Symbols, A Sage Guide, Promises in Delphi and Meteora
- Mira Sky Gaia
- November 27, 2019
- 2:26 pm
- Life Adventures
From naturally occurring water fountains at the footstep of the ancient Temple of Apollo in Delphi to sailing through the Cyclades on the Aegean Sea, Greece was unforgettable in more ways than one.
As I was brainstorming how best to illuminate the deep mysticism and symbolism of this trip coming halfway back into consciousness while waking from a nap yesterday, a symbol of an eagle flying overhead awakened me. First, the eagle just reminded me that it was time to get up, but on second reflection it helped me frame the focus of this blog. The most profound aspects of the trip were the unmistakable signs I received. After doing a bit of factual brushing up on the site of DeIphi, it’s been almost 3 years now I then knew that my choice of starting with Greece to kick off my “Travel Adventure” section in this evolving blog had even deeper resonance.
Of Course, Wikipedia popped up first in my search and well it was suitable in terms of the basics I was in search of. I did not know however that this description would appear:
In myths dating to the classical period of Ancient Greece (510-323 BC), Zeus determined the site of Delphi when he sought to find the center of his “Grandmother Earth” (Gaia). He sent two eagles flying from the eastern and western extremities, and the path of the eagles crossed over Delphi where the omphalos, or navel of Gaia was found.[2]
Delphi
First off, the reference to the eagles that I had just seen waking me from my afternoon Sunday nap and then learning that Delphi embodied the “belly button” of Mother Earth: Gaia. That to me which you will discover the depth of its profundity if you continue to read my posts, was impactful at a soul level.
Elena our 70 something year old beyond brilliant passionate educator wasn’t already an incredible inspiration and someone I immediately resonated with for her character and wisdom, following as closely by her side not to miss a word of her passionate encyclopedic mind.
This was one of her last tours as the amount of energy she exuded as our guide always imparting information of twist and turn even while on the bus on long journey up north. She was a gem of all sorts and as fit as a nimble in all types of ways.
It was a scorching hot day in mid- August 2015, and eager to taste the water flowing off a rock embedded into the stone at the edge of the Temple of Apollo. Elena mentioned that is was more than drinkable, it would be the best water we ever tasted and that has been quenching the thirsts of those who visited for perhaps millennia. As soon as I cupped my hands from this touted “sacred spring” and raised it to my mouth, I felt the almost ritualist experience this had been for countless others. The closest way that I could describe it was like tasting the fountain of youth. I will go no further in elaboration because no words could do it justice. You must try it for yourself to understand.
Now my interest in Delphi came had been ‘heightened’ and an appropriate word considering my first thought while climbing this steep windy road to the site in an airconditioned bus. How in the world did thousands of people reach this site by foot or chariot? No wonder why the ancient Greeks looked so good.
Elena elaborated on the story of the Oracle, then we were left to hike the site on our own. I found a spot about halfway up right under a Cypress tree where I felt inspired to meditate, a frequent practice of mine. I could think of no better place than here to set my intentions for my deepest desires. I made my wishes sending them out to the Great Universe after a few minutes of quiet contemplation and I believe they were heard. The first was to 1- To give back to humanity and to Gaia in some way by the time I’m 40. 2- To meet my most compatible partner life mate to journey through this adventure called “life”. The third, well came to me as an inspiration after making the first two. 3- To be very aware of make good decisions and to listen to my inner guidance at every moment- asking Spirit “What is the next best step?”
As we departed, I felt a deep sense of commitment to the manifestation of these wishes. (This relates to “Expectations Shattered blog post.)
Meteora
We headed to Olympia then Meteora, my awe only expanded! Meteora, in particular, brought my childhood memories of “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair” to life. Fantasy like is the best way to describe Meteora with cathedrals embedded into swooning massive sandstone and conglomerate rocks, looking more like mountains.
The name given meaning “suspended in the air” couldn’t be more appropriate. Peaking high above the Thessalian plain, the megaliths formed 60 million years ago, average 1,000 feet (300 meters) in height, with many reaching 1,800 feet (550 meters) with distinctive and varied shapes sculpted throughout the millennia by earthquakes, rain, and wind.
The six of the 24 still functioning monasteries were built in the 14th century. How I wondered were monasteries built on steep vertical rocks. It will always amaze me. Meteora was inhabited, hermit monks who climbed these monoliths, again I have no idea how to dwell in the caves and in coves of the rocks as early as the 9th century. They chose the most difficult to reach existence which was perfect for their hermetic lifestyle and intentions. Legend has it that they ventured on the arduous climb down these fear-inspiring verticals to attend mass on Sundays. By the 12th century, Meteora had evolved into a thriving ascetic community.
I was traveling solo in a sense but not really because I was on an organized tour where I met travelers you and old from all over the world. On the way back to Athens, I took every occasion to speak more to the wise sage Elena.
She and I developed a deep fondness for each other. She looked in my eyes with her wise eyes that felt as if she were looking into your soul and said that I was “special” and that she rarely met tourists as deeply intrigued and curious. I ended up sitting next to her on our bus ride back to Athens and learned a great deal more about Greece- it’s history, economical struggles and their origin, and about her. I wish I could find a picture of us now!
She purposely did not own a cell phone and could only be reached by landline, no Facebook, no email- just plain old landline. I admired her for this, but I also instinctively knew that staying in contact which I deeply desired to do might not be possible. I didn’t even know one could still function in this manner in our modern-day and age. But, she did. She wrote down her information and invited me to join her and family at their modest summer getaway home when I returned to Greece, as I had planned to do. I lost the cell phone after this trip and had not yet installed a back up on google photos. Thank goodness I posted a few pics to FB. All I can hope for is to find that piece of paper that I wrote it upon again. I intend to visit her again.
I really enjoyed learning some of the hot spots and almost magic aboutGreece! Elena sounds so interesting ( she sure vibrated with you- nice)
That’s wonderful Mom! Thanks for reading. Love you!