Mid-Trip Check-In: Progress Report from "Los Abs"
I've extended my stay again! More to see, more to do here in AZ...
Hello dear reader, and thank you for being “here!” 🙏 I am writing this from a decadent air-conditioned hotel room at the Los Abrigados resort and spa in Sedona, AZ. Where are you?
Writing this travel journal has been a grounding experience for me, a way to stay connected despite packing up and departing the land I was born on (Seattle) and everyone I have known and loved there. It’s been a way to create a memory/photojournal for me to look back on later, which I will cherish. I’ve grown less fearful and more curious during this trip, and I’m happy to report I feel spiritually protected each step of the way, so am now not afraid to share where I’m at in real time, when inspired.
Looking back at these posts has revealed some personal values, and what I find important to note in the world unfolding around me. What a blessing this trip has been, and the writing about it as well! I thank you all who have written comments or “liked” the stories; it’s fun to engage about travel discoveries and topics deeply meaningful to me. 🌸
A summary of my trip progress-to-date:
In late winter/spring of 2024, I bought a campervan, got rid of most of my belongings, stored the rest, and created a part-planned, part spontaneous trip around at least America - but I brought my passport and was open to a call south to Mexico or north to Canada, depending on what seemed like the best direction. I wanted to “go with the flow” as much as possible, while balancing this with plans and rest.
I’d held this campervan-travel-America dream for over a decade, and had already had two failed attempts to make it real. I kept trying, with key support from dear friends, my 12-Step financial, workaholism and rage recovery communities, loving family, and profoundly powerful spiritual assistance. Talking with others, I learned that many, many people also have this dream. If that’s you - GO FOR IT!!! If you need more support - ask me! 💫
I financed this trip from the sale of a house, savings, and ongoing work on the road via video coaching sessions, through my heart-work as a intimacy/addictions/OEA recovery coach. Thankfully, my wonderful clients have been flexible to work via video - ironically a benefit from the world locking down and isolating for years is that we all tried it and found out it was functional and immensely convenient…at least for video therapy/coaching.
At the start of the trip I had four goals, or what I’ve learned to call “visions," which I was encouraged to create by my rage recovery sponsor. Here they are again, with a progress review:
VISION 1: Solitude for writing and healing.
Yes, I have had this, and I have felt much healing, and I have written. I am 75% complete with a new memoir titled “Temporarily Evil: Fault and Forgiveness After Forced Perpetration.” In this book Part 1, I share detailed memories of my abuse, including ways I was forced to hurt others as an enslaved operative of what I call the Death-Cult. Part 2 is all about recovery. I plan to use this journal to share some chapters of the book draft with paid subscribers before I release it in full. It is extreme, so I am being care-full about exposure and timing.
VISION 2: Embodiment (Yin yoga! Gym membership for showers and workouts! Hiking with Sparky!)
While I never got a gym membership, I did receive the most amazing personal training session of my life by a new friend named Ben Noble https://www.instagram.com/benbnoble/ and since then have increased my intentional exercise. I also befriended and travelled with Heather Blessington, who is highly health-conscious (her telegram group Heather’s Hospital is always uplifting https://t.me/HeathersHospital) and has been making me organic teas, vitamin rich smoothies, and amazing steamed veggies and pastas. Though not intentional, I’ve felt so energized by the sun here that I haven’t been eating much meat and seem to be gravitating towards small vegetarian meals. I feel stronger and healthier by the day!
I am almost complete with my Yin yoga teacher certification hours, a sub-goal I set for myself after taking a yoga teacher training class last summer near Seattle at a place called The Heart Center for Awakening. Practicing Yin outdoors has been deeply restful and lovely.
My favorite place for swimming, showers and working out has definitely been here at a Los Abrigados Spa and SALT POOL!!!
VISION 3: Nature communion.
Yes, yes and yes. My previous journal entries are full of pictures of nature all along this trip. #1 benefit of living and traveling in a van - close to nature!!!! I am loving the desert scenes of AZ.
VISION 4: A scouting trip for a future dream: where to locate a neighborhood community healing center for survivors of Organized Extreme Abuse?
This is the one that’s not fulfilled. I have not found an official place yet to plant my flag and say YES, this is HOME! THIS is where I will open my clinic! Sedona is the closest to date, but I have more places to explore after this, and I still have a 10 x 10 storage unit in Seattle, WA. More to report on this…
As I read back in this journal, some themes I return to repeatedly:
the importance of dreams-visions-life purpose pursuit
the topic of education about organized extreme abuse (OEA) as a reality in my past and our present society - and exposure
addiction awareness and recovery (sex, porn, relationships, money, rage)
multidimensionality as essential to my life and activities, including prayer, meditation, positive ritual
honoring, not neglecting, exploiting or hating our ancestors
clearing dense energies of the earth, to “raise the vibes”
Today I had an amazing meditation, connecting with Jesus-Yeshua spirit in a playful, loving way. He handed me a daisy. 💗💫
And I learned the term huhugam, which means the reverence of ancestors and descendants. ❤️
In Sedona, that has taken me to learning about First Nation or Native American or Indian peoples, whom I’ve also been hearing from telepathically in meditations. Sedona is in Coconino and Yavapai counties, on native land. I’ll tell you a bittersweet story about this in my next journal entry, but now I want to share about Bearcloud of Sedona, whom Sparky and I were fortunate to meet, thanks to Heather, who loves his art. She took us to his gallery in Uptown Sedona, and crystal shopping afterwards, which was so fun!
SPEAKING OF VISIONS: From Bearcloud’s website:
So lovely!!!! Another part of his work is the Star Nation Gallery, where he studies and highlights crop circles, which he calls “Star Glyphs.” His Chameleon Project and Pyramid Star Maps are inspired and fascinating!
Scroll down for screenshots of Bearcloud’s art:
I was delighted to get to meet the artist in person, and he was delighted to get to meet Sparky!
Bearcloud is a seer or vision seeker and the author of the groundbreaking book Seven Fires: Secrets from the Stars which explains in depth the hidden and universal language of ancient symbols which he discovered in the Pyramids of Egypt. These symbols, star glyphs, and geometric forms correlate to the wisdom of all ancient and Indigenous cultures.
This was one of my favorite paintings, of Sedona’s Thunder Mountain (same title). I went to the mountain itself and found it a highly ET-activated place…perhaps more stories on this to follow…
Bearcloud also painted White Buffalo Woman, holder of the sacred peace pipe! More on the legend of the White Buffalo Woman, here…and I also wrote about her in an earlier journal entry about Bison Ranch, AZ. She’s so beautiful.
Inspired after touring the gallery, I took myself out on an “Artist Date” described by Julia Cameron as “scheduled play.” This is a vital tool for a recovering workaholic like me! I went to an enchanting restaurant called The Secret Garden Café for a refreshing pineapple-avocado salad, and sat beneath a 100 year old Blue Spruce tree.
Do you see the “eye” in the tree trunk? Many say that is a sign there is an energetic portal present!
To close this slightly after mid-trip review, I can say that my biggest challenges to date have been 1) mosquitoes; 2) loneliness when solo traveling; 3) fatigue from the mental effort to plan and change plans, vs. having-one-place-to-call-home stability; and 4) grieving from loss and heartbreak.
Here’s to making lemonade out of lemons! 🍋🍋🍋
❤️
I so remember the 1st time I went to Talaquepaque, such a cool place. Thanks for your thoughtful writings and so many new insights & artist to explore. Hugs to you and Sparky Love ya Becca
thanks for your updates… What a journey you are on… Sending you lots of love ❤️