RETREAT on the Big Island of Hawaii August 21-28, 2018
A group of mystics spent a week on the Big Island of Hawaii, touching the wisdom and power of the Kahunas who are the protectors of the islands’ divine knowledge. As many spiritual teachers around the world, the Kahunas were forced to go underground and protect the powerful teachings from invaders. We Touched the ‘secret’ Aloha that is part of the history of these great teachers.
THIS WAS OUR PLAN: Step into the magic of Aloha. The Big Island is alive with creation. She will teach as we as we hike on her hidden pathways and swim in her gentle waters. We will explore beaches and volcanoes, and play in the Big Island’s majesty. As you touch Aloha you awaken to all that you are. We will have daily meditations and have high talks that are born on the winds of enlightened mind. We will also see the wonder and grace of Hawaii, respectfully visiting all that she has to offer.
THIS IS WHAT WE EXPERIENCED! We arrived at the airport and traveled to our beautiful retreat home in Hilo on Reed Island. Our home was 8 feet from the cliff that overlooked the Wailuku River, which was lush and flowing gently. We knew that the edge of category 5 Hurricane Lane was expected to hit Hilo, and by the next morning he did! It rained steadily for 5 days, Hilo was intermittently flooded, and the river by our house rose several feet and raged night and day. Each day we attempted to explore the island, but roads and beaches were closed. We were not only surrounded by the Pacific, isolated from the rest of the world’s energy, but the giant energy vortex that was Lane spun and circled Hilo slowly, washing the air and dumping 53 inches of rain. We sat and meditated inside the very exquisite house, first on the sun porch, later in the living room. Eventually, we chose the giant window that faced the river, which was the power spot in the house. Mystics live in the present moment learning what the experience offers. Taoist go with the flow. Our group of 8 mystic Taoists learned to reject thoughts of disappointment as we tapped into the ancient Kahuna’s power and wisdom, and the nature’s portals of enlightenment. We listened to ancient Hawaiian chants as the deluge of rain and raging river added to the symphony of sound and energy.
We experienced raw energy. We were in the eye of the storm, where only occasional gentle winds blew as the continuous rains fluctuated from quiet sprinkles to deafening downpours. We were gifted hours to meditate and write and be with our selves. We got to explore aspects of our self as they rolled in and out like the wild surf, acceptance, fear, power, anger, joy, bliss, calm, stillness, creation.
Hana is the life force, and we experienced Hana in her direct faces, we had no choice. Ohana is family, and for that week, we were Ohana. We were family. We helped each other through the intensity of the ebb and flow of our present moments. We delighted in the short walks down the road which was surrounded by giant plants of the rainforest. Houses up the road from us were flooded by new tributaries. We drove through the flooded streets and along the edges of the closed beaches and watched and wild ocean storm surge.
Back In the house where we spent most of our time, we shared our own Aloha. We taught each other what we knew. There were sessions in martial arts, hula, tango, and even some singing when the power went out and the candles were our only light. There was a game of balderdash, visits from friends and fellow students on the island which included stories about Rama and the magic of the pathway. We all came home with a red cross blanket from the night we spent in the evac center at the local high school.
Many of the roads were passable the last few days of the trip and we were able to get out and explore. Only the very last day on the island were we able to go hiking or swimming. We were like kids on summer vacation and we packed a lot into that one day. Afterall, we had stored all that Hana, that life force, for 5 days.
In the past, after intense meditation we would jog, hike or swim. During this retreat, except for some inside activities and laughter, we had no way to dissipate the energy. Hawaii without a hurricane is a vortex of energy that is formidable. Add the energy from that huge portal called hurricane Lane, and we were flooded with Hana, Ka, Chi, Life Force. Since we had no way to dissipate that energy it overflowed, and we were forced to explore our own ‘stuff’. We, as Ohana, supported each other through fear, disappointment, angry outbursts, disagreements, and confusion. We were learning about ourselves, each other, and our predicament.
Our journaling, whether private or shared, are the insights that expand our awareness, or bring the experience into conscious awareness. As you who were on the trip read this, find those journals and read them, the power is stored in your writings.
So, Touching Aloha Again-The Retreat was not what we planned. We could never have planned such an exquisite journey into energy and power. Mahalo to the islands of Hawaii, to the Hurricane Lane, to the raging river, and the rain. Mahalo to the Ohana who was flooded with all the surprises of nature, and surfed with such grace. Mahalo and Aloha!
