The echo of ayni: Sanctioned Teacher Andrea Groves shares how an unexpected gift led to opening up, letting go, and giving over to exquisite peace in the midst of chaos.
Not long ago, a prospective student of shamanism and I sat down and had a lovely conversation about her interest in the year-long apprenticeship I teach in The Pachakuti Mesa Tradition. By the end of our meeting, this beautiful soul asked if it would be appropriate for her to offer me a gift of sacred reciprocity, called ayni in my tradition. I gratefully accepted the effigy of small, crystal bear. My heart beamed! I felt the bear medicine flowing! And for the next several days, that bear stayed close by my side.
Then one morning as I sat in meditation, that bear opened up to me, and called me to it… Specifically, it called me to Bear Mountain, a state park just a scant hour outside of New York City. I knew that at some point I would be making an in-person visit to Bear Mountain. I’d already made a solid connection with the spirit of this regional Apu of the Antisuyu, the Northeast region of which I am a part. So with no more thought than getting there, I grabbed a to-go cup of coffee and gathered my crystal bear and my Misarumi— the medicine piece that sits in the center of my mesa, the portal piece that guides me through the three worlds and the spirit realms— and I hopped in my car for a five-hour pilgrimage car ride into the Hudson River Valley.
However, tens of thousands of other nature lovers had the same idea that very same day. The temps were in the mid 70’s, the fall foliage was at its peak, and it was a weekend day to boot! The place was quite congested with the human population. But the slow down of traffic into the park allowed me a moment to just take in the scene, nature, hustle and bustle colliding into swirling, frenetic energy on this fine day. I breathed deeply and slowly raised my eyes to the distant horizon—and there I found Bear Mountain.
In that moment, time slowed and my senses took over as I was warmly greeted and welcomed by the spirit of the mountain. I recognized her, she recognized me, we felt at home in each other’s presence. My heart was gladdened and the challenges that all those people were creating simply fell away. I let be what would be. I basked in the connection and looked forward to the prospect to deepen this initial contact into a blossoming, blooming relationship that would last beyond lifetimes.
If you are interested in learning more about shamanism with Andrea Groves, click below to visit her inspiring website:
https://www.groveshealing.com/pmt
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