INTIMATE INSIGHTS SHARED WORKING WITH BODY/WISDOM CONNECTION- bypassing Mind

I have been given permission to share these intimate experiences of others with the Invisible world, anonymously, for the purpose of promoting awareness of a means of tapping into the wisdom of our bodies that offers us loving, unfettered guidance. Here, working with INTENTION, we experience a pure, unadulterated intuitive Knowing from our Being beyond the 'rational', linear mind and its 'aughts' and 'shoulds' and fears.

I enjoy utilizing several modalities with Seekers:  

• working with Stones as representatives (representing an issue, a goal, another person in their lives); 

• working with hidden information written on paper and including a stone; 

• working with other humans as representatives setting up an Intention in a group setting...

Working with Paper and Stones

ONE EXAMPLE: Seeker experiences sense of stuckness for a number of months in the comforts of the status quo and believing the lies in the head generating fear of stepping out vs taking a step forward out of the comfort zone and first experiencing and then exposing the fears as lies. Seeker is NOT informed which paper has which statement written on it - it will be folded and another paper will cover it as well - then seeker will select a stone for that paper, placing it on top.

On one paper is written:   Protect the fears by avoiding new growth experiences - Seeker chose a beige smooth stone and placed on the folded paper.

On the other paper is written: Address fears by moving forward in new experiences - Seeker chose a green stone and placed on the folded paper.

Next, Seeker grounds and collects self - then stood on one paper with shoes off - holding the stone in hand -

Seeker commented: "This stone feels initially cold but warmed up quickly... and I feel a tingle in my face. Then, feeling a sense of "exhale relief"

Seeker grounded again, then, stepping to the second paper and picked up the stone, commenting: "This stone felt warm at first, but then it feels shallow, no depth... not noticing any other sensations - feels flat."

OUTCOME: Seeker was asked to choose which place he felt resonance with. He chose the first place - and then read the choice of his folded paper. Client read that his body chose 'New Experiences'

SECOND SITUATION: Dilemma facing several difficult choices: Seeker's role in the family has been as 'responsible one' . Presently feeling compelled to make big life decisions. Family business in trouble, Seeker feeling sense of loyalty and obligation to save the situation. Seeker realizing it's Uncle's responsibility now "but 99% of me feels that I need to step in and save the business."

One of Seeker's choices written on one paper: 'Let whatever happens to the business happen'.

On second paper Seeker writes: 'Wait and see what Uncle does'.

On third paper Seeker writes: 'Step in and sell the business'.

The papers are folded, covered and Seeker selects and places stones over each paper without knowing which is which.

Seeker stands on one paper - holds stone - states: "I feel a sense of heaviness here - like, 'it's too much', too complicated. Her body feels cold. (She learns after that she is standing on the paper that says 'Sell the business'.

Standing on the next paper, holding the stone - states: "I don't feel much of anything but a slight nervousness, uneasy."

OUTCOME:  Standing on the third paper, holding the stone - states: "This stone warmed up quickly in my hands. I feel calm and peaceful standing here. My body feels good here". -- Seeker picked up the folded paper at feet and it read: 'Let whatever happens happen'. Upon reading this, seeker expressed sense of relief. Seeker read the first paper  where her body had felt heavy. That paper read, 'Step in and sell  the business'. Seeker recalled the innate sense of  'too complicated' when standing on that place.

Seeker states amazement that body realized the right choice for self that was exactly the opposite of what the mind 'thought should be done'. Yet, in this moment, the the 'rightness' of letting it go.

Working with People as Representatives - with Intention

SITUATION: A Seeker working on setting boundaries and creating healthy separate self from parent as well as detaching from inner critic.

Seeker selects a man to represent her Intention: to see what is in her way from having healthy boundaries with her mother and feel less oppressed by her 'inner critic' (survivor part of self). Seeker selects a woman to represent her mother; Seeker represented herself.

The mother representative was leaning on seeker in an intrusive manner of which the seeker felt  quite familiar. The male representative for the Intention tuning in to his body stated to mother and Seeker: 'You have to do better! It's just not good enough" (rather apologetically as making such a statement was not in his actual nature).

