Hawaiian Soul-Journ part II: The Storm

The waves were crashing so fiercely and I knew that I was a bit too close to the shore break for comfort, or perhaps even safety, but since I had only just arrived, I really didn’t know for sure. I woke up every few minutes to look outside the tent to see if the surf was really still 10 feet from the flap and noticed the folks in the tent next to me doing the same thing. Their flashlight was more powerful than mine, so I could see clearly that we were still safe, but even still, we were all pretty uneasy. Finally at about 3:30 AM I began to debate whether I aught to move the tent straight away or if I could wait until daylight and race the imminent rain. Finally I decided that I would be better off moving the whole thing in the dark while it was still dry rather than take the chance on beating the rain. Despite jetlag and the semi-conscious state I was in, I was surprisingly efficient at moving back about 20 feet and once I was settled in my new spot, I felt much more relaxed and fell immediately asleep.

In the morning I noticed that sometime after I had moved my tent, the other campers around me opted to do the same. We all agreed that it was a bit of a rough night, but were glad that we didn’t wait, the rain began in earnest well before dawn. Soggy and fatigued, we all settled in for the thirty hours of heavy, soaking rainfall that would ensue. I did a few errands to make my vinyl home as accommodating as possible, including a grass mat for a front “porch” that would effectively keep me from tracking in a lot of sand… little did I know.

By evening, the rain was picking up a bit and I figured that I might as well snuggle down for the night, even if it was only 7:30 PM. I was grooving on my digs, Facebooking with friends and generally having a nice time until I realized that I was getting rather wet. The rain was coming down so hard that a puddle had formed on one side of my tent and the rain was actually splashing UP from the ground and getting wet, dirty sand into the tent through the fine mesh. I hurriedly moved all my bedding to the center of the tent, the driest spot I had. I silently thanked myself for not going out for the evening to escape the rain; all my bedding had been piled up on the side of the tent that was filthy and soaked. I laid a towel down to absorb it and squeezed myself into the rapidly shrinking semi-damp part of the tent to keep from getting drenched.

A couple of hours later I heard the rumble of thunder; my friend Mike told me that thunderstorms are pretty uncommon here on Kauai, with perhaps only two storms a year. I was excited that I was going to witness this rare event from such an intimate vantage point; my enthusiasm was literally dampened as the storm got closer and it became evident that I was in a dangerous situation. Smart phone in hand, I started checking the local weather; this was in fact a very dangerous storm. The weather advisory insisted that people seek shelter in a strong building due to ground to cloud lightening and 60 mph gusts of wind. I looked around my dirty, wet tent and realized that if I left it, it could very possibly blow away to the sea. The time frame for the most severe part of the storm would only last for another 15 minutes, so I decided to stick it out. The wind picked up and one of my tent poles collapsed; I frantically began to repair my shelter from the inside and hold onto the supports while the storm raged and the wind howled on the other side of a millimeter of material.

I prayed loudly and began to meditate, I felt surprisingly calm; it was like part of me was observing the predicament I was in, but simply going through the motions of survival, no time to panic. I linked up to Facebook again to ask for some helpful energy and protection, and immediately felt much safer. The tempest raged on for what seemed like an eternity, but in fact was only another 20 minutes. The pleasant thing about all the wind was that it almost completely dried up the wet puddles of sand that has worked their way into my synthetic home and left me with only the soaked, sandy towel and a clammy tent. It continued to shower for part of the next day, and the forecast called for much more rain, but it miraculously cleared up.

I felt that I had been washed and initiated; I had passed a test. In many ways it felt quite metaphoric: I had been in survival mode since my world flipped upside down in May. I had to keep going, head down, nose to the grindstone to try to make a living, find a means to stay in my home and look for answers. My body, mind and spirit had been totally focused on survival in order to get to Hawaii so that I could finally UNHOOK. So, here I was, literally faced with a survival situation and having gotten to the other side of it, it truly delineated for me that I could finally relax. I am here. It’s time to surrender.

