Amadell

Listening Retreat at Amadell – Day 240

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View of the Smokies from Amadell’s Vista – Photo: L. Weikel

Listening Retreat at Amadell                                

Just in case you haven’t planned a getaway for yourself yet this summer, I’ve got the best suggestion: a jaunt to North Carolina in early August!

But not to the Outer Banks, as many vacationers might think. No, I’m thinking the completely opposite end of the state: the mountains of western North Carolina, near Hot Springs, where water bubbles up from deep within Mother Earth and creates places of healing pools. The Smokies. Amadell.

I’ve not been shy about sharing how that land feeds my spirit – I wrote about it here, and here, and here, for instance, when I was there just this past May. Not only did I attend a wonderful workshop with Peter May, but I also held a gathering of my own.

Friday, August 9th – Sunday, August 11th, 2019

This time, from early evening Friday, August 9th, to mid-afternoon Sunday, August 11th, I invite you to spend time with me and 11 other like-minded, open-hearted, and curious individuals, learning how to listen.

This is not a ‘silent’ retreat, although there are times during the weekend that we pay particular attention to the necessity (when we choose to open our mouths and allow words to come out), and then the quality of those words when they are expressed.

We also don’t focus upon solely listening to people. Goodness no – there are many more Beings desiring to be heard, paid attention to, honored and respected, especially on Amadell’s special mountain, than you might initially expect (or imagine in your wildest dreams).

And that doesn’t even count the messages that might be encountered when we learn a new and distinctively precious way to listen to the guidance that is available within all of us.

Drive or Fly

I’ve made the drive from Pennsylvania on my own several times. Now…I will admit: I love to drive. So making the trek on my own, in my precious Prius (also known as “Good Girl” or the “Grey Ghost”) has been lovely. And even when the red triangle of death raised its ugly head, it was still a great drive.

But if you’re not into driving like I am, you can get astonishingly low price fares on Allegiant. They fly out of Newark, direct to Asheville, and very reasonable service can be arranged for your transportation to and from Asheville Airport. I encourage you to check the fares out. They’re so low they’re almost obscene.

Nurturing

Probably the most amazing thing about Listening Retreats is how nurtured people feel when they slow down enough to actually reconnect with and listen to Mother Earth and her children.

But don’t take my word for it. Check out my website and read the testimonials. Better yet, take a look at the photos both on Amadell’s site and in my various posts that I wrote while I was visiting there in May. Look at the lovely accommodations. They can’t be beat.

Amadell ‘finned ones’ – Photo: L. Weikel

Full Disclosure

The program cost is $395 ($350 if paid in full before 7/26/19) and includes most meals during the weekend. Delightful and extremely reasonable lodging accommodations are arranged separately through Amadell directly.

Perhaps I should write more about what we do on a Listening Retreat to tantalize you into attending. I am reluctant to share too much, though, because part of the fun is allowing each weekend to generate its own life and vibrancy. What does that mean? It means I have a plan that I’ve developed, but I always talk to the Beings of the Land (wherever I am) and ask them to come co-create with me.

And they always do…  So I listen!

Consider allowing yourself to come and experience the magic of Amadell. Combined with the intimacy of sacred listening, you will emerge from your weekend feeling refreshed and reconnected to what’s truly important.

(T-871)

Lightning Beauty – Day 203

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Photo: L. Weikel

Lightning Beauty                            

I know lightning bugs are just coming into ‘season.’ Just last weekend while sitting outside on a friend’s lawn I noticed a couple shyly blinking in the nearby woods. They must have been hearty souls, though, for I think they were quite lonely. The rest of their kin were still staying warm wherever fireflies like to cuddle.

When I was at Amadell in North Carolina two weeks ago, fireflies were just starting to rise up from the grasses. Our hosts excitedly regaled us with stories of synchronous fireflies, a phenomenon in which thousands of lightning bugs gather in swarms and flash – you guessed it – in synchrony. It sounds utterly magical; sort of like a natural form of a fireworks grand finale.

