After 5 weeks, they've stopped logging. This past week, the sounds of destruction and violence did not occur. I was immensely relieved, but knew that the trouble is not over. I had last visited the site about 3 weeks into the job -- I needed to revisit it -- not only to see the scope of the wreckage, but also to do Shamanic work on the site.
Yesterday, me, my husband, Drew and our two dogs surveyed it. It was awful! In the photo above, beyond the rim of the hill is another vast, ruined landscape. They scraped away and took trees from probably 2-3 square miles of forest, leaving a few strips of trees in skinny, haphazard lines. I wondered if those lines were predetermined, ie. they will be borders for whatever will come into the space next, or if they were rejected as the wrong kind of trees. This was a gorgeous and vibrant wood, mostly pine and veined with miles of walking paths, that we had frequented with our dogs. Now it's gone.
I came with the intent to do Shamanic work, to help bring the affected area back into balance, as well as to help myself process the grief and rage I was feeling these past 5 weeks about it. The photo above shows where I set up to do my work.
When I opened Sacred Space: saying a prayer or poem to all 4 directions, plus Mother Earth (Pachamama) and Father Sky (Intityty), I just let the words and tears flow. I asked for forgiveness on behalf of all humans, called for help and guidance, and asked for new growth and health to come back to the wounded land. In those minutes, I felt my small ego not being diminished, but being joined by greater, benevolent forces. This is the magic of Shamanic work -- every time, it's such a consolation. I was graced be a channel for the beautiful work again.
I created a Huaca in the space. A Huaca is an energy vortex which lasts 28 days and will bring things back into right relationship, or into Aynee, as the Incans say. We were cautioned during our training, to perform these with discernment, for no one can predict what changes will occur after doing one. Therefore, it's best not to make one in your home, per say, because Great Spirit might decide that dropping a tree on it would bring it into right relationship! However, I felt it safe to do in those circumstances. Doing a Huaca is somewhat strenuous -- powerful breath work is involved, but when the time came, the vortex flooded down over me and my Mesa like a pillar of whirling light.
After I let the Huaca be on the land for a couple of minutes, I transferred it to my Mesa, so that I can feed it with daily offerings for the next 28 days, without having to hike out to the site. Then, I hastily closed my Mesa -- feeling that it needed time to brew. I played my little clay Peruvian flute, made an offering (in the photo below), then closed Sacred Space. I was still sad, but I had catalyzed my inner turmoil toward a more useful direction. Then, I left slowly and deliberately, somewhat tired.
I am so grateful for having stepped on to my Shamanic path in Aug. 2009 and seen it through, so that I can be of service in this way. It is a huge blessing to be able to do constructive things with fraught experiences -- not just to help myself feel better, but help bring healing energy into the mix. Many thanks for all who have read this. May you also walk the Beauty Way.
Yesterday, me, my husband, Drew and our two dogs surveyed it. It was awful! In the photo above, beyond the rim of the hill is another vast, ruined landscape. They scraped away and took trees from probably 2-3 square miles of forest, leaving a few strips of trees in skinny, haphazard lines. I wondered if those lines were predetermined, ie. they will be borders for whatever will come into the space next, or if they were rejected as the wrong kind of trees. This was a gorgeous and vibrant wood, mostly pine and veined with miles of walking paths, that we had frequented with our dogs. Now it's gone.
I came with the intent to do Shamanic work, to help bring the affected area back into balance, as well as to help myself process the grief and rage I was feeling these past 5 weeks about it. The photo above shows where I set up to do my work.
When I opened Sacred Space: saying a prayer or poem to all 4 directions, plus Mother Earth (Pachamama) and Father Sky (Intityty), I just let the words and tears flow. I asked for forgiveness on behalf of all humans, called for help and guidance, and asked for new growth and health to come back to the wounded land. In those minutes, I felt my small ego not being diminished, but being joined by greater, benevolent forces. This is the magic of Shamanic work -- every time, it's such a consolation. I was graced be a channel for the beautiful work again.
I created a Huaca in the space. A Huaca is an energy vortex which lasts 28 days and will bring things back into right relationship, or into Aynee, as the Incans say. We were cautioned during our training, to perform these with discernment, for no one can predict what changes will occur after doing one. Therefore, it's best not to make one in your home, per say, because Great Spirit might decide that dropping a tree on it would bring it into right relationship! However, I felt it safe to do in those circumstances. Doing a Huaca is somewhat strenuous -- powerful breath work is involved, but when the time came, the vortex flooded down over me and my Mesa like a pillar of whirling light.
After I let the Huaca be on the land for a couple of minutes, I transferred it to my Mesa, so that I can feed it with daily offerings for the next 28 days, without having to hike out to the site. Then, I hastily closed my Mesa -- feeling that it needed time to brew. I played my little clay Peruvian flute, made an offering (in the photo below), then closed Sacred Space. I was still sad, but I had catalyzed my inner turmoil toward a more useful direction. Then, I left slowly and deliberately, somewhat tired.
I am so grateful for having stepped on to my Shamanic path in Aug. 2009 and seen it through, so that I can be of service in this way. It is a huge blessing to be able to do constructive things with fraught experiences -- not just to help myself feel better, but help bring healing energy into the mix. Many thanks for all who have read this. May you also walk the Beauty Way.
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