Sun River Summary - 2005

Experiential Site Summary

See photos 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.

My overall experience from the whole day was one of communal living. Family life and earth spirit connection. I could feel thestrong connection of generations, the abundance of the land and joyous celebration. There were also tinges of grief and loss but that felt secondary, as to be expected, part of the process.

Significant to the day in Sun River Canyon were feelings gratitude and connection. Connection to others in the group, connection to the Mother and most of all, connection with myself.

I am drawn to paths and going from rock pile to rock pile as an ancient path - origin and distribution both unknown - just being a part of the “path following” - in my turn and in my time - was particularly engaging. It brought to mind paths in my own life - often with no discernable destination - just my turn in my time and place to follow.

Awareness of energies and the openness with which this group shared the whole day! The pictographs in their intensity and directness and how they moved me. Very tangible, physical and emotional. I feel now as I settle down from them, that their energy and the energy they stirred up in me is still strong, still active.

Experiencing the landscape vs. walking through it. Taking time to sense and feel what is there with other people. Most significant, being present to Indian “paintings.” The rock lines were a mystery, Indians or not? the place? With the paints, it’s here. Something was right here in the past, and now I’m here.

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)?

Landscape varied from dramatic and tumultuous to that which seemed open, level, dependable, abiding. I felt I could linger longer in the more open spaces. The dramatic - standing overlooking the river, for example - were places to move quickly, take it all in.

The rock piles were in an open area. A sense of the rocks piled there to guide people through a larger, open space vs. the trail along the long rock out croppings. had to walk a fairly narrow area between high rock and water. Guided by the landscape - no need for other markings to guide, wide open vs. narrow.

The rainy, misty day seemed to wash clear filters of busyness and preoccupation that usually are in place and prevent lucid experience of what is happening around and within me.

The physical location moved me in many different directions. I felt tears of joy with an underlying sense of my own need to stay connected with the “humans” and be aware of my pull to be a “fringe dweller.” That was the most powerful emotion felt throughout the whole day. Checking in with myself... Several doorways were opened and closed, all containing a different energy and emotional response. Most remaining positive in nature.

It feels like the physical landscape was a large part of the whole day. Each phase was moderated by the landscape and we flowed through these energies.

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?

Weather, overcast and lightly raining would normally lead to a more introspective experience but this was balanced by being with other people (which is unusual for me on a hike) which tended to draw me out. (By the end of the day I felt I had said too much and was ready to retreat.) Water in its many forms; rain, mist, clouds, river - is always a welcome energizer - even though I may feel it as a quiet energizer.

It was a blessing to have just us and our intent for the whole day - very focused. The rain played a big part in this, enveloping us.

The weather had an impact on the experience, it rained most of the day. This brought out the autumn colors and heightened the smells of the forest and water. The rain also nurtured the earth because it has been very dry and the fires have been plentiful. Water has always been an emotional catalyst for me in the sense that it always has the ability to tap into my heartspace. Rain heightens awareness for me. Also, the group was small and intimate, making for good conversation and sharing of feelings/experiences. Rattling at the pictograph site brought meto trance mode which evoked a more spiritual connection, doorways opened WIDE! I was able to get more “visuals” - seeing generations.

Scents (smell of smoke at one of the cairns), sounds (soft patter of the rain on my hat), warmth (the glow from within that warmed my being), touch, (kiss of raindrops on my cheeks), taste, ( pleasure of even ordinary food after a mornings exercise out doors), sight (the landscapes, the subtle colors, the amazing contours of the rocks) all of these things remain with me and I can call them to the surface of my memory in a heart beat. I expect to do some sketching within the next few days to try and recapture the ebb and flow I felt as I observed the rock and the water.

The high rock formations of thrusting upward gave a sense of strength - power. The rain and cloudiness closed us in, but gently. Other people - opening other places to explore. Give strength to effort to feel and experience vs. walk through.

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.

I’m not clear on the alignments now. They feel like deliniating markers, borders, edges, boundaries, with multiple uses. Lots of work went into them. The pictograph site feels like many uses, all using or amplifying energy which is present. Feels like human uses were in resonance with the natural energy and in connection with nature/spirit.

Painted rocks. I felt grief, heard a high pitched wailing. It seems to be a site known by the Indians over great time. The story remembered of the Indians staying there after losing their stolen horses - and their noticing the paintings. A connected history of people through and with the land.

The pictograph site; I felt warmth and smelled a smokiness. It felt as if some kind of celebratory gathering had happened there - could be celebrating a union of the beginning of a journey, from which one would return to guide others. it felt as if it could have been a place of story telling - perhaps a creation story?

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

A greater appreciation for the land and its long history with animals, plants, people. It’s my head speaking, but - still of value - to read again the formation of the land here and a history of its people. Also an intention to be more in the now and tune into energy, sensations, etc.

Try to take more time as I am traveling through spaces to become aware of my own impressions - and let my mind be open to images and sensations. To notice and become more aware of all that is around me - including people - on whatever path I may find myself.

Work. Continue working to open my heart and to connect with the landscape. Deepen my own journey - self-process and growth with these landscapes.

I will continue to check in with my own emotional status when areas “move” me. Check in where in my body I am feeling these stirrings.

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

By intention for today was to connect with as many senses as possible and relate them to the earth connection. This is where I find the most profound answers and the deepest healings. I feel all was achieved.

Desire to be more aware, tuned in at all levels. Live more deeply, not faster. Live with greater awareness. to encourage development of my intuition. Find my connection with my own family history. Maybe go see the farm and land where my dad and grandparents lived, to understand their history and how it connects to me.

Helped me become present nad allow the flow of now to guide me. I feel much easier allowing the process to lead me. All will be right. This is healing and enlarges me too. Also affirms my whole process. All is oknow! I follow my heart and my path and all will work out.

My intention, to listen deeply to my intuitions response to sights, sounds, people and landscapes was fulfilled. I thought about some others who had wanted to come and couldn't. I thought of others I ahd shared similar expiences with. In each case this day keeps rising to the top as a "perfect" day. The members of the group were very special to me. Each person brought a unique ability to help weave a basket to hold the day's experiences. I am filled with gratitude to you all.

As one of my intentions was to experience more fully whatever environment I was in, I feel I made some progress. But my thinking mind andmy own chatter still get in the way.

8 - Any other comments?

Are you kidding? :)

Misc notes from the day:

smell of smoke

a sense of living closer to the land today. A sense of mystery with the rocks and landscape. A sense of reverence for having walked the same path as others long ago.

It’s amazing to me how different each of these places can feel, emotionally. The energies become more palpable each time I proceed with awareness and intention into a place. Asking what the intention is is key. It is already in place, but verbalizing it helps make it real and moves the energy. I feel that the expression of the intent is a way of releasing the past self. This allows present to become real, which will inevitably be congruent with intent! Speaking releases!

Real felt shift in a couple places at intersections of lines and at point when line ended, then started again near the rivers edge. It felt much more electric to me, scintillating, then the heart warmth and sweet smell at the edge of the river. I felt it strong in my heart, homecoming. I was/am curious about the circular line that goes all around the whole bowl, felt a sense of center being in at the lake when standing on the line facing out, felt it and activity behind me. Then standing on bluff overlooking camp area, very clear sense of others watching there. I also felt energy and movement in circles on teh way back. Multiple layers of activity with line going right through circles. I find it interesting how now as write, I feel the swirling sensation coming back, sense of the upper lines area. I feel it much more in my heart vs. more in heart by the river.