Just at that moment a participant of the circle familiar with constellations work arrived in the midst of this constellation - entered the room and the facilitator asked if she would be willing to represent the seeker's grandmother. As this occurred, tuning in to her body - the 'grandmother' representative, folding her arms across her chest with an apparent look of disdain and, looking at the two women, stated: "I'm disappointed in you. You could do better!" This late arriving participant had no knowledge of what had come just before she had entered the room - yet her body was able to pick up and tune in to the energy of the Field.

OUTCOME: The seeker was shown just what she needed to see for her own next step. She reported a month later that subsequently she has been experiencing dramatic inner shifts and receiving feedback from others close to her that something seemed different about her. Seeker reported feeling a genuine sense of openness to the world and experiences around her.

SITUATION:  A Seeker's Intention:  to work on valuing himself and his capabilities more than he currently does.
Seeker selects a representative for his Intention - increased self valuation - and he stands as himself - and, together, he and the representative for his Intention find their place in relation to each other. The representative for his Intention moves away from the Client - as far away in the room as possible. Seeker appears perplexed and unsure. A representative for the child-part of Seeker is selected and finds his place in the scene. The child-part of the seeker refuses to be 'looked at' by the seeker - the child-part conveys anxiety and panicy feelings. When a representative for the seeker's mother was brought in to the scene, the energy began to shift.

OUTCOME: More unfolded in this constellation as the representative for the seeker's mother entered - however, what was demonstrated was the next step for seeker in establishing a more conscious relationship with his own inner, traumatised child part. He expressed his realization that his life was out of balance - too outer focused.
Seeker expressed seeing something played out, externally via the constellation, that might have taken him very much longer to come to realize on his own. 

Utilizing Stones as Representatives for issues and other people

Seeker's experience: "During this session it became very clear to me that I have ignored and rejected the child part of me for a long time.  After working with Nancy and the stones, I became aware of something...the child part of me feels what my mother must have felt growing up in poverty and pregnant at 14,... unnoticed, ignored, rejected.  I placed the child part representative next to me, but not touching or facing me. I placed my mother's mother near her, but not touching or facing her.   I believed as a child, I "unconsciously" felt unnoticed, ignored and rejected by my mother. Very similar to what my mother could have felt.  I don't know, because we've never talked about how she felt as a child.   Nancy asked me to talk to the child part of me...acknowledge her, listen to her. I did, I told her, "I love you and I will acknowledge you."  It was pretty intense and emotional.  At the end of the session I had a real sense of peace.  I want to give the child part of me the attention and love that she perceived herself to be missing, I see that I need to give that to her now. Wow, this is big!"

 

What is 'Being Real'? Body/Spirit Connection work

We desire to live healthy, fulfilling lives in relation to those we care about engaging in ways that are authentic and true to our Being. (See comments, below, from others' who are willing to share their own personal experiences of constellations work so as to promote awareness of this phenomenal work)

Learning how to access that which promotes healthy love, first toward oneself--as a result of healthy connection with one's inner parents - and subsequently toward significant others--personally and professionally... and with one's direction in life.

Healing is not about "getting better," it is about letting go of everything that isn’t you – all of the expectations, all of the beliefs, letting go of the defenses – and unfolding into who you truly are.” ~Rachel Naomi Remen

Bringing the disparate parts of our psyche into conscious awareness and into alignment that our defenses...our survivor part wants to Avoid. Bringing these parts into consciousness to LOVE and accept rather than Deny and Reject.

Constellations work demonstrates, visually, how we may, unconsciously, live out our mother's disappointments... or repeat our father's infidelity... or issues around being successful. Unconsciously, we replicate the failed relationships, or issues with money...or health... fears of moving forward... of our parents and grandparents. We understand that we inherit our eye color and blood type; we also inherit the psychological residue from traumatic events that have taken place in our family history even generations prior to our birth. Depression, anxiety, chronic self-doubt/self-criticism, illness, over-eating or other substances, unhappy relationships and financial challenges can all be forms of this unconscious, unsatisfying inheritance.

