your splendid city has cast a beautiful spell upon me.
My adventuring soul has ventured to places far away and unknown.
Yet, as far away as I have roamed, I have an understanding that this incredible city is
My new Home.
While Chicago in many aspects is business oriented, there are intensely colorful and airy energies to this city.
Lifting my Spirit. Living directly across from Lincoln park with an amazing friend. I am astounded with the way life unfolds, blissfully inspired by daily adventures.
While I knew there was always a love between this auspicious city and I, my connection has become attuned to my amazing group of loved ones here.
This past weekend was infused with a 3 day birthday celebration with
friends new and old.
Conversing from quantum energetic levels, to old school rapping and dancing, there was a myriad of experiences that were quite astonishing.
Equilibrium within the spectrum, an alchemy of abundance was profoundly created.
My eccentric mind fits in perfectly within this equation.
After having been quite the hermit for most of the summer, my heart is vibrating intensely with the happiness and ease I have found here.
An outer reflection of what is within.
694 Wine Bar
It was the second time I attended a soiree in this space,
coming full circle.
One walks in to this wine and cheese bar and immediately feels welcome. Wood inlaid with a modern, minimal twist creates a classy yet comfortable environment.
One could sit at the downstairs bar and quietly hear what was being played upstairs, while enjoying an exquisite array of wines and cheese to suit one’s taste.
Or one could meander upstairs to the second floor bar and patio to connect with the dancing and music occurring on this particularly gorgeous day.
The staff and owner were warm, inviting and accommodating. Creating an ambience that
felt
so
cozy
Within this place a vibe of musical magic was created.
What I have realized is sometimes I have to fall,
in order to brush myself off,
take a deep breath,
own up
and stand tall.
Masters of our ceremonies,
make me dance,
make me move,
play the tune that my body sings to.
Music,
dance with me, speak to me,
until I can hardly breathe,
take all capacity of thought, emotion, and being,
until my being fills with you,
music
you are
my
muse.
MOVEMENT: Detroit’s Electronic Music Festival
A favorite of festivals, it brings in elements of Detroit’s energy, a grittiness and depth that can only be found in this city.
Our city….
of soul, dilapidation and creativity. Now a resurgence is happening and it’s so exciting.
Looking around, where thousands surround Detroit’s Hart Plaza. I am witness to the growth of what this movement has become since its start 12 years ago.
There are 4 stages set up in the plaza, the speakers immense and encompassing, they vibrate sound powerfully.
Each stage holds its own micro-environment, bouncing from each, my ear tunes in to the music.
This year, as I strolled down the stone steps to the massive stage set up in the center, my thoughts were of a disconnected nature.
In the past this scene was a huge part of my life, now a smaller piece of the whole of my existence.
“Will this do for me what it used to?”
I asked myself
“After all I have experienced, what does this mean to me now?”
Heavy, low bass rumbled through me, re-awakening my purpose within sound.
The air thick with rich, warm South American tones, reminiscent of where I traveled from.
A musical healing, the vibrations touch on parts of me, becoming a dancing release.
My body was attached to the spot. As music and I remember one another as long-lost lovers. We meet and all that is spoken of is this intertwining love
Transporting me through space and time.
I was lead to incubation states of tranquility and centering in the Westin Book Cadillac hotel.
Here I cultivated familiar bonds I have made with people from all over the world, connecting through music.
I understand the musical groups I am drawn to have subtle ties to our roots.
Paxahau of Mayan origin literal meaning
Pax=power of music ; Ahau=cycle of time in Mayan calendar.
Movement is a primal instinct grounded within us, stemming back to the dawn of humanity. Our own dance rituals and sounds have evolved into something I know our ancestors would be proud of.
As I’m dancing on the grass, under the sunlight, a veteran in his army uniform strolls over.
“Your dancing makes me happy, seeing all of this love and peace reminds me that this is the freedom I fought for. Can you show me how to dance to this music?”
He asks
Feel it capitulate you
Move with it however you allow it to
An energetic exchange, infinity of ebb and flow.
A bridging of many worlds occurs,
I knew that the best way to undertake this ceremony would be to go into the jungle, yet that was not to be along this journey.
My inner guidance told me.
“You will come back to the jungle, Nicole.”
Eating lightly the day before and refraining from anything such as caffeine, sugar, condiments or what the medicine does not like, I aptly prepared myself.
I asked the medicine the night before in meditation
“Show me what I need to see in order to more fully live my purpose, which I know to be illuminating myself, others and healing this earth.”
With a friend I had met, I will call him Pato, who was taking part in San Pedro, we departed with the shaman, for our ceremony.
Arriving in this young shaman’s house with his wife, there were animal skins and masks hanging on the walls.
With Pato translating,
“You are so young” we spoke to him.
He replied
“Its better to have a young shaman, sometimes the older ones have taken on many negative energies. There are so many false shamans here for the tourists, who do not understand the medicine. My family is from the jungle, the knowledge of the medicine been passed down our lineage within my tribe for generations.”
He continued
“Most of what you will see, will be an internal journey, this medicine is not so much about the shaman, as it is about your inward learning.”
Ayahuasca Vine and San Pedro Cactus
I drank a small amount of the dark, syrupy, bitter liquid, gagging a bit as it went down.
Breathe.
Ahhhhhh
Awakening itself within me, the medicine was feeling warm and tingly.
Ceremony Tools
The shaman spoke to me,
“We believe this medicine pulls up everything no longer needed in your body; physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally
As it pulls it up, you will become sick,
throw it up.”
As he was speaking this, I could feel a churning in my stomach.
Vomiting is an essential part of this, I felt better immediately.
After he and his wife cleared us with sounds, feathers and tools, he lit a fire in the middle of the room, with the sacred, purifying Palo Santo wood.
He told us to stand and individually jump over this fire 7 times for purification.
The fire was growing and I jumped 7 times, in my altered state, fire licking up to my thighs, I wondered if it was going to eat me alive.
Afterwards I sat with him and he handed me something.
“Young shaman, I am giving you this sacred seed from the jungle, this is given to shaman initiates, you will not find this seed anywhere else in the world.
When you are ready, come to the amazon to study the plant medicine and Shamanism”
Starting the development of my healing abilities years ago, a new initiation was placed in front of me, one that when cultivated will grow into a beautiful tree of being. This is not something that can be learned in a classrom setting, this is intrinsic abilities continuing their evolution.
He spoke to me
“Wear this seed and it will keep you balanced, for you are a karma eater”
I have known this to be true since since I was younger, being empathic, I take on energies from others and release them.
Sitting eyes closed with my seed, the medicine started speaking to me…
“Don’t settle for anything less than what you have come into, my dear.
You have overcome many obstacles in your life, including yourself, and if that is not respected and honored by those surrounding you, surround yourself with only those that do. Give love and focus on you many types of friends, communities, families and loved ones for they will always support you.
Don’t be surprised if people and ideas that are no longer encouraging and supporting your highest purpose fall out of your life, it is no longer for you on your path.
No one but you knows how to achieve your truth, how to live your life, everyone else’s ideas are part of their reality. Create from your knowing, that my dear is true self-sovereignty.
You may play out patterns of who you are no longer, hold fast to the visions you have been given and create from the knowing of your greater purpose. This seed you have been gifted represents your transformation, plant it within your heart, mind and spirit to grow from powerfully.
Push through what ANYONE thinks of you and be unstoppable in your purpose, no need to justify to anyone, be your own resolve .
Share yourself more and strip away all the layers that are blocking you from seeing, it is only you who have been blinded to your true being.
Move forward, even when you want to give up, the challenges are what refine your character, be that center of strength, against all conformity.
Do what you know to be right, against any conditioned mindset.
Know that your are a bright light, even if its not always seen, right and wrong are irrelevant, perception is everything.
Move through the toughest obstacles,
for you will achieve your highest dream,
Purpose and Dream 
