Going on Some Sacred Journeys
Friends, these next two weeks will differ from the routine: I will be going on some sacred journeys.
Traveling gives you a different perspective, gets you out of your routine, and makes you think differently.
–Cynthia Sageleaf
My husby has been building a camper (to start a business) and we thought a good “test drive” was in order. I’ve been in the process of building him a website (it’s still under construction) so that he can build and sell more of them.
But, it’s spring, and where I work, spring break happens the first week of April. I have an ailing family member who lives in Tucson, AZ. I also have an aunt/godmother who lives in Santa Fe, NM, and my immediate family all live in Colorado Springs, CO. There’s no time like the present to try to visit and see folks. We decided to turn it into an epic road trip since I already have the time off.
Itinerary
We’ll head south through Texas into New Mexico and stay for a day or two in the White Sands region. We hope to explore nearby areas like Carlsbad Caverns and Roswell. From there, we’ll drive into Tucson to see a family member I haven’t seen in a long, long time. He’s not well, and lives in a nursing home. It’ll be a little difficult to see him because I haven’t seen him in so long, but I’m also looking forward to it.
Next, we’ll head northeast towards Santa Fe. My mother has 12 brothers and sisters and when I was growing up in Colorado, I spent at least one weekend a month down in Santa Fe and stayed with my grandmother. She has since passed away, and I haven’t been back since. We’ll get a chance to spend an evening with my relatives there and poke around the city for a night or two. Then, we’ll take the scenic route up to Colorado Springs, possibly staying at a hot springs resort before arriving in town.
We’ll visit my family in Colorado for a few days before heading back to North Carolina. The whole journey will take about 14 days.
Out With the Old, In With the New
I realize that we’re going to be covering ground in a lot of sacred places where our indigenous brothers and sisters once (and still) walked. Because I’m on a powerful spiritual journey, I expect to have some insights and thoughts come to me about my path.
The desert sunrises and sunsets, and the time in open spaces will be incredible. I’m sure I’ll be out of my comfort zone on at least some parts of this journey: I’m not one for being cold, and it’s only April. We’ll be in the mountains and it still can get quite chilly at night. I know that getting out of your comfort zone, however, is a great way to broaden the mind and give you new perspectives.
This journey is also already symbolic. I have completed the LIFE Project and I’ll write up a proper reflection upon my return. The timing of this trip serves as a transition from one experience to another. And, as an interesting side note, Mercury is in retrograde and the past week since that started happening on the 22nd has been…interesting.
Meditation Teacher Training
As I wrap up and reflect on the past year of my intentions, I marvel at starting another segment in my life’s journey: becoming a meditation teacher. I have been accepted into the Meditation Teacher Academy as part of the McLean Meditation Institute. As soon as I return from my travels, my course materials will be waiting for me and I will begin 150 hours of coursework.
I will need to complete these hours of study, which does not include meditation time, before July 7, 2018. Then, after 21 days have passed, I will participate in a 50-hour meditation intensive retreat in Sedona, AZ at the end of the month.
Never at any other point in my life have I felt so…connected, so spiritual. I am so, so grateful for this journey. From here, I will be able to confidently teach and coach others, including here on this website. In fact, that was the primary reason for starting Intuitive and Spiritual. It was to serve as a hub for teaching others: meditation, mindfulness, and to be a place where people could come to feel some love, learn about meditation, and have a little creativity on the side.
Retreats and Meditation
Furthermore, I am doing this so that eventually I can lead retreats. As part of my teaching training, I will also learn how to conduct retreats. This was another intention as I started this site. The meditation retreat I went on the summer before last was so powerful and life-changing and want to do the same for others. I am so grateful to you: for sticking with me, for being there, for witnessing this path upon which I find myself. It is nothing short of incredible.
As I’ve been writing all this, I’ve felt like I’ve been in an almost meditative state. I’ve been listening to a powerful soundtrack by Dean Evenson called, “Om Mane Padme Hum.” It is a mantra of compassion and about sending love into the world:
Inspirational Haiku Book
As part of my LIFE Project, I had intended to write a book of poetry (this is the 3rd of the 5 I hope to publish!). To commemorate the ending of this project, I have compiled 250 haikus that I have written throughout the course of the year. I will release it upon my return. I’m thrilled to share it with all of you. It will go into the free resource library here on the website.
Next Week and Posting:
As I embark upon my travels, I’m not entirely sure how much access I will have to the internet. We’ll be going through some pretty rural areas.
