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Castle Hill, South Island, New Zealand
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One alluring invitation which popped up over and over was to visit Castle Hill. |
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Finally after several false starts the words kept coming to me over and over until I arrived in front of the majestic limestone rocks. Yes, they took my breath away but they also captured my heart. As they say “I was a gonner”. Over time I camped, stayed in houses, made day trips and fully explored the area from head to foot. There was so much to experience; so many different landscapes and the energy was mind blowing. |
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I had facilitated groups for many years and soon realised that Castle hill was the only place for me to work. After numerous phone calls, investigations and head banging, the first group of daring beings arrived to begin the year long adventure of “Multi Level Healing”. This was the first time that I had used the environment and nature so directly in my work. The participants had ‘signed up’ to an inner adventure based on modern concepts of shamanism, what an invigorating environment. They fell in love with the scenery, the animals and the magic of the land. On one occasion two cheeky keas stood watching two children on a seesaw and began jumping up and down on their rock screeching with delight as they revelled in their hilarious see saw imitations. One person was so fascinated by the colours of the mountains that she picked up oil pastels and began to paint for the first time and is now a fulltime artist. |
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During one walk up to the great rocks (known as the sacred rocks to the local Waitaha people). I fell over my shoe laces and banged my head on the biggest rock, I did my laces up tightly and it happened again – ooch a little more painful-so I really tightened my shoes and yes, again. |
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Nearly knocked out, I sat down and listened. It became obvious that I needed to visit the magnificent mountains of Peru. |
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Peru |
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"Why Peru?" I wondered. Well after many adventures and misadventures it was clear this was a place of great inner and outer learning for me. The magic of energy, the depth of the Inca culture and the awesome places to visit soon had me captivated. Another place of great learning and – Oh the challenges!!
After several years of visiting and telling my stories a group of people asked me if I would take a tour there.
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And so Inspiring Journeys was born.
Born out of a love of the inner journey and being in places of inspiration. |
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Well what a trip we had! Sneaking in early before the crowds to Macchu Pichu to see the sun rise over this awesome place; we touched on the feeling of the amazing life that had thrived and fallen there. Travelling up dusty roads to an authentic coca leaf reader who needed us to buy him a two bottles of beer before he could start.
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Going to ruins that are off the tourist trail with a switched on local guide who has become a dear friend, climbing over rocks to find an old Inca aqueduct, that in places ran uphill. |
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To top it off the fun and laughter of shared stories over a sumptuous dinners listening to authentic Andean pipe music was out of this world.
All of this was so outrageously great that I had expected to make my life in this amazing place, where I was so happy. I loved the joy, the celebration and unpredictability of life and had made life long friends. |
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Yet there was the next mountains calling me. The Pyrenees. |
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Gavarnie, French Pyrenees, South of France |
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So off I set. Arriving at Toulouse airport I hired a car and headed off for I knew not where. After several weeks of driving and nosing around. I saw a place on a map called Luz St Saveur. “Well”, I thought, “ if it is light, I’m off”. And indeed it was light, so much so that that it was tangible. I travelled beyond this historic village, with its French Spa complex hanging over a gorge, to the head of the valley. To the village of Gavarnie. |
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There it hit me. Right in the eye balls. I could hardly breathe – so this is what breath taking really means. |
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Again I was captivated. I was surrounded by an immense amphitheatre of snow covered mountains. I was at 1400 metres and the massif that towered above went straight up to 3,700 metres. It was snowing lightly as I jumped out of the car and danced with delight at the manifestation of nature that was all around me. |
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I was speechless and brought to tears. Once I had come to my “senses” I drove around this alpine village, which was shut up after the ski season. After resurrecting my nearly dead French, I finally found somewhere to stay. It was a small apartment in an old mountain home perched on the side of the valley above a stunning crystal clear river that crashed outside my bedroom window. Above was the family who had lived for generations in this house and below was granny and next door was the barn. Much to my delight there were 3 donkeys, 2 horses and a litter of puppies, some very cute chickens and pigeons all bundled up living harmoniously together for the winter. I whiled away many hours in deep conversations with these delightful creatures who were all only too happy to have a winter companion. |
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For days I walked, meditated and wrote as I absorbed the many dimensions of this place. Slowly I made contact with the strong but rather closed local mountain people. Their frosty exteriors gave way to warm generous hearts. I was soon asked into have coffee and became addicted to the French pancakes which were always waiting. Sometimes it is impossible to say no, especially when the pancakes are filled with warm dark French chocolate.
