LUXOR, EGYPT

It's September 27th and time to fly to Luxor for a few days. I'm up at 0245 (AM) to throw on some clothes, eat some breakfast and head out to the airport for my 0530 flight from Cairo to Luxor.  

Yesterday some of Hassan’s relatives from the Delta area visited and brought a famous delicacy from that area.  It is hard to describe, but is very delicious.  Thin pancakes are layered then lightly fried with oil.  Then honey or molasses (known as black honey here) is either added in between the layers or put on the side for dipping.  The pancakes are not as thin as philo dough but thinner than a crepe.  They brought a suitcase full of the pancakes!!!!

This morning for my very early repast Hassan warms up some of the pancakes serving them with a side of molasses.  Yum!!!  And, of course, I have my serving of plain zabady (yogurt) for the day.

While all of Egypt is my heart place, Luxor is it’s seat.  Getting off the plane I can feel the ancient energy.  Mohamed is here waiting for me to take me to my favorite little hotel on the west bank very close to the Valleys of the Kings & Queens and many wonderful funerary temples.

Mohamed at the bread truck

He stops on the way to the hotel to buy some falafal and bread. These are to be for my breakfast. Yes, another breakfast.  It is no good to tell him I had breakfast in Cairo as he will insist I eat again.  They love to feed you here as it is the sign of hospitality.

Downstairs restaurant area Habu

Habu Temple at night

Mohamed’s family run hotel is very rustic, but is clean and restful.  Not to mention it is across the street from on of the best preserved funerary temples, Medinet Habu.  There is nothing like sitting up on the large roof top and gazing on the temple, especially at night when it and the mountain behind is all lit up. The lighting of the mountains is a new occurrence in the last year. 

Mountain at night behind statue of Memnon

I have not seen Mohamed or his mother since 2008.  During my last visits in 2009 & 2010 he has been in Saudi Arabia. He has two children now!  A girl 3 and boy 14 months.  They are darling.  His mother greets me like a long lost sister and insists I have lunch.  She is so lovely and gracious as is Mohamed’s wife.

Habu Temple early morning

Roof Top Terrace Habu

In the late afternoon Mohamed takes me to the local ferry landing so I can cross the Nile and meet Ahmed. I love taking the local ferry.  It is full of interesting people. People watching is a special treat and gives some insight to the local culture and dynamics of interaction between men and women.

From the local ferry I stroll the corniche (a walkway along the Nile) to the Sonesta St. George where I will meet Ahmed in the lobby. Many offers of Calesh lady? and taxi lady? and felucca boat lady? ring in my ears.  Some are more insistent than others.  The best way to handle it is to walk eyes straight ahead like I am deaf.  If I even say La shoukran, they want to know why :-) and the conversation is much elongated.

By the time I reach the Sonesta (20 minute walk) I am hot and dripping.  HMMMM!  Perhaps I should have taken the offer of a calesh, a horse drawn carriage.

Ahmed meets me at 1730 (5:30PM) and we discuss the recent elections and his feelings.  I am not surprised that his view is different from Hassan’s. Ahmed’s view is having democracy is the most important and even though it is not perfect and the leaders are less than desirable now, it will change.  He says it will take time, maybe as much as 10 to 20 years to make the change to the best for Egypt. The educated young people who caused the revolution are between 18 and 30 years of age and have no clear leader.  When they grow older and can organize more effectively then Egypt can grow and change for the good of all.

According to him the Salafists (the extremists) are very good at getting out the vote.  They provide many different services to the poor that the old government would not, such as medical, educational and nutritional.  They sent buses and cars to take them to vote.  They spend time with them educating them about the point of view they hold.  They target the uneducated and poor who are easy to manipulate.  They have 22 TV stations spreading their message, and they have been doing this for years and years.  It will take time to achieve a balance.

In the meantime this is the first president to be elected in a democratic way and he sees this as a very positive step for Egypt while realizing that it is just the beginning.  Even though he is suffering financially now he believes, in the end, it will be for the best.

We now walk to Ahmed’s flat which is not far from the hotel. I am greeted by his children and wife, Kalcum, with much love, hugs and kisses.  We spend a delightful evening together. It is as if we have never been apart.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma/Sara

EGYPT SAKKARA

Hassan and I set out for Sakkara this morning, September 25.  First Hassan treats me to a breakfast of eggplant and onions fried in oil and spices he calls mousaka, falafel and egg mixed together and fried, yoghurt, and Egyptian pita bread.  I say Egyptian pita bread because it is nothing like our dried-up version we can get in America.  Yum!!!!