Hawaiian Soul-Journ part I

The flight seemed to last an eternity; I had forgotten how remote Hawaii really is… another world in all senses. In a dream-like state I drifted through airports, making flight connections and eating whenever the opportunity presented. BAD food. Awful, chemically-laden, airport food. My stomach felt bloated and I was in a constant cloud of my own horrible gas. I expected that by contrast, the plumeria-scented Hawaiian air would be sublime.

I finally arrived in Honolulu and needed to book a flight to Kauai, the woman at the counter suggested that I plug in my laptop and make a reservation online, thereby saving myself about $50 or so; the Aloha spirit had welcomed me straight away. I contacted my good friend’s former boyfriend to let him know I would be arriving soon and he enthusiastically greeted me with a warm invitation to see a rare intimate performance of Krishna Das. I was in a quandary; bone-tired, bloated and farting to beat the band, all I wanted was to find a clean hotel room, fall into a deep slumber and then regroup in the morning. This warm and amiable fellow was presenting an opportunity to start exploring one of the many reasons I had come to Hawaii: to move outside my comfort zone, to stretch my boundaries and have new experiences.

At that moment, I got a Facebook message from another acquaintance that I met in an online class: I simply MUST see Krishna Das!! Did I know that he would be doing kirtan in Lihue that night when I arrived?? The venue was only 5 minutes from the airport and I felt myself leaning first one way then the next, should I go to the concert or should I go to bed?

After claiming my luggage at the Lihue airport, I perched myself on a bench to wait for Jamie to pick me up. A truly handsome man sat next to me and we began to chat about our long and grueling flights. His flight was even longer than mine, and he was telling me that he has been working with third world nations installing solar and sustainable energy systems since the 1970’s. I wanted to learn more about him and his good works, but at that moment Jamie arrived with arms outstretched to embrace me like his oldest, dearest friend. “It’s so great to meet you!” We both declared. I thanked Pete (the man on the bench) for his contributions to humanity and was whisked off. My energy was suddenly revived and I decided, what the hey… a little spiritual uplifting before bed never hurt anyone.

Krishna Das was wonderful. Children danced and ran around the perimeter of the auditorium, young women wearing flowing outfits bounced and chanted and floated about the room, devotees swayed in their seats, unabashedly ecstatic. I stayed for a while when my fatigue finally over whelmed me; Jamie handed me the car keys, gave me a hug and I was on my own.

The first snag I hit happened in the parking lot leaving the show. The windshield was filthy, so I turned on the wipers to clean them up a bit before driving in unfamiliar territory. It helped only slightly, but then the bloody things wouldn’t shut off! I turned around, parked, shut the car off and tried to restart it; the key wouldn’t turn. With a sigh of resignation I returned to the auditorium to tell Jamie that the car didn’t like me and I needed some help. Naturally, the car started right up for him (there’s a trick) and he shut off the wipers (another trick). I used some Windex and paper towels; (oh look! Sitting right there on the floor of the passenger side!!) Hawaiian magic had begun.

In the dark, I thought it best that I use my GPS to find the hotel, but that didn’t work out. Eventually, I saw my oasis and booked a nice clean and reasonably priced room. A cute little cockroach greeted me in the bathroom; I was on their turf now, so I had better get used to it. No worries, I thought, they clean up our refuse and that’s important. I slept deeply.

The morning sun was bright and I was ready for my adventures to begin. I called my old friend Mike who lives here on Kauai and he was enthusiastic about reconnecting.  We had a fantastic breakfast at a restaurant I remembered from the last time I visited and then he drove me down to the government offices to get my camping permits. This was very helpful, because I was able to see the streets in the daylight and get my bearings. I also needed to buy a pair of sunglasses, as I left mine back in CT.

Mike loaned me a towel, beach chair and a cooler –all the comforts- and I went off to set up my first campsite. This is where the adventure I was seeking truly began, but that is the next chapter. In the meantime, here’s a little diary entry from that first blissful night:

I have arrived. Kauai. I love this place, I can’t believe I’m here… finally. I am sitting at a picnic table at Anini Beach in Kilauea, camped under a Kaimani tree with the only sound is distant fellow campers mostly drowned out by the surf that is crashing about 20 feet from my front door… er check that… front flap. I had some local lettuces, goat cheese and avocado for dinner and I’m still waiting on the red rice… it seems to be taking forever.

