Keeping the Faith in Kathmandu

For previously mentioned reasons I entered into this trip with a very open mind about how things should go. I had a nagging gut sense that things would not pan out quite as planned, so I should stay open and watch for helpful signs. The first two days went as normal, bustling all over the city seeing various religious and historic sites. This isn't quite how I travel and it was a bit tiring so I would frequently take time to wander the streets of Thamel, where we were staying, making friends with strangers and in general recharge myself. It was in one of these situations that I found myself wander into a jewelry shop and meeting Mossin, a jewelry dealer but also crystal healer. We sparked a wonderful conversation about our work and how we came to discover them. It dawned on me mid-conversation that this was a sign, crystal healing is powerful work and it was time I received some healing work instead of always giving. 

A side note on receiving: I suck at it. I have been told this for a very long time, I need to learn to open up, receive that is all around me. This is possibly my greatest imbalance, having no problem doing things for others but being very stubborn when it comes to being given assistance freely. I knew that this was something to be worked on and saw meeting Mossin as an opportunity to open up and receive. I was supposed to fly the next day for the mountains to start the trek, so I said that when I returned I would stop into the shop and see him again, maybe if time permitted we would trade our work. 

The next day came and we made our way to the airport, though the weather wasn't promising. Our flight was delayed for mechanical reasons, not a very big surprise. As we waited the rain slowly picked up and the weather worsened, but we were told that Lukla airport was fine, and that was all that mattered. So we stayed optimistic and sure enough eventually boarded the plane, yay! We had an incredibly smooth ride, considering the size of the plane and the stormy weather. We made it within minutes of the Lukla airport when the flight attendant told us that the landing strip was too wet and we had to turn around. My first thought: find Mossin and have the healing work done. There was a sense that I wouldn't be in the condition I needed to be for the trip without some healing work first, kinda like I needed to be primed for the amazing experience I was going to have, and if I wasn't then the trip wouldn't quite do me the justice I needed. So when we returned to Kathmandu I did just that and it was perfect, like many alternative healing modalities I felt myself relaxing and opening up to all the positive energies I was being surrounded by. 

Early in the following morning I was awakened by a loud clapping and crackling of lightening. As I jolted awake a voice came in that said, "this is you, cracking open to receive all there is available to you." Perfect. I am ready. A few hours later we all woke for our second attempt to fly out, though today was worse than yesterday. Going through the same motions as the previous day we went to the airport and began checking in. Hannah left to use the bathroom and some time had passed before Deven (our wonderful guide) came to get Corey (Hannah's husband) to let him know that she had fallen into some glass and had been cut. It definitely didn't sink in what "cut" had meant, but we quickly found her in the first aid room, leg lifted with a serious gash through her calf. After a whirlwind trip to the hospital- it's hard for an ambulance to speed when it is constantly dodging cars and potholes- and quite a bit of time while she got stitched up it became apparent that she and Corey would be going home. 

What was I to do? I knew I could continue on, but I didn't know how. Would I be alone, with Brett, or added into another group? Was it wise to continue on with only half the group? Luckily I had some wonderful support in the US who happened to still be awake at 1 am EST. I received the reminder I needed that I needed to go with the flow that the universe presented to me, I needed to remain open to alternative plans and most importantly I needed to receive all that was intended for me. Brett and I agreed that we would continue on with Deven and we would amend the itinerary to our current situation. It was a little odd, especially since I had know both Brett and Deven for only about 3 days, but everything felt right. Would I give it all up because of some sudden changes and discomfort, or would I keep faith and trust that all would be exactly as I needed it to be so long as I don't put up a fight? So this is how four became two, and I was placed on a trek that would forever change my life.