A Truly Mystical Place: Bhutan

Most of us have heard about the small kingdom of Bhutan located near Nepal and India. A few people know that it is expensive to go there and a bit difficult to obtain a visa. But did you know that there is a great Australian tour company, Journeys of the Spirit, that takes care of all that for you? Here is the best part: you can go there this fall because there are a few spaces left. Check this out soon before they are gone. The dates are October 24 - November 6, 2015.

More about Bhutan - here's what one past participant had to say.

From the most warm and generous people, to the endless mountain tops peaked in the clear and crisp air, to the sound of the bells chiming with every round of a spinning prayer wheel, to the gorgeous echoes of nuns singing peacefully in the monasteries and to the young children's playful smiles and innocent giggles... my desires were to take in every blissful moment ~ and I did so gently and effortlessly.

Bhutan is a bit like the proverbial Shangri-la, that fictional place in the novel, Lost Horizon, that captured everything we want to see in paradise - happy, friendly people, little poverty, beautiful scenery and an isolated place that somehow keeps it from being destroyed by commercialism, invasions and exploitation. Is Bhutan truly like this? Why not explore it yourself and then let us know.

Here's what this trip will involve. Guide, Peter Bliss (yes, his real name!) will weave  "Qi Gong, Tai Chi and Mindfulness to your daily happenings". Then there are the hikes, the talks and the markets. Want to know more? http://www.journeysofthespirit.com.au

Spiritual Awakening Revisited

Spiritual awakening has become something of a catch-phrase these days. Everyone is looking for that experience - the new age high, the ascension to a higher realm.  It was with a bit of amusement that when doing a Google search for current articles on the topic that I found one on the first page of Google that I had written two years ago (http://www.mysticfare.com/experiences-of-spiritual-awakening/). Why this one had stayed so prominent is the mystery of Google. Today I found an entire website devoted to spiritual awakening, a Wikipedia page under "religious experience" and also 5 ads for groups that will for a fee help you towards that goal including a spiritual awakening test to see how advanced you are, supposedly. 

I suppose I no longer have to begin my article by explaining what spiritual awakening is, but still everyone seems to have a bit of a different idea. Suffice it to say that not only is there more interest in the subject than even 2 years ago when I wrote that first article, but there are more people having all kinds of experiences of a different kind. I know this because they come to me for readings and I tell them they are normal and not to worry. It's long been predicted that we are going through some kind of quickening if not actual evolution as a species. Maybe it's simpler than that. We are just starting to use our right brains, something we could have done at anytime. It's just that we were so in love with our industrial wonder that we overlooked that aspect of our being. OK. Enough philosophy. Let's see what people are experiencing. Jim Tolles on the website, spiritualawakeningprocess.com states that he deals mainly with three types of people. I often work with three main types of people:

• People who want to develop a spiritual practice
• People who are dedicated to spiritual growth
• People who need to heal
• People who are in awakening

So here we are back to the awakening. I suspect that the high some people experience with awakening, the blissful state, is a natural carry-over from the psychedelic drug days, a kind of natural high. What is curious is that so many people are now experiencing this altered state. Back to Mr. Tolles again who is helping people going through awakening.

Orient and Ground You in a Spiritual Awakening
Anyone in awakening can feel completely out of sorts. It's a bewildering and scary place initially because spiritual awakening falls so far out of the realm of what is considered "normal" in Western society. It's also a blissful, ecstatic, and extremely connected space. I'll work with you to find appropriate grounding and help you to fully embody this energy as you shift from an old way of being into your true self. I'll also remind you regularly that you are not "crazy," but are in fact waking up to real "rationality" from the insanity that we live in.

From my own experience with this state and from what people have told me, there is often a feeling of dizziness, feeling light-headed and a need to take a break from "deadlines", pressure and the rat race. Some people feel more connected to others, even people they just met. Others may know things before they happen, or at least what others are thinking. The Eco Institute has an whole list of characteristics. Se if you can relate to any of these:

• Letting go of once tightly held beliefs and views. 
• Zoning out for extended periods of time. A spacey feeling.
• Sensitivity to negative people, events.
• Feelings of “tingling” electrical-like energy running through parts of the body.
• Having more meaningful dreams.
• Becoming aware of “synchronicity”, the seemingly unrelated events & signs we see & experience.
• Wishing to break away from blind conformity, outdated institutions, unnecessary customs, & the overall status quo.
• Unexplained changes in appetite & eating habits, weight. May sometimes look younger.
• Wishing to spend more time in nature.
• Changes in what you read, do with your spare time, & watch on TV (or turning off the TV altogether).
• Greater “awareness” of yourself and the outside world. 
• A greater sense of inner peace and interconnectedness, with intermittent periods of emotional upheaval.  Read more from this source here.

