The Magic

Magic by Jospehine Wall.

My life is a constant stream of miracles. – Kauai Retreat Affirmation.

The Kauai Goddess is truly stunning and captivating. Like any good Mother, she sets boundaries. With waters that are un-swimmable, cliffs that are precarious and secret  forests, portals and caves, she commands the highest reverence. But she is magical.

To honour facilitators Alexina Mehta and Tiberiu Gozner as well as the Goddess retreat participants, we join in a sacred circle at Hanalei Bay to show gratitude for our gifts.

Each goddess chooses a special sarong and photo (covered).

Goddess participants receive gratitude gifts for their special qualities which they brought to the retreat.

Judy receives a meaningful picture of a fishing boat.

Beverly loves her photo of two beautiful flowers, harmoniously side by side.

Shelly, our sparkling fairy goddess picked the magical rainbow!

Lu, our carefree ‘Medicine Woman’ from New Zealand, got us all ‘to chill’.

Rosemary provided a constant stream of joy and happiness.

We also had some free time on our last day to tour the Hanalei market…

…and take another dip in the salty ocean water.

We have woken up the goddess and connected with our sacred circle of women. It’s time to sail on now, but the Kauai goddess will never be far away. She lives in the magical place in our hearts and minds which knows no beginning and no end. We have only to close our eyes and dream of her sacred forests and enchanted waterfalls to lift the veil of time illusion. We are now part of Kauai, our Divine Femine self, and she is part of us. We have gone to the mountain and honoured her sacred streams and planted our sweet, soft self in her soil. And so we ask her persmission to return and affirm:

 ”I am having an extraordinary and magical journey on Kauai…”

The Music

Kauai is a special place where the veil of time and space is sacred and magic occurs. Special treasures to emerge from the Discover Your Inner Radiance Retreat were the gifts of sound and music.

Each Day started with yoga and meditation, as goddesses stretched, saluted the sun, and sang in harmony as one unifed voice.

Aftger the yoga session, sisters Lu and Belinda get ready to participate in the Affirmations portion of the morning as ‘the Peruvian bell’ sounded out.

The Affirmations portion of the retreat, led by Tiberiu Gozner, gave the goddesses a priceless gift; the chance to live life more fully and consciously, by planting their dreams and hopes for a better world in the fertile mana energy of Kauai.

The Presence of Gaia by Josephine Wall

“I am filled with vitality and my energy is grounded and centered.  I maintain a healthy, balanced relationship with my body and the Earth, receiving all the nourishment and abundance I need.  I am cosmic purity in thought, feeling, and action.” – Kauai affirmation

Music of the Night

Goddesses and guests were treated to a peformance & private hula lesson from Pau La’a.

We learned how fluid arm movements and swaying hips translate into a beautiful Hawaiian love story.

Tiffany performed a special Goddess dance bringing the elements of nature to life in her spontaneous and graceful movements.

On our farewell evening, Cheryl treated goddesses and guests to a personal rendition of Bali Hai, the Phantom of the Opera’s ‘All I Ask of You’, Flying Free, a medley of I Believe and You’ll Never Walk Alone, and Blue Hawaii.

Cheryl’s inspired singing brought the house to tears and touched the Kahuna deeply.

Afterward, Surya joined Cheryl in a beautiful duet while the Kahuna played the nose flute. Surya is remembered for her spontaneous, but beautiful lyrics, finally, serenading and thanking Kauai. “You will never be far away in our hearts,” she sweetly sang.

The Joy of Food

Kelly, our gourmet chef prepared a wonderous chocolate cake, topped with coconut ice cream and a special coconut beer.

L to R: Kelly, Lu and Christie enjoy the fun evening.

Shelly and Tiffany positively ‘glow’ in their colors of the sea.

Special guests of Alexina’s from Four Winds Energy Medicine Institute paid a special visit.

Singing for Joy

Cheryl releases her voice to ’sing powerfully to the ocean’, amidst the crashing waves and dancing wind.

A Portal Party

After performing a sacred ceremony at the portal where the Dali Lami says that souls leave the Earth, the group is filled with joy and peace, with a more expanded consciousness.

Polihale Beach (the portal).

The Fun

Kauai is synonymous with surfing. While her turqouise waters can be turbulent, the sea goddess wants to be enjoyed.

For their free time, Kelly, Lu and Belinda test out the waters.

Instructor Jim teaches the basics and emphasizes checking water conditions which can range from surfable to ‘a washing machine’.

Hanalei Bay is famous island-wide and one of the best and most challenging surf locations in Hawaii. Beginners usually start on a large soft board.

According to experts, new surfers should look for crumbling waves, not the breaking waves which slap the water.

Double overhead is when the waves are huge; double overtoes are when the waves are small.

Playing in the Waterfall

While some goddesses chose snorkelling and beach time, other hard-core hikers opted for the 3 1/2 hour trek (each way) to the Hanakapi’ai Falls.

Hiking up to the Falls presents some of the garden isle’s most stunning scenery.

A footprint embedded in the rock marks the trail.

The path goes through a veritable jungle.

Finally, a refreshing dip in the Falls!

Kate has a cool but refreshing swim.

Swimming under the falls was full of magic and wonder.

Rejuvenation after a long hike.

Photographer/Blogger Brenda appears at the Falls like an apparition, after everyone thought she wouldn’t show up, while lagging behind to shoot photos.

MORE TO COME AS THE FUN CONTINUES…

The Light

Unfathomable Beauty

Kauai’s beauty is stunning, magical and entrancing. She has an ageless, timeless quality that captivates the soul and engenders respect, gratitude and loving kindness.

There’s a soft, sweet light that greets the morning dawn, an orange hue which energizes yet calms. We’re told that the Hindu Temple monks who live on these grounds awake every morning before dawn. It’s no wonder. Once in tune with Kauai’s enchantment, like a new love, we wake with anticipation to see what riches each day will unfold.

Throughout the day the mountain (mauka) showers refresh  and revitalize, leaving happy thriving plants in its wake. Look into the wind,  and you’ll see the weather coming. While inland, you can hear the rain  approaching with the sound of a rushing river, though there isn’t one around.

Sisters Belinda (with the elegance of Grace Kelly) and new loomi massage practitioner Lu enjoy the monastery grounds.

Cheryl is dwarfed by this giant palm.

Surya, our fairy goddess, is in reverence in this sacred place.

A tree has gracefully framed this sanctuary of Shiva.

The new temple’s dome, made of pure gold, is the work of human hands and is possible through great generousity and appreciation for the significant work of the Hindu Monastery.

Tiffany Tatum, Mystic Sound Alchemist and Reader of the Akashic Records, provided a sound healing ceremony at Hale Luana. A sister of light, she provided the goddesses with sacred ceremony and activations to prepare for the new Golden Age to promote the divine feminine rebirth of the Earth. She also shared her beautiful ‘spiritually-charged’ healing gem jewlery with us.

“The world will be saved by the western woman”  Tiffany quoted the Dali Lama from his Vancouver Peace Summit Speech in 2009.

Tiffany says: “It is my greatest honor to be of service to you on your path of self discovery!  As we journey on the road to enlightenment, we reach a point where activation of the inner healer is sought after.  I am here as a mirror to your soul.  Through my travels to sacred sites and the activations received by the many master teachers I have experienced, I share with you the frequencies of love and light, the wisdom of my soul, and my pure connection to the Goddessence.  It is only through merging with the Beloved within that we may share the gifts of the sacred light.”

MORE TO COME…

The Goddess

‘The Three Graces’ by Josephine Wall shows images of three sisters who exemplify everything noble, beautiful and graceful.

The Divine Feminine Goddess

Time spent on Kauai is a constant series of unveiling of the Garden Island’s natural beauty and powerful presence. The gravitation to her vibrance and energy is all consuming.