Whew. That was a close wave… we are protected here by a reef, people enjoy some of the safest swimming and about the best snorkeling on the island here. I heard today on a local community radio station the reefs are dying here on Kauai. Pesticides, Chemicals and fertilizers are doing such damage it seems like a race for us to finally awaken those that still slumber in their unsustainable reverie. Perhaps the land of coffee is the best place to wake people up…. Which reminds me that there is a serious infestation of coffee borer worms on the Big Island that is putting all the Kona coffee in jeopardy!

Oh Humanity!!!!

Time to check the rice…  OH HAPPY DAY! It’s done. Food is especially delicious right now. My appetite is stimulated by the air, the surf, the wildness… and my solitude. I am not entirely alone here. I am so grateful that my old friend Mike still lives here. He came to have breakfast with me today and to pick up my camping permits. It’s been over ten years since we saw each other and yet, apart from our hair being greyer now, it seems like no time has passed at all. What a good friend! He’s given me a beach chair, a cooler, water bottle and the luxury of a hot shower from time to time. He even managed to find me a sweet deal on a night at the Westin with his employee perks! Damn, this is good rice.

Tomorrow a large front is supposed to moving in; it’s par for the course when I set up a tent here!  The exciting thing is, we may get thunder storms, which is a rare occurrence here. I hope that my Kaimani tree and tent hold their own. Well, I think I am going to start settling in for the night. I need to get an early bedtime in, the sunrise will be my alarm tomorrow.

Aloha.

Autumn is About Letting Go...

For nature-based spiritual traditions, Samhain marks the close of one cycle and the year then begins anew.  According to Lena Stevens™ Power Path Forecast, this month is all about Resolution and Healing. Hallowe’en was particularly poignant for me resolution-wise, because after 5 months of continued cohabitation with my ex-fiancé, that was the day he moved out. I wasn’t quite prepared for the depth of grief that washed over me, and instead of trying to put on a mask of cheerfulness, I retreated to my personal safe asylum for a couple of days until I had recovered. With the loss of so much this past year, I feel that part of me has died, but the Bat, the Snake, and the Butterfly that have been coming to me in Dreamtime are significant indicators of the rebirth that I am also powerfully experiencing.

©Lisl Meredith 2010

What a rebirth!! So many blessings have filled the vacant spaces in my soul that despite the sadness, I am grateful for the spiritual housecleaning! I have been stretching my limits lately, doing things I haven never been courageous enough to do on my own before. Now I am getting ready for my Healing “Souljourn” to Hawaii by myself for 6 weeks, and a for a good portion of that time I will be on a solo mission, staying in a small tent while exploring the beauty of paradise, and meditating. I am going to be teaching the aromatherapy certification course on the Big Island in January and am very excited about that too.

I am leaving in a few weeks and have been extremely busy booking appointments. If you want to get in to see me before I leave on December 7^th, please call to schedule as soon as you can, my calendar is filling up rapidly! Rest assured, even though I will be "roughing it" for the first part of my personal retreat in December, I will have technology with me and can refill your prescriptions and take your oil orders. I am going to try to get Paypal up on my website in the next 4 weeks to make things more efficient, but in any case, make note of my cell number and my email address!!

©Lisl Meredith 2008

Several women have told me that through my disclosure of the trials I have had to face this year, they have felt inspired with courage to make difficult changes in their own lives. I applaud them and everyone who does what they must do for the highest and best good, even when it is hard. In the end all that we end up sacrificing is really what no longer fits, and although it still is painful, it clears a space for great blessings. A friend said to me yesterday, “You’re doing so WELL!” and I have to agree, but please know that we all have our bad days and it’s necessary to honor our sadness too, that is how we come to Resolution and Healing. Never, ever, ever beat yourself up for what you are feeling. Love yourself, always.

