Tequile Island

Much appreciation for what I have, my home, bed and all that I have... Yes, I am grateful... but there was also this feeling, acknowledging the way of life others have and that it's not about the "things" we have, but experiencing life to the fullest. Using our resources wisely and not taking everything for granted.
This plant is used as a chewing gum.
Check out what the hinges on this fence are made of... resourceful or what!

Tequile Island

After breakfast, we went to the boats to head for Tequile Island... here the women wear black head scarves, but the embroidery on their clothing is gorgous! click on the picture to get a closer look at her blouse...Both men and women spin.
We were to hike up the mountain where we would have lunch and then back down. Along the way, Silvia pointed out certain plants and what they were good for. One plant we picked along the way was good for the altitude. We were around 14,000 ft and climbing upwards is no easy feat. Coca leaves and this other plant were blessings to have.
Along the way, there would be these doorways or arches... gateways :-)
Yep. Along the way we met a cow

Swan Medicine

Two swans and their ducklings hung out on the other side of the fence by the art tent. Earlier, John and I saw another swan family at the beach. It gave me some thoughtful moments because it occured twice this year and it's not something I usually see.
I really took notice when I received a daily om message about "messages from animals"...

Messengers Of Direction

Animals In Nature
Animals share our planet with us, but experience it differently—each has its own abilities and gifts that allow them to interact successfully with the natural world. Since we are merely one manifestation of the universe’s energy in action, when we feel the need for direction we can turn to animals in nature for guidance.

Animals can show us different ways to approach and deal with our challenges. As we hold a question in mind, we can begin to pay attention to the animal activity around us.

Staring out a window we may notice a bird soaring high in the sky, showing us how to look at our situation from a greater distance. If we don’t get an immediate answer, we can remember that the universe has its own perfect timing that doesn’t heed the ticking of the clock. Instead, we can release our question into the universe’s care, and then trust that an animal messenger will carry inspiration our way. In the meantime, we align ourselves with the universe’s rhythm—opening, humbling ourselves, and shifting our perceptions so that at the perfect time we will be ready.

Then, even weeks later, the sight of a small bird hopping from branch to branch may signal for us to use a talent other than our greatest strength and to take small leaps rather than fly over details. A squirrel bounding across an open expanse of grass to stash its latest prize may remind us to check our favorite hiding places for forgotten treasure.

Even if we don’t see actual animals, their representations may hold messages; whether we see them in a shape in the clouds, a picture, or a show on television, their symbolic meaning is the same.

Animals are closer to the rhythms and cycles of nature and have fewer distractions from it than humans do. That is why they are the perfect messengers when we are in need of advice. Just by being themselves they remind us of the wisdom of the universe, and that all answers are available to us when we reconnect with our source and with those who know how to be nurtured by it.

Swans mate for life..loyalty... and there is the transformation story of the ugly duckling turning into the beautiful swan... Graceful.

My medicine cards :

Swan...

The power of woman

Entering Sacred Space,

touching future, yet to come, bringing eternal grace.

another quote from the book, "I will surrender to the flow of the spiral and trust what I am shown."

Swan medicine teaches us to be at one with all planes of consciousness, and to trust in Great Spirit's protection.... it ushers in a time of altered states of awareness and of development of intuitive abilities... to accept the healing and transformation of their lives.

Swan medicine is telling you to accetp tyour ability to know what lies ahead.... it will be easier to go with the flow. Pay attention to hunches and honor your female intuitive side.

No second guessing. Trust.

Done for now...

I ended up hiding the plug in the coral and the other plug became a sign.. Billy was getting really busy with catering jobs, so I wanted to finish it up... I can just keep playing around painting forever...........

so far............

Almost done, but I need to wrap it up. I need to accessorize her a bit more...maybe a seaweed bracelet, a waterlily in her hair (my mother's suggestion :-) and then adding a bit more more at the bottom. Now what to do with the plugs..
can you find the plug here? Still tweeking this a bit as well, but almost finished.

Photo Display...

I had the wonderful privilege of sharing my photos last evening at Igor's Masterpiece Framing. Suzanne did a wonderful job in putting this all together, our first amature photography exhibit ... a new program for the council. We held our annual meeting for the Harrison Council for the Arts, with a really nice turnout.
Recipients of the scholarships we gave to the students at the High School came, playing music and presenting a slide show of the art work created.
I had the opportunity to share some of my own photos... and was excited to talk about the Peru trip... I loved it, loved it........brought me back.
The photos will be up for about a week or two, so if you can, stop by at Masterpiece Framing on Halstead Ave. in Harrison.

