
"Valinor" © by Ted Nasmith
Welcome pilgrim, to a voyage of the soul. If you will,
please consider stepping aboard my ship…I am the Capt’n and your guide through
this wondrous world of spirit. I have been known by many other different names,
some call me the twin, JC, several the Feathered Serpent, some the Inca,
to one shaman, Vince Stogan, I was the young elder and to another shaman, don Eduardo Calderon, the big cat that
flies, to one the Mad Peruvian Shaman and to another Capt'n Moses and to my close friends, the morning star. But to you, dear visitor, I
am the Capt’n that will take you to many glorious ports of call. Be forewarned,
however, during this voyage of spirit you may encounter rough seas and various
rocky shoals, dangerous places for one’s own comfort zone.
Many have told me how easy it is to bury the past and accept
being wounded and staying wounded as a normal condition. Ah, but I say, at what
price? The ancient ones teach that our soul, our life-force is immortal, but
the conscious life that one knows is fleeting. And yes, my dear one, you will
spend many, many lifetimes on this world called earth. And each and every
lifetime, it is for one purpose and one purpose only—to quicken the light, the
vibration of the soul that is the life-force. This is the reason for existence
and the wealth that we all seek, even if we know it not.
For many of us, a
part of our youth was spent dreaming and imaging adventurous quests for
treasure beyond belief. Tales of pirates and myths of gold and jewels kept us
entertained during the long hot days and cool nights of summer. The various
mystical journeys and voyages to claim these fabulous riches are a part of our
soul, though buried deep within us as youthful memories of times much simpler
and happier.
What if all of the myths and legends were true, but not in the way
that you imagined? What would you say if the treasure that is sought in all the
legends and myths is, in reality, the inner hidden treasures of your heart and
soul? What would you say if I told you that you could be the hero/heroine in
your own grand adventure? This then is the purpose of our voyage…to claim the
legacy that is your divinity, and in the process, to help others in their own
quest of spirit. This will quicken the light and expand the love that is your
soul.
But first, I must ask you: Do you know who you are? This is
the beginning question that you must answer before you board my vessel. If you
believe that you are divine, as well as human, then step aboard. Once on ship,
you will recognize that our vessel is a sanctuary of love not fear. As we begin
our voyage let me explain about the three pillars of light.
Life is an interesting journey. For some, it is an on-going
battle between good and evil, and for others, a paradise to be re-claimed.
However, as all of us have discovered, life is ever changing, a sifting flow
of light and dark boarded by the shadow. But surrounded at all times by the
eternal light of love. Within the light and the dark of life, and as a part of this journey, I would ask you
to be kind while always expressing from your heart, a compassionate spirit.

Our voyage takes us first to the southern seas, home to the
shamans, the druids and the kahunas of my world. The shamans, whether they are
called druid or kahuna, are the old ones, the first religious leaders. Let me
ask you another question: what is religion? In our journey, knowledge is always
important; it may unite us while ignorance will always separate us.
Shamans are cosmic voyager’s bringing sacred knowledge,
sacred science and lore to a community of souls. They are not only healers but
are also known for their work with spiritual guardians. I have an interesting
tale to tell you about bonding with a heavenly guardian during a descending
spirit exorcism.
Ah, pilgrim, that is one thing about this journey of
soul…you need to experience spirit, not only with the mind, but also with the
body. When you accept the path of the shaman in life, there is great responsibility and always in the recesses of mind, fear. Sometimes I wonder, who would ever want to be a shaman? The shaman also knows that laughter is sometimes the best medicine as it
loosens the body and heals the mind in a moment of magic.
Pilgrim, I need to be blunt with you…what do you need to
forgive? Laughter heals the moment but forgiveness heals a lifetime. The
southern seas are the realm of serpent medicine. This is the water serpent that
helps cleanse your emotional body and assists you in shedding the skins of your
past through forgiveness. I am only your guide here, the true teacher is nature.
Let me share with you some good advice, always: Look, Listen, Learn and Be Patient in your journey of spirit—always one step at a time, but most importantly, walk your talk. The lessons that the serpent
will teach you are many, and on going; but for now, we must voyage to the
western seas.
Stand straight pilgrim; these are dangerous waters. You are
learning to let go of the past by releasing your anger, shame, guilt and
resentment. But how about the present and the fears, the uncertainties and the
doubts of your life. What do you fear, pilgrim? Fear is the opposite of love.
When I talk about fear, I’m also including doubt and uncertainty.
Be steady, pilgrim; the western seas eternally shift and
change. Where one moment, there is an island, the next nothing. These waters
are always unknown, thus the fear. But let me ask you: how much are these
waters like your life? Never lose faith in yourself or life in general. By voyaging
through these waters and facing your fears, you will come to embrace your
spiritual warriorship and become a warrior of heart.
Are you ready to be twice born? Our first birth is a given
fact, ah but the second birth, the spiritual one, is totally in your hands.
This is what I call the first spiritual awakening after the symbolic death of
the past. But few realize that there is a second spiritual birth, and to be
third born, you must face many, many symbolic deaths. Only then will you step beyond death.