Constellations work visually and gradually reveals the hidden dynamics and family loyalties that keep us rooted in destructive patterns or just keeps us feeling stuck.The constellations circles offer possibilities for a new life course beginning to be set in motion. This can ultimately be life-changing...through the process of increasing trust in the wisdom of our bodies and willingness to set aside the 'thinking' mind, if only briefly. Experiencing deeply moving constellations... trusting the Field... and each other....

COMMENTS FROM PARTICIPANTS OF  CONSTELLATIONS WORK:

"What constellation works means to me...
I am someone that sees things the way I want to see them and I tend to stuff my feelings. Doing constellation work allows me to see things I would not have seen in any other way and pushes me to feel feelings I often cram deep down inside. Watching other people's constellations also reminds me of something going on in my personal life as well and helps me gain courage to deal with those things."~ A

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"Feeling gratitude and love to all who participated in constellation circle last night. So much trust, vulnerability and openness.
Always honored to be a part of this work and grateful for what is shown to me by the field.
Peace." ~ J
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"I am happy to share what constellation work has meant to me.
Constellation work has opened my soul to receive and feel a love that has been with me since birth-- although it was love that I seldom felt, if ever...because of deep set feelings of unworthiness and low self esteem. Through constellation work I have seen clarity in situations that have burdened me for years. The truths revealed to me in constellations has given me a sense of peace and acceptance.
Nancy, I am forever grateful for guidance and wisdom. Thank you," J.M.

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"Constellation work helps me to see "What Is"-- whether it's buried deeply or just lingering below the surface. I also have the opportunity to just Feel my feelings for a few hours. Feel without judgment, fear, or worry about what anyone is thinking. The truths I see in my own constellation or as a representative always provide me with "food for thought." And more importantly, I'm left with a sense of peace and belonging." ~ JR
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"As I think on constellation work, I think of TRUTH, SEEING, OPENING UP to 'What IS'. In connection with constellation work, I am learning that I am not alone in my journey; that others have come before me that have had their own journey and possess wisdom to aid me in mine. My awareness and acceptance of life’s day-to-day happenings is more familiar now since I have begun constellation work. I sense how everything and everyone is connected in some way; either by energy or experiences. To me, constellation is the most truth I have experienced, even more true to me than church. To me, constellation is “my church”; my spirituality is deeply connected to this work. It is my path along my journey. Thank you for everyone who is part of this work. I am grateful for the sharing and witnessing of others in their journey. I don’t feel so quite alone and to me that is everything that keeps me confident and courageous in this work.
Sincerely, from the heart and spirit," DT
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"Here is my commentary on working with stones in constellations:
I really appreciate the stone work in constellations because the process of work with the stones as representatives for people in my life... or personal issues... has a way of disarming me, cutting through the various defenses I seem to have and really expose my core to myself. Then, I am able to genuinely look at experiences through a new lens - my lens of truth." ~ N.
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"Constellations work continues to amaze me! Recently I worked with stones as representatives for aspects and issues around my Recovery. I positioned the stones representatives where they "felt" to belong. 'Thinking about it' does not seem to be part of this placement process. As we sat back and took in the vision of the placements, we started making connections with the relationship these stones representatives have with each other... for example: I saw that I had placed the representative for my recovery behind me--out of my line of vision. And the stone representing me was focused on the 'obstacles' that I had placed in front of me. Suddenly, there was the realization that if I turned my representative a little, I would be facing my new sponsor rather than obstacles. What became suddenly clear to me via the stones placements was how things in my life could be different just by changing my focus! It was shocking to see something that was just set up by 'feelings' and seemed totally random, initially, suddenly took shape into a plan for success that was more simple than my Mind would have ever come up with! Working with the stones constellation was like flipping a switch just by seeing that a slight shift in focus and a new sponsor could bring my recovery back into view!" A.

Humans standing as Representatives in a Constellations group.

