July 1^st, 2020

Aloha,

I woke up this morning remembering the familiar sense of excitement, curiosity, and a slight anxiety that I had in the morning of June 30, 2011. That day, after having completed a 6-months long program at PCAB (Pacific Center for Awareness and Bodywork), I left Kaua’i to go on a vision quest visiting all Hawaiian Islands. That was a whirlwind journey which took me to many Heiau and powerful vortices through Big Island, Maui, Moloka’i, Lana’i, Oahu and back to Kaua’i.

In essence, the term ‘Vision Quest’ describes a spiritual journey in which participants are said to receive strength and sacred knowledge from the spirit world. Vision quests reflect deep meditations and the role of spirituality in Indigenous cultures, and provide an important connection between the participant, the Creator and nature. During a vision quest, while seeking spiritual guidance, participants often have dreams, visions, or supernatural experiences.

Vision quests have been undertaken by many people in diverse cultures for thousands of years. Moses climbed Mt. Sinai; Buddha went to meditate underneath the Bodhi Tree; Christ and the Biblical prophets fasted in the desert; Mohammed retired to a cave. And numerous Native Americans, mystics, and seekers of spiritual truth embark on vision quests to find their direction and purpose in life.

For my vision quest 9 years ago, my intention was to travel through the Hawaiian Islands and visit as many sacred sites (called Heiau) as possible while being led by spirit, the land and the ancestors during my 3-week quest. I wanted to visit places off the beaten path and stay away from popular touristic destinations, so I could connect with and learn from natural elements and the Hawaiian culture.

I ended up visiting more than 50 Heiau, and my journey was completed back on Kaua’i where I hiked 11 miles to the remote Kalalau valley located at the gorgeous Na Pali coast. Heiau are sacred places of worship, power, history, mystery, and magic. These places are located where the natural energies are exceptionally vibrant and healthy and reflected in tremendous natural beauty created by the elements of land, light, air, and water.

One of the insights I received from my vision quest 9 years ago was that having your life’s vision gives you clarity and motivates you to go through your days knowing and feeling you are moving towards what is really important and meaningful to you. I started to understand aligning my life’s vision with my values also helps me make right decisions and choices when I face a crossroad in my journey.

Today, I would like to share 3 simple, yet powerful exercises you can do to get clear on your life’s vision without going on a physical vision quest (under the current circumstance):

1) Write details of your ideal life: First, write down your ideal day from the moment you wake up until you go sleep. Write out what you would like your day to look like. Please incorporate all your five senses: How would you feel as you go about your ideal day? What and who do you see? What would you hear, smell, and taste? What would you do? The key is to just start writing. As you keep writing, the more detailed your vision will become.

2) Create a vision board: Next, cut out and collect pictures, words, quotes that catch your eyes or that inspire you. It is important not to analyze, just grab them and tear them out. While you look for the pictures, words, and quotes, allow yourself to dream big. Then organize these images, words, and quotes onto a big piece of paper or board. Focus on your emotions: how you feel is more important than what you think while you create your vision board.

3) Travel to your future: After you describe your ideal life mentally by writing it down and express it visually and emotionally by creating your vision board, it is important to also include physical movement. Representing the next 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, and then 10 years, put pieces of paper on the floor. Step on each piece of paper in sequence, close your eyes, pay attention to your breath, and ask yourself: What do I see, hear, feel, smell, taste? Who is there with me? Where am I? What do I love and appreciate about it?

When I embarked on my vision quest 9 years ago, I hoped to get revelations about my personal life, how my future would look like and how I can best share my gifts with others. Interestingly however, insights and visions I received during the visits to the Heiau and through conversations with Hawaiian teachers were mostly related to the Hawaiian culture and the history and future of Hawaii.  

During the dream time at night, I also saw a glimpse of a time of stillness approaching our world which would force people to be more open to receive guidance from the spirit and restructure their lives. I first thought that time of stillness may come by the end of 2012 but now I wonder if these prophetic dreams were somehow foretelling the current times of upheaval, dissolution, and restructuring.

Modern life is mostly fast paced, fragmented and frenetic. While chasing the next big goal, making more money, or achieving ultimate success, many people became disassociated and disconnected from the living earth, from the Source, and ultimately from their purpose in life. When we slow down and connect with nature and ancient wisdom, we become more open and receptive to divine guidance.

I believe now more than ever, we need to include cultural, ancient wisdom and connection to nature when we develop visions and in any other decision-making process so that we can find sustainable, long-term solutions that bring harmony, balance and mutual benefits to individuals, groups or nations.

‘Ohana, or family is considered as the root of the Hawaiian culture. The seven generations concept, called Ahupua’a in Hawaiian, is generally referred to how decisions are made about energy, water, and other natural resources, ensuring those decisions are sustainable and bring about harmonious interpersonal relationships for seven generations in the future. For each deliberate action we make today, we should consider the impact of our actions on the seventh generation from now.

The impact of our actions on the natural environment should be considered too as we are part of nature ultimately. So when you create a vision for your personal life or a group or business you represent, I suggest you consider the impact your vision would have on others, your community, future generations and Gaia on a long term in addition to your individual and short-term goals. 

Lastly, here is a reminder for group healing sessions on Wednesdays and Yoga Nidra meditations on Zoom on Saturdays that I am offering weekly. Please visit the event section on my website to find out how to join. I have received positive feedback from those who joined group healings or Yoga Nidra meditations offered in the past few years.

I look forward to sharing healing energies and supporting you with discovering your life’s vision.