Water Lilies
By Gina Gafford
Member’s Show
Photography
Sponsored by the Literary Committee of the Arts Consortium of Carver County
ACCC Gallery at the Chaska Community Center (artsofcarvercounty.org)
November 1 – December 31, 2025
Several weeks ago, as I woke up from sleep, I had a vision. I saw a tunnel about three inches in diameter open up near my forehead (third eye area). I heard a “snap” as it briefly opened up for a second. I saw a ring of light around the circle, and in the center of the circle were white, twinkling stars in a black background.
I’ve never had a vision like that before. I wasn’t scared, but I also didn’t feel ready to go “down that rabbit hole.” I even questioned if I was ready to dive deeper into my spirituality.
To calm my nervous system, I practiced Ujjayi Pranayama. Here is the practice:
Ujjayi Pranayama is also helpful when practicing yoga, especially during pain when stretching. I remember reading years ago that yoga can give the practitioner the skills to work with pain.
One more thing, emotions are very powerful. We can use our emotions to send out our intentions into the universe. If you feel a strong emotion, send out a prayer with that emotion as a catalyst for change.
Namaste.
AI generated picture.
Two Canoes
by GG
Mother prepares a canoe. The canoe is ready to bring me across the lake to a new land, a new life. I ride alone with the pull of the magnetic moon. I feel the blue waves pressing. I see the illuminated darkness around me. I am drawn toward the bright light. I am not afraid. I arrive in the new land with my head first and a demanding voice. Then I grow every day, and I look at the shining moon above. I see the yellow sun set on the horizon each night. I experience life. Then, one day, Mother prepares a canoe. It’s ready with love to take me back across the waters to the other side. I ride alone. I am not afraid. The shimmering moon pulls me back toward the night sky. The white lights guide my way.
I chose to write about “Two Canoes” because it brought back a memory of one of my hospice patients. As he neared his death, he would say, “It’s almost time to get into the canoe.” He said it with quiet acceptance.
About eight months ago, my friend Roxanne, whom I’ve known for 25 years, told me about a trip she wanted to take. She wanted to join the 2025 Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope to Rome, Italy, from October 24 to November 1. She found a tour group and asked if I wanted to go. I had planned a trip to Peru at the end of May, so I said no. She invited another friend instead.
Then, about a week before the trip, Roxanne called me. She said her friend and travel companion had pneumonia and canceled the trip. She asked if I wanted to go. I said I would need to check with my husband and ask for time off from work. I was cleared to go on Monday, October 20, but the tour group did not approve the change. On Tuesday, October 21 (three days before leaving for the trip), the tour group accepted me.
Roxanne said it was meant for me to join her on this trip. She had many people praying that I could go, and everything fell into place at the last minute! I had three days to pack—it was a whirlwind! Thankfully, I had everything that I needed since I just traveled to Peru.
Before the trip, I thought about why I was going. I knew one reason was to be Roxanne’s companion. I travel a lot, so I could help her navigate airports and the city (this was my third trip to Rome, and it was Roxanne’s first). There was also a spiritual reason. I wanted to connect with the divine feminine and pray for my family.
During the trip, I connected with my Catholic roots. I also witnessed in every church the crowds were around the statues and paintings of Mother Mary (the Divine Feminine). It made me realize, whether conscious or not, the world is returning to Mother God.
During my meditation, I contemplated the reason why I was going to Rome. The message was clear: Beacons of Light are going to Rome. I would join many others in bringing loving light to Rome. Many times throughout the trip, I mentally put a bright white light around my body. I projected love for the divine Mother.
Rome is the Rose—the foundation of the Catholic Church. The powerhouse of spirituality and human direction. People put their trust and hope in the church. I was in the papal audience, with thousands of other people, at the Vatican. I looked into Pope Leo’s eyes (if it really was him), and I could see the responsibility and even the burden of people’s trust.
I am not the same Catholic girl that I was in my youth. I have opened my eyes to see that many roads do lead to Rome. I am a yogi who believes in the power of my own salvation. Even Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is within you.”