How cold was it????

Besides eating a lot of carbs to stay warm, they also dance... there was a celebration of some sort when we got to the island, so there wasn't as many families there to greet us. These women were walking up the mountain... we had a bit of a hike to where we were staying for the night.

After lunch, Catalina went into a corner of the garden, sat down and started to knit. Her needles were just thin pieces of wire. We attempted to communicate which got a little frustrating I'm sure for both of us... and then I just watched a bit and smiled and then went off to take more photos.. The people here are very shy.
Soooo friggin' cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amantani Island

This was our home for the night. We arrived in time for lunch, which consisted of soup with potatoes in it, potatoes - a few varieties in a bowl - and small fried fish... very tasty actually.

And I do love potatoes...

Our room held three beds, a table, and a small pot under it.

No electricity. No indoor plumbing. No heat. Actually, one room had electricity and ours wasn't it.

Downstairs and outside from our room was the kitchen. A table that held 6 people comfortably. The 6 included myself, Mai-Liis, Silvia, two guys from Japan and one guy from Switzerland. Catalina, our house mother cooked for us here, on the floor, inside the small room that had no ventilation except one small window. She and her husband sat on the floor eating... hey, they were closer to the heat...

Dinner was soup, a dish of potatoes, rice and pasta which has some lima beans in there. Our discussion explained that a high carb diet helped to keep them warm. With our meals, there was always coca tea and another herb I forgot the name of. Both used for the altitude.

Breakfast was fried bread, corn on the cob.

here is our house father bringing hats for the cold evening.

The bathroom, downstairs and through the garden - did I say no electricity... no heat... no plumbing... I used the pot under the table!

Uros Islands

Sylvia, our guide is peeling back the totoro reed. This bottom part is what is eaten. Rich in calcium. Not bad.
we were being shown how the islands are built, how the reeds are wrapped, layered, etc. Pretty cute. These ladies were so cut and friendly.
and of course tried to sell you everything. I loved how colorful everything was. I made the mistake of not having enough solas. I did buy some things and a tiny little reed boat with a man and woman in it from a little boy.
It's all about color!!!!

Boat Ride

I have a fear of water. Last year when I asked my sister if it was worth going to Lake Titicaca, she pretty much said no. I was ok with that, because I knew if I went I'd have to get into a boat.

After returning from last year's trip, my reading about the lake and it's spiritual aspect made me want to go. Face your fears :-)

We were in a boat with about 18 people or there abouts. Not so bad. I was ok with it. Here we are approaching the Uros islands which are made from Totoro reeds. They are the floating islands... yes, they actually float.. They repeatedly layer on the reeds.
Met by greeters. Very colorfully dressed women. They are prepared for visitors - ready to sell their handicrafts.
Home sweet home.. No kidding, there is a tv in here. They use solar panels for their electricity. They seemed to be very proud of this tv.... Mai-Liis and I had a different view on this. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! And this began a discussion on books. Get rid of the tv!

A chance meeting :-)

Before going to Peru, we tried to set up something where we could meet up with Jorge Delgado. The trip he was involved with was beyond our money spending intentions. He was actually going to be there at the same time though and we thought, just maybe we could hook up with him at some point... no dice.

Except the Universe obviously had other plans....

Our guide that we were originally going to have with us was replaced by Silvia who just so happened to work with Jorge Delgado. During a conversation while driving to the "doorway", Silvia called him to try to get a meeting together. It was possible he would come to Sillustani in the afternoon. We were excited about this.

Unfortunately, it didn't happen.

After coming back from this adventure, we went to the hotel and got ready for dinner. On the way to the restaurant, we stopped in a small shop to have a look and as I walked out, I literally almost ran into Silvia! One of those moments when the brain is saying, Hey don't I know you and POP! recognition... Silvia came looking for us... and what was the probability of finding us on those busy streets and many, many restaurants..... but she did. Jorge had called her to say he could meet with us. She called our hotel and obviously we weren't there and she set out to find us :-)

I really like Silvia.......

We hopped in a cab and off we went to meet Jorge Delgado in his office in Puno.

He is the author of Andean Awakenings and is the one who motivated me to want to go back to Peru. I knew I wasn't finished.

