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Fire & Ice
Yesterday we took an afternoon walk along Zephyr Cove – a favorite go-to for us on busier days. And upon this walk we discovered an enchanted realm of ice sculptures, courtesy of Mother Nature, the incredibly powerful Lake Tahoe Queen, and good ol’ Zephyr. We stumbled upon exquisite, mysterious, and magickal ice formations, which we’ve never seen before except for one time last year at Fallen Leaf Lake. How lucky we felt to find them, feeling like we were walking through Earth’s natural gallery, as we explored and encountered each different ice spirit and their unique energy. They don’t call this Zephyr Cove for nothing, as that wind sure is a shapeshifter for the waters of Tahoe.
The ones we saw last December at Fallen Leaf Lake were much more ice castle-like and lacy. Whereas the ones from yesterday were all so organic and different. Some looking like extraterrestrial beings, sea creatures, fire, mirrors of nature around them, Elementals caught in motion, fascinating portals, and also delicate, Faery ones creating an ice kingdom.
I love the variety and even the large boulder rocks covered in cascades of icing and thick blankets of bubbly ice just oozing with frosty delight.
There was an interesting juxtaposition of a large controlled fire in the background and also red and fiery energy that was showing up in some of the photos behind the ice sculptures. Sometimes the red and golden glows were part of the natural landscape, but particularly in the first photo of this post, the red just appeared atop the ice.
Fascinating!
Anyway, I thought you’d enjoy these beautiful and otherworldly creations, as I take you along the walk we enjoyed yesterday, stopping to explore each and every one of these beautiful works of art.
Front Door Feng Shui Synchronicity
Our new front door is in, which feels symbolic of creating a new doorway and portal into a fresh reality, as access from a whole new internal circuitry we’re building. Although we still have to put in a peephole viewer, which will provide greater vision, each time I open it and enter or greet someone, it’s pretty incredible how it feels like a different world on both sides.
One of the things I love in this house is the doors, as we have these antique, vintage, wood doors at each entry to a room and some of the closets that come from an old mansion in Reno. These are one of the only things we kept for now, from the original decor, as they have this unique charm and energy, and add an interesting mix of mystery and story to the modern upgrades taking place. Once remodeling is done, I intend to clean and shine them to bring out their rich wood color and make them really pop.
Each door is different and no two are the same in size. They also have their original old brass and copper hardware and knobs, which add personality to each. If they could each speak, they would reveal their own legend.
To me, they compliment the wise trees of the forest and the essence of this Forest Portal in creating different worlds and realities you cross thresholds into with each guardian door.
I love the mix of old and new, creating a feel of ancient portals themselves and symbolizing how we can write our own story with each new day and movement forward.
Another cool thing I discovered, which seems to happen all the time, is that the color we chose for our front door ended up being the perfect color in Feng Shui for its direction.
I’m no expert in Feng Shui and don’t know that much within that realm, as mostly I just do everything by intuition and inner guidance. However, I had a friend who is a Feng Shui expert visit our house in Costa Mesa once for a Reiki Master Teacher training with me and she went through the house to see what could be enhanced and told me that we’d already done everything energetically supportive, simply by intuition. She ended up just providing ways we could amp that up.
So, it was cool to discover we’d done the same with our front door and its color, without having researched it first.
We felt drawn to the color red maple, which is what you see in the photo and just recently I decided to look into whether or not this was aligned with Feng Shui, and in fact it was.
Our door faces Northeast and what I discovered is that the best colors (in order of most enhancing) for a Northeast facing door are earthy/sandy colors, terra cotta, yellow, burgundy, red, purple, deep orange, and rich pink.
The element for the direction of Northeast is Earth and its corresponding bagua energy (there are 8 of these) is Spirituality and Personal Growth. A bagua is like an energy map that reflects to you which areas of your home or a room are connected to specific areas of your life. However, you can enhance a Northeast facing front door by adding the element of Fire, which nourishes the Earth element by creating it. So adding the red, purple, deep orange, strong yellow, and rich pink, as mentioned above, are ways to do that.
So, our red maple color we chose was in every way perfect (red being the Fire and maple being the Earth), creating that earthy and terra cotta color – signatures of Northeast.
Your front door is a way your house absorbs energy that will help to nurture and cultivate your personal energy, so anything that can enhance this portal will help strengthen the overall energy available to you.