A Representative's experience - "Knowing Field"

We do not live in isolation, though it often may feel that way. However, on a deep level, a soul level, we know that we are connected to each other, to our ancestors, to nature, to the universe.This “knowing field” is what we tap into to see the expanded view, to find the resources to create a new image in relation to our 'story'  when engaging in Constellations work. (a quote from Nancy Kehr)

A representative's experience:

Hi Nancy,

In reflecting on whether it's the Field or one's own mind...In my limited experience, I too have had thoughts while representing and wondered if I was being influenced by my mind.  I believe that the more you know about someone, the more "tuned in" you can be and that's not a bad thing, necessarily.   I have found it very helpful for me to practice our grounding technique of counting breaths as I represent.  This way if/when my mind interferes,  I let the thought pass and get right back to counting, which allows me to feel/listen to what is going on inside my body and then act on it.  

Feel free to share this if you like - J

A person has been selected by a member of the group to represent a person or a concept in this other person's life...

This person chosen to represent will typically begin by directing her/his attention to her current awareness within the body...bodily sensations (hot/cold; heavy/light ect) and feelings... (sad, scared, angry, content ect)

and then may begin to notice spatial relationships in relation to other representatives and what ever urge to move toward or away from

 internal images may also arise... more from embodied awareness than from rational thought

When less experienced in representing - people may often find themselves startled by their experience - feeling compelled by the body to move in a certain way or place

Ordinarily we are used to thinking about our experience...however, 'Thinking' tends to move us to analysis and may cause a missing of meaningful physical and emotional information... people new at representing may find it helpful to simply practice increasing connection with the body... and noticing when moving back into the head... come back to the body

The representative experience is, for the most part, a physical and emotional experience... movement may also be a part of the experience - the person representing may express (laugh or cry) the felt emotion or simply describe what they are feeling...
a person chosen to represent a member of a family system who holds secrets may feel "restrained"

A person representing may tend to enter a kind of 'trance-like' state - which is more connected with our Right brain (intuition) rather than our left (logic & reason)...  For many, this is, initially, an unfamiliar place to be - so may be initially uncomfortable in it's unfamiliarity - when we're used to 'knowing' with our linear brain

In Right brain - our boundaries become less rigid - we are more open to receiving impressions - and experiencing of feelings and interconnectedness rather than the usual sense of separateness

Constellations work challenges our ordinary way of 'knowing' (logic) and of believing (in separation)... and opens us to increased connection with ourselves and others

At the moment of being chosen to represent another... a connection is formed... sometimes individuals even seem to sense that they are going to be chosen to represent before the person actually picks them

The person who is picked to represent tends to have similar issues and energy as the person they are picked to represent (this fact is unconsciously felt by the client selecting her representatives). So, the person representing may gain insight into her own issues in this representing of another

Representatives experience feelings and emotions that belong to the person or thing which they are representing - constellations work shows us that, contrary to our beliefs, feelings don't belong to us - they move through... and can/will simply disappear - like clouds that appear and disappear

Our left brain may find it hard to believe that one can NOT 'make a mistake' representing

Truth illustrated through constellations work is a metaphor to be experienced... a means of understanding a path from tension and entanglement - moving into more balance and freedom.
"Fields" are areas of interconnectedness such as fields of study, occupational fields, our family fields... There is a field that connects all of life. Scientists call it the morphogenic field, philosophers refer to the universal consciousness. It is not subject to time or distance and in effect does not adhere to any of our physical laws. This field is a repository for memories; experiences; and great knowledge that goes back to the beginning of what we call time….this is the “knowing field”.

our ancestors

constellations work

Point Of Light - Remembering

 

 

 

 

I woke up this morning with a keen realization regarding an emotional difficulty I experienced a few weeks ago... and, thanks to the influence from listening to Unmani (http://not-knowing.com/) last weekend as well as reading A New Earth... I sat and wrote this in my journal... it all simply poured out... with some refinements added, later.

 
Our culture keeps us asleep... one of the many ways is through language... which reinforces our beliefs. Perceptions from early childhood... how we... how I interpreted my events... reinforce the (misperception) that someone... or Life... is doing something to me.

She/he is ignoring me... criticizing me... excluing... dismissing... not appreciating... Me... and so, a story... my story is reactivated... my child(hood) perceptions... misunderstandings--interpretations from the past overlaid onto present life events.  All arguments, offenses, hurt feelings, conflicts, war... are a result of the story of 'me'.

