Italian Magic

Posted on December 25, 2013 by japanesecrouton

There is no mistaking being in Italy. You can feel it in the air, it’s almost buzzing. Like everything here, Italy is in your face. Not in an affronting way, it’s just the life force of Italy. You speak with your hands, the language is a no holds barred expression of feelings and the food speaks to the heart. There is a look in the faces of people and the stone that declares “we are Italy!” and we know who we are. Not every culture steps up and proclaims itself so easily.

I spent a few days in Milan and it’s impressive duomo. The financial capital of Italy and fashion doesn’t disappoint if you are interested in shopping. I managed to find many churches tucked away on my walks and often very beautiful. Milan isn’t somewhere I feel the need to return too. A nice city in its own right and once explored leaves only the daily living experience to appeal to the senses.

I move on to Venice and the difference is immediate. Upon stepping foot in Venice beauty surrounds you. The canals and houses are in various states of beautiful disrepair. The random trees that are somehow out of place and yet treasures to look upon. The grand works of stone construction on these little islands, often leaning suspiciously to one side. It’s all too much to comprehend how this got built here in the middle of the ocean; so you just enjoy it.

It strikes me at some point that there are no cars or bikes here. Everyone walks or takes a boat ride. What an odd thing in such a famous city. Other forms of transport is one of the charms that goes unnoticed for a while. The noise and pollution are so far removed you feel as if you are squeezed into a rural village. There was never any development of roads for horses or cars, only human traffic through the ages. Everywhere you turn there are wonderful little bridges, crumbling facades, and colorful laundry hanging from windows. There is a fair share of tourism as well, but go off exploring and it fades in the narrow alleyways.

I’ve just poked my head into another stunning church. They wanted a fee so I left. With those few glances I saw what I would comprehend. Master works of painting, skillful stone work, and years worth of prayer and ceremony. A short stroll further and I found myself at the open ocean. I looked down and found my hands in prayer and found it odd I felt more at peace with the sounds of the ocean softly rolling onto a stone shore than in another church. I have been stopping in many on my travels and praying or perhaps rather meditating and positive thinking, which amounts to the same thing. I have the time and I like to see how the church feels for me. Often the high domed ceilings offer more wonder with eyes open than closed. Perhaps that was their purpose, for God is only found inside, but these masterpieces must somehow try to glimpse that inner wonder and convey it to the material world. I think the ceremony and singing are an Indispensable part of feeling a churches presence, but most only hold tourist hours these days. I have been finding more questions and answers watching the natural world than I could imagine. Just now it is the ceaseless caress of water on stone, but just the other day it was watching a duck clean and feed itself. You could see there in that one duck the answers for all of life. Just watch how any animal or plant lives it’s life with ease and you can see that all is provided for it. Food is available, shelter if needed, it has the tools available to live in its environment. There is no desire to be other than what it is and be in harmony with everything else. Only man has somehow separated itself from that harmony and desires to be other than what it is. With my long hours of silence I have come to desire only this, to be in harmony with all, to know that all is provided, and cease to struggle for more than that. It seems so simple, perhaps even boring, but a great peace arises and I find myself slipping ever more into a state of happiness that cannot be achieved, only experienced when one is closer to harmony with the natural order.

Venice has treated me well. The weather has changed from rain to sun for me and has stayed warm all day. Even today the fog is wearing off and blue skies are about to greet me where only gray used to be. The nights in the streets are ripe for pleasure strolling and mysterious alleyways call from every direction. I decided to spend some time performing poi on the streets for the first time. Once the initial interest in old buildings and crossing canals on bridges wears off one has to enjoy their life just being in the city. Thus I got over my initial hesitation and ended up performing for around 2 hours each night. At first I forgot my speaker at home, so the music was only in my ears, which leads to a striking light show only to the backdrop of conversations. Many people stopped to watch or talk to me. I even made a Japanese friend who is a fellow performer and magician. He shared some new juggling techniques with me and showed me his amazing skills. I wore myself so tired that my arms were dead and the skin missing from my fingers, but I felt great. It certainly taught me that I am ready to learn a few more tricks and put out my hat and see what happens.

