Our
Hopi and Navajo hosts welcome us, share ceremonies and
wisdom circles and encourage us to be postive, laugh
often and express from our heart. We become for this
time a tribe and remember that sense of community and
connectedness, which for millennia was core to tribal
ceremony and healing.
Canyon
de Chelly's powerful presence opens your heart, energizes
you and reflects light back to you. Hopi
lands are pregnant with prayer and stimulate our
ancient wisdom connections. Our
Native guides give us a role model of praying
with your whole heart, having faith you are heard
and working with the power of gratitude. But
your own intention and willingness to be in loving
communion with all that you are without judgment
gives wings to your journey. A
Hopi elder once said, to be wise, first you must
ask. then pay attention, and then it is up to you.
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photo by Shannon Silver, 2007
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Program Elements--will be updated in late September with details
Journey to
Hopi Indian Lands
8
- 11 am: Drive to Hopi
11
am - 9 pm
Experience
the most traditional
culture in North
America. Their ancestors
are the ones who
built the cliff dwellings
in Canyon de Chelly. We have been invited to attend a
ceremonial gathering.
This
a landscape pregnant with more than a millennia
of prayer energy; it is this vibration that we
invite you to connect with. You will experience
a special circle of support
with warm-hearted Hopi wise people who will help
prepare you for the journey to their ancestral
homeland. Fall is the feminine
ceremonial time, we hope there will be a special
opportunity to observe a gathering as respectful
guests. Ancient Cultures of the Southwest and natural
history teachings with reference booklet.
optional: Purification Ceremony (by donation,
not included.)
Enjoy
a traditional food dinner in a Hopi home. Overnight
in good quality motel on Hopi lands. Dinner and hotel included.
next morning: visit large ancestral rock art sacred
site |
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Canyon de Chelly on
Navajo lands
Drive to Chinle
Experiences our Navajo guide:
--Songs, blessings, participatory dance
--Sandpainting demonstration
--Mini vision quest experience on canyon rim
--Fire blessing ceremony and Power animal circle
Enter sheer red cliffs of sandstone by on foot
for a short down hill hike on a well graded trail
with switchbacks, walking leisurely taking time to
come into relationship with the spirit of
the canyon.
We
honor the ancient spiritual presence of the Puebloan
ancestors of the today's Hopi people who lived
here beginning at least 2,000 years ago and built
the spectacular cliff dwellings that were abandoned
by 1300 A.D. and the Navajo Holy Ones and Navajo
people of today who are present here too.
If
anyone wants to participate that cannot do the hikes
in, please let us know and you can ride in
with the gear vehicle (optional, not included, on
space available basis). We
will pace the walk so you can rest as needed. It
is such a powerful way to enter the canyon being
on foot in direct connection.
Jeep ride out with Navajo guide at night
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Canyon
de Chelly was designed as an earthly place of divine
connection at the time when supernaturals still
walked the earth according to Navajo legend. Here
the unseen Holy Wind, or inner form of all life
that flows between and within the stars and the
cells of our body seems closer in the receptive
dark, womb-like vessel of the night.
"What is it exactly
that called me here? Mystery is what called me here--the
answers to questions I hadn't known yet to ask, hadn't
lived yet. Something Wise knew I was getting ready
to ask those questions--and to hear the answers,
and it called me in so that we could talk."
Shay Panther
 Campfire
circle -- spirit moving, 2006
See
more photos here |
Facilitators
The
retreat leaders have a calling as universal bridge people
bringing together people of many cultures, ways and locations
to make a deeper connection to their own soul in the
profound presence of vibrant nature. They
encourage you to see, feel and express your soul's longing
in a way where you feel honored for the wisdom you carry
as well. In fact, together, we create a circle
of wisdom, and help each other to remember.
 photo
of Sandra Cosentino and Daniel Staley taken by
Laura G., May, 2001,
near Spider Rock in Canyon de Chelly (the rocks are
actually a lot redder than this)
As
participants in Navajo and Hopi traditional culture,
they help us connect with the Holy Ones who are
fully realized spiritual beings that used to
walk on this earth plane. Daniel says, "they
want us to remember that they live here too." Our
Native American guides carry a powerful authenticity
from a lifetime of living these ancient ways
of earth-spirit connection.
Daniel
Staley, a warmhearted
Dine (Navajo) spiritual leader will be our
guide (shown below with with a group at his
homeland in the canyon).
 photo
by Lisa Stone Daniel will
lead a sand painting experience, and offer
a fire blessing for us. He sings medicine songs
in a soft, natural way that carries you into
another time.
"Daniel
enjoys sharing with visitors. You can feel
the presence of the Holy Ones sitting at
the fire with him. You also feel well cared
for being on his land and may chuckle at
his ever-present sense of humor."
Sandra
Cosentino
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Sandra
Cosentino,
an earth-spirited facilitator-teacher native
to Arizona and founder of Crossing Worlds
will lead this retreat. Her informed passion,
mystical understandings, intuition, work
with spirit helpers and shamanic healing,
and honoring of the wisdom-spirit that dwells
in each of us, create a bridge for you to
enter this world. Sandra
has a powerful ability to hold the space
for each to make connections they need and
she has life long experiential knowledge
of the healing powers of wild nature.
Sandra
will give you experiences in being your own shaman-healer
as you work with shamanic journey, lucid dream
skills, guidance to connect with spirit helpers.
