Going the Light Way
Expect the unexpected
Those of you who know me or have read my book know how keen I am about following
signs. I love them. This most recent Peru adventure had an abundance of them,
and not ones I expected. I like signs that punctuate what I am doing, show me
I'm on the right track. This time the signs were saying I WASN'T on the right
track. Yikes!
I thought the main focus of my trip was to check on the building in San Salvador
and be there to make some choices for that project. And celebrate it. And go
to the Q'oyoritti Festival. And celebrate that.
My journey began in Lima. I had one day there and I was spending it with Lucho
and Aanjelae. Aanjelae came with me to Peru in one of my first groups. She ended
up going back to live there and married a wonderful Peruvian guy named Lucho.
I mentioned to Aanjelae that someone had asked me to bring them an Andean Opal.
I had seen the message briefly as I scanned my e-mail for the last time as I
was out the door leaving for the airport. I wasn't even sure what Andean Opal
looked like. Aanjelae thought that it was cosmic that I was looking for an Andean
Opal because she had recently put one on layaway for a while then she needed
the money and she took it out of layaway. So she knew this place. Down a couple
of side streets and thru a hall and then there is this locked wrought iron door.
They let us in. I immediately felt three beautiful necklaces calling out to me
and I found out- they were, of course, Blue Andean Opal. (I found out there is
also pink Andean opal). This was totally unexpected, and not in my "plan".
With lots of touchy feely of the necklaces I bought two of them and a couple
of other pieces of opal perhaps for the lady who asked for them. I wasn't sure
at that moment I would make an essence, (ha! apparently IT was sure!) I just
knew I wanted to have the necklaces for my collection. I might someday have a
necklace lending library or something. And I like to have them for my classes.
And I wanted to show Virendra, my gemstone collecting buddy that gets the most
fabulous gemstone necklaces in India. The folks in the store were nice and the
energy was very sweet. I love holding those necklaces. They are YUMMY!
The next day I flew to Cusco. The awesome ladies from Roger’s office, Carmen,
Gretty and their beautiful baby girls, Marcella and Maria Fernanda, joyfully
greeted me. They apologized for Roger's absence, though I had not expected my
friend (and partner in the land) to pick me up, as I knew he had a group to guide.
I found out that he had arranged to send another guide with that group, then
at the last minute he was told that one of the guys in the group (who hadn't
been using his real name for the booking) was a Nobel Peace Prize winner-, and
they really wanted Roger to be the guide, and - of course, Roger had read 3 of
his books...so he went.
Roger is doing really wonderful work and his sphere of influence is helping to
change Peru in very positive ways. (Cleaning up the river has been a big one)
He recently won a prize for a concept that he presented that will help some high
Andean villages. (And give travelers some fantastic options). He continuously
works with the communities in innovative ways. When I did see him 2 days after
my arrival he had just been offered the position of consulate for Belgium in
Peru. Roger seems to know everything about everything, and he knows a lot about
Belgium. The position will give him even more opportunity to be in a place of
influence, and he loves improving his country.
Cusco was wonderful as always. Magic happens immediately. My friend Mercedes
found me right away-Someone spotted me at the airport, and told her I was there.
It is always fun for me to see how long it will take her to find me each I come.
I have known Mercedes for about 15 years. I met her when she was 13 or 14. She
is a street vendor, and she has learned to speak English. She now has her own
shop-and she also travels around finding tourists and selling to them. She and
her family make beautiful jewelry (at their house in a room with dirt floor and
bare adobe walls and a bare light bulb hanging down). I happily found a place
called Casa Ecologico, where they had lots of organic dried fruit. I found my
favorite chocolate place and ordered some hand-dipped figs with caramel. (Raw
girl goes wild). Day number 2 goes well.
I was ready to focus on our building project in San Salvador (about 45 minutes
from Cusco), I was excited to see our land and went to visit it right away. Roger
had sent a set of plans for me to look at. Instead of being ebullient and blissful,
as I usually am when I get there, I felt sad and agitated. Mysterious. I didn't
like how the trees were planted; the energy felt flat, and my goddaughters who
lived next door had moved. Even the dog of the guardian felt wrong. My original
plan was to stay in the little house next door. It was in the middle of construction-
and it didn't look like fun at all to be there. Fortunately Carmen had been able
to book me at a very sweet bed and breakfast called Paz y Luz (peace and light)
in Pisac- owned by a wonderful American woman named Diane Dunn whom I had met
the previous year. It is about 20 minutes away. I was given the red room, which
seemed to help keep me agitated. The next morning I told Diane that I was going
to look for a room in town, as I was feeling isolated. (It takes all of 5 minutes
to walk to town...) She said- if you feel isolated here, how are you going to
feel staying in San Salvador? I told her that was a good question. I love San
Salvador, and the peacefulness, and the land is right on the river- AND- there
is one phone in the town that works periodically. No promise of phones in the
near future. No Internet access. (Yes, it's the good news and the bad news) I
do like being "connected".
