only about a quarter of the ceques having astronomical functions. Why did the Incas place so much emphasis on water and ancestor worship? Had their empire been founded with the
knowings about the ancestral Mer people and had the Incas inherited much of the original roads, alignments and layouts from the earlier caretakers ?

As I stared down upon the Cuzco of today, a charming city that is no longer at the center of Inca power but possibly STILL the navel of the Earth, I puzzled about the reality of the Mer Folk. Were they still living in the third dimension on earth but in hiding? Did they resemble the paintings, descriptions and images that were commonly presented about them? Or had they long ago disappeared to another dimension … along with the the Ancient Ones, the Anasazi? Could they be contacted? Were the Mer Ancestors still close by in another world which is solely fourth dimensional but which interpenetrates our own? Had I truly been called by them? I’ve never been specifically trained to access the non-visible worlds, but indeed that is what I do much of the time for I am an energy sensitive being. It is natural for me as this ability is part of my human design, and I am patient in allowing the answers to come forth in right timing.

I had been researching the myths and legends about mermaids for some time, and many words and revelations had suggested that Peru held some of the secrets. For instance, I read in the book by Mark Amaru Pinkham, “The Return of the Serpents of Wisdom,” that “one of the earliest immortal Serpents from Mu to colonize Amaraka was Aramu Muru or Amaru Muru, the Serpent Muru. According to legend, moments before Mu’s final demise the Serpent Muru along with his consort Arama Mara boarded an airship and headed to South America with a cargo of sacred records and artifacts, including a huge golden Sun Disc. The mountains of South America, the Andes, resonated to the same yin vibration as their beloved Mu and were thus considered suitable for the preservation of Lemurian culture. They were also home to the city of Paititi, one of the planetary headquarters of the Solar Brotherhood, an organization Aramu Muru had been a high ranking member of on Mu.” I couldn’t help but notice the word Aramu Muru…..it was just another way of spelling Mer: Mer, Aramu, Muru, one and the same. This is where the amphibious Mer people had moved to and had made their new home after the destruction of Mu! And the map in Mark’s book showed a reproduction of an ancient South American sea that stretched almost all the way from the Pacific to the Atlantic. I felt I was getting warm, and I definitely knew I had to be in Peru to get hot. Why did I experience such longing to understand this arcane puzzle, I can only say this: The Soul has its reasons which are often a mystery to the personality.

Quickly we were off to the Sacred Valley and the village of Ollantaytambo, a vortexual mountain, where the enormous megalithic temple ruins beckon the tourists to browse their mysteries. It is sometimes called Temple of the Wind, but no one actually knows its original purpose, and it has been called in some books, “the landing pad of the Gods.” Some writers believe that this temple’s function was that of an initiation temple for the opening of the Heart Chakra, and like the other temple sites of Peru, is surely a doorway into a different reality through which we can awaken our consciousness. It was designed to concentrate energy and honor the Spirit of Mother Earth I sensed, so I began my time in the temple ruins with my offering to Pachamama, the Mother Earth. I took three coca leaves from my medicine bag, made what is called a k’intu and then fanned them out blowing on them with my prayers. Then I threw them into the winds, and continued chewing the coca leaves, taking the gummy remainder of the leaves from my cheek and burying it into the earth with more prayers and a tiny crystal dolphin. After pressing my forehead to various stone walls, I located one panel that had engraved upon it the stair-step design. This stair-step design is sometimes stylized as the Andean Cross, but this wall had five steps which was more aligned with the original design of the ziggurats. These truncated pyramids were built in seven tiers in ancient Babylon, and possibly this is where the origin of our word ‘zig-zag’ came from. This is a literal description of what I later experienced at another dimensional doorway, for one etherically zig-zags through a portal! And like the design so aptly portrays, it is lightening fast!

I was guided to locate a power spot to meditate, muse and commune with the powerful entities of the area. Shortly a lone Quechua man caught my attention, and I observed him perform a mysterious act. After he departed, I felt drawn to mimic what he had done: slide my hand into a hollowed–out groove of a huge rectangular granite stone. This groove was just the perfect size for a hand. I sensed it was for me to receive the frequency he had been transmitting. I stated with strong intention to the Ancestors, “I am here to turn the key and open the door to memory. I am here to experience the Ancient-Future. I make myself available to your guidance, and I open to insights.” This act was my first statement of intention and power.

There is an extensive underground tunnel system that runs underneath the sacred sites of Peru. These tunnels supposedly correlate with the ley lines or water lines that run throughout the countryside, and the main temples such as Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu are lined up with these ley/water lines and tunnels. Most of the openings have supposedly been closed down by the government, but there are many stories about people that have discovered an entrance into the labyrinth or maze beneath the ground and the marvels they discovered. Under Machu Picchu there has been observed a lake by some indigenous people, but so far this story hasn’t been proven or disproven.