We will use these skills and intuitive insights
to deepen knowledge that comes us from dreams,
signs, symbols and the constant flow of energies
around and within us. Sandra
teaches intertribal ways of working with ceremony,
intention and aligning with the universal energies
of Creation. In the drum healing ceremony, you
may choose to be wrapped like a papoose in a blanket
to receive drum, earth and human vibrations and
shamanic healing work for your renewed balance.
"Sandra
comes in a good way to the Canyon--she listens to the wind,
the air, the water to be real close to Mother Earth. She
likes it, wants to be with it and is a healer to other people." Daniel
Staley
great shot of Daniel showing his perpetual sense of humor
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DETAILS:
Caution: Outdoor
activities may not be for everyone. You must be in reasonably
good health. We will be in and around a remote canyon
reached only by foot travel or 4-wheel drive. If you
have medical challenges that might require urgent attention,
know that cell phones do not work in the canyon and we
could be 2 or 3 hours away from getting out of the canyon
to the hospitial facility in Chinle. There is always
an element of risk associated with outdoor activities.
We emphasize safety but ultimately each person must take
responsibility for themself. No minors may participate
without the presence of their parent or legal guardian.
We reserve the right to refuse participation of anyone
we feel poses a safety hazard to themselves or others.
We also will be at some sites that do no have restroom
facilities.
Cost per
person for 3-day retreat described above:
3
days:
Included:
transportation for Sedona tours and to and from Hopi and
Can. de Chelly, one night lodging at Hopi, 1 nights
lodging at Chinle on Navajoland (double occupancy),
meals listed, in depth program/skills development for
deepening self awareness, personal feedback from facilitators,
jeep ride out of Canyon de Chelly,
guides-facilitators, reference booklet.
Does not include Sedona lodging or jeep ride into Canyon
de Chelly. I will send you a list of Sedona places
to stay.
Optional, not included:
--Purification
Ceremony is optional and by donation directly
to the healer offering the service--I will give you
details upon registration.
Sedona
lodging and meals, meals not listed and while enroute
are not included.
Sedona hotels begin at about $60-65 per night
and go up from there to luxury accomodations.
To
reserve your space, please email for availability. Then
please send full payment to Sandra Cosentino to Crossing
Worlds Journeys, PO Box 3288, Sedona, AZ,86340. (non-refundable
and non-transferable unless program is cancelled by Crossing
Worlds or in the event of a higher rate for doing the
retreat with 5 or 6 people you may opt out and have a
full refund).
If you want to prepare for unforeseen emergency,
you might want to purchase your own trip cancellation insurance. Please
note: program requires a minimum of 6 participants unless
a smaller group still wants to do the retreat at above
posted rates for 4 or 5 people.
Please
let me know:
--cell phone and home phone and Sedona hotel phone contact
--are you in reasonably good health to be out in
a remote canyon at about 6,000 feet elevation?
We
will send you more more details once you send in your
registration. We can recommend places to stay in Sedona
and transportation options from the Phoenix airport to
Sedona (you can also fly into Flagstaff). Please let
us know if you have diet restrictions--we will have vegetarian
options, and will accommodate other needs to the extent
possible.
photo by Shannon Silver, 2007"I
followed my heart and stood on the rim of Canyon De Chelly,
feeling a deep pull in my soul. The Canyon welcomed me
and I knew I had come to the right place at the right time,
as though returning to a place that knew me.. Sandra validated
and valued that experience for me, supporting me and holding
the space while I explored the mystery and magic of the
journey back to myself. She helped me tap into a "knowing" within
myself that continues to unfold in very unique ways. Sandra's
deep connection to and understanding of wild nature made
her the perfect guide and companion for this amazing journey.
I experienced something while exploring my soul's calling
that has forever changed my connection to nature and myself.
Thank you Sandra, for providing an opportunity to remember."
Kellyn Boileau, May, 2003
(her shield is the one with angel with
uplifted arms)
updated
Sept. 1, 2011
For
those who prefer staying in a motel rather than camping
(with one night out in the wilderness solo):
Sedona Vision Quest Retreat is
available year round for 1 or more people.
excerpts
from Crossing Worlds articles:
Nature,
Soul and Vision Article
"When
your heart issues that call
to pilgrimage and you answer
and go to a place with great
natural energy and power, you
receive cellular level stimulation,
awakening. Entering with a
child-like sense of awe, heart
wide open, in reverence and
prayer opens the door. This
is really a pilgrimage to your
own heart-- an act of great
love and courage to just be
with you.
article...The
Power of Sound to Heal, to Create New Life
"The
very air seems to shiver and vibrate as a multitude
of harmonic tones reaches out into an infinite universe.
The essence of your cells -- your very being -- reacts,
reorganizes, and harmonizes. " article: The
Patterns in the Stars are Patterns in Us
Here in
the Colorado Plateau country, a magical region lifted
to the sky, the stars are a constant, abiding presence.
High altitudes, transparent atmosphere, wide spaces
of crystalline rock bring the stars into our nightscape.
Comforting, reassuring, tantalizing, felt as an essential
part of our inner landscape. The patterns in
the stars are patterns in us--ancient wisdom
from this land whose meaning I have sought for years. Native
Healing Wisdom article
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Crossing
Worlds Journeys and Retreats
P O Box 3288
Sedona, AZ 86340
1-800-350-2693
for quick info calls
Office: 928-282-0846
eMail: journeys@crossingworlds.com
see
also:
Crossing Worlds Foundation,
our 501 3(c)
cross-cultural education and Native American service
projects arm |
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