Warm Autumn Blessings,

Lisl

©Lisl Meredith 2008

Clearing Meditation

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Now, imagine roots emerging from the soles of your feet and the base of your spine. Feel those roots penetrate the Earth, seeking the moist, comforting depths that Gaia offers. Deeper still, your roots nudging aside small pebbles, pushing through the dense soil… Deeper still, your roots slide past the worms and burrowing insects… Deeper still, your roots slip past tunneling creatures hidden away in their underground warrens… Deeper still, you feel the pull of the Mother’s Heart as your roots graze the crystals and precious stones hidden within Her flesh. Now draw in a breath from the depths of your subterranean roots and feel that breath of life swirl up your roots like a vortex of energy. Feel that breath as it spins throughout your body, moving up, up, up to your crown and explodes in brilliant light just above your head. Exhale that breath now infused with your Light, your Energy and your Love back down through your body, whirling down your legs, down your roots, back to the Heart of Gaia.

Do this several times, each inhalation infusing you with more Light, more Brilliance, and more Love. Take note of any areas of your body, mind or spirit that feel dense or heavy, gently observe any spaces that the Light may not be penetrating. Now call in your Guides, your Angels or your God and ask that they help you to release this heaviness. Offer it to them, be willing to release it and know that this is the will of the Divine. Say aloud to yourself with conviction that you are now willing and ready to release this block, this dense energy and have it escorted to Source, to Heaven.

Visualize this unwanted energy as a thick mass of dark matter that is now free from your body and being collected by your Spirit Guide. Watch as your Guide or Angel seals this matter in a sphere of golden light and once again give your blessing to its clearance. Observe your Archangel as s/he carries this gossamer globe to God/Source and bear witness to God’s Love as it expands the Golden Ball and it becomes brighter. Behold The Ethereal Orb as it finally bursts open, its contents now transformed by Divine Love. A pink and golden luminescence saturates your field of vision and a shower of pink rose petals lightly falls upon you. All that you have released has been healed.

©Reuters/Rafael Marchante

Bring your awareness back to your roots and once again breathe in from the depths of Mother Earth. Feel the Light now engulf every part of you until you can literally feel yourself vibrating from the radiance of your Creation. You are a part of Gaia and a part of God. Within you lies the Sacred Marriage. Within you resides the Light of the Divine.

Practice this meditation every day to clear away old stories and patterns, and soon you will carry this Light nearly always. You will become acutely aware of any unwanted or heavy energy as soon as it takes up residence and be able to clear it before it becomes a story that will drag you down or dampen your Flame. Your glow will ignite others and this Light will spread out farther and wider… as it is spreading even now.

May your Path Be Blessed.

Complementary Cancer care

 When it comes to cancer treatment, the best strategy is specifically customized to the individual, not a blanket approach. Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH uses a combination of protocols gathered from her 15 years of experience in clinical practice as a Chinese and Western Herbalist. Amazing results come from blending the proper diet, supplements, herbs and lifestyle; the benefits of which are invaluable particularly when confronted with a powerful adversary like cancer.

Ms. Huebner stays up-to-date on current analysis and research in order to provide the best care for her patients. She frequently writes articles for various publications and offers her clients free detailed educational material to ensure that they understand their process completely. She takes all the time necessary during each patient’s appointment to answer all questions, provide a compassionate sounding board and to offer wisdom and guidance throughout the course of their healing.

 

 

Chinese or Western herbal formulas in convenient tablet, tincture, capsule or powdered form address both the underlying cause of the imbalance, as well as providing superior immune support and anti-cancer properties. All herbs come from reputable sources and are tested and safe.

 

 

Essential to diagnosis is the methods of pulse taking and the examination of the tongue.  Both are ancient techniques that give an abundance of valuable information to the practitioner regarding the conditions of the vital organs, the blood, the Qi and other key pieces of information necessary for a complete and accurate picture of the client’s state of health. Lisl also carefully observes the client’s facial tone and color, the condition of their nails and flesh, their ease of movement, the brightness of their eyes as well as listen to the tone of their voice, what they say and how they say it. She asks comprehensive questions surrounding not only the nature of the problem, but also regarding routine functions of the body such as diet, rest, exercise, menses, elimination and more.