Ancient Rome is the foundation of the original architects of Tartaria. The Catholic Church puts its stamp on all the ancient buildings. The world of deception is breaking down. Now it’s time to remember.
Although I have distanced myself from my Catholic upbringing, I still believe in the power of prayer. While I was in Rome, I prayed a lot. I prayed for several family members and the world. I prayed in 12 churches during my time in Rome. The tour group also prayed the Rosary almost every morning.
The first Mass of the trip was at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Sassia, near the Vatican, which dates back to the 12th century. I felt connected to this old church and all the history. I felt the holy spirit in my heart and the expansive divine.
My favorite church was the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was a massive church with huge columns and high, golden ceilings. My friend, Roxanne, said it was like a “taste of heaven.” I could feel the spacious, healing energy. I realized that there is divine intervention and it’s not just fate that plays a hand in our lives.
There are threads of truth in every religion. The truth is about seeking balance, harmony, and peace. It is about consciousness and wisdom as a divine pair. We are on a spiritual journey toward divine light.
Consciousness is the “Christ” that Jesus taught us. Many Eastern religions teach us to let go of the ego and connect with a consciousness that merges with divinity (the Universal Field). Additionally, to transcend the ego, we must seek solutions that benefit humanity. It is the cosmic dance. Humans are part of a greater whole.
We must also humble ourselves because we don’t know everything. When I looked at the majestic buildings and churches, I realized that there was much about our past that we do not know. I felt happy to be on a Pilgrimage of Hope. As human beings, we can change, and there is hope.
According to Wikipedia, a pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place that can lead to personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. I do feel transformed. I feel calmer and more accepting of all aspects of life.
The energy in the world is stronger. We need to protect ourselves from outside energy. We can do this by purifying the body, mind, and spirit. Eat healthier foods, exercise, do yoga, limit screen time, and connect with our spirituality.
To clear negative energy, we can use sound, just like our ancestors did in old churches—bells, singing bowls, musical instruments, and the voice. Be careful with your thoughts. Meditation is the best tool to clear the mind. We have limited time on earth, so we need determination and wisdom.
Many blessings to you. Namaste.
The Eternal Sky
by GG
I arrive exhausted—
The 24-hour time traveler.
The inner chatter won’t stop.
Doubt questions doubt.
Grief fills my heart—too many goodbyes.
Sandstorms blur the sky of my mind.
Thoughts clutter the sky.
Even the bright sun dies.
The moon reflects only the truth.
Can I look up instead of down?
Letting go is my greatest lesson.
Loving-kindness lights the path.
Ancestral sky shaman whispers—
There’s no time in space.
And love is eternal.
I awakened.
Machu Picchu Sacred Site and Mountains
By Gina Gafford
Through the Lens
Photography
Sponsored by the Literary Committee of the Arts Consortium of Carver County
ACCC Gallery at the Chaska Community Center (artsofcarvercounty.org)
July 1, 2025 – August 31, 2025
I took these two photos of Machu Picchu while visiting Peru in June 2025. Machu Picchu is sacred because the site was inaccessible, and the Incas had deep knowledge of nature and spirituality. It is one of the world’s seven wonders, and it has around 5,000 visitors a day. There are around 1,600 stone steps up to the Machu Picchu site.
The Incas worshipped their gods, including the sun, the moon, the mountains, and the earth. People visit Machu Picchu to experience the sun’s healing energy, admire the stunning mountains, and explore the Inca farming terraces. It is commonly believed that Machu Picchu was used as a royal estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti.
Chaska Community Center ACCC Gallery (11×14 photos)
Chaska Community Center ACCC Gallery
A week ago, during my deep sleep, I heard a masculine voice say to me, “You only have 10 years left to live.” I woke up a little frightened and disturbed. Immediately, I felt like this dream must be kept as a secret. I didn’t want to tell anyone because I didn’t want it to come true.
Now, as I reflect, I wonder what kind of future there is. Some people are doom spending because they think the world is ending. Others are prepping for the worst. I think everyone can feel a shift or something is on the horizon (and it’s not just political).