Please leave any comments about your own experiences with spiritual awakening. It's only beginning and I see it as a hopeful process towards possible world peace and more harmony in this sad world.

Near Death Experiences: What Do We Know?

Near death experiences are actually a new phenomena brought on by the advent of modern medicine. Before people just died; they were not brought back from death’s doorstep by modern machines. Now we have several decades of reports of what people have experienced when they were between life and death, and the accounts are amazingly similar, even from small children.

For example, many people experience going through a long tunnel towards a bright light. They see religious figures that they recognize, relatives that have passed on or spirit guides who help them decide what to do. Others don’t leave the room they are in but they float over their body that the medical personnel are working on. They can remember conversations that the doctors or relatives had about them. This is more than imagination; it’s reported too often and in detail to be faked.

Therefore, our knowledge of “the other side” is building up. It seems that it’s a nice place, mostly. People report feeling blissful and completely relaxed. Is there a hell or purgatory? There are reports that some people when they “pass on” have to stay in one room for some time to “reprogram”. This might be like purgatory. It seems that everyone must also review their lives, the events and the reactions of people around them. There is some evidence that if something is not resolved in one lifetime that soul must repeat the situation in another lifetime, perhaps the next one.

I find it quite fascinating that souls do not just float on clouds after death. It seems they continue to work and progress in spiritual evolution towards a more pure and giving being. Want to know more? I recommend these books: Life After Death by Deepak Chopra and Life is Forever: Evidence for Survival After Death by David Howe and Susy Smith. While there are a number of sensational approaches to this subject, these two books are very grounded and clearly describe the experiences and conclusions.

The mystery to me is that if we do live multiple times and need to resolve some past issues, why don’t we remember all of this? Last words: here’s a video so you can see this visually

Deepak Chopra on Life After Death

Deepak Chopra with his combination of Western and Eastern thinking is a wonderful person to explore this topic of death and the meaning of life. Here in a conversation with Allan Gregg in 2010 he describes his ideas of what happens after death as he has written in his book, Life After Death: The Burden of Proof. Please enjoy this half hour discussion of what will happen once you die. For those who are not familiar with Deepak Chopra he "is an Indian-American physician and an alternative medicine and New Age guru known for his view that healing is primarily a mental rather than physical process", according to Wikipedia. He has published over 15 best seller books and founded the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in Carlsbad, California. He recently spoke at the headquarters of LinkedIn and Google to instil the ideas that we can heal the world. You can purchase his book or just look inside by clicking on the link below:

Mythic Journeys: New Film

It's always a great day when a group of our spiritual leaders get together to make a film. This one, Mythic Journeys, includes Deepak Chopra, Michael Beckwith, Sobonfu Some and Tricia Klink with the voices added of Tim Curry, Mark Hamill and Lance Henriksen. As you'll see in the following preview trailer, the message basically is we live in this amazingly beautiful planet so help make it better. Get busy. Actually we have an increasing number of activists, so this is a hopeful sign to counteract the "bad guys" who pollute, squeeze out small businesses, bankrupt hard working middle class and poor families, etc. Hope you enjoy this version of mythic journeys with animation. Of course you can purchase the entire film online and download it or get the DVD at a 50% discount right now (time limited offer) by going to this website: http://mythmovie.net

Spirit Skies Silent Retreat Center Reopens

Red rocks of Sedona, Arizona

Some readers may remember a past article about the man Bodhi Heart and his retreat center in the high pine forests between Phoenix and Sedona, Arizona. After finishing a third cabin, the retreat center has reopened and is available for a silence, yoga, meditation, writing, planning - anything you want to do away from the bustle of the modern world. The website suggests that you can also take a side trip to the Grand canyon or to hike near Sedona in the red cliffs. If you are looking for a good place to experience self discovery or relaxation, this is the place for you. You can contact Bodhi Heart by phone or e-mail, both of which are listed on the website. Here's what one of the past guests has to say.

"Of all the wonderful retreat places that I have visited, the private hermitage at Spirit Skies is my favorite. The elk are almost a daily treat to see. And the stillness and sounds of nature are sublime." ~ George M

"I traveled from Ireland to spend 6 weeks. The retreat experience is an open canvas that one can shape in whatever way spirit seeks." ~ Oonagh C

"I found myself settling easily in to stillness, taking time to meditate, to walk in the nearby National Forest, to do meditative dance and do yoga in the gazebo, and to talk to Bodhi about spirituality." ~ Emily M

If you tire of silence, Bodhi Heart will gladly talk to you. Here are some comments about his gentle way of helping others.