Making this spectacle even more unique as a prized experience, the bugs only offer this performance for about one to two weeks each late spring/early summer. The Smoky Mountains National Park actually has an annual lottery for tickets to view this amazing phenomenon.

Listening Retreat – June 2020

Since I’m pretty sure the fireflies aren’t aware of where the National Park boundaries are located, I’m thinking this could be an excellent reason for me to offer a Listening Retreat at Amadell next year during the first week in June! Anyone want to join me?

It just so happens that in 2012, this particular type of lightning bug that engages in this synchronous behavior was discovered in western Pennsylvania! If you might find it a little easier to make a road trip to Allegheny National Forest, you should check out this link.

Today’s Catalyst

You might be wondering what prompted me to write about this tonight. It’s the appearance of the handsome fella whose photo is both above and below.

While I was sitting on our porch this morning having coffee with Karl and picking our cards, I noticed this guy walking on an end table. I recognized his distinctive coloring immediately and knew, from memories of many a collection in a mason jar with holes poked into the top with a screwdriver, that he was a lightning bug.

When I grabbed my phone and took his photo, I was taken by his gorgeous coloring and knew in an instant I’d be sharing this with you. This creature is too beautiful to be ignored.

I’m sure this will not be the last post I write about lightning bugs. When it gets a little warmer here in Pennsylvania, they will put on a show that rivals many a Christmas light village extravaganza. And I know I’ll write about them again because of how much I love them.

But before I do, I hope you will appreciate their beauty even without abdomens that flash seductively – and occasionally synchronously – in the summer air.

Lightning Bug – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-908)

Smoky Mountains – Day 186

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Classic Smokies – Photo: L. Weikel

Smoky Mountains   

I’ve read about them. And I’ve undoubtedly seen photographs of them. But nothing beats seeing them in person.

Nevertheless, I’m sharing some of my own photographs with you tonight because I find these mountains simply enchanting.

Even though, intellectually, I knew I was in the midst of the Smoky Mountains, my mind balked at the idea that what I was observing was not, in fact, the smoke from campfires. I could feel my resistance to denying my imagination’s desire to romanticize those alleged campfires into hearths of people living on the land. People of the land.

But the truth is that the magic witnessed by people living or visiting here for generations is actually real. No matter how much those curling wisps of blue-ish white vapor resemble smoke, the fact remains that they are the legendary ‘smoke’ of the Smoky Mountains. And there’s not a lick of smoke to them.

Photo: L. Weikel

I know I’ve been singing the praises of Amadell practically every night, but what can I say? The views. I cannot get enough of the ever changing vistas I encounter each and every couple of minutes (much less hours or days). Nor can I hold my tongue when it comes to appreciating the lush foliage of the rhododendrons and mountain laurel, the juniper, maples, elms, and magnolias.

And the creeks. Nothing sends me into a state of calm and peace faster than the voice of a creek cascading down a mountain.

I’m cherishing the opportunity to sit with this land and immerse myself in its beauty.

Sunset Behind the Smokies – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-925)

More Time, Less to Say – Day 183

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Amadell Carp – Photo: L. Weikel

More Time, Less to Say      

I realize my past few posts have been pretty short, but apparently this one is going to be even shorter, even though I’m technically getting an earlier start than I have in several days. Sometimes it seems like it doesn’t matter how much time I have to write; if the words don’t come, there’s not a whole lot I can do about it.

I’ll admit it: I just finished watching last night’s penultimate episode of Game of Thrones and, well, “Sheesh,” is the best reaction I can muster. (H/t to SW.)

To be honest, it’s hard to think about much of anything after watching that. It’s not even the action that I’m referring to – it’s the fact that I can’t get the stupid theme song out of my head. And yeah, OK, I’ll admit it: I find myself thinking about death.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, since GoT is GoT (and what would I have expected anyway?) there’s a bigger, more personal reason than just GoT that’s causing me to mull that subject over, but that’s another discussion for another day.