He is a warm, friendly man. We chatted, took pictures. He remembered Susan who took his workshop and gave me a special stone. One for throwing into Lake Titicaca. I was to put my intentions into the stone... which was healing for John... and that is what I did :-)

(notice the layers of clothing...it sure was cold there)

Still Sillustani

LLama at Sillustani.
Guinea pig. Silvia talked about using them as a tool of healing. They would tell the healer what ailments the sick person had by opening up the guinea pig and "reading" the inside. She told of a story about a woman with a tumor and how the lump showed up in the guinea pig.

This is a wild guinea pig.

Guinea pigs are eaten in Peru. Nope. Didn't try one.
A woman here with probably her daughter and her llamas at Sillustani. No slouchers these women... they work hard.

Sillustani

Sillustani is known as the ancient cemetery of the pre-Incans and Incans. These are chullupas where bodies are buried - the larger ones for the elite. Nobility were entombed with their family and possessions... which made me think of Egyptians. These towers were wider at the top, opening up to the sky, unlike pyramids.

Sillustani is also considered to be a power place like Machu Picchu. Not sure if it was the overcast day, but I didn't feel it here as I do in Machu Picchu. Although it was pretty cool (and cold) being there. Silvia picked up a stone and you could see the remains of a skull. It feels mysterious here...

PLEASE WATCH THIS

Give yourself the gift of 20 minutes and listen to this.......
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229

Mai-Liis' Tag Book Project

Come Play with Me!
I (Mai-Liis) will be teaching it through my website.

Start date: June 11, 2008, when you receive the materials list complete with substitutions which...chances are good you already own, torso outlines, and all the instructions.

I will be online with students for 3 weeks to make sure that everyone has the help that they need, but you can do this project whenever you have the time.

The tags are placed into the book with brads, and therefore can easily be removed and used for other purposes such as gift tags, or book marks.

Price: $25

To sign up, PayPal to
MaiLiis@ix.netcom.com
This is a fun mixed media project for artists and non-artists alike.

Check out her website for some more yummy art... dolls, shrines or in case you need more info

Hope to see you there :-)

http://www.mai-liis.com/

Aramu Muru's doorway

This is Silvia. She is a healer and coca leaf reader. Coca leaves are considered sacred in Peru. Used more than just for altitude sickness, they bring stamina to the body, but they more importantly are used for blessings. Here she is putting together a despacho, an offering. We gathered leaves in groups of three and asked our intentions.. our wishes..

It was after reading Jorge Delgado's book, Andean Awakenings, that I knew I had to go back to Peru and come to this area.

One of the legends according to Delgado, is that the golden disc of the Inkas, the one that was in Koricancha, was taken here. It is said that Aramu Muru left this reality through this doorway and the disc with him. Other readings I have read said the disc was in Lake Titicaca.

My offering that I may be accepted here. The people of Peru have a lot of respect for the earth and spirit, not taking anything for granted or at least not having the arrogance we tend to have here in the states, thinking we can do what ever we want - feeling we are entitled to things and therefore tend to abuse the land. This is what I love here - the respect they have for Pachamama. "Please accept my offering" and all the intentions I have.

There is a little niche in the stone where I am placing my forehead. I think I was too much in my head... over thinking as is usual the case for me. Too caught up in if I were doing it "right". But I prayed.... I did a lot of praying here in Peru.

We burned our despacho, our offering. I was gratefu to be here and always asked for healings for John. It was good to have Silvia here with us. I was grateful for her. I was grateful for so very much. This is where my energy was focused.

After our ceremony, I climbed up. It was our quiet time for ourselves to go within. My climb came to a point where I stopped because I thought my heart would beat out of my chest. Hard climbing at this elevation. I sat and pondered, took some pictures. I watched two black and white birds fly together and thought immediately of my dream again. Here again is the landscape of the dream.

Below me, I realized Mai-Liis was sitting and laughed to myself. In my dream, I looked below and saw my mother's house. What is the connection between us? I entertained the thought that she may have been my mother in a past life. Hey, who knows. I sat listening to my inner voice. Repeatedly the message was to be... just be. So many times in life, I feel as if I need to have all the answers, am I on the right path? what is my purpose? who am I and why the heck am I here?????

Maybe it is to be... just be.

A side trip from Peru....

I received the following in my mailbox today and had to share. I'd actually like to see a full page ad in all the papers with this being said as well...
It gave me a glimmer of hope that if enough people read this and shared the sentiment, we could raise our collective energy, focusing on the possibilities of good rather than dwelling on what is wrong...