A gentle guide, an open heart, a place to find spirit and self. Bodhi Heart offers his land, his haven, his being to those who come to find peace in a fractured world. It is exactly what you make it ...and it is beautiful."   ~ Maggie D

Bodhi helped me clarify my intentions and laid the spiritual groundwork for my personal retreat. What started out to be a week of pure solitude ended up being a time when I wished for a gentle connectedness. Bodhi’s friendship was a gift.  I didn’t just stay at Spirit Skies; I brought it home with me." ~ Dawn D

"Bodhi Heart supported my process and fearless intention with integrity. He mirrored my spirit and helped me to release some fears and illusions and have a deeper experience of my true self and following the heart."     ~ Grace K

"This retreat was life changing. Time did not seem to exist while I was there. Bodhi gave generously of his time to help guide me in my purpose"       ~ Michelle B

Check the website for availability of the cabins. They do fill up so book one soon and enjoy this unique spiritual journey.

Sacred Journeys: Spiritual and Pilgrimage Travel

There are of course different types of spiritual journeys. Some people head off to explore ancient historical sites or to have an experience with others seeking some sort of spiritual enlightenment. Others are looking for answers or at personal direction. There is another group seeking more knowledge of a certain religion or spiritual path. These are the pilgrimage travellers. Here is a great article about these sites with suggestions about how to best benefit from these journeys as well as some recommended spiritual tour companies. The article, "In Search of Sacred Places: Spiritual and Pilgrimage Travel" is written by Peter Scheer, himself a tour company director, and is posted on the website Travel with a Challenge.

First, let's look at the suggestions to help the traveller get the most benefit from the journey. First, prepare yourself mentally and physically. Many of these places are not easy to reach and it's a good idea to do some research about the site as well how best to arrive there. In times past, people fasted for days or even took hallucinagenic herbs before approaching these sites. It's important to approach with reverence and respect for local customs. They are places that are very important some people.

 In the European Middle Ages, most pilgrims to Canterbury, Santiago de Compostela and other Christian sites went there on foot which allows one plenty of time to prepare mentally. Travel to sacred sites required planning, persistence and often great sacrifices. No wonder arrival created such excitement!

The second suggestion is to leave room in your travel schedule for unexpected events to happen or time to visit with people you meet. This will leave you time also to just stop and soak up the incredible energy of these places that has built up over the centuries. There is not only the energy of the place itself but layered on top is the energy of all the other pilgrims who have come and gone away again over the centuries.

In ancient Greece, sages built an Earth Goddess shrine at Delphi because of the abundance of plenum, an energy they believed bubbled out of the slopes of Mount Parnassus. In the Chinese tradition there is a similar life force called chi. Sufis call it baraka and Hindus know it as prana. If this invisible energy seems fanciful to you, don't forget that is how people felt about radio waves a mere 100 years ago. Perhaps 21st century establishment scientists will verify earth energies, but regardless of official endorsement, many travelers are creating their vacations around visiting places of power and spirituality.

American folklorist and mythology expert, Joseph Campbell once met a woman going to Greece to discover the spirit of the Goddess. After she showed him her elaborate, highly-detailed itinerary, Campbell said, "Dear lady, I sincerely hope that all does not go as planned." He explained, "Unless you leave room for serendipity, how can the divine enter in? The beginning of the adventure of finding yourself is to lose your way."

Lastly, Mr. Scheer suggests that you decide why you are going. What is your goal? What do you want to find or experience? Of course the answer may change during your journey. Are just looking for a special experience or are you wanting to explore religious connections? People will ask you why you are going and also why you are there, so it's a good idea to have some answer in mind. It will help you get more out of an experience that can end up being life-changing.

To read the original article and check out the spiritual tour companies listed at the end of the article, click here.

In sum then, it's best to loosely plan your trip, find out more about the place, don't cram in too much and be open to whatever happens. Remember that teachers come in all forms. The person living on the street might be one of them.

Red rocks of Sedona, Arizona

Stonehenge Mt. Kailash, Tibet. Pilgrimage site for 15,000 years.

Spiritual Travel to Tibet: A Meaningful Journey

Here is a travel company (actually a Tibetan Cooperative) called Tibet Travel Coop that uses a Tibetan staff of travel agents, tour guides, cooks, drivers and hosts who know the Tibetan travel industry and have been working in every part of Tibet. The picture of the Coop members is great - all the families too including the children. There are some very moving testimonials from travelers who plan to go back. This is definitely an authentic experience you won't soon forget. Here is some of the text from the website.

