Thanks to all the participants of this years field trip for their open-hearted sharing, willingness to explore and be present with themselves, and respect for the lanscape we traveled trough, the living and non-living presences we encountered and each other!

See some images from this field trip.

1 - Describe your most significant experience or overall experience from this site (or whole day). Feel free to elaborate on earlier perceptions if there is something you wish to clarify. Use colors, pens, pencils, etc., if necessary...

2 -If there were a key phrase in your answer to question 1 underline it.

Most significant experience, sharing. Felt like I was with ‘like souls.’ No Rush. Stop and take it in.

Sitting in the cave. First I found the courage without hesitation to go in and second, the acceptance, also without hesitation, someone’s offer to help. But more, the experience itself, the listening to the drumming in that space and then hearing the sounds under the sounds and just accepting and embracing the moment.

I liked the drumming inside the little cave and listening to the rattles and noticing the rock arch across the creek from the cave. It gave me a sense of connection to the past and a mysterious sense of wonderment as I pondered of people there before me.

Moving through portals (dimensions) a sense of freedom, anticipation - no pressure - no expectations. I appreciate the interactions with nature, with a sense of reverence and awe, and a sense of responsibility - to leave things cleaner than I found them. I always go home with pockets full of spent shell casings, little pieces of plastic, etc. I love the whole experience of being out in nature and stroking the tall grasses, letting memory carry me back to childhood. Memories that were evoked by the acrid scent of the willow trees. Wild roses, a violet, dogwood, chokecherries. sounds of birds, butterflies, the tine dark blue ones - the larger black ones - a couple of much larger orange ones - all remind me of the awe I felt as a child... Despite their apparent delicacy, butterflies can actually migrate.

Softness and easy connection with this group. Then with the drumming, when I closed my eyes, the vibration became real strong and I saw a bright light and felt like it was night, with people around. The sound of the creek altered and went into the background. I felt a lot of energy moving downwards into the ground, different streams converging through me and releasing down. This felt like a healing and release.

A most enjoyable time spent letting myself be in tune with all around me - and letting the BRAIN GO! I succeeded at times - other times the brain got in toh way and ‘reverted’ to old ways of perceiving. Gurgling, rushing, washing, cleansing, letting go!

3 - Describe any effects the physical location or landscape at this site had on your experience. Was it related to a specific place or location(s)?

I also liked having lunch by the ‘hand print’ and the discussion that took place about personal experiences - I definitely think the location and landscape helped to heighten our senses and open up about ideas and thoughts.

The rushing water from the creek had a way of making everything else around me disappear and all I could hear and focus on was the rushing water. I realized also that the rushing water reminded me of how often I ‘rush’ through life - and don’t stay in the moment.

The landscape felt huge, or a huge part of it all, like an amplifier to myself and others intentions. The rock energy felt bright, clear... other! I also felt the layered aspect of time walking along the road, different times all happening simultaneously. Strange having cars driving by, then letting it pass and settling back into sense of other times again. The presence of the rock, creek, drum was very strong - At the center of a little cyclone.

Contrasts kept standing out for me beginning with the drive in - arid places on one side and fertile green on the other; populated busy side of the lake and the quiet and pastoral scene across - sun and shadow; heat and coolness; times when I wanted to be in a very interior space (near the beginning of the walk) and then times when I felt chatty and sociable (especially for me). This is a place of such diversity and variety that maybe it helps me appreciate the diversity within my own personality and moods as well as in the people I am with.

Sitting in the cave at the pictograph site, looking out and up at the arch and being aware of the energy flow down to me, at the end of the chute - felt very special, all that energy focused on me.

4 - Were there other factors in the environment that had an impact on your experience, such as animals, weather, rocks, landforms, water, other people, or even the way you were moving through the space?

The sounds and smells particularly made me pay attention as I began to be more aware of patterns, rhythms combinations. It was an environment in which to become more awakened and feel more alive.

Other factors, that some of the other people shared what they needed/wanted and I was able to direct my energy towards them at times. Finding the Red Rock right before we came upon the red pictographs and being aware of this sharing of an element with the “ancients” made me feel timeless.

The rocks, gigantic and awesome formations, were telling me of ancient times, of how life used to be lived so different from now. Perhaps our lives are too full of stuff.

The rock formations are so unique and majestic against the sky and green landscape that you can’t help but be in awe at nature. I liked the way everyone was not in a hurry and we just took our time to enjoy moving through the space, listening to the creek, enjoying the smells and taking in so much of the amazing terrain.

See above in number three. Also very comfortable group. Softened me and allowed me to sense and not have to be too directive as a leader.

Sound was a big part of the days experience. I have been doing a lot of work/study about sound and its effects on humans. I was enthralled how the sounds of the drumming immediately overcame the sounds of the water.

5 - Summarize any insights or feelings you have about the function, use, or purpose of this site, even if you’re not sure if it’s fantasy, imagination, or intuition. You can include any human, animal, or even energetic use of the site or any other information you may perceive like; age, duration of use and emotional content, type of people... Any clear sensory perceptions you may have had; - sounds, images, etc. - are especially important.

What stands out to me is the funnel, tunnel, energy chute coming down from above, flowing into the cave where any of us sat. I feel it’s very healing.

