Global retreats and journeys that
enrich the mind, heal the body, and inspire the spirit.
New Mexico Journey Notes
"...weave for us a garment of brightness: May
the warp be the light of the morning, May the weft
be the red light of evening, May the fringes be the
falling rain, may the border be the standing rainbow,
thus weave for us a garment of brightness, that we
may walk fittingly where the birds sing, that we may
walk fittingly where the grass is green, O our Mother
the Earth, O our Father the sky" --Tewa Indian chant
Returned
from Health Habitravel's July 17-20th journey to New
Mexico, where this Tewa prayer continues to be chanted,
and it's easy to understand how this magnificent land
inspired the words. All of us in the group fell under
the spell of "The Land of Enchantment," and want to
return for more exploration. Look for another Health
Habitravels New Mexico Sojourn in the next two years,
with possible visits to Chaco Canyon, Taos Pueblo,
Ghost Ranch, and Ojo Caliente Spring. On this recent
journey Santa Fe - "The City Different"- served as
base camp. Having Stefanie Benenato, Ph.D. in Southwest
history, as our guide enriched the culturally packed
and diverse four days. If you're planning a New Mexico
visit I recommend Stefanie. Contact her at stebeni@swguides.com.
Here are highlights from the journey:
At Acoma Pueblo, the oldest continuously inhabited
city in the U.S., known too as Sky City, Orlando,
a native to the Pueblo, explained Matriarchal Keresen
tribal structure, and emphasized that wisdom acquired
by males in ceremonies in Kivas instilled in them
the ethic "Never quit." The internal fortitude of
the Southwest natives enabled them to keep their spiritual
practices alive; even though they converted to Catholicism
under Spanish rule. At San Esteban del Rey Mission,
mixed in with Spanish colonial religious art are Keresen
creation myth symbols and sacred colors, and to this
day Acoma native clans perform ceremonial dances on
their most sacred ground, which is inside the Spanish
Mission. In Europe the patriarchal Christian church
did this same thing, erecting churches and cathedrals
atop the earth-based "pagan" religions Goddess sacred
sites. Today in Europe pagans or Wicca followers gather
at the old sacred sites on holy days, and Orlando
explained that winter solstice you'll find his clan
members performing ritual dances inside San Esteban
Mission's walls, because this is the place his ancestors
deemed most sacred. The Spanish did not succeed in
taking away the ancient ways, because his people will
"never quit." More on Acoma: www.puebloofacoma.org.
Artist and Southwest icon Georgia O'Keefe's winter
home inhabits a hilltop outside of Abiquiu Village
about an hour from Santa Fe. The O'Keefe Foundation
maintains the simple adobe. Call 877-253-7463 months
in advance to reserve if you wish to take the hour-long
tour. Hollyhocks color the cotton wood tree dotted
garden. Simplicity reigns in every room, bringing
to life O'Keefe's tenant "Details are confusing. It
is only by selection, by elimination, by emphasis,
that we get at the real meaning of things." Although
you only tour a courtyard and a couple of room, being
in this liberated woman's dwelling place and studio
is a sublime experience. Visit Santa Fe's O'Keefe
Museum to view a large collection of her work. Docent
tours daily 10:30 and 2:00 and free Fridays 5:00-9:00
pm
Also
an hour from Santa Fe is Bandelier Park. Moderate
hikes serve up huge swaths of blue sky, bold clouds,
sculpted geological formations spewed forth over two
million years ago by a volcano, Anasazi ruins, and
cool cave dwellings accessible by ladder and etched
by faint petroglyphs. You can climb into a ceremonial
Kiva. We did, putting to use our Pilates, yoga and
GYROKINESIS training, and escaping the high noon sun
in ancient caves, which offer a view unchanged for
centuries. We only stayed a couple of hours in the
park, but you can backpack in and explore for a few
days.
Post hike, we soaked at Ten Thousand Waves Spa, a
Zen oasis in the high desert that nests in Santa Fe's
hills. There are private and communal tubs available
day and night, and 8 suites for overnight guests.
We luxuriated under the stars in the Ichiban tub,
and agreed "The Waves" would be a must visit on every
Santa Fe trip. Details: www.tenthousandwaves.com.
I'm plotting a return to view ceremonial Pueblo dances,
to listen to Thursday night story telling at Bandelier
Park, to hobnob with Santa Fe artists on Friday eve's
Canyon Road art crawl or at a Saturday breakfast,
and to absorb more of the stark majesty of New Mexico.
