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"Pilgrimage is a journey of risk and renewal. For a journey without challenge has no meaning; one without purpose has no soul."
Shapeshifting – A Shamanic Journey to Ladakh, India With John Perkins
May 23- June 6, 1999
This unique journey was planned to Ladakh, known as “little Tibet”. Ladakh is the most northern most remote region of India, a barren and vitually rainless area. The inhabited areas are where rivers, running from far off glaciers or melting snows bring their waters. The early history of Ladakh is that of Tibet itself as it was originally a province of that kingdom. It was governed in secular matters by an independent prince, and in spiritual affairs by the Dalai Lama in Lhasa (which is now in China).
During our two week tour, we spent a week in Ladakh which happened to coincide with Wesak, the holiest day for the Buddhists. To our utter delight, the Dalai Lama was also there lecturing to about 20,000 Tibetans everyday from his raised dias in the middle of a plateau surrounded by the Himalayan mountains! We attended his lectures in the mornings and went to different Tibetan shamans in the afternoon for healings. His office invited us to the final Wesak ceremony where the field was filled with incense, the tribal Tibetan dances were performed, lamas circumbulated around the Dalai Lama, and we were all included in the food festivities. It was magical! We visited the out-worldly ancient monastery of Lamayuru, as well as the largest monastery Hemis built in 1630, peaceful Alchi monastery and the old Shey Palace. John guided us through shamanic rituals, one being performed along the banks of the Indus River.
There were two hightlights on this tour. The first was our chance meeting of the Dalai Lama on the same flight as us from Ladakh to Dharamsala. I personally had to ask him for an audience and we were granted a 45 minute meeting with him at his residence in Dharamsala. After being refused by his office at the inception of this tour, this was a dream come true. The second highlight was arranging a Sikh wedding for Mitch, a psychiatrist and Paula, a chiroprator, who were both from Colorado. We had the traditional mehendi ceremony at my aunt’s home in Delhi, and Mitch came on a elephant to the temple. The women looked beautiful in their Indian saris and the men in kurta pyjamas with pink turbans.
Photo Gallery
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