May 12, 2012
As Ricardo rolled up the window after exiting the van, an olive branch from the tree in the front yard got stuck in the passenger side window. I had noticed the severed branch in the window the day before but completely ignored it.
While preparing my van for the road, I rolled down the window, and the branch fell into the passenger seat. It suddenly occurred that perhaps I was supposed to take this olive branch with me on this part of my journey as some peace offering.
For what? I wasn’t sure, but I decided to listen to my intuition and placed the olive branch in the clutches of the eagle totem set on top of my dashboard for protection. If nothing else, the olive branch and eagle combination made for an attractive ornament.
I pulled out of the driveway around noon. I hit Interstate 17 and traveled north toward Camp Verde, Arizona. My first destination was Montezuma Well, approximately two hours north of Phoenix.
About an hour and fifteen minutes into my drive, I reunited with the hawk. The hawk greeted me by flying across the Interstate directly in front of my vehicle as I reached 3,000 feet. It was nice to see the hawk again and return to Arizona’s high country.
During the drive to Montezuma Well, my higher self kept telling me that my return to Indian country was to obtain wisdom, power, courage, or strength. I figured there was no better place to start this “power quest” than a visit to Montezuma Well. For me, this ancient place was very mysterious and magical.
The first time that I had visited Montezuma Well was back in April of 2008. Since then, I had this strange calling to return as often as possible. Montezuma Well was a very sacred place for the Yavapai people. They believed they emerged into this world through this well. The Hopi also held this place in high regard as a place for healing and ceremony.
Google Maps 2012
No sooner than I arrived, I began to reunite with the land. I greeted all the rock, water, and tree people and took a moment to feel a close connection to my surroundings.
After I reunited with the land, I made my way down to the eastern edge of the well, where the water exited the well and drained into the Verde River. It was here in this location that I had experienced many special moments.
Since the water was known to have unique healing qualities, I made a point to stand in the stream for a few minutes before starting my meditation.
Once exited the water, I found a sweet, cozy spot facing east, overlooking the Verde River. I invocated my “Sharing The Flame” between 3:40 and 4:00 PM.
I had to be clear. I was not here to force the teachings of Kabbalah on this sacred place. I respectfully and humbly used the 72 Names of God invocations to connect with the land on a spiritual level. Nothing more.
Once I began my meditation, I noticed several relatives from the animal kingdom begin to appear. The first animal to make itself known to me was a small Wren. It appeared on a large rock directly below my feet.
Wren offered the following wisdom:
- Messenger from God,
- siblings,
- seeing into the future,
- fearless.
While I repeated the mantra “Mem Lamed Hey,” a hummingbird visited me. The hummingbird offered the following wisdom:
- long journeys,
- love,
- joy,
- and happiness.
No sooner than the Hummingbird appeared, I noticed a Woodpecker on a nearby tree. Woodpecker offered the following messages:
- warnings,
- prophecy,
- thunder,
- truth seeker,
- rhythms and patterns of life,
- hidden things.
As I continued invocation, I saw a fish jump in the river. Fish offered the following medicine:
- fertility,
- love,
- balance,
- abundance,
- harmony.
But nothing spoke to me louder or tried to get my attention as much as the fly buzzing around my head. At one point, the fly flew into my mouth, forcing me to spit it out. It flew away only to return a few minutes later to crawl inside my nose. I got rid of the fly by blowing air through my nose, and it was at this point that it finally left me alone. Intuitively, I knew this fly had a very significant message for me. I paid close attention to the fly’s message. Fly offered the following wisdom:
- multivision,
- transformation,
- recycling waste,
- surviving.
The fly was preparing me for what was to come. When I completed my meditation, I looked directly overhead and took the following photograph.
It was at this point that I noticed several swallows flying above. Swallow offered the following messages:
- protection,
- being agile,
- quick maneuver,
- surviving the storm.
I acknowledged my relatives from the animal kingdom. I couldn’t help but wonder if their messages were trying to inform me of what lay ahead.
Once my meditation was complete, I spent the next thirty minutes relaxing by the stream and listening to various sounds of mother nature. Utterly grateful for this moment in my life, I honestly felt as though I was in my very own Garden of Eden.
As the park closed, I was forced to gather my things and return to my van. My final destination for the day was Cottonwood, Arizona.
Once I arrived in Cottonwood, I spent the rest of the evening working on my journal in a Walmart parking lot. After finding a nice, safe place to park, I settled in for the night and went to bed around 10:00 PM.