 

 

Lisl understands the common tendency for nausea, reduced appetite and heightened sensitivity to flavors that accompanies chemotherapy, so she also offers her own homemade nutritious chicken and beef stock infused with healing herbs and mushrooms precisely chosen for each client. The ingredients that go into making these mild-tasting healing broths are all natural and organic; frequently purchased directly from local sustainable farms. The potent nourishment in these stocks makes them a perfect base for cooking grains or soups. Efficiently utilize even the smallest appetite to support the adage:

"Make your food your medicine,
and your medicine your food."

 

 

 

Juicing fresh, organic vegetables and fruit is another way for patients to maximize the sustenance they are able to receive and Lisl has vast experience with combining the best ingredients to meet her patients’ specific needs. Various combinations can be created to support digestion, reduce nausea, help to improve blood levels, and gently detoxify harsh chemotherapeutic agents; all of the juices are pleasant tasting and bursting with concentrated nutrition. By supporting the body’s systems to function at optimal levels, the immune system will have more energy available for repair and healing.

 

“HerbaLisl” is Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG), a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a Reiki Master an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer who has enjoyed a successful private practice for fifteen years.

Please call 860-480-0115 or email lislmeredith@hotmail.com  if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment or are interested in participating in classes or retreats.

The Dream That Started It All

It was a long narrow room, like three rooms attached to each other-the center open at either end. A long fold-out conference table was the centerpiece. A group of 12 people mingled about, speaking in low pleasant voices; these were the upper echelon of lightworkers, the top brass. Herbalists, Healers of all stripes, these were the Ascended Masters, but I was not yet aware of the magnitude of their influence and authority. It would not be long before I became educated.

My best friend and business partner John was not far from my left side when I caught the eye of one member of this great committee, but I could not identify his/her gender. “So,” I said rather brazenly, “How do I sign up to be on the board?”

I wasn’t expecting an answer, because as soon I said it, I felt embarrassed at my arrogance. Nonetheless, a response came. “Do you think you’re ready?” He/She asked. I mustered up every drop of my self worth, and with my bravest voice replied, “Yes, I am.” At that moment, it became imperative that we evacuate the meeting hall, a big storm was coming.

As we emerged from the building, it was evident that this was no ordinary storm. Deep bulging clouds the color of wet slate seemed to boil as they skimmed the treetops getting ever closer. Ominous rumblings of thunder registered with such a low vibration that I felt it in my bones and under my feet. Directly to my left I noticed a tiny greenhouse made entirely of clear glass, including the floor. “What an ideal place to watch the storm,” I thought; “I’ll be entirely safe while I observe the storm from this perfect vantage point! Nothing could hurt me in there!!” (Cue the doom music)

The group of Masters was walking away from me, John with them. I called out to him to watch the storm with me from the glass house, but he couldn’t hear me. Along the tarmac, the procession was striding past my old elementary school toward a distant mountain that bore a striking resemblance to Mt. Shasta. I shouted louder for John, thinking he would be as excited as I was about the discovery of this observation platform, but he was even farther away and the storm was getting louder. Fat drops began to fall and with one last glance toward the departing assembly, I ducked into the shelter of the translucent conservatory.

Everything was constructed of sheer glass, including the floor. “It’s very slippery!” I heard in my head. The voice was loud and booming with an odd quality, as though it were being announced over the radio. “It’s very slippery!” the voice repeated. I grew concerned for the people outside of my refuge. “I hope those people are driving carefully,” I worried inwardly, “it’s very slippery out there.”

That’s when the floor tipped up under my feet and like Alice in Wonderland, I went sliding out of the back of the hothouse and landed at the bottom of a steep river embankment. I stood on the narrow sandy strip of earth and noticed the swollen river beside me; its rage was reflecting the brutality of the storm directly above. I turned to the riverbank towering 30 feet above me and attempted to scale the slightly broken left side of the wet, sandy wall.