A possible prediction is AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). According to ChatGPT (I know, here we go), it is a type of computer intelligence that can think, learn, and solve problems like a human across many different tasks and situations. Many experts say AGI will be in our everyday lives by 2030 – that’s in five years!
Sometimes I wonder if the political landscape is a distraction. I think we probably already have AGI, but it’s not released to the public. Unfortunately, there is so much knowledge and information hidden from the world.
Like everything in life, there are positive and negative consequences. One of the positive aspects of AGI is that it could solve a lot of problems like poverty, housing, food shortages, cures for disease, and many other things. The negative is the doom – extinction of the human race.
So, I may or may not have 10 years left to live. However, recently, I received another message while doing a Reiki treatment with a hospice patient. The message stated that for the rest of my life, I need to devote myself to meditation and sacred texts. It’s a divine message to encourage me to focus on my spiritual life.
I also think all of us need to work on our mental health. We need to get in the right headspace, be in the present moment, and think more positive thoughts. Our spiritual development is in our hands – no one can do it for us.
AGI is in our future – whether we like it or not. Amazingly, a small group of people created something that will change the world forever. We need to prepare for this unpredictable future. The way to prepare is going inward, raising our vibration, and focusing on love.
-Namaste.
When I was at the ayahuasca retreat, our shaman teacher gave us the option to see Donna (not her real name), who offered coca leaf readings for $100.00. The coca leaf comes from the cocaine plant, and many Peruvians chew the leaves. I was curious about Donna after one of the retreat attendees said it was worth having the reading done. She also said Donna was very open – she told the retreat attendee that she’s often too tired to have sex – her boyfriend is 20 years younger than her.
On my way to see Donna, a Peruvian woman who spoke perfect English, I walked with a retreat assistant for 10 minutes through the lush jungle, the sun shining through the branches, and heat mixing with the smell of moss. Upon arrival at her home, a large Brazilian Mastiff greeted us. I was a little frightened because I didn’t know if the dog was friendly or not.
Donna’s boyfriend, a tall man with a long black ponytail, took me into their cozy house to wait for Donna. I noticed a small kitchen with a yellow teapot, a fur rug on the floor outlining a small coffee table, and wooden stairs made with deer antlers leading up to the second floor.
When Donna was ready for me, her boyfriend came to pick me up. I followed him outside to meet Donna. Donna was a petite woman with gray hair pulled into a messy ponytail. She had a sleeveless purple shirt, capris, and no shoes. I followed her to a small maloca (a circular building with wooden supports in the shape of a hexagon). She said I could take off my shoes, which I did.
As I entered the maloca, I noticed white sand beneath my feet. In the center of the maloca, a small table and two cushions were placed. Donna invited me to sit. I sat across from her as my feet sank into the sand. Donna said she wanted sand in her maloca because it helps to ground the people who visit her. She continued to say that many times we want to see the ocean, but it’s the sand that makes us feel good. So, she had a vision to put sand in her “office.”
I brought three small bundles of white sage to give to Donna as a gift. She was happy to receive them. My shaman teacher said they don’t have sage in Peru.
Donna asked me to grab a bunch of dried coca leaves from her zippered pouch. Then she instructed me to hold the leaves between my palms and blow on them three times. After I blew on them with my warm air, I opened my palms to let the leaves fall onto the table.
I looked at Donna as she stared at the leaves. She asked me, “Are you a healer?” I said, “Yes, in a Western sense of the word. I work for a hospital helping people who are dying.” Donna shook her head as she understood.
Donna said, “The leaves tell me you take on too much sadness from your patients and their families. But I also see you were born a healer.” I wasn’t expecting her to say I was a healer. But I was pleasantly surprised that she was intuitive. At that moment, I felt a deep connection to Donna. She also told me to look up paintings by Alex Grey. She said he captures the human spirit in his paintings.
I had prepared four questions in my small dollar store notebook. The first one was, “Is there anything I need to work on for my spiritual development?”
Donna said I need to breathe. She said, “Breath is spirit, and you need to connect with your spirit without any concepts.” She continued to say that meditation will help me. In my head, I agreed with her.