It’s fun to discover things after the fact, but we can also spend a little time looking into these things to help enhance energies in our lives, as a way of co-creating with the elements available for manifesting that alchemy of life we desire.
Sky Spirit Shaman: Magick Crystal Wand ~ Talking Stick ~ Cosmic & Earth Facilitator
At 19 1/2 inches this latest channeled creation is my largest yet and holds the energy of a potent multi-dimensional and faceted Magick Crystal Wand, Talking Stick, and Cosmic/Earth Facilitator. I was very excited when I received this commission, as not only was it for a sweet friend and someone I had gone through my Reiki training together with who lives near by, but I knew was going to be right up my alley in terms of energy I was going to really enjoy immersing in. I’m so excited and pleased at what resulted from quite a creation process that was very involved, challenging, timely, and rich.
And as always, I love the timing on things, as even though I started several together all at once, this time, feeling to take them through part of the initiation together, 98% of this one was completed on the Full Moon in Capricorn, which just final touches I was able to put to closure Monday.
I won’t be sharing all of the new Magick Crystal Wand creations I’ll be making, but this was one I really felt called to, as I sense it will have collective reach energetically, not to mention IS actually going to be used for community gatherings, sacred ceremonies, shamanic facilitations, and more for the collective work its guardian and all whom she works and co-creates with will be doing. They work a lot with the Ancestors of the Land, North American Tribes, and Ancient Ones – Incas, Mayan, Aztec, Lemuria, and beyond.
And this amazing being will help them to travel those energies, channel and access them, as well as carries the essence of the elements and bridges Earth and Cosmos – a bridge worker indeed!
I feel so honored, humbled, and grateful to be asked to create this for them.
I do hope they will love it, as much as I do.
I’m not going to go into extravagant detail on it, but will just briefly touch on the crystals, feathers, and elements included, to provide a glimpse into the energy encapsulated. However, the intentions described above as to the energies this soul and her group of healers work with, provides the insight into the other energies not mentioned, which are all embodied in it as well.
Before handing it off tomorrow – in person – I will be infusing extra Reiki, Cosmic intentions, and sound into its frequency.
I love the wood, which is such a beautiful coloring with natural etchings in it, reminding me of Earth’s natural hieroglyphics. I wrapped the handle with rich brown, vegan leather that is wrapped with Robin’s Egg Blue satin cording to match the streams of cording the feathers hang from and the four turquoise stones near the top. I did the entire piece wrapped in gold wire, all wrapped in an ethereal webbing like that of a Cosmic Web, with several spirals down the shaft center – one of which (the largest) spirals out from one of the Ice Quartz Crystals with rainbows inside, drawing the energy out and in like a vortex and portal…perhaps even a wormhole into the beyond.
And like with all of these, I create them in a very raw way with each weaving being intentional, but not meant to be perfected. It is my intention to have these stay in a natural beauty essence, as if fashioned by the Forest Faeries themselves.
Here is a breakdown of elements included below.
Six Feathers/Avian Energy/Sacred Omens, Messengers & Sentinels:
Goose Feather – The Goose and its feathers embody loyalty, forging ahead with bravery and confidence, teamwork and comradery, protection, clear communication, determination, dedication, fellowship, fidelity, fertility, the balance of knowing when to lead or follow, compassionate keepers of the community and embody the sacred circle and sanctity of the cycles of life, astute navigation, discernment of life path and choices, teamwork, protection, and committed responsibility. Geese never leave one of their own behind for any reason. They will stay with the sick and injured until they are either well again, or to support them as they transition.
Seagull Feather – These feathers bring the winds of new heart freedom, personal authentic power, creative self expression, and joyous new perspective to breathe in, ride, and navigate these constantly fluctuating energy streams with perseverance and vision to more clearly see the opportunity and purpose within everything.
Pigeon Feather – Pigeon and Dove both carry the same symbolism of peace and love, but also carry clear vision and dream messages that provide glimpses into things coming and confirm you are “on path”, divinity at work, blessings coming, opening mind and heart, healing, gentle self-nurturing, surrender and release, embrace the integrity of your natural self and purity of your creative spirit to nurture imagination and follow your own true path, as you cultivate hope for the new. The “between times,” but also heralds how the physical and spiritual are more rapidly merging with the thinning of veils that arrive with your willingness to see more clearly.
Juvenile Hawk Feather – Awareness, perspective, perseverance, endurance, sharp insight, truth, visionary power, guardianship, strength, initiative, decisiveness, creativity, messenger (often of change), caution, maneuvering, leadership. Hawk’s meaning teaches us to be observant and to pay attention to what we may overlook. This could mean a talent we don’t use, a blessing for which we haven’t expressed gratitude, or a message from the universe. The hawk has keen eyesight, it is about opening our eyes and seeing that which is there to guide us. Hawk awakens vision and inspires us to a creative life purpose.
Pheasant Feather – Using your gifts to manifest what you intend/desire, passion, creativity, balance, protection, being genuine, wise discernment/judgment, sexuality, staying true to yourself, not fearing our creative/individual self-expression, confidence, not being afraid to shine, tapping into your deepest passions for productivity, prosperity, and abundance, fully enjoying new experiences and knowing your worth to receive them.
Steller’s Jay Feather – Blue Jay brings the energies of clarity (in this case double clarity/vision to express purity and truth of heart and soul with great clarity of thought in bringing these through to share), communication, presence, wise and balanced use of personal power, resourceful adaptability for ease, creative self-expression and assertion, sound and song, authenticity, and bringing higher thoughts into action. Their crest that reaches into the heavens, directly links both Earth and Universal/Cosmic energies, bridging them for integration and active expression of divinity brought into embodiment.
Crystals:
Six-Sided/Hexagonal Quartz Tower with a Window at top and Amethyst growth at back of its base – Towers are protective, strengthening, help direct energy, symbolize the journey of the spirit from the Earth to Etheric fields, support one’s highest aspirations and potentials, provide courage to new, open to greater perspectives, supports inner work, introspection, creative vision, are instruments of Divine Timing marking sacred space and time. Window Crystals have a diamond shaped face at the corner where two parallel faces meet – like a window into your soul to see yourself clearly, deeply, intuitively, and bypass false ego to see the truth and draw forth things you hide from yourself so you can make necessary changes. Help you face things head on. Very personal and introspective crystals that if they come to you are intended to help YOU specifically. Hexagons bring the energy of truth, union, lovers, harmony, balance, equality, integration, communication, home sanctuary. Quartz of course is a master healer and with the Amethyst growth inclusion, that adds the properties below.
Four Ice Quartz surrounding top – Also known as Nirvana Quartz, Lemurian Scalar Quartz, Himalayan Ice Quartz, as well as Growth Interference Quartz (because they do not grow in a normal way). This is a high-vibrational Quartz crystal from the Himalayas that help move you to enlightenment and make contact with Spirit. They support spiritual awakening, work well with the higher chakras (third eye, crown, soul star chakras, as well as heart and thymus and at the lower chakras if you choose to use them there), help make a strong connection with the loving energy of the heart, excellent for meditation to create a deeper spiritual connection and move you forward in a more profound way, supports gaining awareness of your spiritual destiny, confirms and helps you trust your soul self, determine between reality and imagination, and support you to discover your future potential and reason for your existence on Earth at this time.
Four Amethyst below that – Increases nobility, spiritual awareness, opens crown, psychic abilities, inner peace and healing, calmness, healing of body, mind and soul, positive transformation, protection, meditation, balance, relieve stress, communication, opens intuition, supports sobriety, helps with disorders, enhances memory, focus, and motivation.
Four Golden Ray Selenite Blossom Petals below that – Golden (Ray) Selenite are powerful, beautiful, and high vibrational Crystals that have come to light calling in the highest frequency of white light and the Golden Ray of Buddha, some say, storing Ancient Priestess teachings and can be used for a variety of metaphysical purposes – making them excellent for any healing environment. It connects to the Solar Plexus, Third Eye, Heart, and Crown Chakras, helping to integrate, open, and activate them. This supports us in creatively manifesting what is from our heart, directing our will in a loving, joyful manner. We are then able to create our reality based on intention, trust, and joyful wisdom. It helps you to become attuned to, and harmonized with, your soul purpose for this lifetime. Focuses are on joy, manifestation, and creation/creative energies and are really good for digestive issues and addictions, as the dis-ease of one’s will.
Four Turquoise at front – Purification, serenity, protection, wisdom, balance, strength, friendship, love, positive thinking, sensitivity, creative self-expression, balances and aligns chakras, calming, healing, communication.
One larger Ice Quartz with lovely Rainbows under the Turquoise – same as above with added rainbow energy
A Channeler Transmitter Quartz, or Dow or Trans-Channeler Quartz below that. You can read more about that here: Dow or Trans-Channeler Crystal. Divine balance and connection with Universal Truth being its essence. It has tiny rainbows.
Raw Polished Emerald Stone at center – Unconditional Love, unity, joy, balance, integration, heart chakra, success, abundance, cleansing, intuition, clairvoyance, faith, serenity, intelligence, clear vision, truth, memory, communication, physical and emotional healing, mental strength, deep inner knowing, Earth and Nature connection, protection
I hope you enjoy the images of this power piece.
Initiations & Inspirations at the Crystal Castle ~ Gifts of Manifestation Ignited
As promised, I wanted to share a blog purely devoted to our experience of the Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens in Byron Bay since there were just too many photos to devote to social media space alone. Although what is felt and experienced in person can never be fully grasped in any one or even 100 photos alone, at least these will give you an idea and feel for what this magickal and potently sacred place is like. It was one of my top three favorite experiences of the trip, although they can’t be compared. It felt incredibly important to be here when we were, which wasn’t planned, but happened to align with the New Moon, as well as timely and important to supporting the manifestations of goals and dreams in our lives.
We visited the Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens, getting there right when it opened and we’re so glad we did, as it provided a wonderful time of day and a much clearer space with not many people to share it with. And, as shared, seemed perfect right at the precipice to the New Moon. Incredibly super-charged activation galore took place too! I had no expectations of what we’d find or experience, but it exceeded imagination, as well as ignited it.
We were greeted and embraced by stunning botanical gardens, rainforest, World Peace Stupa, views, Aboriginal mural, labyrinth, enchanted crystal cave, crystal fountain, sound healing, music of the plants experience, crystal matrix, amazing statues, fossils, Damanhur spiral, rose quartz reflexology walk, the biggest and most beautiful natural crystals in the world, and more… all found here.
Everywhere you turn there are crystals galore and I love how they are integrated naturally into the grounds and nature, as if they were always there and which merges Earth and Cosmos so beautifully.
Even the pathways are encrusted with crystals, geodes, and stones in patterns and sporadically, but all intentfully. The labyrinth path is also laden with rose quartz. The whole place is a huge crystal grid and energy center that sends a beam out into the etheric realm for manifestation.
A Faery’s dream world!
Each step taken was with great intent and everything we came upon along our wandering through this enchanted place received a “wow!” from both of us. We engaged every experience pure of heart and full with love and gratitude. I was in such reverence of these crystal giants, ancient ones, Earth and Cosmic historians and record keepers, master beings, sentinels and guardians. And with each labyrinth or spiral walk, turn of a prayer wheel, and communion, I blasted out energy to the collective, as well as more intimately for personal intentions, hopes, and dreams.
I used to only engage in energy focused out to others, but have come to equally voice my own desires for the highest good of all concerned knowing that they are one and the same.
I was amazed, but not surprised, to see the energy captured in the photos (and glad we took them), especially when Dave and I stood between the different sets of Amethyst guardians, as it felt like we were in a vortex, activating a portal, and experiencing the crystal matrix of creation. We were being guided through portal after portal, traversing the Cosmic dimensions, one world into the next, and the next.
I was surrounded by beings of light and I felt the giantness of my own being. I felt as tall as the Amethyst guardians by my side. And they were there to remind me of this actuality.
Chills after chills ran through me and I knew everything was not only possible, but happening now. I felt the incredible love and support surrounding me, and how it is there for us all if we open to it despite not seeing it at times in our lives.
I felt at home. Yes, this was home. These beings were my family….my memories….my heart…my spirit.
I engaged my imagination, creativity, and let myself go wild with dreaming. We both imagined big and were full with inspiration and belief in what we imagined.
Alongside each activation and what also felt like more initiations into the next phase of the journey at a new level, I experienced three manifestations of support and gifts.
While walking the labyrinth, soft, sweet feathers showed up along the path, one after another and another, and as I circled to center and back. Angelic support was all around and the feathers reminded me of letting my heart be free to fly as love guides me to soar on toward my joy and dreams and not be held back by the past, nor dwelling on it. I loved the Buddha and giant Amethyst being that resided over the labyrinth. I spent time after with the both sharing the love.
Then later while walking through the bamboo path, which was like this amazing tunnel opening to doorways at both ends and a statue of Vishnu riding on the shoulders of Garuda – both feeling potent as Vishnu is one of the three most important Hindu gods that supports, sustains, and governs the universe. His role is to return to the Earth in troubled times and restore balance of good and evil…to restore justice and order when they are threatened. And Garuda is the bird-god (birds are so prominent in my life and always gifting me feathers) who represents courage and our higher spiritual aspirations. He is said to have brought the nectar of immortality from heaven to Earth.
Just as I entered this tunnel I looked down and this beautiful bamboo creation appeared on the path directly in front of me. It was woven natural and green bamboo with bamboo woven flower that is like a case to hold pens or pencils. That felt to support my writing and the weaving of words and inspirational ideas into a story, not to mention writing the story of my life’s journey in general.
And the third manifestation was a crystal.
Just after I’d spent time between the two most giant Amethyst guardians (you can see more of their amazing energy manifesting in the photo below), I went to walk in the grass, away from any crystals and suddenly I was called to look down and saw something partially hidden in the grass. I reached down and was amazed to find a quartz crystal cluster. It was nothing like any crystals within the vicinity or even any I’d seen along our wandering throughout at that point. But there it was. And it feels so ancient and Cosmic. It appears to be part of a much larger crystal, as if it was taken from one to be connected to its energy and channel it, but for me to have as a gift. I was in deep gratitude of this gift and it feels like it will be assisting me with things to come.
That night I also had a dream that felt important. Not only did it come after the Crystal Castle experience, but on the New Moon. I haven’t had an extraterrestrial dream for a while (at least that I remember), which in actuality are never “dreams,” but my journeys with them when I’m most able to travel interdimensionally and freely. As a Pisces, my “dream” journeys are potent and where everything important takes place. Much of why sleep is actually a chance to do my most intricate work and why it’s so essential to me to have that time.
Anyway, part of the dream was about my engaging with a group of ET’s…different than ones I can remember working with. I had decoded something that they needed and had been trying to decode themselves for a very long time, but couldn’t figure out. I created symbols that embodied the energy of what I decoded and put them into a ring that reflected this. I can still see the symbolism that was created. And this acted like a portal opener or key to something. I also had images on an old recorder or something that they didn’t want others to get a hold of and see, and although I would never tell or show anyone I knew that meant they wanted me to relinquish them and so I did, to keep it safe. It felt much like I was doing some bridge work that felt important on a Cosmic level. And not surprising with the Cosmic activations of the day.
Also, what I found interesting was that I never feel called to do any sort of physical cleanses anymore, as it just doesn’t resonate and I’ve basically been making shifts on all levels without the need for them anymore. At a couple of junctures along my journey I had done some, especially this one time period of some of the largest shifts into my current path I’ve been on when I did a 180 in my life kind of overnight (but not really if you look at the build up before of work done). That time period also coincided with being 100% raw vegan and feeling I needed a complete reset and boost up several levels, so along with the raw I did several major cleanses. This took me to a new level of experience and clarity. Then over the course of time, since, I balanced and harmonized out.
But for some reason I received the message of one cleanse being supportive at this time, right after I left the Crystal Castle. My sense is that is tied to another sort of reset and anchoring of this new journey I’m on and inviting in/being invited to/stepping into.
I wondered when it would take place, thinking perhaps right when I returned home, but in fact I received that it will begin on Summer Solstice, which also happens to align with when the new bunny love is entering my life and also timely with how the project I’m working on with my writing is lining up in terms of its process. Not to mention, some other things taking place in our lives.
I’m normally not interested in these kinds of things anymore – cleanses that is – but to receive that message when I’m not focused on it, seems like I shouldn’t ignore it and so I embrace this and will begin as instructed. It will be a 10 day cleanse and reset.
So, yes, a lot was ignited and took place with this experience, but also wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t been in Australia when we were and how it all aligned.
And we also discovered a most amazing, enchanted, magickal mushroom in the gardens that was hidden. Did it manifest just for us like these other gifts? Was it indication of this vortex we’d entered? Was it reflective of our beliefs creating what we see?
I believe it is all of these and more.
I have never actually seen one of these in nature ever – a Faerytale mushroom come to life! If you washed off the dirt you’d reveal more of its white polka dots. What an incredible discovery. There was definitely a portal here, as I actually didn’t even know these really existed except in the magickal realms. Well, I guess I was in one! And it felt to indicate that I’m literally, more and more, living in the world of my own creation and that isn’t the same for everyone although perfect for each of us, as it’s based on our vibrational alignment with belief meeting resonance and reality.
Incredible doesn’t begin to express it all. And gratitude doesn’t either in terms of what I feel toward it all.
These aren’t even all of my photos. I didn’t even capture half of what you can find here. Imagine that!
I imagine everyone has their own individual experience here at the Crystal Castle, just like we all do with everything in life, but I do believe that it will bring to the forefront, reveal, and amplify things for you in terms of your beliefs and has the potential of presenting doorways of experience for you to enter if chosen and ready.
I said yes, again.
Forest Stars
A dusting of miniature, lily white Faery star blossoms blanketed the forest, both diminishing me to their humbling yet rich, Earthly perspective and expanding me to their reflection of the boundless twinkling Cosmos above.
I felt like I was walking among the stars.
Playing With the Ancient Energies of Grand Wash
The wind and wash whispered of times long ago.
At times softly.
At times dramatically.
On our hike through the dry, deep streambed of the Grand Wash at the rocky sculpted heart of Capitol Reef yesterday, we were surrounded by ancient spirits and guardians watching us.
The deep canyon and narrows kept close eye as we explored.
Footsteps echoed between sandstone cliffs looming hundreds of feet above.
Blossoms and lizards greeted us along the way.
Naturally sculpted rock gardens invited us onto their sacred grounds.
Creatures etched in the stone walls came alive.
The Fremont River chimed in with the wind’s flow at the end of the wash.
And although we could not see the Bighorn sheep that are said to grace the high sandstone terraces of the canyon, we could sense them near and “seeing” us.
There was an air of majesty and mystical eeriness, especially when the wind suddenly spoke with a wild howl and burst through the canyon upon us with great force, only to disappear again from the nothingness it came from.
The flow shifted back and forth from tailwind to headwind constantly, as if the wind was playing with us, blowing my hair wildly around me and knocking off Dave’s hat.
It seemed excited for us to be there and tickled our souls with its ancient voice.
Once again we were taken to times long forgotten, but now once again remembered.
Soul Nourishment On My Own Strange & Wonderful Path
Everyday of our new life’s journey brings so many experiences, encounters, and gifts of Nature we would never otherwise have shared.
Part of the reason I wanted this way of life at this time was to have the opportunity to explore and experience the vast beauty and variety of what our Earth Mother has to offer because as a pilgrim of the Cosmos, I am constantly stimulated and inspired by creative energy, which fortifies the more I feed it the soul nourishment it needs.
Life had become complacent and much had concluded, so a big, literal movement of energy and deep enrichment was needed to renew and recharge. Not to mention, it was time to move on in a bigger way.
There was a lot of soul retrieval to be done and a lot of Earth collective healing to support through the personal embodiment that would and will take place through the energy exchanges facilitated.
So, once again I am following my own strange and wonderful path, despite what the rest of the world around me is doing, how it looks to others, and even when nothing makes sense because to my soul it all makes perfect sense – the only thing that matters.
And once again, yesterday brought us more of that soul nourishment and unexpected gifts with a variety of new experiences and encounters along our five mile Rim Overlook hike.
Ancient petroglyphs, wild turkeys, lizards, vibrant desert blossoms, rolling river, 133 foot natural bridge – Hickman Bridge, expansive vistas, and wild winds of change at our rim overlook destination atop the dramatic cliff were some of the beautiful gifts and nourishment of the day’s journey.
Every day is filled with wonder, new discoveries, and inner reflections of these treasures experienced.
I love following our hearts, as they take us into our natural element and closer to ourselves.
Sleeping Rainbows
Yesterday was a really special day of exploring the Petrified Forest Trail, but my favorite was the Trail of Sleeping Rainbows, which is an extension loop to the first trail. You must do this extra loop if you visit, as this is where you’ll find the most concentration of these rainbow beauties greeting and guiding you along the way.
It was like walking on the rainbow wood road…instead of the yellow brick road.
There were incredible specimens of stunning petrified wood everywhere – 5 1/2 million tons of fossilized wood to be near exact.