Cheryl and Sandy take on the waves before the ocean claims her power.

Alexina’s calm, peaceful presence is contrasted by the thrashing waves.

Kate was sprayed by a refreshing wave before it drenched her camera.

Shelly looks ‘at one’ with the ocean, as demonstrated in her surfing lesson at Hanalei Bay the same week.

Cheryl, our garden isle songbird, expands her voice to the vast ocean.

The Goddesses unite in a sacred circle.

Kelly and Sandy radiate inner beauty.

A true island goddess, Beverly is at home with the Kauai elements, having visited the islands since childhood.

The Water

As we immerse ourselves in Kauai’s abundant nautre, we experience a deeper consciousness for the responsibility we have to sustain the clarity of Mother Earth’s waters.

The Water Ceremony

The moon controls the tides, and as moon maidens, we join in a sacred forest in a special ceremony to connect with Mother Earth and pray for clean water.

The moon goddesses offer plumeria leis to the waters in a cleansing ceremony.

We gather in these healing waters for a moving, powerful ceremony. We unite with the water, with our divine feminine goddess to release all which does not serve our higher good or the Earth’s well-being.

We are one with Mother Earth and her waters, entwined in a life-affirming dance which supports the existence of all life on the planet.

MORE TO COME…

The Earth

“Spirit of the Elements” Image from Josephine Wall

“Whatever befalls the Earth, befalls the people on the Earth.   Man did not weave the web of life.  He is merely a strand in it.   Whatever he does to the web he does to himself.” – Chief Seattle

Kauai Lives in our hearts

It is fitting to publish this post looking back on our Discover Your Inner Radiance Kauai retreat today — on Earth Day. For to spend time with the Garden Island is to fall in love with our Earth Mother, the Divine Feminine, and thereby discover our own true inner beauty.

Joyful retreat participants led by facilitators: Front L to R:  Tiberiu Gozner and Dr. Alexina Mehta and Goddesses: Sandy, Brenda and Shelly (middle) Back L to R: Judy, Cheryl, Beverly, Belinda, Lu, Margaret, Kelly, Rosemary, Surya (our fabulous cook and angelic songstress) and Kate.

Kauai is an exotic island paradise we travel to from far away, yet it is a place we come home to, into the nurturing arms of Mother Earth. She greets us with her brilliant sunny smile. Her expansive breath of crystal clear air moves the turquoise waves to dance, while her constant gentle breeze caresses us.

Queen’s Bath

Nature is powerful, beautiful and requires us to be conscious of our actions.

Surya is surrounded by ancient rock at Queen’s Bath lava pools.

Judy hikes along a beautiful waterfall.

The Goddesses ‘recharge’ and hike back through the lush, tropical foilage.

There’s always time for fun photos! Getting around by convertible is one of the best ways to feel the sun kiss your forehead and breeze dance in your hair.

A fragrant plumeria flower adds to Sandy’s sunny disposition.

The Night

The nights in Kauai are dark and thick, like a luxurious velvet blanket, the Divine Earth Mother envelopes you and securely tucks you in for a deep night’s sleep while the wind whispers a sweet lullaby.

Twinkling stars and the glowing moon goddess shine from above, illuminating your dreams with reflections of magic waterfall and fairy dances.

Today is the day we look back on our sacred adventure. Stay tuned for more posts …

The Moon

Moon Goddesses are important in many cultures where they form a central role in mythology.  The moon is associated with the divine femine as in many tribal societies the feminine cycles were linked to the phases of the moon. The Moon was important in ancient calendars, helping people to measure time and to determine when the best time was for planting and harvesting crops.

The Discover Your Inner Radiance Goddesses gathered prior to saying farewell and had a chance to witness the bright April 17 Supermoon together with the Kauai Kahuna.

…STAY TUNED FOR A FULL  REPORT ON THE DISCOVER YOUR INNER RADIANCE MEDITATION AND YOGA RETREAT…