Climbing to the Light (Part 1)

I am amazed at how often I reflect on my trip to Machu Picchu in July 2017. After a small stroke in December of ‘15, I started meditating and investing in myself. I realized the many traumas in my life had put my thinking into a victim mode. After the stroke and recognizing a few synchronicities within six weeks of my experience, I started meditating about 10 minutes a day. About the same time I was notified of a retreat in Sedona where Gregg Braden and Dr. Joe Dispenza were scheduled to speak. I went to Sedona was able to hear Dr. Joe, but the rest of the sessions sold out. I learned a new meditation technique from Dr. Joe based on his research. I spent time on the energy vortexes and had incredible sessions with some of the Sedona energy healers. Coming home, I started my personal healing training, giving myself regular Reiki and meditating a few hours a day for about 3 months while I was being mentored through the book “Infinite Possibilities”. I was starting to have an inner sense of joy in my life and in one of my meditations I saw myself on the top of the mountains looking down on Manchu Picchu. The feelings I was having during the meditation were amazing, I felt gratitude as if I was there. Three months later I saw a flyer for a trip the next summer (2017). I investigated and signed up for the 20 day trip around Peru.

The day before leaving, I received a message “You are to have a quiet ‘retreat’ while in Peru”, sensing it would be while at Machu Picchu. Gregg Braden was leading the trip and we were learning a great deal about ancient ruins and indigenous civilizations. Also included were experiences with a few Shamans, locals, and amazing fellow travelers.

In my mind, the silent retreat was very present. I wondered when it would be and I didn’t even realize it has started until I found myself hiking the trail up to the Sun-gate by myself about 15 minutes behind a group of fellow travelers.

The walk was intense. It started just under 8,000 feet altitude and climbed to over 10,000 feet. I had not trained for this, nor had I ever been at this altitude. I hadn’t done to much physically since having a hip replacement and knee meniscus surgery, in 2015 and 2016 respectively. For the first part of the hike on the high uneven steps, I was leading with my ‘good’ leg on the steps. The first part was so difficult, I wasn’t sure if I was to keep going. At the point where you, enter into the ruins of Machu Picchu, there was a nice cobblestone path. It definitely had an incline, but after all the steps it looked easy. My mindset was ‘slow and steady wins the race - do this’. I continued on the path which became steps again but they were not tough like the first group and I said to myself ‘keep going’. I got to the resting place as the hiking group was leaving. I then took a short rest and resumed progress. The path was getting more difficult again and I was thinking I would not be able make it, but decided I needed to get into my heart, bring it to coherence and ask my higher self if I was to turn back or keep going. Answer – keep going. I went around the corner and could now see the top. Yes, I would be able to do it!! But now, not only were the steps very tough but also very narrow. We had all been warned that even though there were plants on the edge of the trail, they were tall and protective plants on the edge of the trail, a missed step could catapult you hundreds of feet into the jungle -dead. I was wary and exhausted but I was going to get there – thin air, totally exhausted starting to get jelly legs and all - I was going to get there. I could see the group ahead, looking at both sides of the mountains. I wasn’t going to work this hard and miss it. Finally, I MADE IT and all I could do was cry tears of gratitude. I WAS at the SUNGATE at the top of the Andes where there is a break in the range where the Sunlight comes through and shines into the chapel at Machu Picchu on Summer Solstice. I was looking down on the mountains - A truly amazing view and joyful experience........ End of Part One