Then she looked at me with concern. She asked me, “Why do you doubt yourself so much? You need to stop that!” I agreed with her – I do doubt myself sometimes. I also get into my head way too much. I need to let go more.
My second question was, “Do you have any insights on my marriage?” Donna smiled a little. She said my husband, Jeff, is a good man, and he loves me very much. She also said I should stay married to him, and we were married in a previous past life.
Donna encouraged me to have more fun with my husband and to breathe together. My thoughts went back to when we were dating. I remember Jeff and me lying together in bed, in my newly rented townhouse, with the soft light of the sunset. I felt warm as we held each other and practiced tantric breathing. We would breathe together on the inhale and the exhale, creating a natural rhythm.
The third question was about my job: “Any messages about my job?” Donna encouraged me to think about starting my own business (like a death doula). She also said I have too much education. I need to focus on spirit and not on more education. I have everything I need to work with people who are dying. Instead of seeking more education, I need to work with my intuition, open my heart, and mind. I need to work on staying in the present moment.
My final question was, “How can I become enlightened in this lifetime?” Donna said I must let go and return to spirit. She said we have things backward. We should cry when a baby is born because of the challenging life that awaits, and be happy for people who die because they are done with their journey on earth.
She didn’t answer my question directly – whether I will become enlightened in this lifetime. Instead, she said that this is her last life on earth – she will not be returning. Maybe she has reached enlightenment.
Donna answered all my questions. I gave her $100 in US cash (which I thought was a lot of money for a thirty-minute reading). She placed the cash under her tablecloth. We both stood up, and Donna led me out of the maloca.
I found the coca reading intriguing, and I’m glad I decided to do it. There are some things to consider, especially her comments about my marriage and returning to Spirit. I am working on positive thoughts and letting go of things in the past.
Namaste.
Before I went on the Ayahuasca retreat, I knew it would be a challenging retreat. But that’s what I wanted. It would be different from a typical yoga retreat, offering relaxation, gourmet food, and sightseeing. I remember the quote, “Like tea, you don’t know how strong you are until you’re put in boiling water.”
8 Things I learned from an Ayahuasca retreat:
I am grateful to have learned these lessons. I have renewed intentions to deepen my yoga and meditation practice as well. My focus is on balancing the connection between my body and mind. I want to redesign myself into a brave, intuitive, loving, and mindful person.
To love fully, we must remove fear and pride.
- Angeles Arrien
Namaste.
The Buddhist Metta Sutta tells a story about 500 monks who went into the jungle to practice meditation:
Approximately 500 monks who had gone into the jungle to practice meditation were disturbed and frightened by certain spirits. Whereupon they returned and reported the matter to the Buddha. The Buddha then advised the monks to return to the same place, armed with the sword of Metta (loving-kindness) for their protection.
The monks returned to the jungle and radiated their lovingkindness to the jungle and those spirits. Thereafter, they continued with their meditation without any hindrance. These same spirits who had earlier created disturbances later repented and paid their respects to the monks.
This is, therefore, an important Sutta to recite and radiate your loving-kindness to every living being. By doing so, you can overcome any disturbances, find peace and happiness, and help others live peacefully by practicing this great virtue. (From the book, “Daily Buddhist Devotions, by Venerable K Sri Dhammananda.)
Lately, I’ve been practicing a loving-kindness meditation at night, before I go to sleep, or in the morning before I get up. Here is the meditation:
Loving-Kindness Meditation:
To begin, you can sit or lie down. When you are comfortable, take a deep breath. Feel your breath expand the body, and then relax. Focus on the words “loving-kindness” in your heart (chest area). At first, do not think about sending loving-kindness to anyone – just feel the love in your heart. Let there be space in your mind. After a few minutes of focus, you can expand the loving-kindness to yourself, your family and friends, pets, and all living beings. You can close the meditation by bringing your palms together, creating a sense of balance in the body. Or you can rest your hands on your chest.
In this turbulent world, how do you keep calm and loving? How do you protect yourself from outside energy and influences? Please leave a comment (see above near the title).
Tunnel Vision 8 