The Well of Grief
“Those who will not slip beneath the surface of the well of grief,
turning down through its black water to the place we cannot breathe,
will never know the source from which we drink, the secret water, cold and clear,
nor find in the darkness glimmering,
the small round coins, thrown by those who wished for something else.” ~David Whyte
Chapada dos Veadeiros, Savanna of the Deer Hunters-a place I never considered traveling to…I feel so blessed and vivacious here-alive in a way that Iāve never experienced; acutely aware of the different parts of this self, this existence in which we call: being human. The plethora of information I receive on a daily basis is not being fully digested, as I continuously move from one place to the next. Although my physical and mental constituents seem to endlessly shift and change, I feel the most grounded Iāve felt in the past month. To truly experience this divergent country, Iām convinced that one must go inland.
The moon guided me from Brasilia to Alto Paraiso de GoiĆ”s-an endless highway surround by mais (corn), where I reunited with my long-time Canadian brother, Graham, whom I met at Tassajara years ago. This phenomenon, our reunification, in a land far from where we both originate is definitely not a random event. I felt a bit of anxious around our reunion and wondered how the experience would unfold…I came to learn we were both feeling a little apprehensive. Tiago, our driver, picked me and two other women up from the airport. I listened intently as they spoke in Portuguese-wondering, at times, if they were arguing given the tonality and varying sounds of their speech and mannerisms. After nearly a 12 hour journey, and very little sleep, we arrived safely in the land of puffy clouds, cachoeiras (waterfalls), and quartz crystal.
Mariposašš¦
Lua Cheia
Received with the utmost generosity and kindness by Graham and his darling, Lu, I couldnāt have felt more held. Thereās a calm, serene energy that my soul has been seeking here; I feel at home. The sweet breeze is seemingly sweeping away all of my worries; I feel my body healing and my heart opening…this is a place where one can actually slow down; where one can process+digest experiences that have been accumulating over lifetimes. All the ancient, twisted karma we continuously contemplate has been surfacing and amidst the doubt and curiosity, Graham and I sat together, hand in hand, heart to heart-sharing our stories; creating the space to further digest lingering impurities.
Worlds between worlds…this setting has been a great, healing force as the community here has been intentionally, and ever so gently, developing around a Tibetan temple known as Templo Cabtehlna. The terrain was once used for cattle grazing and before then, it was a Savannah where Emu+Jaguars dominated the territory. Living off the land, we prepared the abundant collards, carrots, yucca, and countless other vegetables grown on the property farm. I was finally able to cook to my hearts delight. Lu pressed fresh juice in the mornings, while Graham prepared sweet desserts, delving into his art of carpentry; constructing impeccable pieces for people in Alto Paraiso, as well as in the capitol of Brasilia.
Templo Cabtehlna
Graham introduced me to Syntrophic Agriculture which was implemented by Erest Grostch. He explained how a diverse group of species including eucalyptus, which Iāve considered to be an invasive plant, harmoniously function to develop the soil; preparing for the next consortium of species. Constantly in pruning to put the biomass, or energy, back into the lines of plants that were being cultivated-interconnected and working together for a future cause-to move toward abundance and diversity. Eucalyptus is a fast growing strata, or emerging species, that like to be above everything else. Hence, itās an effective plant that nourishes the environment to produce water, to further consolidate and create more species with the intention of generating more production. If the grass is cut at the right time, you donāt even need to water it, as it will stay green throughout all seasons.
Essentially, Syntrophic Agriculture is a form of consolidating energy using the grass, eucalyptus, and other strata of species-constructing lines that run north to south-supporting the function of a future cause that promotes abundance and diversity…
Crescer Crescer Cresļæ¼cer
Abacaxiššš
Form+Function
In accordance, we discussed how Darwin’s Theory of Evolution appears to be false-competition and survival of the fittest do not exist on this land. He shared his views on how relationships between predator+prey have been misunderstood and my mind continuously reflected on how varying forms support a particular function. What is the ultimate function? The nests of termites consolidate energy into specific locations-creating tunnels beneath the soil to offer air and water, softening the hard soil, preparing for the next group of species. Itās a continuous process…
Similar to our practice, or our lives-the present state is due to a future cause-as the lines grow, taking on lives of their own, they start emerging…similar to the way in which our lives unfold, revealing the interconnectedness of all things. Our wealth and security, given whatever lens one views such concepts, depends on one another and most especially on the territories in which we reside. It was so fascinating to connect all that Graham taught me to my experience around the human condition, thus far…The entire visit couldnāt have been more fitting!
A arte de Graham
Dois dos meus maiores amoresššš¾
Lu shared the project she recently commenced with the local prisoners of the area-teaching them how to sew and make Tibetan prayer flags, educating them in regard to the opportunities they have to ignite a more prosperous future-for themselves and their families. We contemplated how we could start a nonprofit organization in the states; to support young women of Brazil by educating them to gain awareness in regard to contraception, and possibilities that might manifest a more advantageous future. Trusting that we’re on the “right path” often takes us down varying “wrong paths”. This idea of trust has been coming up along this journey. Trusting ourselves to move forward with integrity; to meet the greed, hate, and delusion that we all encounter with consciousness; to discern what will best serve whatever “I” that arises, as well as the rest of humanity.
SebastiĆ£o-Prison Project
Alto Paraiso
And as my understanding of the region expanded, we carried on to the next experience-the village of SĆ£o Jorge, where we made an attempt to enter the park which was unfortunately closed. The town itself is rather quaint, yet filled with culture and art. We feasted on feijĆ£o (hearty bean stew) rice, collards, and farofa (toasted manioc flour) which is a traditional Brazilian dish known as feijoĆ£da!
