◄ by Janan Stiles – Strafford, NH ►
On the first day of our recent Attunement at Sea trip we anchored offshore a small island near Bimini, one of the Bahama islands, for an unexpected time communing with local stingrays. Kneeling in the shallow water along the beach the rays immediately found us. Of course, they were accustomed to the organic calamari we brought along to feed them, yet they seemed more interested in us than the food. The captain had provided instruction about the stingrays and their barbs, yet all the fear-mongering stories I’d ever heard came flooding to mind before entering the water. The reality is that rays whip their barbs only if you step on their backs or they are threatened. It’s a natural reflex defense for self-protection. Shuffling our feet in the sand while entering the water slowly, kneeling down and extending Attunement current, the rays were incredibly affectionate, loving our touch, brushing our bodies, and eating the food from our hands. Their flesh is luxuriantly soft. They feel like a wet mushroom with oil on it. After feeding them we donned mask, snorkel, and fins and floated or swam with them. They continued their affectionate rubbing of our faces, shoulders and bodies. This process came to a natural end and we walked further down the beach and began sharing Attunement with each other in the chest-deep warm water thinking that the rays were long gone. But as soon as we started the sessions they were all around us again. The water is drinking-water clear so it was easy to see where they were but shuffling our feet in the sand was still essential. The rays became part of the deep freedom and relaxation of Attunement.
In thinking about this experience later I was reminded of the significance of our human defenses. We all have them. Some innate, some acquired in our living, appropriate and useful at the time they were needed. And with even a little understanding we can avoid stepping on each other and getting ‘whipped with a barb!’ But how often do we take the time to really understand and respect each other’s defenses? It’s so habitual to make assumptions about why someone acts the way they do, or to just react. It may be easy to understand those who are very similar to us but how often do we attempt to understand the self-protective behaviors of those of a different culture, race, religion, gender or political view? When we do understand, or at least offer our respect without expecting them to fit into our preconceived ideas, we not only avoid getting ‘barbed’ but we pave a path to communing easily on an Attunement level. Then magically all those people (or creatures) who seemed so rough or terrifying are attracted and brushing us affectionately as is their true and divine nature…and some of the defenses soften or melt away. No matter how much Attunement we offered the rays if we had not respected their natural defense we still may have been whipped with barbs. In affection and Attunement their tails felt like a comb of feathers.
We had time with the wild dolphins on this trip as well in various ways. On the last day we were surrounded by three profoundly content mothers with their babies. The mothers brought them very close to us without hesitation. which seemed an incredible sign of trust and natural awareness of our true connection.The speed and ease with which they move through the water so effortlessly is other-worldly. No doubt they are influencing the water with their sonar beyond our limited hearing range which is amazing to experience. How effortlessly do we move through and influence our atmosphere?
On our last day I shared a poem I had written describing, as best one can in words, some essences of being in the presence of dolphins and I have included it here for you.
Spiraling up from the depths
of long forgotten awareness
A peace-filled emissary from the dimensionless
glides through the liquid spheres
night-permeated with the knowledge
of the stars and moons and suns
Oneness here
Come and play and feast
and mate and touch
All of life is freedom and sweet pleasure
Nowhere to hide
All is seen, all is known, deception impossible
Rest now, surrender complete
In transparency is safety
All is artistry here
Impulses conveyed unimpeded multiply creation
On and on in endless synchronicity
Helix within helix, breath within breath, life within life
Communicate soul to soul, essence to essence
sharing wordless colors which find the common language
Heart-light to heart-light
Truth to Truth
- For more information on Attunement At Sea trips click here
- To see trip photos click here
I awoke this morning with a writing of my own on a difficult subject. Twice I was inadvertently brought back to this beautiful expression and feel relieved of the heaviness. So, thank you!
Thank you Janan – that was beautiful! And, a great reminder of the “barbs” we all carry. Compassion and patience seem to be an integral part of the Attunement current.
Beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing.