Travelblog Ton and Anne
The further we travel south, the deeper we descend into history, and the more the “collective field” reveals itself. Even the hotels are getting older: in France we sleep in a hotel 100 years old, in Asturias the owner tells us his hotel is 500 years old. In the room where we sleep, a famous Spanish writer once slept, Jovellanos.
That descent is not always pleasant. Along with the time spans and mythological fields of the past, deeper layers in ourselves are also being touched. This becomes palpable when we arrive from Asturias in Galicia. We drive with a big bow around Santiago de Compostella, because last year we did not have a pleasant experience there. After two days we were depressed and down. But also this year we won’t completely escape it. We visit the city of A Coruna in the northernmost tip of Spain. After the charm and magic of Asturias, A Coruna appears empty, ugly and capitalistic. Large communist-looking buildings mar the coast. Still, I have a feeling we should be here, but I have no idea why. When we finally park the car I see a large lighthouse, ‘Torre de Hercules’. Hey, I think, wasn’t that one of Plato’s directions? ‘Beyond the Pillars of Hercules is Atlantis,’ he said.
Maybe we are on the right track after all. Walking up to the tower, which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean from the rocks, we discover a large work of art depicting the 8 territories of the Celts: Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, Wales, Brittany, Asturias, Tharsis, the Isle of Mann. How surprising that among all the modern apartment buildings and concrete, we suddenly find traces of a much older history. Many people take pictures on the great compass rose with the 8 Celtic peoples.
I make a video, tuning in to my inner guide:
“Follow the eightfold path between the upper world and the lower world. Here is a connection between the three worlds. The world of Light, the future, the gods, cosmic energies; the human world with all its duality, strife, disappointments and joys, and the third is the lower world: the Underworld with its demons, darkness and emotions. During your week in the Azores you have the possibility to connect the three worlds and to find your inner direction. Focus on your own path. Only the heart knows. Maybe you have to go down, into the lower self. Maybe you have to go up and grasp for the stars. Maybe you have to connect with other kindred spirits, with other tribes. Each path is unique. Each path has its own laws and its own challenges. Don’t despair. Don’t look at others for your path. Just follow your own steps. At the end of the road the gate will open and you will see the land in front of you…’
As we drive on, we both become tired and depressed. Do we have to go all the way through this depressing town to see a wind rose? Can’t they let us do something better?’ I try to keep the mood up, but when we end up at an awkward hotel in an even more awkward seaside town in the evening, we are both sinking into the underworld.
In the morning I want to turn around and go home. But where is my home, our home? This purpose of our trip to the Azores is not only to do a ceremony on May 5 during the lunar eclipse, but also to find a new home. Before going on the trip we wrote in our newsletter:
‘We had a call to create a community in Portugal. The community we would like to gather is an international tribe with a collective mission: the warriors of the heart holding space for the world in transition, the keepers of the flame of hope, the dreamers of the future. To embody this vision we would love to gather this tribe of many colors, many faiths, many backgrounds, many ages….
On our first trip through Portugal, however, we couldn’t find a place that resonated. Would it work this time? Although I can sometimes be an incredulous Thomas, my guides see things more positively. I am given clear instructions regarding the location:
“There is a place for you to go to. Between mountains and ocean. Between salt water and sweet water, between light and dark, between two countries. I see fresh air, I see seagulls, but I also see woods.’
That sounds like a treasure map where you have to follow the arrows, but how do you do that in everyday reality? And how do you know if you are not chasing an illusion, a phantom, a mirage? The greatest challenge – as always – lies within ourselves. And on this journey we will again be deeply tested.
The channeling continues:
‘I see people coming together from all walks of life, from all nationalities. They are tired, some are sick, some are worn out, and some are eager to start something new. Basically what you come to do is to dance a dance of letting go of the old, to grieve, and then from this dance of grief new life will start. You will start to look at the flowers, listen to the birds, look with fresh eyes to the clouds. And you will plant the seeds for the Tree of Life to arise. The Tree of Life in the middle of your community. That will give fruits over time, but first the roots need to be watered, the seeds need to be cherished.
You are the seeds and you are the roots. You will connect again with Mother Earth, with the soil, with the stones and with the water on the ground. You will listen and you will put your ears on the ground to hear the heartbeat of the Mother, so you know what to do, which steps to take, which plants to grow, which vegetables to plant, which trees to put in the garden. Because this will be called The Garden, it’s the Garden of Life.
The Tree of Life will be in the middle of it, and you will be the keepers of the Garden. Taking care of its prosperity, of its growth, of its abundance and health. The fruits will be shared to many. But know that there is a secret bond between you, that you are the bringers of life, the pioneers to change the desert into a fruitful garden.”
(04/01/2021)
Ton57: de kelten
REISVERSLAG AZOREN
Hoe verder we afreizen naar het zuiden, hoe dieper we afdalen in de geschiedenis, en hoe meer het ‘collectieve veld’ zich openbaart. Zelfs de hotels worden steeds ouder: in Frankrijk slapen we in een hotel van 100 jaar oud, in Asturias vertelt de eigenaar dat zijn hotel al 500 jaar oud is. Op de kamer waar we slapen heeft ooit nog eens een beroemde Spaanse schrijver geslapen.
Dat afdalen is niet altijd fijn. Tesamen met de tijdspannen en mythologische velden van het verleden worden ook diepere lagen in onszelf aangeraakt. Dat wordt pas goed voelbaar als we van Asturias in Galicia aankomen. We rijden met een grote boog om Santiago de Compostella heen, want vorig jaar hadden we daar geen fijne ervaring. Na twee dagen waren we depressief en neerslachtig. Maar ook dit jaar ontkomen we er niet helemaal aan. We bezoeken de stad A Coruna in het meest Noord westelijke puntje van Spanje. Na de charme en magie van Asturias doet A Coruna leeg, lelijk en kapitalistisch aan. Grote communistisch aandoende gebouwen ontsieren de kust. Toch heb ik het gevoel dat we hier moeten zijn, maar ik heb geen idee waarom. Als we uiteindelijk de auto geparkeerd hebben zie ik een grote vuurtoren staan, ‘Torre de Hercules’. Hee, denk ik, was dat niet één van de aanwijzingen van Plato? Voorbij de zuilen van Hercules bevindt zich Atlantis, zo zei hij.
Misschien zijn we dan toch op de goede weg. Als we naar de toren wandelen, die vanaf de rotsen over de Atlantische Oceaan uitkijkt, ontdekken we een groot kunstwerk dat de 8 gebieden van de Kelten uitbeeld: Ierland, Schotland, Wales, Bretagne, Asturias, Tharsis, het eiland Mann en Galicia. Hoe verrassend dat we tussen alle moderne flatgebouwen en betongeweld opeens sporen van een veel oudere geschiedenis aantreffen. Veel mensen nemen foto’s op de grote windroos met de 8 Keltische volkeren.
Ik neem een filmpje op, en stem af op mijn gidsen.
“Follow the eightfold path between the upper world and the lower world. Here is a connection between the three worlds. The world of Light, the future, the gods, cosmic energies; the human world with all its duality, strife, disappointments and joys, and the third is the lower world: the Underworld with its demons, darkness and emotions. During your week in the Azores you have the possibility to connect the three worlds and to find your inner direction. Focus on your own path. Only the heart knows. Maybe you have to go down, into the lower self. Maybe you have to go up and grasp for the stars. Maybe you have to connect with other kindred spirits, with other tribes. Each path is unique. Each path has its own laws and its own challenges. Don’t despair. Don’t look at others for your path. Just follow your own steps. At the end of the road the gate will open and you will see the land in front of you…’
Als we doorrijden zitten we er beiden even helemaal doorheen. ‘Moeten we helemaal door die deprimerende stad om zo’n windroos te zien? Kunnen ze ons niet iets beters laten doen?’
Als we in de avond bij een ongezellig hotel belanden in een nog ongezelligere badplaats, zakt mijn humeur onder nul. ‘s Nachts voel ik de moed in de schoenen zakken. Waar zijn we in godsnaam mee bezig? We zakken beiden in de onderwereld.
‘s Morgens wil ik het liefst rechtsomkeert naar huis gaan. Maar waar is mijn thuis, ons thuis? Deze reis naar de Azoren is niet alleen bedoeld om een ceremonie te doen op 5 mei tijdens de maansverduistering, maar ook om een nieuwe thuisplek te vinden. Voordat we op reis gingen schreven we in onze nieuwsbrief:
‘We had a call to create a community in Portugal. The community we would like to gather is an international tribe with a collective mission: the warriors of the heart holding space for the world in transition, the keepers of the flame of hope, the dreamers of the future. To embody this vision we would love to gather this tribe of many colors, many faiths, many backgrounds, many ages…
Op onze eerste reis door Portugal konden we echter geen plek vinden die resoneerde. Zou het deze keer wel lukken? Hoewel ik zelf soms een ongelovige Thomas kan zijn, zien mijn gidsen het positiever in. Ik krijg duidelijke instructies omtrent de locatie:
“There is a place for you to go to. Between mountains and ocean. Between salt water and sweet water, between light and dark, between two countries. I see fresh air, I see seagulls, but I also see woods.’
Dat klinkt als een schatkaart waar je de pijltjes moet volgen, maar hoe doe je dat in de dagelijkse realiteit? En hoe weet je of je niet een illusie achterna jaagt, een fantoom, een luchtspiegeling? De grootste uitdaging ligt – zoals altijd – in onszelf. En op deze reis zullen we opnieuw diep beproefd worden.
De channeling gaat verder:
‘I see people coming together from all walks of life, from all nationalities. They are tired, some are sick, some are worn out, and some are eager to start something new. Basically what you come to do is to dance a dance of letting go of the old, to grieve, and then from this dance of grief new life will start. You will start to look at the flowers, listen to the birds, look with fresh eyes to the clouds. And you will plant the seeds for the Tree of Life to arise. The Tree of Life in the middle of your community. That will give fruits over time, but first the roots need to be watered, the seeds need to be cherished.
You are the seeds and you are the roots. You will connect again with Mother Earth, with the soil, with the stones and with the water on the ground. You will listen and you will put your ears on the ground to hear the heartbeat of the Mother, so you know what to do, which steps to take, which plants to grow, which vegetables to plant, which trees to put in the garden. Because this will be called The Garden, it’s the Garden of Life.
The Tree of Life will be in the middle of it, and you will be the keepers of the Garden. Taking care of its prosperity, of its growth, of its abundance and health. The fruits will be shared to many. But know that there is a secret bond between you, that you are the bringers of life, the pioneers to change the desert into a fruitful garden.”
(04/01/2021)
WORDT VERVOLGD
