This is a journey,
A shamanic journey,
Into the home of Madam Pele.
Her home is in Halema'uma'u,
The crater of the volcano Kilauea.
So we will be journeying down to visit Madam Pele.
So just relax,
Close your eyes,
Enjoy where you're at.
See if you can find a way to be even more comfortable.
And just allow yourself to breathe easily and comfortably.
Enjoy the breath that you've got.
In fact,
Savour the pleasure of breathing easily.
Now find yourself in a garden.
Any garden will do,
Real or imagined.
And in this garden,
Find something to look at.
And look at this one thing as thoroughly and as carefully as you can.
See what you can hear in your garden.
And listen to one thing as thoroughly and as carefully as you can.
And now find something in your garden to touch.
And touch that one thing as thoroughly and as carefully as you can.
Now fly off to Halema'uma'u,
The crater of Kilauea.
Stand on the edge of the vent that looks down into the crater.
The crater is a small part of this enormous caldera.
And there you are standing,
Looking down into the molten lava.
Watch your step.
You don't want to go down too soon.
Look down,
Though,
And see deep down the bubbling lava there.
You can feel the heat and the gases.
You're going to jump down in a moment and probably lose everything you know about yourself.
Make sure that you're prepared and committed to doing this.
When you're ready,
Jump off the edge and down towards the boiling lava.
As you fall down,
Your whole body will burn away.
And then all your stories,
Your beliefs,
And your memories will burn away.
And then all sense of who you are will burn away.
But still,
There is something that you are aware of.
You are aware of being aware,
Even after losing everything.
As you melt into the lava,
Get to know this indestructible awareness that is the true you.
And if you are so inspired,
Go find and talk to Madame Pelé,
Or anything else that you're called to do.
If you decide to meet Madame Pelé,
Ask her whatever questions may seem appropriate.
Take your time.
I'll call you back when the time is right.
And now give thanks to Madame Pelé.
And rise up out of the lava vent.
Up and up and up.
Up through the steam and the smoke.
And allow the steam and the smoke to help reform your body.
You won't be exactly the same,
But you'll recognize yourself.
And once again,
Find yourself on the edge and get your bearings.
And once you have a sense of you being you again,
Make your way back to your garden.
And take some time now to reflect on what you've just been experiencing.
Give thanks now to your garden.
And when you're ready,
Make your way on back to the chair that you've been sitting in,
Or the floor that you've been lying on.
Welcome back.