*Best hostel experience yet! Rooftop kitchen/patio

The synchronicity keeps happening. My roommates change from a Japanese trio to a PhD philosophy student from Pune India. He is impressed with my commitment to yoga and meditation as his studies have taken him in a more academic approach to religions and philosophies. He is here to give a lecture and shares the headlines with me in our talks. It is exciting to keep watching these perfect experiences continue to show up.

I’ve been accepted to my first workaway experience, where you volunteer your time for food, shelter and experience. I was in need of some nature time and a more steady pace of life other than traveling every few days. I think I have absorbed enough new lessons about life and need to sit and absorb them. After these 10 days on a rural estate I have 10 more in meditation then 3 months in India. Certainly my fast paced travels will be slowing, but I felt the call by my body and it all worked out so perfectly. I was accepted 10 minutes after sending the email and the older couple are retired from running a spiritual retreat in Kent England. They also hold a weekly meditation at their home and need help in the garden. It is conveniently located just north of Lourdes France where I wanted to visit so what couldn’t be more perfect? I am trading exploring Marseilles and Provence for this experience, but I think it’s worth it. I will be back and that leaves something to explore. Time to recharge and integrate all this new information before doing another serious round of meditation.

Switzerland: Traveling the Bernina Express and Fondue with Friends

Posted on December 17, 2013 by japanesecrouton

I like riding trains, and find that the time slips by quickly as I traverse Europe. Today I am riding a train for the sole purpose of riding a train. I am traveling over the alps on the UNESCO world heritage site, the Bernina Pass. Built at the end of the 19th century this rail covers some 50 kilometers, 196 bridges and 55 tunnels. Besides all that amazing engineering, its stunningly scenic. From quaint towns, through fall foliage, around lakes, over snow topped peaks, tunnels, bridges, and valleys, we slowly chug along for 4 hours and I just stare out the window, between running from aisle to aisle to capture pictures on both sides.

This whole adventure reminds me of the first trips up to the cabin in Park City each year. The weather has turned colder and as you leave the valley, the seasons magically change and you get to experience a new climate without the slow natural acclimatization in between. I certainly was trying to avoid winter on my travels for I did not pack appropriate clothing, but a quick dip into some snowy mountains with the warm sun shining on you is the perfect magical experience. Ive only found this experience near the mountains. From riding snow mobiles in swim pants to hiking in spring when the snows are still melting, nowhere else can you change season so easily with a little vertical difference. I thrive in season change, always on the border and never solidly in one season. Some people live for endless summer, but I live for change. I question for a moment the whole skipping winter idea, with its warm clothes, fires, skiing, snowfall, etc and then quickly remember how long and cold winter is. Ill take cool spring and autumn and be just fine. Both sweaty hot summer and cold dark winter extremes, neither appeal to me, but I certainly find enjoyable moments in both. As I embrace the nature of impermanence, I will be an ever changing season, blossoming new shoots into existence to watch them transform in their multicolored decline.

I ponder the nature of my diet on this slow trek across the mountains and decide my body is telling me to slow down on my food rampage and eat healthier. Tonight I want only a salad and I hope my host will be gracious enough to accept my lack of wanting to really eat.

I arrive in Zurich and make a short trip to Wintertour where I will be staying with my friend Chipsly Shlipsly. Her name is really Michelle, but while visiting me in the states, we played one of those games where you combine the name of your first pet and your first street name or some other category to get your “porn star name”. My fabulous name happens to be Blacky San Angelo and dont forget the sass. It turns out her sister and family are returning from a trip to Tunisia and have invited themselves over for dinner. Guess what? All they want is salad! Since fresh lettuce and fruits are unsafe to eat there due to water contamination and washing, they are dying for a salad. We all laugh at the coincidence, but I know I helped create this experience and love watching the delicious expression of my manifesting appear quicker and quicker.