I’m drawn to the idea that the cracks in the rocks could be dimensional portals. What if it is all about the dimensions exist all the time... about through intention we can move to other spaces

I think a purpose of this site could be to put things into perspective and realize all of our situations are just temporary and impermanent. Nothing is exactly the same every time and yet some things stay close to the same for a very long time, making us stop to think about the whole idea of time. I wondered at every site about who may have been there before and what they could have been doing, like at the first set of pictographs, I felt a sense of play, artistic endeavors and creativity - a great peace to sit and look at the ‘star gate’ arch across the river and delve into the possibilities of wherever your mind could take you in regards to energy, emotion, spirituality and experiences.

Feels like a mirror or amplifier of intentions, magnifying what we bring into the space. It surprised me that my downward feeling seemed to connect to the glyph across the creek - downward. I feel recharged and released after being there. Also, tired now, afterwards. The hand print up top feels different, not group oriented like the middle area. There I had a sense of people all around, men, women, even kids. Above, it felt like a clearer sign, warning perhaps.

I imagine this place as where a group might gather to rest for some days and seek both spiritual and physical restoration as part of a longer journey. Certain spaces, like the grassy area we stopped in just before entering the canyon seemed to me to be places where people might gather to confer and make important decisions.

The drumming and use of rattles had a ‘cleansing’ effect on me at the pictographs. I sat there in the bushes, imagining the drumming, pushing all the ‘blocked energy’ through my chakras. I felt full of energy and love for all around me. Thankful for this GARDEN OF EDEN and the weather.

6 - Are there any actions or responses you would like to take as a result of your experiences and insights here?

I want to take the feeling of being in a safe place with me - to help transition me to the next big step in my life - that of letting go of all the old religious ‘symbols’ and rituals - and embrace the ancient ‘pagan’ authentic ways of experiencing joy and gratitude and insights. I have always looked askance at drums, crystals, smudging, etc. I am letting go of that ‘judging’ and embracing what is!!

Actions or responses - I would like to be with these people more. Felt very accepted and accepting.

Remember the healing qualities of this place for me and others and visit it again. Explore longer trance times here.

Perhaps, on other walks - particularly ones that I have taken many times - I would like to experience the site with the heightened awareness that I was able to experience at times today. Maybe day to day relationships with other people (or animals) can also be experienced this way?

I’ll just take the experiences as part of my repertoire to pull up from memory when time or necessity allows. I liked everyone’s input and I especially enjoyed the whole nature experience and interaction with it and other people. I can’t pinpoint particular actions or responses at this time but after i absorb and process some more I’m sure this experience will lead me to some action.

7 - Do you have any sense how your experiences at this site relate to, or furthered your personal intentions for today.

Furthered my personal intentions of making friends and getting to know other people. An intention was to have fun - yes! I had fun.

Today gave me time to reflect on what I need to focus on in my daily life - Be in the moment - check out what I am feeling - and know all is one (body mind and spirit).

I’m much more physical in my approach to living today. Very often I am so connected on other levels I’m less aware of the physical. I wonder if perhaps my body tries to teach me balance of all the different areas of self - body - mind - spirit and emotion by bringing the physical to the forefront. If I’m spending too much time in my head for some reason, I am not clear about, I am having trouble connecting in my meditations this week, unusual for me. I’m hoping feeling connected with nature today will help me again feel connected with my higher self. I have felt this week like I was a ‘quarter turn off.’

I don’t have a clear sense right now other than my intention to be out in and interact with nature as I process the transitions taking place in my life. It was wonderful immersing myself in nature today - I needed it!

Transition, yes, for me, a releasing into being more loving and accepting and just allowing things to flow better. That the downtime is good for me, to get out of my conscious mind more is healthy.

Part of my intention today was to become more attuned to sacred space both within and without. This environment was extraordinary as sacred place - both historically and in the present moment. But part of what made it sacred was its accessibility - and perhaps that is one of my lessons for the day - that it is my openness - and vulnerability - to the sacred and perhaps my willingness to surrender to the present experience - that can be transforming.

8 - Any other comments?

Thank you Patrick for your time and sharing of your wisdom. I am grateful to be in your presence.

Thanks Patrick, and thanks for asking and listening to me in the car on the way to Elkhorn Creek. What a nice day!!

Misc notes:

Arch, womb, pelvis - giving birth.

A hand up. Someone drums. I’m in the cave, I receive. The spirit comes down. I deserve. I’m worthy.

Bumpy dead troll. Bumpy dead trunk. Is the troll really dead?

I suddenly noticed the bridge across the river perfectly framed by my opening and I had not noticed it before, what does it take to see from a new perspective?

The dots speak to me of ‘many.” Safety or shelter or a destination for many?

A sound not the drumming, the rocks, literally humming. I didn’t know rocks rang and underneath, a chanting - not the drum but in time.

Came to me in my minds eye.

On creek bottom, moisture, smell of willows, sense of heart, coming into heart. Fecundity of life - appreciation! Gratitude!

Watchers on the hill above to left with large Ponderosas, distant from now, also with large outcrop on ridgeline above - sentinel. Another door above the sentinels and breath and breeze affirmation with group, shift to energy when the creek draws closer... taste in mouth (of ASC’s) comes back

people moving around, not dancing, vocalizing though, singing and chanting intensity of the place is setting a vibration frequency - threshold is very thin.

See some images from this year's field trip.

Look at other pictographs and add your intuitive impressions.

Copyright 2007 - Patrick Marsolek