One night as I lay in bed there was a great cacophony of bells and the clack of hooves on the cobbled path. I stuck my head out and there in the moonlight were a large number of horses, donkeys and mountain sheep, many with bells, all clattering under my window and up passed the picture perfect church.
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Bliss. It was the time of year for the animals to return from the flatter warmer regions to their summer mountain home. |
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Time and values have stood still here. The rhythms of the land, animals and people ring through the valley following the seasons and the weather. These people really know and love their land and their animals and have a deep sense of purpose and belonging so often missing in our so-called sophisticated lives. |
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Myself and many who visit and stay a while experience a sense of peace and wellbeing.
I would take off for day trips and was delighted by the many temptations of the local region: historic buildings, ruined castles churches from the times of the Knights Templar, delightful small villages, markets, spas, not to mention the mountains flowers and animals. It is hard to describe the delight of travelling through a verdant valley, spotting a quaint village on a hillside, exploring it, nosing in the small church, imagining the tales that go with the graves and headstones, supping a tea in a truly “hard to find café”, and so the day went on.
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Once the snow had receded far enough I made the walk up to the Cirque de Gavarnie. This is a world heritage site and boasts the highest waterfall in Europe . Having scrambled over some icepacks I stood beside the spray of the waterfall mesmerised by the sheer height and the dancing rainbows. Some of the locals have told me how they have watched their sons through binoculars as they climb the slippery treacherous frozen waterfall! |
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The emails of my adventures and the meetings I had had soon had people back in New Zealand curious, wanting to taste some of the magic. When I mentioned that I might bring a tour group to Gavarnie there was an instant “I am coming”; and so started the annual journey to the Pyrenees.
The beautiful powerful energy, the big hearts of the mountain people the abundance and generosity of nature and the gifts and surprises of the region make Gavarnie an outstanding place.
The question is not : “Why Gavarnie?
The question is: ”Where else could you experience so much wonder?”
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Bali, Lotus and Dragon Fly |
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A divine intervention created an unexpected “no choice” route change to Bali. For 10 days I meandered the lanes of small towns and roved through rice fields in the mountainous regions, never ceasing to be amazed by the creativity and beauty. What a place of inspiration. How often when my way has been blocked on the material plane a door has opened into the next adventure. |
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Always the material change in direction is matched by new teachings of consciousness and healing. A feeling of the exotic and thin veils of reality stayed with me. |
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Returning two years later, I found a solitary place to rent in the rice fields. The owner supplied me with a great variety of lotus and the nature supplied me with an astonishing array of different coloured dragon flies. Just as my meditation demanded! Walking through rice fields day after day I practised seeing and experiencing as I had for so many years in my mediation. These walks were truly walks with the divine. During this journey the direction and content for the three year programme “Soul Dynamics” (www.souldynamics.co.nz) was born. |
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The energy of Bali and the life force, people and customs that emerge from that offer a harmonious and loving crucible for the expansion of consciousness and healing. Living and dreaming are one. Rhythms and cycles are the motivators.
Added to this is the spiritual nature of the Balinese people which is tangible in the air you breathe. They naturally and gracefully practise non attachment and impermanence. Our Bali Inspired Journeys are enhanced by the relationships we have developed and the good fortune of meeting several amazing local healers and priests.
It is our intention to commence a centre in Bali in 2010, The Centre Of Higher Consciousness.
Bali is rich, indeed the jewel in the crown. |
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It is a great blessing to return to these places of wonder with Inspired Journeys spiritual travellers and share the mysteries, teachings and beauty.
It would be great to share an adventure with you.
Lynne Towner Director and Founder 2009
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