The morning is fairly cool for this time of year.  The sun is warm but there is a coolness to the breeze.  We are to see the museum containing some of the artifacts found at Sakkara, the tomb of Ptah Hotep, Mereuka,and Kagebni as well as the Serapeum.  These tombs are not of Kings, but of high officials, judges, and scribes and their families.

The museum is extremely well laid out with many wonderful and unusual artifacts.  Among the most unusual are dental instruments and a basket of cheese!  One of the mummies found had a dental crown made of silver.  The cheese is in the shape of balls exactly like you can find it today in the local street food markets.  Mind you I am talking about around 5,000 years ago!

There are also huge alabaster jars that are very symmetrical carved by hand.  They found thousands of these jars in many shapes and sizes.  These jars had various uses including beer and wine.

As we leave the museum we see a group walking towards us coming from a large bus.  They are Americans!!!!  Hooray, this is good news for tourism because if Americans are coming this means tourism may be improving soon.  It is the ideal time to visit especially if you don’t like crowds. 

The mastaba tomb of Kagebni contains some of the most unique depictions of life.  One particular scene shows a man holding what, at first appearance, is a pig.  He is holding it up to his mouth and it appears he is either kissing it or feeding it from his mouth.  Hassan tells me for years this is what is thought.  Recently he was there with a field manager in charge of excavating the worker’s village by Giza.  Richard told him that it cannot be a pig because there are toes on the feet.  It is a dog, a puppy, and the man is feeding the puppy. Probably the puppy was too young to eat on its own.  

Another special scene shows the process of milking cows.  While a man holds the rope that ties the mother by her legs they allow the calf to begin to suckle in order for the milk to release. Then he is “kicked” away while a man steps in to milk the cow.  This is depicted in two scenes: one where the calf is suckling and the other where the man has stepped in to milk.  The look on the calf’s face that has been “kicked” away and the look on his mother’s face as she twists around to look at the man now milking her are priceless.

In other scenes we see dragon flies, frogs, butterfly, and a HooPoo bird. The bird is an especially unusual thing to see.

Mereuka’s tomb has been closed for restoration the past three years.  Hassan is eager to see what has been done.  This tomb is the most wonderful tomb with many fabulous scenes of fishing, hunting, playing games, and the presentation of goods to the deceased.  Some of the fish depicted are still caught in the Nile today.  It is his favorite.  

However, the evidence of any extensive restoration is missing with only some cleaning of the scenes evident and Hassan is very disappointed. This tomb has always been included in the ticket for Sakkara, but now they are charging 50LE,about $8.00. 

Newly opened, the tomb of Ptah Hotep is included in the price of the general ticket. It is interesting, but less interesting than Mereuka and Kagebni.

The Serapeum contains the massive sarcophagi of the numerous sacred bulls buried over many years.  It has been under restoration for about 13 years! It was becoming unstable and needed major reinforcement.

When first Bob and I visited in 1993 and then I again in 1995, the way to the massive tomb was to walk over the desert to the opening of the underground tomb.  The floor was dirt, the lighting poor and the sarcophagi covered with dust.  But even though the conditions were not ideal it was awesome due to its sheer size.  

Today the way to walk is over the old road that curves its way down the hill and was used by the ancients to take the massive sarcophagus into the tomb. How they managed to get such massive pieces into the tomb and place them in their individual places in the carved out spaces in the walls is still a mystery.

As we traverse the road we notice the remnants of the white marble used to pave it.  How magnificent it must have been and how it must have shone blindingly in the sun.

Stairs have been built down to the entrance. Inside the tomb the pathway is now wooden covering the old dirt pathway. At intervals glass inserts show the old dirt floor.  Some of the rooms have massive steel “cages” surrounding the walls and ceiling of the carved wall receptacles. The lighting has improved and the dust removed.

We are walking above the sarcophagi, but one sarcophagus has stairs leading down so we can walk around it.  It has carvings of hieroglyphs and other items all over the black granite.  These things look massive from above, but when I walk down and stand next to this one is when I see just how massive they are.

Only one mummy of a bull, now in the basement of the Egyptian Museum, was found as the place was looted in antiquity.  The bulls were mummified with amulets of gold and precious stones making the temptation too great for the tomb robbers.  How they managed to slide the tops back to rob is another mind boggling mystery.

September 27 will find me winging my way to Luxor. Stay tuned for news from there.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma/Sara

EGYPT SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

AHHHH!  The smell of Cairo.  There is nothing like it anywhere else on earth.  I happen to love the smell and I drink it in as I leave the terminal to meet Hassan. It is so wonderful to be here; my soul sings.  Even before the plane landed I could not keep the wide grin off of my face.

