remember... . Grandfather told us always to ask permission of the Apus, the spirits of the mountains, to approach the sacred places — and also to ask the Apus ’ per- mission to go “beyond the gate": to learn more. He told us to remember to affer some of everything to the Earth, and to make offerings to he Apus. And to make the lflerings be for everyone. Or riaybe it was to dedicate all we eceive to the betterment of the torld. I have lost it already I ‘m hoping I will re-capture it in the trail. On May 3, after two days in Iuzco to explore and to get ised to the altitude, we took he train up out of Cuzco and hen along the Urubamba tiver, the sacred river of the ncas, toward Machu Picchu. lone of us sat still for very ong. We exchanged seats con- ltantly, to make touch with tach other; and we took turns ticking our heads out the win- lows to get the most immedi- lte exp erience of how the lacred Valley looked and felt. Iameras clicked. There was ots of laughter. The Urubamba is a fast liver. As we watched it from he train, I remembered my ntense fear of heights, and ’5Pecially of bridges -— and ‘Specially of bridges high lb0Ve torrential rivers. I emembered the childhood lxperience that was the proto- l’Pe of my fear, and I talked lbtiut it with my friends on the rain. May 3, 2000 1 We took the train from 44260 across the valley to I "W not what place, to start he hike. Some of us walked up 9 a sacred spot that is right 979. and there was a peaceful "ergy place, with an entrance my directly facing the local Apu, whose name Chidakash, our tour guide, does not know My first Apu. I did not know what to do to honor him. Iput my hands together in a gesture of respect. I touched my head to the ground. Finally, I asked permission and then held three coca leaves and blew into them, as is the Andean custom. I thought, “I will undoubtedly meet dozens, perhaps hun- dreds, of Apus in the next five days — but I won 't forget you. ” I have been trying to remem- ber the Grandfatheris words and to honor the Apus and Pachamama, Mother Earth, and to ask permission, and to give oflerings. Almost immediately, we were to cross a raging river on a shaky wood plank bridge. And to make our oflering and ask permission halfway across. _ And to give to the river what we no longer need," and then, facing the river coming at us, to ask for what we want to receive. I needed to tell everyone how frightened I was and to ask for support. I went first. Don promised to back me up. With the aid of all the prepara- tions that have gone on over the last year — and, [feel espe- cially, with the aid of the Apu whom I lately honored and whom I promised not to forget — and who knows with what support from what Guides, I stepped onto the bridge. I felt fear, but I did not feel as though I were about to have a psychotic episode. Grounding myself as much as possible, I went halfway across the Amst 2000 I Out in the Mountains [35 = travel =- bridge, faced downstream, and did the ceremony with three coca leaves. Then I turned to face the oncoming torrent. I forgot to ask permission, or to ask for anything, or to set intention. I felt only gratitude, was across, I remembered to ask for permission to make this journey," and I asked for help in remembering always my com- mitment to service; and I asked for help in remembering always to honor Mother Earth. 20 Charming Rooms Peace & Privacy ‘Eé 100 Ac res 0 Pool Hot Tub - Trails C111‘ hlandg aim P.0. Box 118 Bethlehem, NH 03574 603-869-3978 1-877-LES-B-INN (537-2466) A LESBIAN PARADISE wwmhighlandsinn-nh.com vacationflhighlandsinn-nh.com which I expressed both to the river and to the Apu. 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