We all know what is wrong. I think herein lies the problem as well... that's where we are focusing.. on the problem rather than the solutions.
Each day I work on focusing on the beauty that surrounds me... each day, I start all over again. Some days seem to be a bit more challenging.
Today I recommit to seeing solutions, beauty, love, peace, joy....
Join me and see how it goes.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world"... Gandhi
It has to begin with each individual soul.

~ An Open Letter to the Leaders of the World ~
On one hand, we want to thank you. You have provided us with such adversity and it is this that has finally made us stronger. You have been formidable foes, but we are learning that this world will get better only when we love our fellow travelers and see the good in each one of them. We know that every bad guy has a good guy inside. And we know that spark of divine essence that dwells deep within our own beings, also lies deep within yours.

If you were to come and join us at our table, you would find curiosity, friendship, and forgiveness. Just because you have treated us badly does not mean that we hold a grudge against you. We would, however, expect you to understand that we reject your authority and that you will find no support for your plans and schemes among us. We simply no longer choose to be manipulated.

Although there will be obstacles, we are willing to start over. We are prepared to be responsible for our own lives now. We must discard your Cards, Vaccines, and Chip Implants because they have too many strings attached. We must turn off your television and radio programs until their messages become uplifting. And we will start to rebuild our lives, without your help, by first living together in small self-sufficient communities. If need be, we will grow our own food in our backyards as well as in common areas, and we will barter and trade among ourselves. We will also nurture our children with foresight, and learn to love and heal each other so peace and freedom can return to all of our lives.

As we see it, you are also being stalked by your own evolution and you will change. You cannot avoid being drawn out of your secrecy at this time. The only path left for you to follow is one of conscience. Like us, you are realizing that there is no separation between you and what you perceive. We are all beginning to understand that when we inflict pain or hardship on others, we inflict it upon ourselves. Once you fully comprehend what you are doing to yourself, you won't be able to continue. Enlightenment is coming to all who renounce conflict and violence. Even an unscrupulous, sophisticated robber baron can evolve into a higher, more loving entity. He is no less entitled to the Grace of our Great Creator than the people he has conspired against.

Just that one small transformation in your attitude whereby you begin to see, without blinders, that you only lack the opening of your heart in order to take the next step -- a step for which you are poised and ready, but which all of your power and money cannot provide for you. Isn't it ironic, now, that you have dared for generations to hide our own hearts from us? Ever since we were trusting little schoolchildren reciting your pledges and practicing your patriotic ceremonies, you deceptively taught us to place our hand over our heart on the left side of our chest! Only now are we locating our hearts in the exact center of our chests, and we are learning how to activate the ­wondrous feelings that have long slept dormant within us.

The people of the Earth yearn for the day when we will all live together in peace. You cannot stop us from advancing toward the love we all deserve. That glorious moment nears, when, instead of being adversaries, we will stand together as brothers and sisters whose consciences have awakened, as equals whose time of heaven on Earth has come.

Until then: for all the people who needlessly suffer and die because of your economic and political manipulations; and for all the animals who face extinction or life in a cage that doesn't even allow them enough space to turn around; and for all the beautiful plants and trees of the forests who burn indiscriminately, we ask one last question. Why must you continue to bring harm and havoc to all the living things of the Earth when your own truest happiness would automatically come from helping us instead?

From The Intenders of the Highest Good Novel
My Intention for today is:
I Intend that I am seeing everyone, including the current world managers, in their highest light.


We encourage you to forward this message to your list of friends. If this message was sent to you from a friend, you can go to http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=5fPe8&m=1oEczAhcDUxdLX&b=lzqT2o3OjsCYCK3sKh.k7A

Juliaca --> Puno

Our greeter at the airport.

After not being greeted upon landing in Lima, I always looked at some piece as our greeter. Everyone else was reliable and we were met on time every where else went, but it changed my perception each time we went somewhere new. I thought this piece was pretty cool.
Back at the hotel Marqueses, I loved all the woodwork and took pictures of doors on this trip. I'll do something "altered" with them eventually........
Landing in Juliaca, here is Mai-Liis. This was the last leg of the journey. We were picked up and driven to Puno. Some misunderstanding about our "shaman" was resolved and we were connected with Silvia who became our guide for the rest of our journey.

Koricancha

When arriving at Koricancha, signs were all over about not taking pictures which was a big disappointment. It wasn't until I was upstairs, when I said fuck it, and snuck some in. By this time, groups were coming in and noticed they all had their cameras out. I think it was more about photographing the paintings, which would have been nice if they were more specific about.


The center of the center. I walked around it a few times, imagining being balanced and centered myself.