These elaborate tunnel systems were one of the ways that much of the Inca gold was smuggled out and away from the Spanish invaders. Perhaps the tunnels have fallen into disrepair throughout the centuries, or perhaps they have been maintained and are guarded. Perhaps there are shamans that know their way around down below and keep the secrets intact. Maybe gold, precious gems, records and artifacts are still stashed away in some deep vault, waiting for the right adventurer to discover them when the time is right. Ever since the declassification of ground-penetrating radar several years ago, amazing data of complex, labyrinthine underground systems in various parts of the world like the Mayan pyramid complex at Tikal, Guatemala has shown how it was possible for the Mayan Indians to escape from the Spaniards. Likewise, an enormous subterranean complex beneath the Egyptian pyramids has been mapped using the SIRA radar system. There has been revealed a vast megalithic metropolis reaching several levels below the Giza plateau. This metropolis includes enormous statues, massive chambers, subterranean rivers and lakes. The sophisticated technology that created this is way beyond our present technology.

The Inca times are not ancient in comparison to the grand old age of this planet, and they were just a small little blip in time when one considers the millions of years that sentient beings of many different times have lived on Earth. Scientists have discovered that humanity is far older than was originally perceived ten years ago. Many of the stones that make up the temples of Peru are pre-Incan, and as such, were placed in the temples by the megalithic peoples for which there are limited facts. When the Incas came on the scene, the stones were already in place in the temples, and the builders had disappeared. Vanished. Perhaps they found their way into another dimension, but this is merely conjecture.

Meanwhile, back at the hostel where our group was residing, Julia began our diagnosis for mikuy ( releasing dense energy) and for healing. She said that I was balanced on all levels and was just fine so I could run along. However, my travelling companions, the two fishes, needed her healing assistance. So whilst they were given her herbal ministrations, I wandered around the small town of Ollayntambo and began my contact with the locals by practicing my limited Spanish through the time-honored tradition of shopping. I bought a couple of alpaca items, t-shirts and woven goods, and everything seemed to be accomplished easily with just one word: Cuanto? (How much?), a smile and exchange of soles, the Peruvian currency. I was the only tourist I saw that day for many had cancelled their reservations upon hearing about the turbulent political climate. Although I had a very different appearance than the locals, I felt completely comfortable. The Peruvian peoples are non-aggressive , non-threatening and observe one such as myself in a very discreet fashion. I felt safe with their calm energy.

I returned to the hostel to discover that the electricity and water were not working and was informed that when this happens, no one knows when the services will resume. Our tour guide suggested we return to Cusco earlier than planned. However, for one of the fish this was an annoyance, an inconvenience and the beginning of anger which she projected upon me as she incorrectly assumed that I was the instigator of this move. I reminded her that sometimes situations come about on journeys that are out of our control, and that this was an opportunity for her to stretch! This fish was a trust-fund baby, had never worked a day in her life, nor did she participate in charity or volunteer work. She spent her days moving from alternative healer to masseuse to psychics when she was not traveling. She had a very carefully controlled life, and she called the shots. Thus, the word ‘stretch’ was not in her lifestyle, nor her vocabulary. She fumed and called me a betrayer. Suddenly, I saw her face turn into a likeness of a small, predatory bird.

The other fish was undergoing what appeared to be a nervous breakdown, and her primary mood was a heavy one: alternatively crying, sulking or brooding. She was a successful naturopathic doctor in the U.S. While on this journey, her husband of many years would be moving out of their home. He had finally had it with her because of her flagrant infidelity and was moving on. She kept to herself for the most part, and when I smiled at her, she returned my smile with stink-eye. Her projection of negative energy was beginning to make me very uncomfortable.

Our tour guide was extremely self-contained, or was it merely aloof or disinterested? I couldn’t really tell, but he blamed his unsuccessful tour business on the black magicians who had wanted to shut him down. Certainly, they had succeeded in some respect, for his personality was certainly shut down. A man of few words and even less smiles, he was very difficult to connect to.

I was traveling with two strong alpha females who were used to being the BOSS and one checked-out male. I laid down on the bed to review the dynamics of our threesome. How had I created this scenario with these difficult, delicate fish? What was I to learn from this experience? I put myself into a light trance and watched a past-life scenario unfold:

I saw the three of us traveling to India at the time of the British colonization of India in the 1800’s. The women were then my elderly aristocratic aunts, and my mother, had sent me along with them on a 3 month journey. We had trunks, porters, servants and a tour guide/man servant--which was our present tour guide in that lifetime. I remembered their complaints about everything, especially the heat. They were demanding, whining and always picking on me. I was miserable being with these two old biddies. Then the scene changed, and I saw myself laughing, drinking wine and splashing my feet in the water with another British group, and we were having a great time. I had abandoned my aunts and had taken off with this lively group. My mother was promptly informed, but my mother was so busy with her own life, and she was not concerned. My aunts were left to be miserable by themselves.

I awoke from this trance with a new understanding of our relationship, and I realized clearly for the first time my trepidations about traveling with these two. Apparently, the great karmic director had felt it necessary to repeat this experience for each other, although this time our journey was to be for only three weeks, not three months. Time was definitely speeding up! What was our group to re-hash, re-create or realize? Would we heal this past experience and wounding? Or would we simply repeat our drama on a new journey in another part of the world?

Birth of Vintage Tees

2006-07-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

I have been a long-time collector of t-shirts, and 99 % of them have never been worn. These t-shirts were purchased at concerts and on journeys to exotic places, or gifted from friends, strangers and companies. The intention of this blog is to showcase them, share their stories (as written by me) and trade them on Craig's List for something else.