On my sightseeing day, Michelle and I visit the Rhine falls. The spectacular power of water rushes over the edge and reminds us of the forces of nature. Ever present and supremely powerful, to think that we humans have a degree of control over the earth seems laughable. We play along with the natural forces and rhythms of nature thinking everything to be in order until some hurricane, volcano, tidal wave, or rend in the earth opens up to remind us of the living and changing nature of this spaceship we are riding on.

We continue, visiting a castle to look out over a quaint town and vineyard. In the basement of this battlement I am in photography heaven with this spectacular lighting and capture this amazing new image.

I get to visit the lovely hillsides where Michelle grew up and a town center where all the buildings are painted and look immaculate because every year the whole center is transformed into a giant stage to enact a play.

I get to explore Zurich on my own today and have no idea what this town is about other than it is situated on a beautiful lake, had lots of banks and is home to the worlds 3rd most expensive street to live on. The rate for a square meter is ten thousand euro. That figure alone boggles my mind that anyone has that much money to waste, second that they do waste it and third that it’s only the 3rd most expensive street in the world. There are other crazy people and places out there. I’m certain people can figure out more creative ways to spend money.

On the train ride in I meet my new friend Marcel. We strike up a conversation when he mistakes me for someone else. Zurich isn’t the largest city and my social butterfly seems to see someone he knows on every street. He tells me his interesting coincidence that for the last 3 Mondays he has somehow fallen into showing a traveler around Zurich. Offering recommendations for food and drink and shopping and music I find a great friend and guide to speak with and show me around. We actually spend all day sitting by the lake drinking tea and having conversations about life and spirituality. It’s amazing that the types of people I want to meet keep showing up in big ways. We end up spending the next day together as well as traversing Zurich and just chatting. I didn’t really have plans for exploring this city, I was going to practice my circus arts, but as always I must allow the universe to offer me new experiences.

I arrive at the train station to meet Michelle and her best friend Manuela, who also visited me in the states, because we are going out for dinner and to catch up. Fluxly salami or magic Manu as we call her is just as lively as I remember. She is also willing to accept my request to cut my hair. While catching up over dinner and drinks we all decide to get together at Michelle’s tomorrow and do something uniquely Swiss; fondue!

A bubbling pot of liquid cheese and a few ingredients await the ends of our delicate utensils. Bread and potatoes are our dipping foods with a few spices and deep guilty pleasure for eating at the holy pot of cheese-us, all praise his cheesiness. I take the plunge to finish the whole thing and take my food coma into the bathroom to be sheared. I’ve hit that stage where my hair on the sides make any look unmanageable so we are going to shave them off. I’ve seen this look everywhere in Europe in my travels so what might be slightly on the edge in the states is run of the mill here. After a lot of mess, laughs, and a few slips of the shaver I come out a new and lighter man. Ready to finish the night with laughs and head off to Italy.

Before I make that adventure, I must comment that I didn’t have any plans after Venice. I know I’ve had enough of big cities and it is time for some nature. Thus I checked workaway again. This time I found it simple to locate a host, a retired couple from Kent England who used to run a spiritual retreat. Now they are in the south of France and need a bit of garden work. Not 10 minutes after applying I had my enthusiastic Yes. Now I will spend 10 days in the country side doing whatever is needed and spending time with probably a very spiritually enlightened couple. Chalk another one up to the universe for putting us together at the exact same moment.

The angles guide me as the next step keeps falling into place. Wandering off to Italy

Belgium Wanderings

Posted on December 7, 2013 by japanesecrouton

I arrive in Belgium today because of so many other little decisions and guidance received on my path. In addition, my good friend Kimberli is also in Belgium by way of Alaska. I am here on this day to rendezvous with her and catch up on life as we experience it. Kimberli and I met under similarly unusual experiences in SLC and have been best friends since. Sharing our spiritual journeys and seeking inspiration and guidance from each other. So it is with great joy that we can meet while in the midst of greater exploration.