So for now I’ll leave you with a photo of these brilliant carp at the Peace Pond at Amadell.

(T-928)

Sacred Day – Day 179

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Prayer Made Visible – Photo: L. Weikel

Sacred Day   

This morning was filled with tasks that are not a part of an ordinary day (for me, at least).

When the birds in the trees outside my windows pierced my dreams and enticed me to awaken, I was pleased to see that it was pretty much precisely the time we’d all agreed upon last night to meet for ceremony.

No need for an alarm. They’d sensed my intention and obliged my desire to participate in the ceremony we’d discussed last evening.

Blessing of the Sacred Springs

Simply stated, we’d agreed that today would be the day Amchi Nyima would bless the sacred springs on the property (called ‘pakarina’ in the Andean tradition – sources of the creative, feminine essence of the land) in ceremony based in his tradition: Bön Po shamanism, a very ancient form of Buddhism that is steeped in animism and shamanistic practices.

Installing Prayer Flags – Photo: L. Weikel

I was honored to be able to witness these ceremonies and hold space while Amch Nyima blessed and hung new prayer flags over the sacred springs of this land.

Sacred Fire

Upon the conclusion of the installation of the flags, we offered a sacred fire to the pakarinas to bless and honor them.

The morning unfolded in a manner that we could not have imagined better, even if we’d tried. The attention and presence of the spirits of this land as we conducted ceremony was palpable. There was an ayni (a reciprocity) of appreciation and benevolence that is hard to describe.

Indeed, like most things sacred, the magic was in the direct experience.

One thing I know to be true: the spirits of this land know that they are being stewarded by humans that have an awareness of the sacred.

I, for one, am honored to have participated in this dedication, appreciation, and blessing of the life-giving springs that flow from the heart of this mountain sanctuary.

Preparing for ceremony – Photo: L. Weikel

(I have to ask myself sometimes: How in the world did I get so lucky to experience such magic?)

(T-932)

Welcome to Amadell – Day 178

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Arriving in NC – Photo: L. Weikel

Welcome to Amadell        

It’s said that if you want to get to know a place, it is helpful to connect with the land that you’re visiting: ideally skin to skin, or bare feet to grass, whatever way you can find to make direct connection with the land you are visiting.

I learned about this decades ago, when one of my earliest teachers recommended walking barefoot in a new country or area I might be visiting, particularly if I’d flown in an airplane to get there.

Earthing

Some might say you are simply connecting with the electrons produced by the Earth and synchronizing your energy with that of the land where you find yourself: the energy of that particular place. Indeed, studies have shown that ‘earthing’ or ‘grounding’ can literally improve our physical, psychological, and emotional health. I dare say our spiritual self, too, improves exponentially when we reconnect with Mother Earth.

Another practice which sort of goes hand-in-hand with making a physical connection with the land you’re visiting is a favorite activity of mine: speaking directly to the Spirits of the Land on which you’re standing. Nature spirits are everywhere, and it is always polite to speak to and ask permission of the spirits of the land to enter that place.

Gestures of Friendliness and Gratitude

It’s also helpful to make a gesture of friendliness and gratitude to the spirits of a particular place for their anticipated hospitality. It’s helpful, too, to make an offering – a piece of candy or chocolate, a cookie, etc. is often appreciated. Native North Americans often offer a pinch of tobacco or cornmeal.

And if you’ve forgotten to bring a snack or traditional offering, your gift can be as simple as a couple strands of your own hair. Using your breath to imbue your hair (or any of the other gifts) with you heartfelt gratitude for being welcomed to that place and then placing it on the earth with a spirit of generosity and appreciation is all it takes to make a spiritual connection to the spirits of the land.

Amadell

I arrived today at a magical place: Amadell. Amadell is a spiritual and nature sanctuary in the Appalachians (Smoky Mountains) of western North Carolina.

