Oracle of Consciousness

Journeys of the Soul
Mt. Shasta

In terms of the Earth's chakras, Mt. Shasta in California, USA, is considered her Root, Chakra responsible for our sense of connection to the Earth.

Mt. Shasta is regarded as a powerful representation of the 1st and Base Chakra, due to its unique energy signature.

The mountain is said to emit a strong, grounding energy that connects us to the Earth’s core, promoting feelings of stability and balance.

Its majestic presence is believed to awaken the Root Chakra, allowing individuals to connect with their own foundation and sense of grounding.

Native American tribes have long revered Mt. Shasta as a sacred site, considering it a place of spiritual power and connection to the Earth.

The mountain is said to hold the energy of the ancestors and is believed to be a gateway to other dimensions along with healing, and personal transformation.

Many Native Americans make pilgrimages to Mt. Shasta to connect with the mountain’s energy, to seek spiritual growth, and to honour their ancestors.

Jake and Angelique had opted not to stay in Mt. Shasta City, but to a quieter spot 15 minutes away in the historic town of Dunsmuir, through which the Sacramento River runs.

After a couple of days of settling in from their long haul from South America and exploring the charming town, they stumbled across this little shop filled with Native American items for sale.

The couple were now becoming more and more convinced that they were creating the reality that individually and together they were experiencing, as every time they plotted and planned an adventure, they were 'guided' to exactly where they were meant to be.

Angelique reinforced this idea by recalling a quote by Peter McWilliams:

“Our thoughts create our reality - where we are, what we are, and what we experience.”

Behind the counter of this little shop, standing next to the owner, stood a wisened elderly woman, who they later learnt was from the Shasta tribe.

They introduced themselves and immediately felt a warm glow emanating from the owner's mother, Nayeli, meaning an expression of love and openness.

"We are looking for someone to take us to Mt. Shasta and guide us in a meditation to the core of the mountain and deeper if possible?" asked Angelique, "Is there someone you can recommend?"

Mother and daughter looked at each and laughed.

"My mum is retired now, but was such a guide for small groups for almost 45 years and is always saying, "I miss those days!"

Mum nodded approvingly and asked "When shall we go?"

How about tomorrow morning to arrive before sun up?" Angelique posed, striking while the fire was hot.

"I have a better idea," suggested Nayeli, "because it will be the weekend and gets busier, lets go at sundown and we will have the place almost to ourselves.

And so it was sealed.

The next day, in the early afternoon, the three drove to a camping (ok , maybe glamping site would be a better description), at the foothills of Mt. Shasta.

"This piece of land used to belong to my family for generations until the mountain got so popular in the1960s, that it was sold and we moved to Dunsmuir." said Nayeli with a touch of nostalgia.

"You will get your own teepee and we will head up the trail in the twilight."

Despite her age, Nayeli was fleet of foot, leaving the pair breathless on a couple of occasions.

What the average tourist didn't know, is there are some small caverns off the beaten track and it was to one of them, that Nayeli lead the way.

On their arrival, Nayeli offered to build a small fire but after hearing about their Tibetan practice, she understood why they declined her kind offer.

She was fast understanding this was no 'entitled' Millennial couple she was dealing with, but a pair of inquisitive and courageous adventurers, who lived their lives outside-the-box.

Now with precious 'Father Sun', hurrying away to light the other side of the planet, they settled themselves onto the handwoven, 1st Nation rugs that Nayeli had kindly brought along and placed at the mouth of the cave to witness the sky filled with the glow of trillions of unmoving fireflies.

With the elder's expert guidance and almost hypnotic chanting, her ancestors were called upon to facilitate this ceremony and initiation to connect with the mountain’s energy, to seek spiritual growth, to honour their ancestors and the natural and other dimensional worlds.

Angelique was swept into a toroidal energy vortex, which carried her upwards and out of her body, where initially she could see her physical form at the mouth of the cave, then the slopes, and pulling up further, the entirety of Mt. Shasta only to be met and greeted by Nayeli's ancestors in a semi-transparent form, but recognisable none-the-less.

