Sacred Travel…COSM, the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors-part 2.

It’s funny how we are always in some kind of flux…growing, flowing, being molded by our surroundings.  It seems that no matter how far up our personal, evolutionary tree we climb there are still wounds to heal, lessons to learn, and potentials to explore.  That is what makes living so divine!  ************************************************************ I returned home from Florida, knowing that in a few short weeks I would be connecting with members of my Spirit Tribe; a group of Wyrd (connected to fate) Travelers I met (this life) while on a sacred pilgrimage to the United Kingdom.  Our meeting was something no doubt planned in the betwixt & between, for kinships formed throughout lifetimes are a kind of magic of their own. 

Knowing I would soon be spending time in deep transformational space, I recognized that my self-work was not done, in fact, I had just placed my foot upon the trail of transformation.  After all, I was seeking to change the tempo in which I lived my life, not an easy task.

Being dedicated to myself, I started speaking of the change I was seeking, using words that supported my goal.  Positive affirmations are a good way to support and direct growth and healing in our life.   After all most of our problems come out of the bad programming that runs on repeat inside of our heads; spewing out negative bullshit that wastes the potential of our minds.  Just imagine what life could look like if we spoke as many encouraging words to ourselves…

I walked away from obvious negative internal banter along time ago, but that does not mean my brain is always kind to me.  While I don’t bad-talk myself in the way that many people do, I run a to-do list that has the potential of being never-ending.  So I still have need of positive affirmations, mantras, and intentional thoughts.  This was how I spent the weeks between my travels, reinforcing the new setting I had chosen to live my life in; the one with purposeful movement and lots of Catnaps.

The trouble was I still could not see the direction I wanted to go in, the prey I wanted to stalk or the perhaps a better way of putting it was I had not yet received the scent of that which I sought.  I was pretty sure I would find it while on Sacred journey and I was anticipating the insight it would lend to me.

The drive to COSM was absolutely beautiful.  The first part of the journey was straight down the state of Vermont via I91; a quiet highway with little traffic and few sightings of civilization.  Then we headed west & south along the Taconic State Parkway to the Hudson River Valley of NY.

COSM-the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors is a sanctuary, a church of sorts dedicated to the visionary arts and creativity.  It is also a sacred womb of awakening, an intentional space filled with the mind ‘altaring’ art of Alex Grey and his wife Allison.  The permanent art collection at the sanctuary is known for integrating both scientific and spiritual truths.  In short, it is a place of transformation!

Visionary art; such as Alex & Allison Grey’s, is meant to trigger the subconscious, allowing us to step out of our analytical mind and into the deeper vastness of our souls knowing.  Spending time submerged in such art often works on the receiver long after they have walked away from the physical display.

My fellow Wyrd Travelers and I went to COSM with this in mind, we were looking for the full experience as well as a place we could step into our shared spiritual work without disturbance.  We received both, as the universe provided us with the opportunity to be the only guest staying @ Grey House (the Inn at COSM) for the duration of our visit.

In visiting the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors my personal goal was to receive with an open mind, allowing messages of direction to come to me, instead of my normal steady push for deep waters.  After all, I was working with Big Cat/Panther; I was not searching under every rock for my knowledge, instead, I was waiting around stealthily for it to appear.  Most of my time there was taken up with group work, primarily focused on helping others wake-up peacefully, in this time of Psychic Evolution. My individual work was more subtle…it involved meditating in the temple room in the early hours of the morning, and absorbing the energy of the place while I slept…where it infiltrated my dreams and seeped into my knowing.  I don’t recall a single ‘Ah-ha’ moment of self-awareness, yet I left understanding my future path more clearly and have continued to unfold subconscious wisdom in my dreams; both waking and sleeping.

Perhaps it was in walking the grounds, rich with Earth energy; intentionally harnessed through the works of Geomancy-the art of placing or arranging buildings or other sites auspiciously, walking the labyrinth or observing the many paintings & statues with their multitude of eyes, that triggered such introspection.  But I truly feel that I walked away with a deeper knowing of my path and a clearer understanding of how to get there.

I have used Sacred Travel as a vehicle for transformation for many years now.  There is something about stepping away from our mundane world, that allows us to look at our life differently.  I know I am fortunate enough to do so regularly, and for that I am thankful.  But this has not always been the case, I have not always had the luxury of time and money to make such things happen.

So…how do we submerse ourselves in Sacred Pilgrimage when we do not have the luxury of leaving our home, family & obligations?