Not only did I have the chance this afternoon to connect directly with the land here at Amadell by laying my spine directly on her surface, I was given a particularly magical opportunity to connect with the spirits of this land by listening to the voices of some of the land’s inhabitants.

Listening to a May Apple serenade – Photo: L. Kraujalis

Connecting with the Song of May Apple

Specifically, because I happen to be lucky enough to be here at the same time that Peter May is, I lay with my back on the earth and actually listened to the songs of May Apple, Ramp, and other plants growing abundantly upon the mountainside.

What an exquisitely intimate and grounding experience.

To say I feel welcomed and at home here wouldn’t do justice to the magical sense that I’m filled with at the moment.

Peter May – Photo: L. Weikel

Peter May and The Sonic Apothecary

Peter May is many things, ranging from a musician, an alchemist, a wisdom-keeper to a plant whisperer – and you can read more about him at The Sonic Apothecary. Working with technology that picks up on the electrical signals emitted by plants and translates them into musical tones, Peter makes communication with the elemental world more accessible. If you visit his site, you can also hear a sample of the songs of various plants.

As a result of my experiences this afternoon, I am feeling an intimacy with the land and the spirits that live here that feels healing and creative. I feel nurtured and nourished. I feel connected and welcomed.

Of course, the human caretakers of this land, the Kraujalises, make me feel this way also. I am filled with gratitude for their generous friendship.

(T-933)

**I should note that I have photos that I wanted to include in this post – but alas, the perils of being on a mountain include sort of cranky internet service that gets stuck uploading photos. I’ll keep trying, but…

Exploring the Physician/Shaman Relationship – Day 146

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Exploring the Physician/Shaman Relationship

We’re rapidly approaching ‘last call’ for registration to attend our unique four-day experiential gathering, Listening to Spirit, in the gorgeous Appalachians of western North Carolina.

Modern medicine: where would we be without it? Many of us probably wouldn’t even be alive right now if it weren’t for the untold advances that have been made in this scientific field.

Most physicians (of whatever stripe: M.D., D.O., N.D., D.C., etc.) have a particular way of treating patients, mostly by utilizing state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, medicines, and focusing upon alleviating patients’ symptoms. But what if those symptoms tell only half or even a quarter of the story? What if the patient herself has absolutely no idea what’s been triggered deep within to cause her body to manifest particular symptoms? And what if your patient appears unresponsive to all conventional treatments?

What Do You Do When Conventional Approaches Fail?

When everything else has failed, a physician who holds their patient’s healing at the core of their focus might consider using unconventional means to address such stubborn cases.

If you worked hard for your medical degree and care passionately about giving your very best to all of your patients, Wendy Warner, M.D., and I encourage you to expand your healing repertoire to include offering patients the chance to heal their energy bodies as well as their physical bodies.

Perhaps the concept of ‘energy bodies’ sounds ridiculous to you. We simply ask you to remember what you already know: that our bodies are living, breathing, organisms that work together to create excellent health. You know we are more than the sum of our parts. Shamanic work accesses other layers of reality to discern what is out of balance that may be causing the illness or disease that is resisting conventional treatment.

And since shamanic work is by its very nature experiential, this long weekend is designed to help you, as a medical practitioner, learn about it first hand and perhaps experience your own breakthrough.

The setting is exquisitely conducive to healing: Amadell, a residential retreat center in Luck, North Carolina, where nature spirits abound and the mountains themselves bring a healing ‘touch.’

Join us. Learn about an ancient way of being that, when mindfully offered as an option in a conventional medical practice can transform some of your most intractable issues.

Where: Amadell, Luck, North Carolina         When: Thursday, May 16 – Sunday, May 19, 2019

Price: $575, meals included (lodging separate)            Lodging: Amadell – book directly with Amadell.org – if needed, other locations can also be recommended by the staff at Amadell;

To register: email Wendy Warner, M.D. at: drwarner@medicineinbalance.com.

It’s time for Prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor to come true. Learn about that, too – and be a part of the healing of humanity. But as always, it starts with us. Join us!