After visiting the bank window to buy my visa and change some money, I am ready to tackle the line for customs. Going through customs is the most organized I can remember and I am out even before my second bag makes it’s appearance!  Then the realization hit.  The reason it is so organized is because there are no large groups of tourists led by their tour leaders to get through the lines.  There are a few of us scattered here and there, but the lines consists of mostly locals. In the past more than one plane arrived at the same time disgorging many passengers all at once. Tonight it is only my British Air flight. Sad.

As I walk the hall to get to the outside door I am approached several times with the offer of transportation.  La shoukran (no thank you). Hassan is nowhere in sight so I text him that I have arrived and am outside of terminal 1.

It is then a young man approaches me asking if I need a ride.  La shoukran.  But he insists that he can be of service.  I explain someone is picking me up who is a friend of almost 20 years and I always stay with him and his family.  Where does he live?  I have to confess I don’t really know the address.  What section of the city? I don’t really know.  He is shocked.  Give me the number and I will call him.  I do, he does and Hassan explains he has accidentally driven to the wrong terminal!  

Now Cairo airport is not like others.  If you go to the wrong terminal, it is not just a matter of driving around from one to the other.  No, you must go out and around through convoluted ways to achieve your goal, so I know it will be a few minutes before Hassan arrives.  Once the young man knew all was well, he gave me his card and walked away without even asking for a tip for his services! It is customary to give baksheesh (a tip) for any services given, thus my surprise.

Soon I spy Hassan hurrying over to me.  He always picks his groups up from Egypt Air and his car just automatically drove to terminal three.  We have a good laugh over that as we pull my luggage to his car.  As we approach the car a figure gets out.  It is Zayed and in the 2 1/2 years since last I saw him he has shot up to tower over his father.  He is only 14, but he is fast becoming a young man.

Safaa greets us at the door.  Her face is lit up with a huge smile as is mine.  I am home.

Since it is well past midnight by this time, the house is quiet.  Hossam has a big day tomorrow; he starts university!  Doaa is also asleep and soon Zayed goes to bed as well.  Hassan, Safaa and I stay up and chat.

The foremost topic on my mind is the political situation as Hassan sees it.  He is not happy about who is leading the country now.  There seem to be two factions in Egypt, those who want the more conservative regime and those who feel it will cripple the country. The new regime is not paying any attention to tourism or trying to improve the unemployment situation.

Hassan hasn’t worked since February 2011 and, as you can imagine, money is tight.  He was supposed to have two groups coming up in October and November, but after the unrest caused by the inflammatory film against Islam, they were cancelled. He is hoping January will bring in groups again.

The sad thing is, Egypt’s demonstrations over the film are over and were contained in one area. The groups would have been fine to be here. 

I am told there is more petty crime now, but it is felt they are caused by the fact many prisoners were released by the ruling party that should not have been and the severe downturn in the economy are the causes.

Hassan and I will travel to Sakarra, the famous “step” Pyramid and first one built by Imenhotep, on Tuesday to visit two new tombs that have just recently opened and the reopening of the Serapium.  The Serapium is where the sacred bulls are entombed and is a massive place.  1995 was my last visit because it has been closed ever since. 

One of the newly opened tombs is of Ptah-hotep a high priest/vizer of Sakarra.  I am excited to see everything! 

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma/Sara

SHASTA PEACE GARDEN & MINERAL BATHS

My last day in Shasta began with another walk and mineral bath.  But before I tell about the waters of Stewart Mineral Springs Retreat I go back to the day before and the Peace Garden.

Beginning of Peace Garden Mount Shasta In Background

The Peace Garden is located outside of Mount Shasta City on the way up the mountain. A tiny sign topped with a dove marks the path to the garden. Parking along side the road in the shade I got out of the car and stepped onto the path.

Labyrinth

The peace garden does invoke peace.  Pathways wind through the garden leading to small alcoves containing statues and sculptures.  As I rounded one curve a labyrinth made of grass mounds and dotted with large crystals and geodes invited me to step in.

Peace Pillar

There were colorful strips of cloth containing the thoughts of previous visitors in many different languages hanging from the bushes and trees.  In the center of the garden a tall metal pillar declared peace to the world in several languages.  On a small bench under a tree sat a tool box.  Written on the tool box was an invitation to open it, take out one of dozens of colored markers, a strip of cloth and write a message.  Aha! This is where the strips came from!

St Francis

I wrote my message on a purple strip with green marker and hung it behind the statue of St Francis of Assisi. My message?  “Embrace the mystery wherein all possibilities exist and then the world will be at peace.”

Back to the mineral baths:

The waters here are purported to be the most healing waters in the world!  Who can pass up an opportunity to indulge?  Not me!!!