I will be talking about just that in part 3 of this Sacred Travel log, which will be out on Friday, April 5th.  Thanks for following along on my adventures…

spreading love-salicrow

ps-A big fat, grey squirrel was very comfortable on the property.  I found it to be a cosmic joke, as I had been saying I needed to put the squirrel in a cage; in reference to my need to step away from squirrel as my active power animal.  By the end of the weekend at COSM I realized that my reference of ‘caging the squirrel’ was really a pretty shitty way to give thanks to an animal spirit that has helped me achieve a lot over the last few years, and that instead I needed to give thanks to it and wish it a safe journey.  So thank you, my friend, for all your fast-paced, zing.

 

Stories of Spirit…Giving Thanks and Standing in Solidarity [the importance of community & water]

 

I have always had a love affair with water.  I have never been a great swimmer, nor am I the owner of a boat.  My love has been for the Spirit of Water itself.  I have been taken in by it’s many sounds…waves crashing on the beach,  rapids rushing over granite river beds, lazy lake ripples lapping against the shore, rain pouring on a metal roof, the sloshing of laundry back in forth in the washer.  The sound of water alone is magical, rhythmic and soothing.  I have admired it’s beauty…snow falling on a moon lit night, rainbows sparkling in the summer rain, tropical pools of turquoise, tanks filled with colorful fish, the glass like stillness of a quiet pond, glaciers gleaming in the Arctic cold.  Not to mention the taste.  Anyone who has been blessed to drink from the Earth’s own water, unfiltered, untreated, just fresh clean water from the land itself knows that Water comes in many wonderful flavors.  The mineral content changing the flavor from spring to spring.

I have lived at the same location for the past 19 years.  The primary reason being the quality of the water.  My water is outstanding.  It’s mineral rich, and quite frankly, the best water I have ever tasted.  In the few times my husband and I have thought about moving, the quality of our water has always come up.  We are aware of the importance water plays in life, and the problems scarcity of water can create.  This understanding has been more and more on our minds as the years move on.

My love for the Earth, and my understanding of the value of water has stirred my soul over the passing months, as I have watched the Water Protectors stand up for theirs.    We cannot turn a blind eye at the future as it presents itself, we cannot pretend that we have not noticed the quality of the water on the planet changing.  Even those among us who are conservative in mind must notice that we now have to buy our water.  I was born in 1971, and as a child I was able to drink out of the riverbeds while out hiking.  I also drank from water fountains in public places, like department stores and school.  I remember when they started selling water, and how crazy that seemed to everyone.  Not so crazy now.

I live a long way from North Dakota, but the responsibility I feel for the water of the world is close.

Water Altar @ Blissful Dragon Farm

Today I was struck by the power of frozen water.  While visiting Blissful Dragon Farm (Waterford, VT), I couldn’t help but admire how beautiful the Water Altar was.  The water frozen in the offering bowl felt so powerful, its crystalline energy potent with intent.  Isa the Rune for Ice immediately came to mind.  I thought how ice can create a barrier, shielding anything within it from outside forces.  How fitting this seemed to my desire to join forces with the Water Protectors.

I will be returning to Blissful Dragon Farm tomorrow to spend Thanksgiving with my family and friends.  I have great thanks to give this year.  I will give thanks to the Earth that provides me with everything.  I will give thanks to the Water, the life blood of all Earthlings.  I will give thanks to the Water Protectors for standing up for the Mother, and I will send the potent magic of frozen water to join them where they stand.  The last bit seems ironic, but some how all the more potent for the saying.

There are those who believe that abstaining from Thanksgiving would make a statement against the wrongs they see happening in our country.  I understand the sentiment, but question the judgement of skipping the family feast.  Thanksgiving is a holiday about family and community.  It is one of the simplest holidays, with a focus on being thankful.  How can that be wrong?

We are scared, angry, sad and unbalanced now.  As a people we have so much to be disturbed by in this world.  That’s why it’s so important that we find our center, our community, that bond that ties us together.  Alone we are like drops of rain, tiny drops that hardly make a difference, but together we can be an ocean.  When we isolate ourselves, disconnect ourselves and shut off from the world we become the single drop of rain.  We become small, insufficient and vulnerable.  But when we connect with the world around us, we grow in number, we become significant, strong, and formidable.  I want to be one of the many who are connected by community.  I want to know my neighbors (even if I can’t remember their names).  I want to be connected.

I give thanks for community, and I give thanks for the Water.  Tomorrow I will celebrate with my family and friends, and I will send energy out to those who protect the waters.  Thanks for reading Folks.

spreading love-salicrow