They are over 135 million years old – that’s pretty ancient. 😉
The trail is lovely taking you first through an area of balanced rocks, desert varnish rocks, Roundleaf Buffalo Berry shrubs, beautiful multi-colored lichen on rocks (blues, yellows, greens..), a pygmy forest, views of the town of Escalante and Wide Hollow Reservoir, black volcanic boulders and of course tons of beautiful and ancient petrified wood.
One of the nature trail markers speaks of the “Land of Imagination” when you come to the largest single deposit of petrified wood along the trail.
The guide pamphlet says:
“Imagine yourself in a large low floodplain similar to the Mississippi Delta area but with less foliage. To the northwest you could see towering volcanoes such as Mount St. Helens. To the east would be a large mountain range similar to the Sierra Nevada. It is the ancestral Rockies. You would be surrounded by large conifer trees, some more than 200 feet high. Nearby would be cycads, the ancestors of palm trees and some ferns. One hundred fifty million years ago this region was near the equator, but our continent has since drifted north.”
And of course dinosaurs would have been roaming the land.
Simply amazing to be in these ancient areas and to see the petrified wood of the towering trees that once stood here. You can tell they were huge by the size of the stumps, trunks, and branches remaining…like nothing that exists in this area now.
I’d never seen petrified wood like this before with so much brilliancy in color. It was truly stunning and mystical.
At the end of the trail you come to “one of the most remarkable petrified wood specimens in the park.” It shows “the subtle color changes from the outside rings to the center, which only a few petrified wood specimens in this formation are sufficiently preserved to be recognized.”
So just how does the petrified wood form?
Here is a brief explanation of the evolution of petrified wood that Scott, the Escalante Rock Shop guy provided me with my beautiful little specimen:
“Over 135 million years ago, the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument was closer to the equator and tropical. Dinosaurs roamed the area and the plant life mostly consisted of cycads, ferns, and conifers. The earth was geologically unstable. Floods and erosion would uproot trees and plants depositing them in flood plains and along sand bars. Later, volcanic ash covered the area.
In order for the trees to petrify, they had to be buried quickly with mud and silt to eliminate oxygen, which would cause them to deteriorate. Ground water rich in silicon dioxide and other chemicals would saturate the buried trees. The reds, browns, and yellows result primarily from compounds of iron, while manganese and other minerals account for the purples and dark blues.
Through a mineralization process on the cellular level, and by silicon dioxide acting as a cementing agent, the wood became petrified. This process takes millions of years!
This area lies within the Colorado Plateau, which has been uplifting for about 40 million years. These upheavals of the earth’s crust break the logs into irregular sections and exposes them to the forces of erosion. After being exposed the logs are further cracked and broken by the effects of freezing and thawing water that seeps into the cracks.”
I fell in love with all of these ancient spirits and was just in awe of the amazing colors and energy, as I stroked my hand over their surfaces.
We had gotten our first rain just about an hour before we headed out on this hike, which made the trail perfect, as there was just enough water that didn’t make it challenging to do the hike, but drenched the petrified wood bringing out the colors with wonderful vibrancy.
It sprinkled on and off while we hiked the rainbow wonderland and we were even greeted by a group of deer that surprised us, just as we had turned onto the Trail of Sleeping Rainbows….coincidence?
These deer frolicked right across our path and around us….I was so taken by their graceful leaps and could see why flying reindeer are part of Santa’s story as we know it. They literally looked like they were flying, as they barely touched the ground with each leap and then floated along their way.
It all happened too fast to capture any photos or video, so I just took it all in and took a few photos of a couple of them peeking back from in the distance after they flew through.
I so loved it.
And here and there you’d see piles of the petrified wood placed like cairns along the way from other hikers over time.
And upon completing the magickal trail, we headed to the Escalante Rock Shop, just below the park where I ended up finding the perfect small piece I was hoping to find.
I kept telling Dave that I wanted a rainbow piece of petrified wood to bring home and that is exactly what I discovered at the shop….and it was the only rainbow piece there, as the others were mono-colored mostly or had a couple of colors at most, or more in the browns.
Mine is delicately shaped like a long fern leaf, which I love too.
We only had five minutes to explore, as we needed to get back for Dave’s work, but it only took me about two minutes to survey everything and this piece was literally one of the first I saw.
We went to go pay for it and the guy gifted it to me for $1 because we didn’t have the right change.
We pulled out a twenty and a one, and because he had no change on hand, he said, “it’s your lucky day…just give me the one dollar bill and we’re good.”