To that end, I wanted to take the pressure off myself to feel obligated to post. I may or may not post next week. I’m bringing my camera, tripod, and recording equipment. I think it would be fun to do videos like I did on the sacred travels voyage I did last year. Those would go on my YouTube channel. Though I often post mandala-related items, I also love to talk about my travels and insights. I’ve scheduled out some new haikus and tweets on Twitter, but not the 100 daily posts I usually do – just a few a day while I’m traveling.
For this post, I likely won’t be able to visit other blogs to comment. If you leave a comment, please know I will catch up with you upon returning.
Until next time!
Aw, hope you and your hubby are enjoying your trip right now. Totally understand about the Internet and hope you will stay offline as long as you can to enjoy it all. But when you do return here, can’t wait to see all you experienced in pics and your tales, too! Hugs and wishing you a wonderful week and trip again, too!! xoxo <3
Sweet Janine – yes, I got home late last night. Just doing a little catch up here. 🙂 I did get a chunk of offline time – and it was good for me. 🙂 I need to do trips like that to avoid technology, I’ve found. Hehe. I opened my computer twice: once when I was at my aunt’s to schedule more tweets and once for work – both times lasted less than an hour. Gloriousness. Sending you hugs and I hope you’ve been well! I’ll have a look-see over at your blog to see what you’ve been up to.
Sending hugs, Lil Sis, as you head out on the road. Any road trip is a sacred voyage for me. Driving has always been a source of great enjoyment. I love to see the different landscapes, meet new people, and absorb new experiences. I wish you peace and safety on this journey.
Big Bro – yes! Sacred voyages – we went to so many places, I had so many thoughts…and I reckon I’ll make a blog post about it tomorrow. 🙂 I loved seeing the landscapes, too. Seeing relatives, experiencing new things…and on our way back, we were just ahead of that winter storm that is covering the country, Haha. We were safe – thankfully so. Sending you hugs and hope you’ve been well! xo
You’ll be visiting 3 of my favorite states, Cynthia. I love the 4-corners area and soooooo wish I were going with you. Wishing you a lovely heart-centered journey, my friend ❤
This sounds like a wonderful trip Cynthia. I hope you have some new adventures, enjoy the camper and family. Congrats on your training and haiku book too. You’re amazingly productive!
Brad – indeed! I will have to report on it tomorrow. It was an epic, whirlwind trip. As for the book, the idea was to publish tomorrow, but I didn’t anticipate the lack of internet I’d have – which, ironically, was a good thing. 🙂 So, maybe Friday. Hehe.
Hope you’ve been well. Sending hugs.
Thanks Cynthia. I look forward to hearing your stories. To be/do or not to be/do … 🙂
Hi dear Cynthia,
Hope you are having a rejuvenating time on your sacred travels.
Congratulations on completing the LIFE Project. Such exciting things are in your future – I am dreaming of attending one of your retreats –
I think you will be a natural at this as it’s in your blood.
Enjoy every moment. Love, Maria
Maria – thank you, sweet friend. Indeed, we got in late last night, ahead of the winter storm that’s hit the country. So grateful to be home, safe and sound. 🙂 I can’t wait to report on the LIFE Project. I have so many thoughts and musings on that and am contemplating just what I will do with all the writing I’ve done on it.
It means the world to me, you describing wanting to come on a retreat. That right there is sheer motivation for me: thank you so much for that. I can just imagine right now: meditation, mandalas, writing, walking, time in nature…oh my heart! Hehe.
I hope you’ve had a wonderful couple of weeks. Sending you big hugs and I’ll go have a look-see on your site to see what you’ve been up to. <3
Wow, Cynthia, congratulations on starting your work as a meditation teacher! I wish I lived closer so that I could participate in your classes. You continue to amaze me. I hope your road trip is a lot of fun and, as always, educational (about both the self and the world). LOVE YOU!!
Sweet Christy – thank you, dear friend! Yes, I can’t wait to start (and finish) the course, and begin teaching in earnest. It’s wonderful. Perhaps I’ll have a class close to you. Wink wink. You know…I could create a retreat near you! Hehe. But I do want to do classes online, too.
The road trip was incredible. Exhausting. Joyful. Epic. Interesting. And I can’t wait to write about it. Sending you hugs, love and wishes for an incredible week! xo
Wonderful Cynthia when everything starts to come together, including this trip you have recently had with hubby.. Apologise in another late arrival. I am absolutely thrilled that your meditation course is coming to fruition. and I am certain you will find this trip everything and more, as you get to visit both places and catch up with relatives..