(T-965)

Cabin at Amadell – Photo courtesy Amadell.org

Special Event Announcement – Day 107

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Special Event Announcement                                  

As March roars toward us at lightning speed, I’m excited to announce a special event that’s coming in May.

The long weekend of May 16th– 19th, 2019, I will be co-presenting a truly unique retreat with my colleague and friend, Wendy Warner, M.D., in the Appalachians of western North Carolina. The program is geared specifically toward physicians and other healthcare practitioners who might be curious about bringing shamanic work into their practice.

Some Background on Wendy Warner, MD

Wendy is a board certified ObGyn who spent 14 years in a conventional practice and eventually started investigating integrative holistic medicine as a means of being more effective in her work.  She learned botanical medicine and energy work initially, as those things spoke to her. Eventually, she began teaching for the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine (the original certifying body in Integrative Medicine); she also served as President of the Board.  Since then, she has also become faculty for the Institute for Functional Medicine.

In 2004, Wendy left her conventional practice and opened her current office, Medicine in Balance. There she practices integrative functional medicine, with a strong emphasis on botanicals and energy medicine. She shares space with a number of other providers so that our patients will have access to a panoply of therapies. These range from acupuncture, osteopathic manipulation and shin tai, to Rubenfeld synergy and  – you guessed it – shamanic healing.

Upon opening her practice, Wendy loved how much more effective integrative holistic medicine is for chronic illness.  And yet, there were (and are) those patients who are tough. The ones where you fix one issue and, months later, something else pops up.  You fix that and yet another issue arises.  We’ve jokingly referred to this as the “whack a mole” syndrome. She was frustrated.

A Doctor, A Lawyer, and a Shaman Meet in a Bar…

Although Wendy and I have known each other since 2001, we initially met in the context of her service as a board member of our local Planned Parenthood and mine as that organization’s Director of Development.

Sensing a kindred spirit, I confided in Wendy that I was engaging in an in-depth study of shamanic healing techniques, she encouraged me to contact her when I was ready to offer my services to the community. (To be honest, I laughed when she suggested this to me. In 2004, I couldn’t imagine I would be providing shamanic work to complete strangers in connection to a medical practice!)

Well – let that be a lesson!

Never Say Never

Our collaboration on behalf of her patients began in 2008, and overall, the results have been exciting, gratifying, and remarkable. Wendy recognizes that, sometimes, the best solution to a patient’s issues is attending to imbalances manifesting in their energy fields and the depths from which those imbalances are sourced. That’s where my work comes in. Together, we have witnessed some truly amazing and remarkable shifts in patients’ healing journeys.

There are precious few, if any, medical practices in our country that offer the depth and breadth of care and attention to patients’ needs as provided by Medicine in Balance. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity that Wendy and her vision and open-minded approach to healing has provided me to be of service to our community.

Medicine in Balance – One of a Kind

It is precisely because Medicine in Balance is so unique that Wendy and I are offering this retreat. We are excited to share our experiences in bringing the most ancient of healing modalities to a modern, 21stcentury medical practice.

I’ve posted the details of this retreat on the Events page of my website. I would love it if you would consider sharing this blog post, or if you see it on FB, sharing it there – and tagging your friends or family members who are in the healing professions. Of course, if you are a physician or other healing professional – join us!

If you think you know any doctors or medical practitioners (and think outside the box here, too: dentists would also benefit enormously) who might be interested in exploring this work, please feel free to contact me for flyers or brochures. FYI, I make that comment about dentists because I actually have worked on people who were presenting with mouth and teeth issues that were baffling both physicians and dentists…and met with success in getting to the ‘root’ of their issues.

Finally, the setting will be exquisite: the private retreat center known as Amadell, which is located in the great Appalachian mountains of western North Carolina. One thing I know for sure: we’ll nurture the physicians’ souls that weekend, and that has to be a good thing for everyone.

