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On the Road Again…Leaving San Marcos Sean and I first head back to Antigua.  This time we picked up a few travel buddies.  Ben and Hanneka.  An Australian couple we met during our time at Las Piramides.  We spent the night in Antigua enjoying some liters of Sol and catching a movie at Cafe 2000, Crash.

The following day we headed off to Guatemala City, catching a flight to San Jose, Costa Rica.  By chance Ben and Hanneka were on the same flight.  As they headed further to Peru and us to Brazil.

Now, at first…I thought I had bought two seats on a prop-plane.  The flight being a short distance.  When I went to expedia.com it only showed 6 seats to select.  So, I picked 1D and 1F for Sean and I.  Paying $210 a person for a 1.5 hour one way flight.  Seemed reasonable to US prices since it was a short notice purchase and the day after Xmas.  Prime price gouging time.  But, when Ben and Hanneka said they were sitting in row 4…a row I never saw an option for…I new something was fishy.  I had purchased Sean and I two first class tickets.  Talk about living the life.  First rate travel to Costa Rica, nice.  All you could drink, salmon salad, and some lemon cheese cake.  Not to mention…all the leg room you wanted.  Nothing like manifesting comfort.

As for our arrival in Costa Rica…not much I can say.  The best part was the plane ride.  We arrived in San Jose around 3 pm.  A large city, supposedly listed as one of the most dangerous in the world.  Having a group of four, as Ben and Hanneka were still with us, may have detered the thieves.  As we walked through the streets with no problem.  Just the random local stating he had a rough day and would like some change.  Oh, and passing the transvestite district.  Or else Costa Rica just has very manly looking women.  But, I highly doubt it.  We did find the Central Avenue.  Sitting down to a nice meal.  Preceded by one of the worst beers ever invented.  ”Rock Ice”.  Presented to us as ”the beer that goes good with salt and lime”.  But, it actually already had the salt and lime in the drink.  Through artificial flavoring.  It was truly like the bitter beer face commercials.

The following day was more of the same.  Returning to Central Avenue, grabbing a Quizno’s sub, and then heading to the airport.  Goodbye to our Aussie friends.  Looking forward to your future trip to the states and mine to the land down-under.  Stay in touch and good luck with the rest of your travels.

Our flight left at 3:30 pm, 14 hours and we’ll be in Brazil…with the Dan’s.  Brazilian cut bikinis and all the Carne you can eat.  Talk about a transition from San Marcos, Guatemala.  I think I’m ready for it.

And Then They Spoke…Silence, is over.  Sean and I finished our silence on Christmas Eve.  The Full Moon Ceremony is indescribable.  Something that truly must be experienced to be understood.  The energy was amazing.  There were 38 people in the Temple.  8 on the outside representing the 4 cardinal points (north, east…) and 4 representing the  elements.  Inside that were 21 of the 26 Moonies, then the rest of the Moonies who chose to do the Sun Course inside our circle.  Inside them (closest to the central pyramid) were the 4 who were being baptised into the Spiritual life.  The ceremony took about two hours, consisting of oming, channeling, and meditation.  Indescribable…

Afterwards we celebrated with hugs, congrats, happy holiday wishes and with a traditional Guatemalan/Central American meal, Tamales.  And wine of course.  After fasting for five days a glass of wine will really treat you right.  But, what was really amazing was that my stomach could take two Tamales.  I swore I would never be able to eat again.  Forced to a life of juices and soups.  Thank my lucky stars because I so enjoy chewing my food, rather than drinking it through a straw.

Another point of debate.  Technically, ”fasting” is only water.  I can see a point in there.  But, to an oversized American like myself…five days of OJ in the morning and bean soup in the afternoon…(and when I say bean soup I mean bean water heated up.  There were no beans in the soup)…that’s fasting to me.

Here are a few pictures of our spiritual teachers.  Chaty is in the left picture, in the center, wearing all white.  With long hair.  You can also see the plate of Tamales on the table, mmmmmmm.  The photo on the right is of Marcus and I.  Marcus has been at Las Piramides for 14 years.  Great guy from Britain, tough Yoga instructor.

What’s another challenge for the stomach after 5 days of fasting?  How about an all you can eat buffet.  Even in San Marcos, its possible to find one.  About eight of us went on Xmas morning (with the gift of speech restored) indulging in all you could eat fruit, granola, eggs, Tamales, bread, pesto sauce, olives, salsa picante, etc.  A feast of feasts.  Especially when your stomach is the size of a hard-boiled egg.  Waiting to be restored to its proper glutinous size.  Four plates did the trick.