I love your camper that you hitch to your vehicle.. Nice and cosy and I wish your hubby well in getting more orders for his amazing work.. 🙂 Just fabulous..
Thank you for your wonderful response on my last post.. I have many yet to answer and catch up with.. We have been busy in the allotment garden, between showers and foggy days we had two dry days.. So made the most of it..
Now to catch up with your latest post.. Where I am dying to find out how your holiday break went..
MUCH love dearest Cynthia.. Mega hugs your way for a beautiful week <3
Sue – oh, sweet friend! Your comments are ALWAYS welcome and I don’t ever consider them late. <3 Yes, I have started the meditation course, and it is coming together. 🙂 The trip was incredible and the camper did well. Husby is fixing a few little things on it and getting ready to take pictures so that he can sell it and make more! 🙂
As for post responses – I am a week later than usual in getting to my responses, so I understand. With the course starting, I’m getting into a new routine, and I realize that takes some time for sure. Hehe. I know that when you say you have been in the garden, I know it has been most incredible for you to do so because I know what beauty you’re creating! May your garden be fruitful and glorious! xo
Remember dear Cynthia that blog land will still be here to return too.. I would often feel frazzled at trying to fit everything in.. And stay up late to try to catch up with peoples blogs.. Now I am more relaxed, and know I will visit when I can and others too visit when they are able or feel inclined..
Sending you my thoughts for your new venture.. Enjoy.. And I am sure your Camper will fly.. :-D.. <3
Sue – oh, dear friend. I am figuring out that balance. I have a need to connect but need to honor my down time and step away…whewee! It’s all a balancing act, isn’t it. But you set a great example for me. 🙂 As for the new venture…this course is everything I thought it would be, and then some….
Thank you – always – for your words of encouragement. The world is so incredibly lucky to have your light present upon its lands….
I am so pleased your course is everything and more Cynthia.. And yes, we often feel the need to be on our blogs and try to keep up with everyone..
But I have found the amount of people I follow, unless I cut that down drastically, I will never ever catch all their posts. as some publish many a week.. Then I used to do the guilt trip..
Giving myself permission to just come and go and learn to accept that we need space to be creative and time out away from technology means we have to be willing to let go sometimes of the need to feel we have to be there for others..
I know this may sound silly.. But that is what I often feel.. I need to catch up with my friends or what will they think of me…
I Have come to learn its not what they think of me that matters.. It is what I think about myself.. I need to put my needs first, My well being first too.
And I know that True blogging friends, understand that need of space.. and will accept it.. Others I know have fallen by the wayside.. And I accept that too..
This time of year is busy.. And next week I take a vacation too.. Scotland calls again.. And we always go around my birthday..
And I dont care what the weather, just to be in the highlands and breatheeeee is what makes me alive..
So if I am not around next week Cynthia you know why my friend.
So enjoy your course.. and worry not about juggling… and Breatheeeee… xxx 🙂 lol.. HUGS xxx <3
Sue – you’re so right. I have cut back on quite a few things while I am completing this course: I cannot do the mandala videos right now, nor am I tweeting haikus so much (though I am still writing daily haikus for the most part), my blog posts often are in alignment with what I’m learning (so that I don’t have to invent completely new content) and I’m not actively seeking new followers or working on my Twitter following as much. In fact, I’m later in responding to comments and emails, and don’t always get back to folks in a timely manner. It’s temporary – through the first part of July. But it’s all worth it. So worth it. I accept when I can’t do more and I’m trying to keep the balance between working so much and just “be-ing.” Yesterday I woke up early, meditated, then let myself go back to sleep. Then, when I woke up again, I let myself “just be” for half an hour before rising at 9 am. That’s late for me, but just to lay there and just stare out the window, listening to the birds, that set the tone for a relaxed rest-of-day, even though I had lots of work to do.
I am learning from you, too. You have this great balance of working in the garden and coming back to your blog when it feels right. You’ve been at it for years and you haven’t burned out. There’s wisdom in your approach, dear friend. I have been afraid to let up too much on the blog here…mostly because of the “blogger/internet business” stuff that I listen to: “work hard, post regularly” or “if you don’t put the work in, you won’t see the benefit” and it’s rather ingrained. But I’m well-aware and I’m working on it. 🙂 I’m going to try to work in the garden after completing a few hours of coursework this afternoon. Tomorrow I will try to do the same. 🙂 I am taking a mindful approach to it all, though: as I type, I’m aware of my breathing. It’s so comforting, calming and incredible…