InTheTemazcal

Eduardo Gomes–Manaus International Airport, Manaus, Brazil. Source: Wikimedia. As the circle continues, Jordan returns from Manaus to his family and home, in the Midwest. May the jornada , or journey,  home give him time to reflect, and may he take the opportunity to experience his present and enjoy the wonder of travel in a world of technology, bringing him home safely to his loving family. On my part, I awoke at four in the morning just in time to see the waxing moon ... a sliver away from the full moon, in a clear sky, through my window. I thought of Jordan and his jornada and of his father's request that I've fulfilled through my thoughts each day during his journey. I'm grateful to have participated, and I'm glad to have done my part, so far. I'll be looking for a message to let me know that he has arrived safely, and I will provide my thanks then. ...con todas mis relaciones!

I asked Osa Lety of the Circulo de los Osos , on the western edge of the City of Durango, Mexico, to remind me how we began each temazcal . She wrote, in an abbreviated version,... "Ancianos y ancianas de la tradicion sagrada,  te pedimos permiso para inciciar nuestra ceremonia de temazcal,  agradeciendo a la Madre Tierra,  a los cuatro elementos, y a los guardianes de este lugar." That translates, approximately, to ... "Ancient ones of the sacred tradition, we ask your permission to iniate our sweat lodge ceremony, thanking the Mother Earth, the four elements, and the guardians of this place." In the temazcal ceremony our guides, Osos, Lety and Mario , began with this humble petition, addressing the ancient ones, or the elders that came before us. They would ask their permission to initiate the ceremony and gave thanks before anything else occurred in the darkness of the lodge. As I recall the petition, which has come to mind in my ten day dedicat...