Last week was the most thanks-giving full week I've ever had. Living in a protected wild canyon in SW New Mexico for 4 days allowed me to be engulfed in nature and to re-connect to the earth and all my senses. Check out www.animacenter.com to read more about the power of this place and its special teachings about re-inhabitating the land and re-inhabitating your body through your senses. I'm placing several blogs about the experience, to be posted in sequence. Enjoy.
Lessons from the canyon:
I arrived Friday at the designated parking area on a dirt road outside the little town of Reserve, NM in the early afternoon and I lovingly looked up at the enchanted canyon that I remembered from 4 years previously. For 4 months the caretakers, Wolf, Loba and Kiva, and Kiva's 6-yr-old daughter, Rhiannon, were unable to drive the pickup into town because of rain and floods. However, it was now passable and I proceeded to walk into the canyon, wearing my favorite long, full silk contra dance skirt and open-heeled sturdy slip-on sandals. The skirt got tucked up into my waistband and the sandals were carried during the crossings. I let my mind relax and enjoyed the reconnection to Mother Earth, blessing the cool (well, COLD) babbling water, flora and fauna all the way and feeling full of gratitude to be back.
No one can sneak into the canyon without the caretakers at the top of the hill knowing since the birds make quite a chatter. Even though it's only a mile and a half, I took my time and enjoyed stepping into gratitude. At the top, Loba gave me a warm welcome and took me to the "new" cabin that hadn't been there on my previous visit, the Godess cabin. One of their interns taught herself how to build it from a book and it's precious and cozy, mice had not found a way in yet, another thing to be grateful for. No running water and no electricity and no candles allowed and I forgot my flashlight. For eliminating #2 I used a composted outhouse a couple minutes walk away.
First lesson, take each step with gratitude. More later, Paula
Teacher
The Be-Loved Project -- Anyone can learn to feel more loving, thankful, and peaceful.
Motivated by three school shootings within a week and inspired by Peace Pilgrim, a woman who walked for 28 years and over 25,000 miles throughout the U.S. with just the clothes on her back and a message of peace, Dr. Paula Jeane, a.k.a. "Teacher," is launching a spiritual pilgrimage dedicated to helping thousands of people to create happier, more hopeful lives. The Be-Loved Project starts January 1st, 2007 in Joshua Tree, CA.
Teacher
will help free of charge in return for room and board;
will travel by any means available and as simply as possible to welcoming homes;
has 40 years experience in special education and psychology;
incorporates self-awareness, belief systems, and developmental gaps into learning;
is a super support person;
makes learning fun and easy.
Who do you know that needs a helping hand?