Kimberli finds herself in Brussels at this particular time by her own magical interventions on the camino de Santiago pilgrimage she partook of last year. A friendship has turned into an international relationship, and thus I make the acquaintance of my new friend and gracious host, Ben. Kimberli happens to be one of those special people who are just a part of your life without any effort, who you can talk with for days and never run out of things to say and likewise spend years apart and make it feel like only yesterday . On this overcast trip to Brussels with its shining display cases of chocolate and waffles, she is the bright sun who reminds me that other people go around having amazing experiences, manifested with the help of the universe.

We catch up on the major points over tea and a few snacks before meeting with Ben to try the best Belgian fries in the city. If you are unaware of the history of “French fries”, they actually come from Belgium and during the war, some Americans didn’t know where they were and since Belgians speak French the misunderstanding was easily made. We are meeting with other friends from their pilgrimage last year. I get to relive the amazing coincidences and experiences of a group of young people walking across Spain for two months and the exciting situations they found themselves in. This is what journeying is about. Not reaching some end, for there is none, but deciding to go and the experiences along the way. That’s life in a nutshell, just enjoy the journey and make some friends along the way.

New friends I continue to make here in Belgium, not least being Ben’s parents. They take Kimberli and I out for a day of sightseeing, including the atomium (the Iron atom for the 1958 world expo, and like Paris’s Eiffel tower never took it down), and then a Chinese buffet with the whole family. I’m still working on letting others take care of me, but this one is a bit harder. I can understand them taking Kimberli around, but also the new guy? Well obviously I can be taken care of, but I spend my time making sure to be an interactive guest and in some way earn the kindness I am being given. It takes me a while to see this as silly and just relax into having two doting parents take care of me and my pseudo sister. I have a great time and get to practice my French along the way. It reminds me of being with my Japanese host family, always taking care of me and myself trying to learn the language as quickly as I can so that I can converse and express my gratitude at just having this opportunity. Ben’s whole family is exceptionally nice and I always feel at home with them. I am thankful and look forward to a time that I may greet them again.

I also get to meet Ben’s best friend, wife and new baby. Murron is just the cutest little squishy I’ve seen and we all get to take turns holding and doting on her. Her parents are really cool and artists to boot. I’m sure this one will grow into an interesting and talented person. Since we stayed up really late, we took the rainy day slowly and I decided to stay another day before heading to Bruge. I am glad I did because it was much more relaxing this way and the highlight of Brussels came that night.

It started off with Kimberli showing me a pendant she got from her father. A mixture of metals and minerals that are quite pretty. However when I held it in my hand to feel its energy it was radiant and beyond happy and I burst into giggles. This started the sharing and feeling of all the stones and crystals we carried with us and transitioned into card readings and a practical demonstration of muscle testing for Ben. I got into that immeasurably happy space of teaching what I love and watching others open to a truth they had not remembered yet in this lifetime.

Some notable experiences from this night including Ben going from untestable for muscle testing to testable. I had never met someone I couldn’t test who had given me permission to do so. I had no idea what to do other than say sorry. He looked up an answer and found out that being dehydrated can cause problems and had not drank any water all day. That solved the problem and allowed us all to learn something. The next experience was when I opened up Kimberli and Ben’s energy fields to test. Kimberli’s I was more familiar with which is always quite happy, but Ben’s was an explosion I had not experienced in a long time. It took me a minute to recognize what it was. Love! Their relationship had just begun and I have totally forgotten what it feels like to be in a new relationship where everything is alive with purpose and attraction. What a pleasant and unexpected gift for all.

