Journey 119 - Grandfather of the East

11/5/04: A Journey taken outside (a rarity) this afternoon while sitting on a swing with my sleeping Granddaughter. Temps were in the mid 60s and the winds were nicely dancing. A Chickadee walked down the trunk of the Tree we were next to, and stopped to look at me for a few seconds. It was no more than 2 feet away. So I knew I was one with my surroundings, and had been wanting to take this Journey earlier in the day anyway. Since I did not have an “official” Drum source with me outside, I used the Book on Soul Retrieval I was reading to establish the Beat to the Spirit Camp. I had dreamed of a very large Eagle circling over me a few nights ago, and came to realize afterwards it was the Grandfather of the East himself. Since then, I had felt the need to just go and “chill” with him, as it had been a while since I had taken a Journey for the simple of purpose of just “being there.” These “non-working” Journeys are necessary to help recharge the batteries for when important Healing work comes along. So, with my sleeping Spirit Rain next to me, off I went. I immediately found myself sitting in a Sunlit Field of Flowers with warm Breezes and superb aromas..and I was a little kid of 4 or 5 again. I was laughing for Joy, simply because it felt so good to just be alive in this spot. How we miss this spontaneous and delight-filled Laughter in the modern adult world. I’d run a bit and fall down laughing among the Flowers..it was really relaxing and centering. Soon, I saw the large Eagle coming toward me, and I knew it was the Grandfather Eagle. He came to me and clutched me to his chest, but his Claws felt like huge Hands..very comforting and supportive. We flew up a short distance into the sky so that we were just above the lowest passing clouds, and the Field below, with the little pillows of snow-like Cloud People drifting across, was stunningly beautiful. He then soared higher, and as we passed the very high Clouds, I looked down to see a large blue Lake below. It was a bit less vibrant, only because of the thin later of high Cloud through which we were looking. He then took me back down, and we landed in his Nest, sitting on a large Branch sticking out of the near-top of a steep rock-faced cliff. He placed me gently in the Nest, and I began playing with the golden strands of Straw, which seemed to glow by themselves. It was such fun to just pick on the Strands and move them about and through each other. Then Eagle began to speak to me. He told me his Dream Visit had indeed been a sign that I was reaching a new level of sophistication in my Shamanic Walk. He told me I had been doing very well in my Journeys for the Sick, Dying and Soul-lost. The Spirits were pleased with my honest efforts. He then looked me in the eyes and told me he was going to release to me, as my “reward”, an Original Secret, an Ancient bit of Truth. He then showed me a symbol. He told me this was the basic Element of Love..it’s atom, if you wish to use a physical relationship. This was the building block of Love, its smallest existence. Everything, he said, is built from these little Love-designs. Then, in an incredible gesture of support, he placed my Shaman Symbol (the “S” with a dot within each of the inner loops, with a parenthesis mark in the NE quadrant) WITHIN the symbol for elemental Love. This told me that my Shaman’s Walk was now in Tune with Love..and I knew right away that would give me even greater ability to seek the Truth and Healing for those who come to me. I was so honored and humbled. Having shown me this, Grandfather then brought me back to the Field and dropped me off. As he flew away, he turned and morphed into human form for me. He was dressed in a very elegant buckskin suit, and his eyes shown with the brightness of the Sun. Those two Suns, staring right at me, however, did not hurt my eyes, and I felt privileged to look into them for a short time. He then turned and went back to his place in the East. I drummed myself back to the swing. I was SO relaxed and peaceful, and the “real” world sat before looking the same but somehow quite different. It was a wonderful and empowering Journey, and I now had a vital ancient Secret given to me. Shortly after this Journey was over, a Hawk came sweeping out of the NE (same direction as my symbol), and flew around in the low northern Sky for at least 4 minutes, looping in circles as it outlining a Chakra. I decided to Shape Shift a bit with the Hawk, and sent my Hawk Awareness out to it. Within a few seconds, I saw it move up to a certain point in the Sky and just hang there motionless. It was riding the Winds such that it has no motion. It was as if it was pausing to be with ME also! Then, Hawk moved off to the North and soon disappeared beneath the Tree Line. A truly, almost achingly wonderful experience..