Of course, most are unaware that Nobody is doing anything (to us)... it's All just happening... in the only way it can... or something would be happening differently--as our stories superimpose onto each others stories... this is our so-called reality. And, it's my perception of what's happening - based on my interpretations of others learned a long time ago.

The One that I Am is a point of Light...  while 'me' is a bundle of memories... of interpretations given to life events from long ago... making them mean something based on the memories of 'my' story...
so, 'me' goes through life perceiving that things and people are happening / doing something to me

so, 'me' goes through life perceiving that Life / situations and people are happening / doing  something to to 'me'...  When 'me' likes what is happening - 'me' is happy - when 'me' doesn't like what is happening... doesn't like how 'me' is treated... or the situation is ... 'me is unhappy'... believing the story of 'me'.  And, we all have our individual version of 'story' - whether it is in relation to other people or in relation to Life, itself... the realization of the story is the necessary first step toward truth.

Such a deeply held belief! me and my story of who I am - all that has happened to me that defines my identity, my difficulties, an as a separate 'me'... separate from you... and either more special or less than...

Ego insists this is all true!  L o o k !  ego says... pointing... there you are... here I am !  of course we're separate!

and, when something happens... when you ignore me... or you say something that means I'm wrong... or conversely, your actons flatter me... ego is the one who reacts... believing its sense-based perceptions as the only truth. Ego makes up a story (always based on the memory of past perceptions and interpretations) and reacts accordingly... happily or unhappily... it has become a habit... and this is how we are imaging reality to be.

And, for others it may be less about beliefs in relation to 'others' and more about beliefs about Life, itself...
for example, the belief:  "life is hard" .. you have to work hard... meaning... there's no time to have fun or to play.... life is a struggle... LOOK!  See! Look at all the things I have to get done! I don't have time for me... for my needs!

Or the belief:  "There's not enough" - I can't have what I want/need. My needs aren't going to be met... I can't find the right partner, I can't find a job (or the right job), I don't have enough money for what i need..."

Or, "Life isn't fair --it didn't turn out the way I thought it would"- I've always done the right things; I've taken the high-road; I've helped others - and look what I get in return!"  All of which appears clearly just and true to the believer about Life as do the interpersonal stories. We are all living out of our memory bundle - our feeling of 'me' and my life.


But what to do with the story--the bundle of memories that I believe are 'me' ?... this bundle that bumps up against life... and becomes activated once again?  This bundle that seems to contain so much energy.  Where is this energy coming from? Whose energy is it? Maybe it's the energy of this point of Light... which the bundle--the story--has been stealing!  The story... in and of itself... doesn't have energy of its own... its simply a story...

How to restore the energy to its rightful place?... removing the energy from ego--  transferring the energy to the point of Light? Proper perspective helps--recognizing the ego... the paper mache covering... that contains the bundle of memories/perceptions of a story... the story of 'me'... the tightly-bound identity with interpretations and beliefs...

I can live this life while knowing full well that this ego, this story of me is--has been--imagined... over years of reinforced mis-perceptions... meaning, untruth.  Wow!  But, I've been believing it for so long! It feels So real! (this is 'me' talking)

Question every objection to 'what is'... especially if noticing this 'me' is taking something personally, or believing some self-defeating thought about life. The pull will be strong to believe the story in that moment - that something is happening to 'me'! or that Life is conspiring against my having joy.

Use the wise mind to remember - the story has been activated!  Realize>> the dream, the nightmare has just been triggered, again -  BREATHE!

Remember:  I -- this essential nature that I Am -- is a point of light... amidst other points of light... amidst a life that brings us exactly what we imagine... like it or not.  Visual perception will have us believing that this point of light is separate from those - however, like drops in the ocean - there is only the One. A quantum shift is being asked of me in this moment. Energy transfer from ego to point of light.
REMEMBER!

My next exploration will on what to 'do' with the emotions that arise when the story becomes activated.