I headed for Bruge the next day. A quaint medieval town in the north of Belgium known for its picturesque buildings and canals. More recently known for the film “In Bruge” starring Colin Farrell as a gangster who hides out in this tucked away village to lay low. I think most travelers come here now for having seen this movie, myself included. It was indeed beautiful and with only 20,000 inhabitants, quite small (3 million people visit this town a year). I covered the main points and most of the city twice over in my two days there. More important to me was the remembering and putting into practice of choosing my experiences with the law of attraction. I had just listened again to “Ask and it is Given” by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Reminding me in its wonderful brilliance to ask clearly and often for what I want in life and then accept the appearance of it. The trick is to raise the request to the level of positive emotion, be clear, acknowledge the appearance, and don’t let unconscious habit patterns keep bringing you what you’ve already been experiencing if you want something different. So about every hour or when I could remember I restated what I wanted and every time something shows up, I thank it for showing up and restate again if I realize I would like the experience to be better or different in some way I hadent noticed before. This helps expand and create the experiential wisdom that whatever desired experience one wishes for in life continues to show up. It’s been showing up constantly, but now you recognize the process and work with it for change.

I have recently been asking for something like this in general. “May I continually bring experiences to me of meeting people in which to expand my consciousness, share in deep spiritual conversations, and provide new opportunities to enjoy life. May free resources flow into my life including money, delicious food, music, performances, entertainments and great deals. I stay perfectly happy, healthy, and growing in awareness and equanimity. May my experiences and gifts also flow into the lives of all those I encounter and share in joy.” I would add anything specific I felt I needed at the time such as all transportation will be perfectly on time.

As I practiced this walking around Bruge it started showing up so quickly. I wandered into a violinist and said wow free music. Thanks for coming into my experience. I enjoyed it and then restated that I would also like all my favorite instruments to show up. Not 3 hours later at the end of my free walking tour of the city (thanks again) the same guy was in a different place and had picked up a cello and an accordion player. Wow that was super fast! Thanks for honoring my new desire Universe. It also happened that across the street was a free musical performance of a local harpist and I took my two new friends from the tour with me. Not only did this wonderful man play two types of harp he played the Japanese koto and the Hang. I love the Hang and it’s still relatively rare to see one as it’s the worlds newest instrument. It was amazing to see what I asked for show up in such abundance and so fast. I had no plans and could allow it to easily flow into my experience. Travel helps one to expand quickly because the normal daily routines are destroyed and new encounters can occur. The law of attraction is always working, but depending on what you ask for, you have to allow it into your life. If you are stuck in a pattern that makes it hard for you to acknowledge receipt of your request then it could take some time to recieve what you ask for. Of course the more I see this happen the less my doubt exists that all my thoughts are extremely powerful. Once you start living the experiential wisdom you cannot deny its power. If you leave the law of attraction as intellectual wisdom, never putting it into practice, it will never work properly for you.

There continued to be many more small and large examples of this power increasing in my daily experience and awareness and it fills me with joy that I am growing on the path of enjoying happiness and harmony with the flow of energy in the world. Likewise I have received a message from a couchsurfing friend I overlooked in Switzerland to come visit. Now at the speed of light I have a flight and am on my way to Switzerland. Obviously my quieter desires and thoughts have been answered as I now get to include in my experience the Unesco scenic train ride through the Swiss alps and due to the way transportation works I get to visit venice for a few days. Both these thoughts had been lingering around and now I can seize this opportunity offered. Also I get to check off Italy on the Eat, Pray, Love tour. It’s shaping up to be a great way to travel with no plans. I may end up paying a bit more in Europe, but I get to say yes to everything!

Here’s to enjoying all the opportunities that knock on the door.

The wandering monk is off to Switzerland

*Brussels also happens to be the home of The Smurfs and the Famous Manneken Pis statue.

Japanesecrouton

The Wandering Monk

Monthly Archives: December 2013

Italian Magic

Switzerland: Traveling the Bernina Express and Fondue with Friends

Belgium Wanderings