Each bath is in a small private room containing a claw foot tub, chair with a sheet and a towel and hooks for your clothes.  The tub is partially filled with the 180 degree mineral water and it is up to the bather to add cold to make the water comfortable.  The room is mine for 1 1/2 hours.

The recommendation is to soak in the tub for 10 minutes, get in the sauna for as long as you can, then either take a plunge in the natural pool made by the river outside or take a cold shower. The pool is clothing optional. This procedure repeats a total of three times.

I don’t do nude in public anymore and the thought of putting on my swim suit each time I needed to “plunge” didn’t appeal either, so I took the cold shower.

Each time I returned to my room I added a little more of the hot mineral water so that by the third soak the water was almost all mineral. I could feel the toxins leaving my body.  AHHHHH!  What a wonderful way to end my Shasta experience.

As I write this I am still here in CA. Yesterday, the day I was scheduled to fly to Cairo, British Air sent me a text announcing, with regret, my flight was delayed 5 hours!  Cat & I were already by the airport having lunch in a hotel.  She wanted to go back to her house, but I know better than to try to sort out the connecting flight to Cairo over the phone.

I persuaded her we needed to go do a face to face. Jeffery at bag drop was fantastic.  We all joked around about the few to no alternatives for me.  Then Cat asked if I could fly the next day. She also mentioned it might be great if I could be upgraded to business class since I was being so flexible. I made the comment that I needed to call the Executive Club to do that and would do once I left the airport.

Jeffrey made all the necessary changes to get me on a flight the next day and then handed me the new itinerary. Looking at it I gasped, I’m in World Club! He smiled and handed me my boarding passes in business class all the way! He had checked me in so all I need to do today is show up and drop off my bags! What a gift.  We did an air hug and I left feeling so grateful and blessed.

Skulls forming child size heart

It occurred to me that you might like to see pictures of the 13th skull.  These are screen shots from Susan’s website.

Male and Female halves separated

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma/Sara

SHASTA PYRAMID & MAYAN CRYSTAL SKULL

On September 12 I woke early excited about my upcoming experience in the pyramid.  After a walk and breakfast I left for the 20 minute ride into Mount Shasta City. Since I was very early I stopped to wander around the town gazing in the shop windows.  Most of the shops open at 11 or 11:30 with a few at 10:00.

I wanted a particular crystal which led me to concentrate on those shops.  There are so many it was a good thing only one was open that early! I found what I wanted and still had time to spare.  Continuing to look in the windows brought me to a place called the Shambhala Center.  In the window was a story about the Mayan Crystal Skulls and the fact that Susan, the owner of the shop, has the 13th skull.

Metatron Cube on the Pyramid

First the pyramid.  Omaran met me as I walked out to the spot where it sits in the shadow of Mount Shasta.  The cube on the side is the Metatron Cube.  Metatron is an archangel of many talents among them chakra clearing, helping us to link to our inner divine wisdom, and he is credited as ministering the sacred geometry of the universe. 

Pyramid from the side overlooking Mount Shasta

The entry to the pyramid is by following a ramp down and then steps up to a floor located in the middle of the pyramid.  It is pitch black.  The only light is from the transparent peak of the pyramid.

I get situated on the rainbow rug in the middle under the peak.  Once Omaran leaves and closes the trap door in the floor, my eyes begin to adjust and, as he promised, I begin to be able to see.

The next two hours pass like mere minutes. Visions come and go, I sleep, float, meditate, and just generally BE.  It is so peaceful and yet I am also infused with a subtle energy flowing through and around my body. Isis energy. Sacred Feminine energy.  It is soothing and comforting.

Inside My Cabin

Saying good-bye to Omaran I head back into the town and to the shop with the 13th Mayan Crystal Skull. The owner of the skull will be back at 3:30.  I streak back to my cabin, eat lunch and streak back to the shop. 

Note the violet flame in the upper left corner of my cabin! Talk about energy!!!

Susan arrives but is booked for the rest of the day. My attitude was if it is meant to be it will be and I thank her for taking time to consider seeing me. She looked at me for a long minute and asks me to come back at 6PM!  Hooray! 

To kill time I visit the Peace Garden and drive most of the way up Mount Shasta. More about that in tomorrow’s blog.

Susan and I take a carnelian skull that will be mine into her private room. The 13th skull is really two halves of one skull. Each piece is quite small and flat on the back but each also has a face.  One half is female, the other male.  When placed flat sides together they form a perfect child size human heart and have a heart beat!

When I held them joined in the middle of my two hands placed together I gasped; it felt like I was holding a beating heart!  