2012 - Images/ Guatemala & Winter Solstice Ceremony

Mayan community preparing for 2012 Solstice sacred Fire Ceremony - San Pedro de la laguna

 Welcome to my still photo documentary of my visit to Guatemala during the 2012 Winter Solstice.

Such a remarkable experience meeting the Maya people in the village of San Pedro - an experience like no other...a different world. Because i know the images speak for themselves with feelings over words, i will simply explain the highlights of the trip -- allowing an immersion into the culture as best i was able - experiencing the amazing Heart of a people who, materially, have so little...yet so kind and open-hearted!

 Experiencing the Solstice sacred Fire Ceremony and the amazing and rich Maya-cosmo-vision that is awakening in this community - a vision of compassion and caring for each other; working through deep wounds and injuries; understanding life purpose and inner and outer meaning of each day; doing one's own part in caring for the environment--bodies of water, land, animals and air; integrating a spiritual perspective in daily life....

     Mayan fire ceremonies are elaborate and moving - lasting anywhere from 3-4 hours. Sacred symbolism. Similar to other indigenous cultures - deep reverence to Nature and Spirit.

    Another pivotal aspect of my visit was connecting with the heart of Taa 'Pit...  Taa 'Pit Kortees, the Center for Intercultural Learning Tz'utujil Mayan  - reintroducing/restoring their 'disappearing' culture and language back to the children and their families--is unique, founded by Maya, nonprofit, in the highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan, San Pedro la Laguna.
you can visit their website, just below... by pasting into your browser.....
       http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.taapit.org/&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dtaa%2Bpit%26hl%3Den%26c 
     The trip was dreamed, birthed and offered through Compassionate Listening Project - creating the program and making all the arrangements for our remarkable event experiences, beautiful lodging, dining, and meeting Maya people of the community. 

     In my photo images, you will see the preparation of the Sacred Fire Ceremonies; the children of Taa'Pit and those working hard to bring the Mayan culture & their native language back to the children and their families; may you enjoy the beauty of this magical place... and feel the Heart of these remarkable people.

I think you'd very much like to see this brief video- of 2 minutes:  http://vimeo.com/52769887

Hotel Antigua in Guatemala

Rooftop in Antigua Guatemala

Selling wares in the market - Antigua Guatemala

Old Ruins in Antigua

Antigua Guatemala

Street in Antigua

Field off the roadway heading to San Pedro

View of Lake Atitlan atop the mountain - see San Pedro at base in distance

A white egret? or crane or heron ?  at Lake Atitlan - San Pedro

See how Bananas grow - and the long hanging maroon colored thing hanging below

Sunrise in San Pedro and Lake Atitlan

Hotel facing the Lake - my room is bottom floor, second from right

Street in San Pedro

View from Home Restaurant - San Pedro

On the road to San Pedro - bags of coffee beans lining the street

old looking building in Antigua

Blankets hanging - San Pedro

At dawn arriving at San Marcos for Solstice Sacred Fire Ceremony

Atop of mountain, looking across Lake Atitlan at dawn - fire ceremony soon to begin

Fire pit to be prepared - see dark objects on ground just to right - and musicians

Daykeeper preparing firepit in a sacred way- (after cleaning) beginning with the sacred 4 Directions

large round pine sap balls are added

Sacred Four Directions

Adding the large round pine sap balls in building the sacred fire

Elements for building the sacred fire - round ball of pine sap

Chocolate and kindling added

White candles are handed to Daykeeper - 4 colors for each Direction

Beans and rice are added to sacred fire

4 colors of candles are utilized in sacred fire

Mayan musicians at fire ceremony

Kindling being lit with sacred fire and prayer - the actual Fire ceremony is not permitted to be photographed

Lush vegetation in San Pedro

Children of San Marcos

                                                           

Calle in San Pedro

Tuk-Tuks in San Marcos

                                                             Canal in San Pedro - Santiago dock

Hotel reception area in San Pedro

Lush vegetation - San Pedro

Narrow 'calles' in San Pedro

Home Restaurant in San Pedro

Mother & son who is student at Taa' pit - school reinvigorating Mayan children back to their beautiful culture

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Children at Taa'pit learning about computers

