How it all began

Wow. I am going to India AND Thailand.

I was checking my email in a coffee shop one day when I got an email from Patricia Henderson. "Who the heck is Patricia Henderson?" crossed my thoughts as I double clicked to open her message.

OH...it's Patti! Cool!

I met Patti at a Firetribe gathering (www.firetribe.org) on Oahu when I was still making my way on my big move to Kaua'i from Wisconsin. (Yep, I missed all of the record breaking snows.) Patti was that person at the gathering, whom I felt like I've known for many, many lifetimes. Her smile is big, warm and friendly and I wanted to get lost in her big warm hug. I remember dancing around the fire all night, coming out of my dance trance long enough to see her shaking her rattle on the side of the fire circle and taking in her brilliant smile. That smile encouraged me to keep dancing -- it was a long night and the whole point was to keep dancing or drumming for the entire night (thus the trance state) -- as I felt a new surge of joy bubble up within me.

So, I opened her email -- and as I read it, my body was wracked with goosebumps.

I have come far enough in my spiritual revolution to know that my emotions are the signal I need to follow. Logic is what I put to use to make the things happen that my emotions tell me what to do. Instead of following my emotions, fear responded to her email that day, instead. I thought about my finances and in a somewhat disassociated way, watched my fingers type how "I'd love to go, but there was no way" I was going to be able to swing a trip of that magnitude.

Later that afternoon, I remembered the goosebumps -- or better yet "thrill bumps" as Abraham calls them (http://www.abraham-hicks.com/) -- and I decided to kick fear aside, and find a way to go. With excited anticipation, I responded to her email and told her to "CALL ME!!!!" When we finally connected, we talked, screamed, cried and laughed for a good solid hour about how this trip came about for her, what our fears were, and how we were going to pull this off.

The friend who had taken me to Firetribe and had also met Patti, said "You're going to travel for almost 8 weeks with someone you met only once?" "Yes I am!" I replied. She tickled my funny bone when she asked this question, because I had only met her a couple of times at a similar type of event! She offered to have me visit her on Oahu when I was moving to Kaua'i, and said I could only stay with her for a couple of days because she had just had a house guest. Well we got along so well, I stayed for three weeks!!!

I am now visiting Big Island for the first time. Patti and I are in a windfall of preparation. We're backpacking and taking one empty duffel bag each. There may be some shopping involved. Last night, it occurred to us that we have to pack winter gear because when we looked up one of the timeshares we are going to be staying in, we discovered we are going to be staying in the Himalayas!!! It's 44 degrees farenheit and drops to a whopping 4 degrees at night. Patti's all psyched because she wants to go skiing. Aside from cross-country skiing, the last time I went downhill -- in the 7th grade, in Wisconsin -- I narrowly escaped death as I shot straight downhill on a rutted iced-over path between two very closely planted and mature trees with my breath caught in my throat. I couldn't tell you if my eyes were open or not. I never traversed that hill again. Nor did I ever go on another ski trip.

I hear skiing in the mountains is quite different.

The part I am most anticipating, however, is our stay at the ashram. I have never done anything like this and know deep in my inner core -- my Inner Being, that this is key to completely allowing my inner light to shine fully through, and my fears to be cast aside forever. I have this deep sense -- this knowing, that this is an opportunity to Be who I really am. The time has come for me to trust that I am safe and protected. It is time for me to reveal that part of me whom I have hidden away and doggedly protected -- since the earliest of my childhood years.

I can't wait to fully embrace you, Authentic Inner Me. I can already see you winding your way to me in order for us to step into each other. It is heart-warming to see you within sight.

Patti, thank you for offering me the option to seize the opportunity of a lifetime. I look forward to your company, your ceaseless energy, your unabashed personality -- and to taking you to a dance club in India!!!

Peace, Love and Light,
Celeste