(T-1004)

Red Triangle of Death – Day Ninety Six

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Red Triangle of Death

I am bummed. And honestly? Wondering if I’m being sent a painfully obvious message.

For several months now, since at least August, my car has sporadically inflicted upon me either its “check engine” light (never a sign you want to see) or the dreaded Red Triangle of Death, as we call it in our house (but from here on out: RT of D). You’ve probably at least caught a fleeting glimpse of this symbol when starting your car – when all the lights go on momentarily? It’s always a relief when they all go back out. Regrettably, that’s not happening for me, though.

I’ve had my wonderful Prius in for service a number of times since the ‘check engine’ light first flashed into my life, each time thinking we’d figured it out.

The Engine Light and the RT of D

The RT of D, with an exclamation point centered within it to add emphasis – ! – to that overwhelming dread it engenders when it afflicts your vehicle, and a screeching beep that shakes you out of complacency by heralding the RT of D’s arrival, started having their way with me in October, while returning home from the mountains of Luck, North Carolina (just outside of Asheville) where I’d been visiting an amazing retreat center, Amadell.

I was be-bopping along I-81 North, having just crossed into Virginia (i.e., in the middle of nowhere) when all of a sudden my senses were accosted by the cacophony from my dashboard and I felt that diarrhea feeling come over me. Aaarrgghh. I pulled over, not daring to question the urgency of the RT of D – replete with exclamation point and harsh beep. After a cursory glance around and under the vehicle, which told me nothing, I decided to drive it to the next exit.

This endeavor proved fruitful. I filled the Prius up with gas and opened her hood. (Yes, I can confirm she has a gender, albeit no name other than “Good Girl.”) There was no steam (even though a red thermometer had also appeared when the harsh beep stopped blaring), and no indication of anything awry, actually. Deciding to give her ‘some space,’ I nipped into the station’s convenience store and bought a flashlight.

I’ll confess, I have no idea why I purchased a flashlight Dumb, I know.

Giving Her a Little Love – and Some Space

I walked back out to Good Girl and reassured her that she has earned her name time and time again. But regardless of all the times she’d come through for me on other adventures, it was really, really important for her to get me home tonight. Because I did not want to have to call AAA while 350 miles away from home. “So get your act together, Baby,” I said to my 2005 Prius. “I know you can do it.”

And she did.

Truly, it felt miraculous. Neither the engine light nor the RT of D came on even one more time the entire drive home. She was being my Best Girl that day and night.

The next morning, though? When I was driving to an appointment? Back on – with a vengeance.

So she went in for another spa treatment. My wonderful mechanics tended to her needs and, once again, felt we’d taken care of the situation. This was in November.

Throughout the following months, Good Girl kept having bouts of RTof D. It was tough to discern what was triggering it, but when it would get so that I could not drive for longer than three or four minutes without it screeching at me, I would take her in for another look-see.

Last Ditch Effort

This last time they kept her for two weeks trying to replicate her issues. They were successful in this, and we decided on the least intrusive method of helping her: trying to seal a head gasket from within. (Metaphors abound, do they not?) (There are even more I’m not disclosing…)

I picked her up this past Wednesday. (You’ll recall it was my reluctance to take the loaner they’d given me down to Philadelphia on the day of the predicted snow and ice that resulted in my ride down the train memory lane). She drove perfectly yesterday.

Alas…today she started in on her shenanigans, full bore, within six minutes of driving. And thereafter, she screeched and re-flashed her RT of D every couple of minutes. Her ‘check engine’ light also went on within those initial six minutes and has not turned off yet (besides when I turned off the whole car). As soon as I turn Good Girl back on now, though – she’s clearly a hurting cowgirl.

I am bereft. We’ve been together for 14 years and 306,501.2 miles, to be exact. Even her odometer stopped at 299,999 miles. (Stupid Toyota. I have to keep track of all the miles since then via one of my ‘trip odometers.’)

While she’s served me in great stead, and possibly because she has – I am not yet ready to let her go.

(T-1015)