- Posted by Christopher
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Friday, September 28th, 2007
Today we took a trip to see the Shasta motherland. After yesterday’s two field trips to the gardens and then that amazing evening the energy was very high. We knew that we would have a good group of people turn out for the visit to the motherland.
The morning started off rainy and cold. It was some of the first rain we had seen in some time. I checked the weather report online and it said it was going to be rainy. Rolando checked another weather report and it said it was going to be sunny. We went down to the Shasta land not knowing what the weather would be like but hoping for the best.
We all met in a parking lot close to the freeway. There were over 20 people ready to go see the motherland and feel her energy. We all carpooled together to save gas and to have more fun on the trip.
There was a convoy of six cars and we all rallied down the I-5. As we were driving over the mountain pass into northern California it was actually starting to snow a little bit. It was still cold and wet. After a short 45 minute drive from Ashland we exited the freeway and drove towards the land.
Once we got to the northernmost border of the 1,750 acres we all stopped and Rolando got out the map of the land to show everyone the boundries. The land is of course massive in size and scale. It was still cloudy and you could not see Mt. Shasta. We all took pictures and looked longingly at the land. It is just so beautiful from any angle.
Then we proceeded down the road to the middle of the land where the main entrance is. Before we drove we told everyone to take note of how long it takes to drive from one side to the middle. It took several minutes to driving to even get to the middle of the land. 1,750 acres is a huge piece of land.
Once we arrived at the main entrance it actually stopped raining. Everyone got out of there cars and took a look around. There was a lot of excitement in the air and you could just feel it! A spontaneous prayer/gratitude circle broke out. Valeri, the Russian filmmaker and Phil the cameraman got their equipment ready. Then we started to walk the land.
The walk itself was fun with people laughing and playing along the way. There was a lot of good conversation and many people taking pictures. People were even running around like playful children.
Once we got about 1/2 mile up the gently sloping hill we all stopped and gathered around. We got into a circle and started talking and saying our blessings and how we felt. I always love this kind of ceremony and hearing from everyone. It was exhilarating and open, inspirational and fun.
During the time of our circle we noticed that the sky had started to clear and we could see blue sky. There was a shout of joy and praises to the sun. Then the sky cleared even more. We still couldn’t see Mt Shasta, which is only about 10 miles away from the land, but we knew that soon the sky may clear and we may be able to get a glimpse of her magnificent beauty. We had hoped to see Mt. Shasta and have Valeri the filmmaker be able to capture its beauty on film.
We ended our circle and some of the group went up the land even further to explore. We broke off into smaller groups and individuals so we could take some personal time to feel the land. After about one hour we all met down in the parking lot.
Then we took some more pictures, Valeri shot some more footage and we gathered back up for a closing circle. The closing circle was as epic as all the other circles and ceremonies that had just happened. The weather was still clearing and you could feel the sunlight on your face now. There was a mutual feeling that the universe was shining on us at that moment.
Many of us had been down to the land before and had discovered that the property next to the 1,750 acres is an organic fruit and vegetable farm. This farm is so lush and so abundantly productive that it was easy to see how the 1,750 acres next door could be transformed in s short time to this kind of paradise.
The farmer had told us that the strawberries that grew there in abundance had only been planted last year and this year was his first crop. There were row after row of ripe, super tasty strawberries for us to pick.
Once we started picking the strawberries the weather finally cleared and we had a perfect view of Shasta peeking over the clouds. It was magical. Eating these incredible strawberries while gazing at the magnificent beauty of Mt. Shasta is a pleasure that I hope everyone gets to experience.
While we were there Samantha and I also picked some incredible apples, some melons and some broccoli. I must say after eating these strawberries several times now that I think they are the absolute best tasting strawberries that I have ever had. The apples, melons and broccoli that we picked were also incredible, perhaps also the best I have ever had. We know the soil is excellent in this area because it is mostly volcanic ash, but I had no idea that food grown in this particular type of soil tasted so good!
The whole time I kept visualizing my space of love complete with abundant fruit and veggie gardens like what I was in at that moment. It was easy to picture how abundant everyone’s spaces of love will be while we were eating the tastiest strawberries!
After we had picked berries and other fruits and veggies we all started to head back to Ashland. It was a wonderful experience and people are still talking about those strawberries! The next day we even had a ‘strawberry shortcake party’ at Raquel and Flower’s house.
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