Taa'Pi't School reviving Mayan culture for Mayan children

Taa'Pit school operating on a shoe-string budget

Children of Taa'Pit learning about protecting environment & their Lake

on the walk to my hotel room

Solstice eve in San Pedro village- Children in the streets with sparklers

Sunset on Lake Atitlan - San Pedro

San Pedro Community Solstice Fire Ceremony preparation - preparing flower petals

San Pedro Mayan community preparation for Solstice Sacred Fire ceremony

San Pedro Mayan community preparing flower petals for sacred fire

quietly coming together for preparing the sacred fire for solstice

Beautiful, devout women in their traditional San Pedro shawls

 Preparing ingredients for sacred Fire Ceremony - for Solstice

 Multi-colored candles representing each Direction to burn in the sacred fire

Candle colors of 4 Directions - see fire pit prep in background

Spirit Water

Candles and other sacred ingredients for the fire ceremony

Daykeeper preparing for sacred fire

enhanced fire pit and community participants

Mayan families of San Pedro participating in sacred Ceremony

Mayan family

Daykeepers of sacred fire ceremony

Daykeeper of sacred fire ceremony

Sacred fire at end of ceremony

San Pedro - garden in foreground - houses behind

view of Lake Atitlan from my room

butte, above, is location for San Pedro fire ceremony

yard just in front of my room - looking out to Lake Atitlan

three dogs napping on a step along the roadside

Maria, scarf-weaver in San Pedro

Gathering of Mayan families & students of Taa'pit

17-year-old interpreter

Home visit of Mayan family - three generations of women

Middle woman, age 97, she's in the photo (years earlier) above her head in the blue skirt with her husband

The son of the 97 year old woman - in kitchen area

Washing the corn to be prepared to make tortillas

 The whole corn is now put into a crusher

The corn is crushed and falls into the bottom bin as dough

Here the woman is carrying the corn dough - the corn that
had been crushed

stove with live wood burning fire

Rolling out the corn tortilla dough

kitchen area

      corn tortilla - hand made

sleeping areas behind the curtains

 Kitchen area

This lovely man is holding photographs of my grandmothers

This appears to be at least four generations of women

This woman holds a snow globe from seattle. The curious little boy later dropped it on the cement floor.

Young girl selling fruit at front door

Market in San Pedro

 

Highway buses - not for use in the village

Teacher of Taa'pit and her 12 y.o. student

Strong supporter (left) and Founder of Taa'Pit

San Juan hand-made weaving - shawls

Demonstration of yarn-dying

Mayan spirit image/mural on a wall in San Juan

Religious procession in the street - San Juan

our wonderful grilled chicken prepared for lunch - San Juan

Mural in San Juan capturing reverence for Nature

Artist by his mural depicting Mayan bone healer

Mayan fisherman

Symbolic Mural in San Juan depicting Maya community

Mural in San Juan on a building wall

Street in San Juan - neighboring San Pedro

my room in San Pedro

work party at Taa'Pit school

 Symbolic art work representations for the students

Painted wood carving - related to Nature & Environment

owner and the chef at La Puerta

 

                                              La Puerta Restaurant - lovely entrance & cabana

                                                    Coffee cups steps - La Puerta Restaurant

                                                          Sweet Isabel at La Puerta

Idea Connection Internet Cafe

                                            Street of La Puerta, Internet Cafe and hotel

local tienda 

selling beans, rice... their staples

Calle in San Pedro ... No CARS ! :)

Walkway to my hotel by the Lake

Looking east toward volcano

                                       

Juan Martin, Deborah and Juan Manuel - the heart of Taa'Pit

Leaving San Pedro heading toward San Juan and over the mountain

heading over the mountains back to Antigua

up in the clouds traveling back over the mountains

van shuttle between Antigua & San Pedro - i sat shotgun w/ the big guy

streets of Antigua - you can feel the difference

memory of sunset on Lake Atitlan from my hotel

      memory of full moon rising on Lake Atitlan - San Pedro de laguna

A most welcome invitations to your comments and questions on this photo documentary.
Thank you for visiting. Please do share the the link to this blog with others who may 
find the material interesting. ~ Nancy B.