Within these western
waters lie many islands where you may be twice born. Be aware, pilgrim as you
step ashore…these western isles are the home to jaguar. Do not be afraid of
mother-sister jaguar, she will let you face your fears, and help you let go of the ones
that you are able to, and to the others, she will help you make peace with them. When you are ready, she will guide you to a stream on the island
where you will bathe and experience your first spiritual birth.
You look different
pilgrim, your eyes. The swiftly flowing waters of mother earth cleanse, purify
and wash away the hurt and pain of our heart and mind. We have been voyaging
many weeks and you seem proud. Make sure this pride is based on accomplishment
from your heart not ego from your mind. This is a pitfall of illusion that many
fall into after experiencing a little knowledge. They puff themselves up and
begin calling themselves a shaman, a master. How sad and ridiculous. But many
accept what others call themselves, their titles, without seeking the truth.

The spiritual path
is not easy. It is a razors edge, a swords edge with deep chasms on each side
of the path; one is doubt, the other…ego. We are approaching the northern
isles, home to the mystics, the ones that will guide you through the Tree of Life, and the ancestors, the ancient ones that you know as
the Archangels and the Bodhisattvas. This is also the path of the white
hummingbird. This is where we learn the way of the Ancient Ones by stepping outside of time with the death of ego. We live in the timeless now, in a state of awakening unfettered to the past, to fear, or to death. This is the realm of Peace and Harmony. Hummingbirds are sun angels—messengers of light. As the teacher, we take our message of light (knowledge) to the ones shrouded in darkness (ignorance).
We are now sailing
towards the eastern seas. The voyage has been difficult, but to have reached
this point, makes it all a beautiful experience, worth every tear and every laugh.
The east
is the path of the eagle/condor and is the location of the gateway that leads to the realm of the feathered serpent, the plumed one that will bring the dawn
of oneness to each and every individual and to the earth. Here, pilgrim, among
these isles we learn that each island looks separate but it is only an
illusion, just as each person looks separate is an illusion. We are all one; we
are one humanity that is human in its diversity and divine in its oneness.
Let go of being separate. It is only an illusion and is one of the root causes
of suffering. Being separate and attached to the external and ego, you suffer,
but being one and un-attached to ego or the external, you free yourself to soar
as the feathered serpent, as earth and heaven, become one.
Pilgrim, we are at
the end of our voyage for now. But I would ask you to continue on, for you’re a
Capt’n now. If you turn around you will see that we are back home once again.
Farewell, pilgrim, it has been a pleasure and an honor to be your Capt’n. And
one last thought, always remember to keep the winds at your back and the sun in
your face and most importantly…laugh!
We hope that you enjoy our website.
Jim and Sher
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