Swim with the Dolphins

March 26, 2005

My journey began before I consciously knew it was about to unfold. The past few months have been about letting go, change and tremendous growth.

My sun sign is cancer and my home and family are a deep soul connection for me. A part of my sign is that I tend to be a pack rat. Now there is an understatement! I would keep reading my horoscope telling me to let go and get rid of things. I actually gave myself permission to surround myself with beauty; my crystals, angels, gnomes, numerous candles, fountains, plants etc. As much as I do travel a great deal, I always had my home to return to – albeit sweetly cluttered and organized.

My friend and promoter John Stamoulos from Australia has been encouraging me to return to teach there and to consider teaching in Malaysia , Singapore and travel into India . “Time to go Global Hannelore .” he said. Now, here I am writing this from my car, sheltering me from a tropical rain in Hawaii . I am feeling mixed emotions as I reflect on the whirlwind of activity proceeding this moment. Once I made the decision to travel around the globe, everything fell into place so rapidly that there was no turning back. It was as though Spirit and my beloved guides said “It's about time!” and stepped in so that I would not change my mind, nor waste any more precious moments.

As of November 1, 2004, I put everything into storage, and yes – did let go of many things. (Although not as much as I could or should have) I was kept busy teaching and doing private sessions in Alberta and staying with family and friends. As I will be away for some time, I had to take care of many details including my taxes, pre-paying bills, arranging for packers and movers and taking my beloved dog, Caspar – a Dalmatian, to the vets for a check up. My son Sean and his wife Val and my daughter Kyra will give him the love and attention he needs and will take care of him while I am on this adventure.

Have you ever noticed that what you keep suggesting to others that they do is what you may be meant to do? I kept telling those with no commitments to take advantage of their freedom and take the opportunity to travel, explore, learn, grow. Until one day, I heard myself say – “are you listening to this?”

I love the saying – “Here take my advice, I am currently not using it.”

Well, I bought an around the world airline pass that is good for one year. My trip began with Hawaii and my DOLPHIN RETREAT. Such an amazing group of people have come together.

I went camping at one of the beaches the Dolphins come to play. As I went for my first morning swim, a small group of 5 dolphins came to greet me. I was in their path and they swam directly in front of me. It seemed almost like they were going to swim right into me (almost like playing chicken) and at the last minute they separated swimming so very close on either side of me and then circled and swam around me. We were so close, all I could do was place my hands over my heart and receive their love as I embraced the energy and sent back my love for them. We were looking deep into each others eyes as I felt their welcoming me back. They then formed a circle around me and positioned themselves in an upright position and just “hung” about for a few moments; and as quickly as they arrived they swam back out to sea, one of them leaping in the air, as if to say – so long for now, until we meet again.

This was the first year that I booked the house for one day before and for three days after the retreat dates. This allowed for a relaxed ease into the start of the retreat, and we did not have to rush off at the end. The group is so high and ‘Blissed out' at the end of the retreat, that makes it difficult to suddenly say goodbye and scatter in all of our different directions. This group bonded quickly and we were soon one big happy family. We had an amazing time! Todd, Mi, Grace and Mona put so much love into the

delicious and scrumptious organic meals. The presentations were works of art as our taste buds were bursting with anticipation and satisfaction of each salivating experience. Dolphin Dave was his usual delightful playful Self, bringing to the retreat such a wonderful energy and talent for creating joy. Melanie and Bruno were incredible making sure everyone was happy and settled in as they embraced and shared their Aloha spirit.

I have just read ‘HOLY COW! An Indian Adventure' by Sarah MacDonald. What a hilarious book! Any of my friends who have been to India agree it is a very good depiction of the experience one has there.

Here are a few excerpts:

“Early morning is not an attractive time to travel in India . As we slowly pull out of the city we are hailed with the twenty-one-hundred-bum salute of slum dwellers

squatting beside the tracks doing their morning ‘ablutions'. Some smile and wave but most don't even seem to see the train. It's as if Indians, living in a country too crowded for privacy, have developed a remarkable ability to look without seeing. They don't notice the child grabbing their shawls, the beggar pulling at their pants, the filth, the misery, the public nose picking, pissing or pooing, and they seem deaf to the call of the country – a violent guttural growling retch, crrooooooooooaaaaaaaaak, punctuated by a giant spit of phlegm: pppppttttttttttttttttttaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah !”

And then there is the other side of India

“Our houseboat is floating faded glory, featuring a carved wooden deck, a den with paisley cushion…..creaks and rocks on a breathtakingly beautiful field of lotuses. Towering green stems stretch to flowers as large as a giant's outstretched hand with petals the colour of pearl kissed by pink giant leaves shaped like elephant ears…..beyond the lake, the jagged line of the snow-capped mountains softens and merges into a mauve sky…..the Muslim call to prayer wafts down from the nearby mosque……Kashmir begins to cast it's spell on me.

“ India is the worst of humanity and the best of humanity”

So for now….am off to India

Blessings

Hannelore