That was very sweet of him and I was feeling the faeries and ancient ones shining upon me.
However, Dave found change in the car after we got back to it and before we drove away, he decided to bring it to him just because and to make sure of clearing any potential karma.
There are stories about the petrified wood here.
You are not allowed to collect or take any specimens from the trail. You can only purchase what is offered from the rock guy that he purchases through the park. Anasazi and Fremont Indians gathered petrified wood here to use for tools.
Some believe in an ancient curse on the area and whether this is true, or the power of guilt and belief have made it so, about a dozen times a year the park receives letters apologizing for taking the petrified wood and in the envelope is the returned piece, asking that their wrongs be made right, as they’ve had nothing but bad luck since taking it.
I took tons of photos of this amazing ancient garden of imagination…a place the dinosaurs once roamed, feeling the perfect piece would be at the rock shop and that knowing was actualized.
You Were Meant to Fly ~ My Moth Friend Update
Just a quick little update on my sweet Moth friend for those of you who were wanting to know what happens.
If you don’t remember this story, here is the background so that you understand the context of this share: Honoring Your Personal Timing ~ Seeing the Moth in Me
Well, in the two days that followed the post she disappeared.
She was no longer on my plants anywhere and didn’t show up in sight somewhere else.
I felt it was a good sign that her wings finally were ready and she had flown. However, that meant she was stuck somewhere inside.
Dave was concerned at first that one of the cats may have gotten her before she flew, but then figured we would see part of her body somewhere close and we didn’t.
I had the sense she was alive and well somewhere.
Last night I discovered where.
Apparently she had gone into the shower, likely because it has a skylight that allows the outdoor natural light in. But I didn’t realize this until I went to turn on the water to get it warm for my shower.
I turned it on and closed the door. Then checked a minute later and I find her fluttering around in the water on the ground. The water had been filling about a half inch to an inch recently because with all of the rain the ground had softened, which had the RV unleveled slightly. We fixed this later, but it had been pouring so much that it made it hard to get out and put wood under the levelers.
Anyway, I immediately cupped my hands and helped her out. If I hadn’t gotten to her, she’d likely have drowned. She fluttered around in my hands trying to dry her wings.
I was just so happy to see her and to know she could now fly.
Poor thing, now going through this and having her wings wet, so that she has to get them dry and strong once again.
I couldn’t put her outside because it was pouring, so I decided to return her to my plants so she could dry overnight.
She didn’t want off of my hand though. She was clinging and wanting to stay with me.
Dave giggled saying, “She knows her momma.”
Finally I did get her onto one of my plants and enclosed the area to keep her safe for the night.
This morning I went to check on her and there she was still on the plant with her wings closed.
She must have been recuperating all night.
I’m just so happy that she can fly, but boy she’s going through a lot this little one.
She does remind me of what my journey has been like too and probably many of yours.
Many challenges, many times of feeling like I’ve been drowning, overcome with emotions, hitting my rock bottom, unsure of the next course of action, but still getting back up, persevering, and willing my way to fly, as I know I was born to do.
As we all are.
As this little Moth is.
Don’t let life’s challenges keep you down. Even when it looks like all hope is gone, there is always a way, a helping hand you can embrace, another perspective or choice you haven’t tried, another path to your wings taking flight.
I decided to reintroduce her to the great outdoors again, feeling that she’s much better off outside in Nature now than she is indoors where she can catch the attention of the cats since she can fly now.
I actually just returned from taking her outside for release.
I put out my hand to my plant and she climbed on. I then went outside and walked over to the closest tree.
I stood there giving her Reiki and she opened her wings to feel the cool air on them.
As she did they began to quickly vibrate, as if she was taking in the vibrations all around, through them, and as Nature reminded every cell within her to awaken to herself.
Earth’s vibrations pulsed through her and she suddenly took to flight, softly fluttering from my hand as she showed me proudly how she could fly.
My heart was joyous.
Then she came to rest on the trunk of the tree. I think she needs time to adjust and so I surrounded her with more Reiki, asked the Faeries to touch her wings with their magick, and asked the tree to protect her.
I will check on her a bit later, but I feel now she is where she’s meant to be and she has gone back to her true Mother – Nature.
Surrender to Earth ~ Become Your True Nature
Every day is Earth Day and every day is opportunity to return to natural harmony within and without. ❤
Tania Marie 