arequipa en abril
Yet another gorgeous sunny day in "the white city" of sillar (volcanic ash)-constructed Arequipa, Peru. My soul sings immense depths of gratitude contemplating the wonders this fourth semester with Carpe Diem has gifted. Truly, this may rival for the longest time I have felt such a sense of sustained happiness coursing through my being... What glorious concoction is this? For one, a tremendous alignment of souls that have aligned for these three months. Nine students- five male, four female- from Colorado, California, Washington, Washington DC, Maryland, Ohio, New York and each beats to such cool drummers. Drumming positivity, curiosity, desire to serve, to grow, to seek, to feel, to struggle, to draw, dance and sing... I am every day reinspired and reignited by the sparks in their eyes and loves exuding.
While I have often felt conflicted by the rapid nature in which we travel, with this group I am contented knowing that though our family may by fluttering in and out, it is no doubt leaving joy and inspiration in its wake. And witnessing our conversations in which I hear this conflictedness shared by these wise students, I am heartened knowing in their future travels they´ll find a way to shoot down firmer roots. Yes, it is a true honor to be sharing this journey surrounded by such a palpably transformative collective energy.
Another aspect of this glorious concoction is my co-leader, a true brother, a gifted mentor and divine spirit. Recently I´ve been reading a book a student brought along the trip, Mutant Messages Down Under, which tells of the telepathic communication of Aboriginal Peoples... which Drew and I often times experience in the overlap of our teacher souls always looking for that edge from which we can push ourselves and our environments to greater growth and meaning. And countless moments of tearful laughter and humbled silence; it´s a wonder releasing into the moment with a teammate who echoes the same.
Of course, the greatest power of the concoction is this passionate, vibrant land of Ecuador and Peru. We are traveling in the belly area of Pachamama, Mother Earth, and experiencing the power of her waterfalls, the extremes of her mountains, the beauty of her skies, the varieties of her bugs, and tremendous depths of artistry and care dancing from her people that reside in these lands.
Surely, this vibrancy is born from the struggles amidst us... as I write, there is another protest in the Plaza de Armas at the center of Arequipa. Workers striking for better pay here, and yesterday blocking the Panamerican Highway, leading to six deaths at a location five hours north of us. And, similar to what we found in Central America, many of the communist-inspired rebel groups have shifted flow into narcotraffic which subtly nags and erodes safety and family alike. As I learned hiking up from wondrous Colca Canyon, rainy season has shortened from six to TWO months only... Pachamama is indeed begging for us to pay attention to her heartbeat.
So we carry on, day by day, gazing toward the decisions we are making and spinning the ball around as best we can to see it all from different angles until we rest on movement that reverberates loudest with our truest drummer. In a state of much global turbulents, seems that opening up our souls as wide as the condor´s wings facilitates the quieting of fears and ego-calls that hamper true hearing.
For those whose eyes drift across this screen, I honor and thank you. Pray you are feeling life thundrous and babbling, sparkling and squelching... breathing.
While I have often felt conflicted by the rapid nature in which we travel, with this group I am contented knowing that though our family may by fluttering in and out, it is no doubt leaving joy and inspiration in its wake. And witnessing our conversations in which I hear this conflictedness shared by these wise students, I am heartened knowing in their future travels they´ll find a way to shoot down firmer roots. Yes, it is a true honor to be sharing this journey surrounded by such a palpably transformative collective energy.
Another aspect of this glorious concoction is my co-leader, a true brother, a gifted mentor and divine spirit. Recently I´ve been reading a book a student brought along the trip, Mutant Messages Down Under, which tells of the telepathic communication of Aboriginal Peoples... which Drew and I often times experience in the overlap of our teacher souls always looking for that edge from which we can push ourselves and our environments to greater growth and meaning. And countless moments of tearful laughter and humbled silence; it´s a wonder releasing into the moment with a teammate who echoes the same.
Of course, the greatest power of the concoction is this passionate, vibrant land of Ecuador and Peru. We are traveling in the belly area of Pachamama, Mother Earth, and experiencing the power of her waterfalls, the extremes of her mountains, the beauty of her skies, the varieties of her bugs, and tremendous depths of artistry and care dancing from her people that reside in these lands.
Surely, this vibrancy is born from the struggles amidst us... as I write, there is another protest in the Plaza de Armas at the center of Arequipa. Workers striking for better pay here, and yesterday blocking the Panamerican Highway, leading to six deaths at a location five hours north of us. And, similar to what we found in Central America, many of the communist-inspired rebel groups have shifted flow into narcotraffic which subtly nags and erodes safety and family alike. As I learned hiking up from wondrous Colca Canyon, rainy season has shortened from six to TWO months only... Pachamama is indeed begging for us to pay attention to her heartbeat.
So we carry on, day by day, gazing toward the decisions we are making and spinning the ball around as best we can to see it all from different angles until we rest on movement that reverberates loudest with our truest drummer. In a state of much global turbulents, seems that opening up our souls as wide as the condor´s wings facilitates the quieting of fears and ego-calls that hamper true hearing.
For those whose eyes drift across this screen, I honor and thank you. Pray you are feeling life thundrous and babbling, sparkling and squelching... breathing.
posted by Amanda Joy at 7:51 AM
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