That was from 0800 to 1000, just breakfast.  Everyone at the Las Piramides chipped in for Xmas dinner.  Making something from the food they had remaining.  Sean and I contributed plates and organic chocolate.  Much needed items and easy.  I don’t know to many veggie recipes off the top of my head, so I was limited.  I offered to find a Weber and cook up a Turkey, but, the idea was slightly frowned at by most of the classmates.  Especially since Sean and I were pretty much the only meat eaters.  None the less, the meal was fantastic without Carne or Pollo.  Perfect just the way it was.   Never new veggies could have such different tastes.

The following day Sean and I packed up and headed out.  Admittedly, I was a bit choked up.  And unexpectedly.  Las Piramides was a wonderful experience.  Life has never really seemed so simple and complex at the same time.  I truly feel rejuvenated, connected, and reaffirmed that we are all gifts to each other.  What a ride. 

To all,

Sean and I will be going into a week of Silence and Fasting tomorrow.   To mimic the old oral teachings of the Tree of Life where one year of silence was required.  This will enable us to go deeper within ourselves.  Dissolving the external.  Allowing our energy to be focused on meditation rather than digestion.  We’ll be focusing our minds in the four elements.  Spending time at the Lake (for water), in the Medicinal Garden (earth), our Pyramid with incense (air), and the Temple (fire).  So, if you are wondering where we are when we don’t answer emails or don’t call.  No worries…I’m just sitting in a Pyramid in Guatemala staring at Sean.  Looking at him staring at me.  Wondering why we’re in a Pyramid in Guatemala, not talking, and hungry.  Just makes sense, right!?  Feliz Navidad!!

Well, I thought I would write you from my dreams.  Sean caught a glimpse of my Astral Body…down by the lake while he was taking sunrise photos.  My physical body still back in the pyramid catching some Zzzzzzs.  I’m with you all in spirit.  That gentle tap, tap, taping on your third eye isn’t ol’ Saint Nick.  Its just Jolly Trevor.  Just sayin Hello and Happy Holidays.

Buenos Tardes.

Long time no post, I know.  Sean and I have been doing some internal traveling with our fellow ”Moonies” in San Marcos.  We have decided to stay for the entire Moon course at Las Piramides.  It will finish on December 25th.  So, we’ll be able to spend Xmas with our new friends.  I’ve heard there will be a pot luck dinner with the teachers and the students.  There will also be a little gift exchange.

Oh, Moonies is what the locals call us.  Since we are attending the Full Moon Course.  We celebrated the half way point on Saturday, the 8th.  Patrick, a retired teacher from Montreal, organized dinner and salsa dancing in celebration of the New Moon at a restaurant called ”The Sacred Hill”.  It was also in conjunction with a local tradition.  Where the locals burned the items they didn’t need and shot off ”heaps” of fireworks.  As I didn’t know how to salsa and missed the previous night’s lesson (due to hunger)…I just reverted to old faithful…the booty grind.  Admittedly not easy for the ladies to follow.  More of just a one man show.

 ”The Sacred  Hill” was located where its name implies.  On top of a hill overlooking San Pedro and San Marcos.  Being there was no Moon the stars were of course amaaaaaaaazing.  And, it was easy to see all the little villages shooting off fireworks around the lake.  Also, it was BYOB…as in bring your own booze.  Thanks to our fraternity days we were well prepared.  Actually making a 4 hour journey the day before for Chilean wine and Finlandia Vodka.  Exactly.  As you can see, the ladies can’t resist a Spaniard (that’s what Sean is continuously mistaken for) with vodka…

I’ll be the first one to admit.  My tolerance for booze has dropped dramatically.  Give 27 Moonies the opportunity to drink after two weeks of yoga, meditation, and health food and well…you have a true New Moon Party.  One girl was actually spun through the deck, flying through the bamboo railing and landing on the only cactus I’ve seen in Guatemala.  Being that pain is only mental, so we’re being taught, she was back up salsaing in no time.  Guess her name ”Raven” had no tie to her actual flying abilities.  As it looked like she landed pretty hard.  Here’s a pic of her after the fall…and then a picture of me laughing hysterically with Ben.  I mean, anytime you’re in a stuper and someone flies off a deck breaking a railing…you can’t help but bust up laughing.  After you realize everyone is all right of course.  

Besides eating, dancing, and people flying off decks there was some ”poing”.  Or just poi perhaps.  My previous perception was that it was just swinging a bunch of lights around in an attempt to make yourself dizzy.  But, I guess it is actually a practiced art form with intricate movements.  Our friend Caela, or ”Kay Kay” as we’ve named her, showed us the ropes of poi.