To determine the purpose my carnelian skull will serve for me, I drew 4 cards from a Tibetan Prayer bowl.  Closing my eyes I passed my hand over the bowl.  Wherever I sensed heat I chose a card until I had my four.

At one point when I was choosing I heard her gasp.  I opened my eyes.  I had chosen the following:

1. Home (Mother Earth)
2. Angelic Realm
3. Transition with the number 13 meaning the 13th skull
4. Continuum through all dimensions

All this means that my skull, once infused with the energy of the 13th skull, will serve me as I and other light workers help the earth transition to the angelic realm through the energy of the 13th skull and on into the next dimensions.

I’m still reeling from and processing that information.  I am told that I must, while holding my skull, concentrate and meditate on the future of the earth as it needs to be for the good of all. The mediations will begin on Dec 20 and last through Dec 23 at which time the earth will begin in earnest to vibrate at a higher frequency and enter the next 26,000 year cycle.

For many of you I know this is way out there in space.  It feels a little like that for me too, but at the same time it makes total sense. I am honored and humbled beyond words to be given this charge along with 35 others around the world. Go to www.crystal-skulls-mayan.com for more information.

It is no coincidence that I will be in Africa, the cradle of civilization, during this meditation and transition.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma/Sara

Journey to Shasta

Because of postings by Stephanie Azaria of www.thecosmicpath.com while she was recently in Shasta, I decided to stop there on my way from Bend to Catherine’s in Northern CA. At the end of August Stephanie and some of the people I met and shared experiences with in Ireland were in Shasta for more of the same.  At first I planned on going, but circumstances dictated differently. However, stopping in Shasta has called to me for some time.

One of her posts about a pyramid in the area really intrigued me.  I Googled it, good old google, and found the website plus a blog about the experience there.  From that blog I found a retreat called Stewart Mineral Springs Retreat.  

After checking that out decided it was right up my alley and booked a cabin.  According to their website the mineral waters there are the most healing waters in the world!  Who could pass that up?

Driving into the resort I passed teepees, a sweat lodge, both real and managed by the local Karuk tribe.

Checking into my cozy cabin on September 11 I found a comfortable bed, a small kitchenette, dining area, and small bath.  Outside up and to the side under Redwood trees were two chairs.  Perfect for sitting and drinking in the restful, peaceful, quiet of the area.

For the rest of the day I walked around the resort checking out the source of the healing waters, wandering the forested grounds, sitting in a swing overlooking the river flowing through the property, gazed upon many Cairns.  Heaven!!!

September 12 at 11:00AM found me spending two hours meditating and just “being” in the pyramid. More about that in the next posting.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma/Sara 

My journey to Africa has begun.  It really began a few months or maybe even years ago, but it started in earnest on Sunday, September 9.  As usual, when home, I attended the program at the Spiritual Awareness Center.

Before the program began I was busy setting up the altar, greeting table, etc.  On the altar next to the flowers I decided to place only one slender white candle signifying Unity Consciousness.  Upon sitting down to wait for the program to begin I noticed a second candle on the altar.  This one was an unlit white pillar shaped candle resting in a large glass bell holder.

Before the hostess introduced the presenter, she called two women to the front for special announcements.  Karen stood by the mystery candle and spoke about my upcoming journey to Sierra Leone and saying the candle represented me and would be lit every Sunday while I was away to send me love and positive energy from the community.  Then she invited me up to light the candle.  Tears of gratitude and heart felt love filled my eyes as they fill my eyes now as I remember the feeling of unconditional love as I lit the candle.

After the program Smokey, a Modoc Tribe Shaman, approached me to ask if he could gift me with a ceremony asking the Creator’s protection of my spirit for my journey.  We arranged for him to call me and come to my home on Monday.

Monday afternoon Smokey and I sat on my back deck preparing for the ceremony.  The sun was warm on our bodies and the breeze that began to stir the Aspen trees was cool.  Smokey spent time telling me stories of the meanings of the trees, the breeze and the chanting songs he was going to sing.  

The Aspen trees, in nature, grow from one another forming a root system underground like the root system of a tribe supporting one another.  The breeze was the Creator joining in and blessing us and the ceremony.  He lit the sage he brought that grows beside the grave of his son and the smoke filled the air.  The breeze wafted the smoke all around us blessing each in turn and then as one.

I felt the presence of Holy Ones and the Creator as Smokey performed his ceremonial songs and chants while he drummed on his medicine wheel drum.

Again my heart filled with gratitude, joy and peace.  How blessed I am to have such special beings in my life to be with me in spirit as I travel my path to Africa.

“Embrace the mystery wherein all possibilities exist”

Much Love To You All,
Mom/Grandma/Sara