Photo of a photo:)
Centro Cultural
Sabedoria e sabedoriaššŗ
On to one of the many enchanted waterfalls that will forever be a part of my heart-Serena Assupcaoās alluring voice guided us along the rocky road to Cataras dos Couros (Waterfalls of Leather) where we ascended along the most miraculous hike, leading to endless mountains, rivers, and streams. The persistent memories of one of the most amazing days of my life continues to feel like a dream. This plateau was believed to have been used to hunt deer which is, perhaps, where they skinned the deer for leather-amidst these very falls where people come to swim, play, and heal.
Cataras dos Couros
Como um sonhošš
Perigo Perigo
Endless rivers and streams…
NĆ£o hĆ” palavrasšæ
Flores sagradas
And so it is…
Cavalos selvagens
On to the next adventure…SĆ£o Bento Falls, located on the land in which former Miss Brasil (currently 90 years of age) constructed to host guests, offered me the space to contemplate all of this wonder. A place where toucans, macaws, and rare, tropical hawks fly high in the sky. I started to tend to the physical parts of my being, in preparation for a ceremony with three Shaman leading a retreat near Chapada dos Veadeiros, at a destination called Terra Boom. This was the first part of a retreat in which the Shaman, who came from varying parts of the Amazon, were chosen by the elders to share their teachings. It was a magnanimous experience, to say the least-indescribable!
SĆ£o Bento Falls
Blessed by the songs of the ātrue humanā, or Kuin Huin tribe, we sang and danced in the deepest state of meditation I have experienced in my life, thus far. Combined with the Medicina de las Floristas, the continuos light of the moon guided us as we cathartically released and purged, investigating an affair that had been long overdue. A constant process of digestion, of remembering and forgetting, expanding and contracting; linking to that which nourishes us.ļæ¼
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As I settled deeper and deeper into this altered state of consciousness, I was able to see something I had been seeking; the mysterious, ineffable world began to reveal itself. And I gazed motionless, as the little elves preserved and protected the space-feeding the fire and filling the clay jug with fresh, spring water from the well. The Italian fairy pranced throughout the space-round and round, as the Shaman persisted to chant and perform; commencing the ceremony with the metallic sounds of their rattlers, to vibrating string instruments, and the beat of powerful, striking drums. The amount of purging that was taking place on this land was unequivocally dumbfounding! Never had I experienced so much resistance while at the same time relieving myself of impurities that seemed to be abiding from past lives. There were moments where I didnāt think I could tolerate being upright-these were the most profound parts of the journey-the most fragile, tender parts of me that roared; the lioness that longed to be heard; the little girl that wanted so badly to be loved and cherished.
Os Porteiro
Haush, Haush, Haush
The fire roared as the gigantic pieces of burning wood told their stories. Schemes of abandonment and grasping churned in my mind, igniting doubt and confusion that appeared to be further received and processed. During one point along the ceremony, one of little elves comprehended my apprehension, whispering in my ear: TRUST THE PROCESS. This provoked much thought in regard to trusting the micro-realm, in which I was engrossed in at that time, as well as the macro intention of my overall experience of the human condition. As I sat by the unaccompanied fire, just outside of the teepee, tears streaming down my face, I recalled my mothers staggering smile, remembered my darling grandmothers, and their mothers, and all the women of the devastatingly oppressed country in which I was born. In essence, it was the cries of all the women in the world. And although the only female Shawwoman was not feeling well, unable to be present, the feminine energy throughout this ceremony was most profound. In actuality, the presence and influence of feminine power has been conspicuous throughout the duration of my experience in Brazil! These women mirrored the exact nurturance and independence I have been working toward-the confirmation that we can, safely and securely, regulate and hold whatever parts of ourselves that are arising-tending to the most vital connections of our bodies and mind.
The next morning, I meandered throughout one of the most amazing properties I have ever encountered. A Turkish man, from Istanbul, definitely had a vision as well as the means to manifest an eco-village. On a land of immeasurable acres stretching down to the river-in support of the preservation and protection of the forest, along with the hearts and minds of innumerable beings who he shares his land with; to further heal and recover from humanityās devastating acts of ignorance; to replenish the conviction and prolong the hope of those who wish for something else. And as the sun rose, the roosters initiated the dance of nature; the birds began to sing, flying from branch to branch, preparing for a new day. An auspicious owl appeared reminding me to trust the magic, mystery, and wisdom of my heart-to move forward using my intuition along with the moons cycles of renewal and the feminine intelligence and protection-present at all times.
Luz da manhĆ£
Auspicious Owlš¦
Garota de conteĆŗdoā„ļø
“You cannot travel the path, without becoming the path itself”~Buddha
The 
Finally, un GRANDE beijo to my dearest Manuol y Sonhia! I couldn’t have been blessed with greater parents in this part of the world-especially the homemade cooking-from mamĆ£o to yogurt with calda de jabuticaba, sopa de ervilha con arroz ,carne seca com abĆ³bora y couve, salgadinhos, coxinha com catupiry, risole de carne, casquinha de siri, empadinha de palmito (the list goes on+on…) and of course our lovely outing to feast on pizza de abobrinha italiana & linguiƧa calabresa com catupiry! The knowledge you have blessed me with along my journey has been immeasurable and I thank you, from the bottom of my heart! From Manuol’s impeccable garden to the exposure of the teachings of Alan Kardec, and the lovely friends, of Sonhia-I have been filled with the utmost love and wisdom! Thank you, a million times over, and I am beyond thrilled that you will be visiting us, next year!
ļø