Jake spiralled downward into the bosom of Mother Earth.

"Instead of feeling the denser energies of the various strata that I imagined", Jake was later to explain that, "It felt like I was touching the Spirit or Soul of Mother Earth."

"My journeying colleagues, the long-departed ancestors, spoke to me telepathically of the days of old, before the white man arrived on their soil."

"We lived in perfect peace and harmony with Mother Nature and the Earth in those day, revering and honouring all that she provided us to survive and thrive'" Jake recounted.

"If we took a bison for food, we would conduct a ceremony before and after it sacrificed its body to us and we would use every part of it, nothing wasted."

"We lived simply as a tribe, honouring our elders and ancestors who had paved the way for our lives, recognising and appreciating the hardships they endured as we did and now our current generations are facing."

"We quietly see the evolution of the blend between all cultures into one beautiful human race, respecting and loving each other, and celebrating our differences."

"Do you mean like the interconnection and glorious reunion of the Condor and the Eagle? Jake asked them.

"Yes!" they replied joyously, "As prophesied, this day draws closer, but just as the caterpillar faces its own demise to make way for the butterfly, we too are experiencing the Human Metamorphosis," they added.

"We must be brave and courageous to face the unknown, at the same time bolstered by the faith and knowingness that everything is infolding, just as it should."

"The co-mingling of ancestors, Mother Earth's and my own energy had no boundaries," Jake explained, "there was no beginning or ending to it."
"It was a subtle but an enormous power, felt through the lens of humility."

Thus Jake was to yet again have a taste of his innate infiniteness.

Angelique with tears of joy in her eyes, softly declined to express her journey stating "I really need to garner a greater understanding of what just transpired and fully integrate it into my Being."

So I will graciously pass at this time, but promise to share it with you soon." she said, first looking lovingly at Jake and then moving her gaze into Nayeli's eyes and soul.

The next few days were spent in quiet contemplation, walks in the lower trails of Mt. Shasta and deep soul-to-soul conversations with Nayeli and her daughter, Shasteya.

There was much to learn.

From Nayeli, her life's journey thus far and the heart-wrenching trials and tribulations of being a First Nation woman, speaking about her parents who imparted their values and wise behaviours, and the loss of her husband to alcohol.

And from Shasteya, they learnt what it was like trying to live in three worlds simultaneously - the world of the Shasta Indians, the world of modern western folk with their technology, and the other world, that of the mysterious and incomprehensible Great Spirit.

Laughing out loudly, she said, "Maybe I should join a circus and become a juggler?

The idea to which Jake and Angelique quickly quelled with a hearty,

"NO Shasteya!!"

"Our western world is one big circus and sometimes it feels like it is being run by clowns!"

"You are better off here, connected to your tribe and the Earth, while imparting the wisdom of your mother and the tribal elders, to any receptive listener."

"Your shop is a portal into which we were drawn and others will be too."

"Keep the spirit of Shasta alive, dear Shasteya, the world needs what you have to offer."

And directed at Nayeli,
"I felt you by my side all throughout our journeying the other night, it felt so safe and familiar that I was able to completely let go, and surrender into whatever was arising.

"What unfolded is almost impossible to enunciate," she went on.

"There was just One of everything and I was that One, as are we all.

I was the Earth, the trees, great oceans, packs of wolves, everything and everyone.

I was that, you were that, we are all that!

"I have touched that, felt it in my heart and soul and know without doubt, who I am at the core."

We are all manifestations of The Great Spirit, or whatever label we wish to apply, but when we do call it something, it is not that, for how can we define and minimise that which is indefinable, infinite and unfathomable!

And finally from Angelique to Nayeli, "What can we say dearest One, you have left an indelible imprint on our hearts that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives."

"We remain in awe and deep appreciation."