I had sent some money to start the San Salvador project and nothing was done
other than a water line that wasn't working and some plans which I wasn't
sure I loved. When Roger came he told me he had 3 sets of plans drawn, and
still wasn't sure if he liked any of them and he knew I needed to talk to
the architect. He kept asking about our vision. I told Roger all of my feelings
and he wasn't surprised. He said we needed to get a clear intention of just
exactly what we wanted because nothing was coming together. He had not spent
the money I had sent, because he kept hitting blocks. They wouldn't hook
up the water without a plan, and he was hesitant to go forward until I came.
Usually every thing we do flows gracefully and we know we are on the right
path. He said it felt like our vision wasn't clear- and to think about it
and we would talk some more. Every time I tried to think about the vision
it was like a million ping pong balls going every which way. I couldn’t
figure it out.
While staying there, Diane gave me a copy of ht book she has written, called “Gateway” -
and it was the perfect thing to read. Somewhere in there she talks about letting
go of visions…(for more info- book or bed and breakfast dianedunn@terra.com.pe
)
All of a sudden I thought about NOT doing the project, and my body relaxed. It felt good. I was shocked. Then I realized- I have so many projects at home in Santa Barbara and Roger has so many other things he is doing, we simply do not have the energy for this project that is still vague at best. I am now excited that I can take that money and get electricity to the ChaskaNorte land- (my land in Santa Barbara), which has really become my first love. This land has felt like a lover to me since I first saw it, and I love seeing it and being with it. The Peru project was suddenly feeling distracting and yet it was momentarily sad to let go of that vision/project that I had been holding for 8 years. It felt like my connection to Peru. Yet as soon as I released it in my mind- all of the other options flowed in. I don't have to own a house there to keep my connection, and the feelings I feel letting it go are elating and light. I can focus my attention on ChaskaNorte (means North Star) and Star Essence.
Another synchronicity- was seeing a peace pole being planted in Cusco...Nice!
I have been taking and using (dropping drops) of the Earth Stabilizing Trinity,
and it feels very good to do. We have sent out over –100 concentrate
bottles (which can each make another 200 bottles) to places all over the
world, and I know we are making a difference. I encourage you all to join
this experiment. Thank you to all of you light workers who are willing to
do this work. I love saying Chikyuu Rei Oo Soku Kami Nari is "The Master
Spirit Earth is Divine", when I use the drops. (pronounced Chee Q Lay
Oh So Kou Kah Me Nah Ree) The Japanese often pronounce r's like l's. Change
right to light and it becomes very interesting. The light way. The light
choice. I love being light..... light on….
The next event- The Q'oyoritti. The festival was truly amazing, and nearly
indescribable. Thousands of Quechua people coming in trucks from all over
Peru, with costumes and beauty and bands and banners. First we drove for
6 hours up up up a windy dirt road to get to the town where we would start
hiking up up up to a sanctuary high in on the Ausangate mountain. When we
arrived in the town our horseman- and his wife were waiting with the horses
to carry all of our food and bags and camping gear. We had Roger and his
son Martin (who has brilliantly sweet energy) and me- and the cook Feliciano,
and the horseman, his wife and our driver. Lots of people going up the mountain,
and you could see many had been there for several days, creating their temporary
restaurants- with blue plastic tarps. As Martin aptly put it- it was the
Andean Woodstock. I couldn't have imagined it. I had to see it for myself.
I had heard about it for so many years, I just had to go (once) which seems
to be the amount of times most of the folks I asked had been. Cold- is what
they often say. We were fortunate. The days were clear, so we stayed plenty
warm hiking, and we had 5 star camping with double sleeping bags and a tented
bathroom. Nearly everyone had an instrument, and if they didn't, they had
a whistle. They were selling them everywhere. Make noise. Estimates that
I read went from 40,000 to 100.000. A lot of happy campers. Sleeping was
not an option. Every community has a band, and they are all playing music.
(yes, at the same time) There is a Qoyoritti beat. (thud) The Pleiades has
been missing in the sky for a month. The festival is called the Senor of
the Miracle of the Ice, or the Star of the Snow. It is the month of no time,
or the month of chaos. That is what the bands and the singing and the dancing
seems to depict. There are spontaneous processions everywhere. Every community
has it's own special dance. This literally goes on all night long, with lots
and lots of booming firecrackers, as well as beautiful displays of fireworks
in the sky. Then, right before sunrise, there is a moment of silence- and
that is when order returns (and the Pleiades) Huge processions of people
who have been up on the ice begin coming down the mountain- in an orderly
fashion. (more or less) It's wild. Do check out the photosxxxxxxxxx I still
can barely believe I was there.
The hike up was challenging for me, and I was not feeling my very best during
the night, but every once in awhile I would open my tent fly and check out
the action, and watch some fireworks. I was feeling O.K. by the time Roger
had us up at 4;30AM so we could have a little breakfast and start hiking up
to the ice, so we could witness the action there. On the way my fingers started
getting numb and really hurting. I looked at some Quechua women going up in
their sandals. I kept thinking- I am not Quechua... I decided that I didn't
need to get to the ice and I would enjoy much more watching from near our camp.