Knowledge

As Tibetans, we can share our communities, customs, history, and spirituality from our hearts and experiences from childhood live rather than from travel guidebooks. After all, we believe you come to Tibet partly to experience Tibet's culture and having a good Tibetan guide matters.

Responsible Tourism

We support local communities, use local services, volunteer in local villages, and donate a percentage of our profits to sustainable projects. After all, our bottom-line is not just measured by how much we made but how many Tibetans we are able to employee and how well we are able to protect the environment for future visitors to enjoy.

 The trips are divided into 3 sections: spiritual journeys, cultural odysseys, and trekking adventures. The cultural odysseys are further broken down into homestay, classic Tibet, spirit of Minyak and shangri-la! In this case I won't elaborate more. I urge you to explore this fascinating website yourself and find out the incredible journeys that you also could take with them. http://tibettravelcoop.com

Mystical Meditation in Action

The organization, Profound Mystical Meditation, has been in existence since 1965. It was founded and still led by Dr. Francisco Coll in Iowa. There is also an International Conference Center and the Americana Leadership College all initiated by Dr. Coll. There are 4 main concepts:

• Each of us is a soul with a physical body
• Everyone has Angels (Spiritual Guidance)
• We come to Planet Earth with a purpose
• We have been, we are, and we will always be

I couldn’t agree more, so I was eager to find out what they offered and what accommodations were available. Here are 3 scheduled workshops: Angel Encounter Workshop, Discover Your Sea of Tranquility and Tranquility and Accomplishment Technique Workshop. They also offer classes with titles such as “Meditation in Action” and “New Spiritual Horizons”. Also of interest are Angel Consultations and the course to become a Certified Spiritual Educator.
I’ve long wanted to find a group that combines mysticism with meditation, so I was very pleased to find this beautiful website and meet a group that has been going for over 35 years. Even more intriguing is the retreat center, part of the Americana Leadership College and located in Iowa. As they explain on their website:

Americana Leadership College
International Conference Center
Osceola, Iowa
FINALLY... A retreat center where you can

• Relax and unwind in nature
• Attain an integrated, balanced, conscious living lifestyle
• Learn deeper Angel communication techniques
• Discover your True Life Purpose

Nestled in the rolling hills of south, central Iowa is the 170 acre International Conference Center. For over 36 years people from around the world have come to discover their true inner self and their life purpose in a relaxing natural environment.

Read the original here.
The retreats occur on major holidays such as Easter, Memorial Day weekend, month of July, Labor Day weekend, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. For more information about this group, please visit their website at: http:// www.profoundmysticalmeditation.com  If you are lucky enough to visit and take a course or workshop, please leave a comment or contact me: contact@mysticfare.com
Unfortunately there is no mention of fees or accommodation on the website, so I can't share that with you at this time.

Peaceful Retreat in Middle America

Some of my readers will know that I like to feature retreats that are off the tourist trail in remote or less-frequented places. However, you don't have to go half-way around the world to find such places. Here is a retreat center near Loveland, Ohio about 20 miles away from Cincinnati called Grailville. It advertises, "A place of tranquility, spirituality, transformation and respect for the natural world since 1944." The scheduled retreats are quite eclectic - everything from aroma yoga to writing as healing to meditation, all scheduled in April. They also invite you to plan your own retreat, either alone or with as large a group as the facilities will handle in their guest cabins.

Now, more than ever, the world needs haven like Grailville, a sacred place to experience the beauty of the natural world. A few hours or days at Grailville can restore and rejuvenate you. We host retreats, programs, meetings and events. Come with your group or individually to nurture body, mind and spirit.
Our guests, often spiritual, education, healing and arts organizations, are accommodated in our five guesthouses which can host up to 75 overnight. Space for day meetings, workshops, and special events (such as weddings or reunions) is available for up to 200 people.
We offer programs affirming our authentic selves, creating space for the sacred, transforming our lives and addressing the needs of the world. Join us for spiritual retreats and celebrations, arts workshops, retreats and performances, women-only retreats that inspire and inform, and hands-on skill building workshops.
To read the original click here.

The website description goes on to describe the name, Grailville.

We are a center of the Grail in the United States and further the Grail’s vision of a world of peace, justice and renewal of the earth, brought about by women working together as catalysts for change.Grail members are connected by their spirituality. An ecumenical community of women, the Grail supports and celebrates each other’s spiritual paths. The Grail is committed to a shared vision of peace in a global community.

To contact this retreat center, go to the website, https://www.grailville.org and explore what is available. It says something that they have been in existence since 1944, probably longer than many of their members' ages.