After much effort I scrabbled up a few feet and oozed right back down. I turned to the right and made a second attempt but could find no purchase on the damp sand and slid down once again. The sheer sandy face in front of me would be futile to attempt, there was no place to even get a handhold. It’s was useless to keep trying to scramble up this impossible bank. I was down at the bottom and there was only one way out. Giving in to surrender, I pushed off the embankment and thrust myself backward into the rushing torrent.

The force of the violent flood immediately swept me downstream and I turned to see where I was being carried. There it was. In the middle of the maelstrom was an enormous boulder that metaphorically had my name on it. “Oh, it’s you,” was barely formed in my mind as a complete void overtook me. I was alone. Lost. Emptied. Poured out. Too vacant to even resonate with grief, yet the emotion was there, detached as though I were observing someone else’s experience. This is the culmination of emotion I experienced in a flash as I watched the rock grow larger and the surge of white water crashing over it. I was heaving right for it; my catalyst.

I am back in the board room; John is at my left elbow and the Masters have formed a semi-circle around me. In my hands is a round metal box they have presented me with. The lid has a clear plastic window and I see that the squat canister is fluffed with cotton supporting several brightly colored bits of metal bejeweled with rhinestones and glitter. It appears that I am cradling a box of dime-store bindis. “These are your tools,” I am told. “It’s a complete set.”

The grief and emptiness take hold of me and I begin to sob. All I have left is this: my tools. I was being prepared for the journey I had agreed to, and I had all the tools I needed to get through it. I woke myself up with the sound of my own soft weeping.

This was one week before my world changed. I was grateful for the forewarning and when the time came, I knew that what I needed to do was surrender, surrender and surrender some more. This I know: the grief I felt in the premonition was no match for the waves of devastation I would experience in the world we call reality for weeks and weeks to come. I have been watching in stunned fascination as I lose everything I love and yet am strongly compelled to simply let it go and surrender to the tide.

One must be emptied in order to be filled.

Winds of Change...

Here at the Essence of Being, our world has turned inside out. My fiancé, Steve and I have met a critical junction in our relationship and we suddenly find ourselves in the midst of a breakup…It's funny how fast life can change. Fortunately, there are no hard feelings between Steve and I... our relationship had just run its course.

Winds of change are upon us all......

We, and many others are being guided to take the next step... we may not be entirely clear on what that is yet, but we'll keep our hearts open to the signs from The Spirit That Moves Through All Things.

We don’t know at this point if we are meant to remain here on the mountain, explore the many opportunities that have “coincidentally” come up recently, or to somehow manage to do it all. We are staying open to all possibilities because “I don’t know” is a magical place of creation where anything is possible.

If you have been guided in the past to come visit this beautiful and magical space on the mountain, don’t hesitate to do so, because we are not scheduling anything after September until we know what our next step will be.

The value of all the love and support that my friends (and even people I barely know on Facebook) have given to me during this storm is beyond measure. I am so totally in awe of it and in gratitude... All the kindness is truly a balm for my heart.

Thank you all so much for reaching out and offering your love, heart, ears and hands... There are so many others going through major transitions right now that your generosity and compassion is needed and welcomed far and wide.

I am moving through my emotions with grace, even though it hurts... sometimes more than others... I have surprised myself by how much I have grown as a person... you don't know what tools you have until you need to use them.... so I'm feeling okay about where we'll end up when the dust settles.

I'm generally okay, sad, but hopeful... trusting that this is all for the best and highest good... and surrendering to it.

I have always been taken care of, so faith is not too difficult. I know in my heart that there is a brighter future for all of us, even if it feels uncomfortable and scary right now. I am in the process of allowing myself to feel all this yucky stuff and letting it flow through me. I know that the signs telling me what to do next will come when it's time to act.

A long time ago, I gave my life to The Divine to use as a tool to help heal others and lead them back to themselves and our Earth... Having released control in that sense, it does make it a little easier; since I know I will be put exactly where I'm supposed to be. My Guides have already proved that they will support me, so my experience tells me that it's ok to trust and just BE until it's time to DO... (I do get antsy to DO SOMETHING though!)

Trust inner guidance... your heart won't mislead you, but your brain can and frequently does. We at The Essence of Being will be sure to keep everyone abreast of our plans.

Love to you all on your Path.