It was a big thing for me. I let go of that part of the hike. Another mountain
I didn't have to climb. I totally enjoyed (after I warmed up my fingers) my
perfect spot sitting on a hillside witnessing the panoramic vista and watching
and listening to procession after procession of people coming down the mountain.
I had no idea there could be so many up there when there were so many in the
camping area around the sanctuary. They all came down dancing proudly, with
bands, instruments and costumes- all so beautifully, and they had been up on
the ice all night praying. Each village has Ikukus (I think it means bear in
Quechua) that go up to the ice and carry down giant chunks on their backs to
take back to their villages and whatever hasn’t melted is used for healing
for the rest of the year. It was a sight to see and experience. I am in awe
at their reverence and dedication, their prayers and pleasure and stamina.
Wow. A once in a lifetime experience (although Martin thinks I should go again
and climb to the ice.) Roger brought me back some sacred glacier water.
After the festival I went back to Cusco. They were having the festival of Corpus
Cristi- which is a festival of Saints (and something to do with ascension).
More processions! It is huge and there weren't many rooms available. The room
I got ended up being on the bottom floor with no window. The hotel was located
on the street I would call the calle of the Fiesta of the Carne Muerta. The
Street of the party of the dead meat. It was dead meat city. Rows and rows
of stalls selling chicken and guinea pig. All festively displayed (not so festive
for a vegetarian.) Dead cooked guinea pigs dancing with colorful peppers in
their mouths. I decided I should go back to the states early and my room and
the location seemed to validate that. Carmen booked the first flight she could
find for me. The few days I had left gave me time to do more than I imagined.
All divine. Spirit had it wired so everything was perfect.
That brings me to the next event- Making the Andean Blue Opal Gemstone
Essence.
Sunday morning I spoke to my friend Mercedes- that I mentioned earlier. She
now has a husband, two children, a car, a cell phone and e-mail. She is still
a vendor and is almost always working. I casually mentioned that I wanted to
go to Pisac to give prints to the people in the market that I had taken photos
of, and I wanted to make an essence. Without hesitating she said they would
pick me up in an hour. This was not what I was expecting. I just wanted her
to tell me how to get to the bus. Mercedes was with me when I had made my very
first 7 Andean orchid essences and we took them to the temple of the moon for
some very special energy during an auspicious planetary alignment. She and
her husband and two kids showed up and asked me if I wanted to go to Tipon.
I immediately said yes. I had never been there before, even though it was only
about an hour away. It is an offering place. Also called the place of water.
The water comes out of the earth with many springs The absolutely perfect place
to make the Andean Blue Opal essence.
We collected water from ceremonial fountains there, after doing our own personal purifications with the water. I was grateful for a warm day. The water felt great! To make the essence we used the Glacier water from the Q'oyoritti Festival and the water from Tipon. This essence is very feminine, like the Andes. The stone is the color of Mother Mary's ray. Its striking watery Aqua color is scrumptious. It will facilitate spiritual divination. It calms the nerves. It helps the heart, lungs and thymus. It helps alleviate water retention, (I'm told opals are 30% water) and is said to improve iron absorption. There is a dolphin connection. It gives courage and ingenuity and energy. It improves self-esteem and self-love. It can help one find a confidant. It helps to creatively forge new relationships. It encourages us to express. It is about honest communication and clear thinking. Ideas flow freely. Aids peaceful sleep. The opal can mirror and magnify our emotions. Opal in Sanskrit means valuable stone. They shed solar light.
I always feel so blessed with the magic of the day whenever I am guided to make an essence. And I felt blessed that I couldn't get a plane out any earlier, and I had time and energy to make the essence in the perfect place with the perfect people
Both Carmen and
Gretty had invited me to visit them at their homes and I really wanted
to do that. We were all excited- and
it was great fun to
be with the families. At Carmen’s house they fixed a raw picnic and
we ate outside with a lovely view. I felt like I was family. Meeting Gretty's
mother, Elena, was my biggest surprise. Her mom has been using my oracle
(The Star Pocket Oracle) for years. We have it in Spanish and English. Her
friend made her a special cloth to lay the pieces out on, and she gave it
to me! We had a very strong connection. The day before I left I was wandering
around and was on some obscure street and - I heard a voice call my name-
and there was Elena!!!! We couldn't say much in words; we each understand
each other's languages better than we speak them. It was indeed a cosmic
moment.
On the last day of the trip I was back in Lima. Aanjelae introduced me to a
lovely lady who will translate my book to Spanish. Aanjelae and I went back
to the rock shop and I got a few more things and we had a beautiful conversation
with the people there. They loved it that I had made an essence from the opal.
The woman knew a lot about the healing qualities of the stones. The gentleman
there who works with the stones, cutting them, has absolute reverence for them.
He ended up giving each of us a present. He gave Aanjelae the pendant she had
previously had on layaway (brought tears to her eyes). One of the comments
he made is that the stones wait for their people.
Right before I was leaving for the airport to go home Aanjelae had me pick
a card. I say it to myself, and I say it to you. "Acknowledge yourself
for how far you've come, not how far you think you need to go."
Star Riparetti
http://www.staressence.com
Peace Prevails