There are so many memories from our Guatemalan vacation that are still vivid in my mind that it is difficult to step back and pick one to write about. Instead of writing about what we did on the trip, I want to write about the essence of Lake Atitlan, from my perspective.
I believe what we experienced at Lake Atitlan has caused changes in several of us and maybe all of us. Like the ripples on that beautiful lake, the ripple effect of feelings from the trip has continued in my life.
Let me just get it out that Lake Atitlan is THE most beautiful lake I have ever seen. It is postcard beautiful and it is impossible to not notice that. There is no bad view of this lake. I bet there was not one person on the trip that doesn’t have at least 5 pictures of the lake. I don’t think I was prepared for such stunning views. I was astonished and captivated by this excess of scenic beauty. I wanted to treat it with a high degree of reverence.
Beyond the sheer beauty lies a mystical presence of this lake. I am positive this spirit of the lake was present as I tried to find a quiet place to meditate on and contemplate on this aspect of the lake each morning I was at La Casa Colibri. With 9 people and 3 staff members sharing a space in one house, it was a bit of a challenge but I managed to find some solitude almost every morning we were there. In my own spiritual practice I have been working on being present.
Considering my professional life is all about listening to others that I am coaching, being present is incredibly important. I believe it is my life purpose as a matter of fact. My intent was to be as present as I possibly could be while facing the lake and quieting my mind. I wanted to be where I was, while I was there and not want to think about what we were going to eat for breakfast or where we were going shopping that day. I was trying to soak it all up and fill myself up with Lago Atitlan.
Most recently, I went to our 12 year old granddaughters’ performance of “King Arthur’s Quest” after she had attended a week long summer camp at One World Theater in Austin, Texas. She was one of four Damsels in Distress and these were the girliest group of giggling preteens I have ever seen. Stay with me because I am trying to make a point here.
One of the characters in this middle school age children’s production was the Lady of the Lake. She has an important part in the tales of King Arthur.
One of the characters in this middle school age children’s production was the Lady of the Lake. She has an important part in the tales of King Arthur.
The Lady of The Lake was a mysterious female credited with giving King Arthur the legendary sword Excalibur and the mystic scabbard which protected the wearer from dying. She was also credited with abducting Lancelot to her underwater dwelling to be her ward, training him to be the greatest of all knights.
I don’t know what gender this spirit was but these attributes came through for me for Lake Atitlan…mysterious, intuitive, receptive, sensitive, emotional, evocative and alive.
One late afternoon I was on the main patio looking across and a huge thick cloud dipped down to water level all the way on the other side of the lake, from the top of the volcano swooping down to the lake level and began rushing toward me at an impossible rate. I thought my eyes were deceiving me.
I called the others out to verify what was happening in my skeptical brain. This cloud was engulfing everything in sight and it was coming right at us! It was scary and exciting and unbelievable all at the same time. As everyone fumbled with their cameras to capture this moment, I just watched as it turned everything gray and hazy in the background.
No lake town lights, no boats, no water even, nothing but a huge alive cloud coming at us at breakneck speed. Then right before it threatened to engulf us, it lifted high above us and moved over the mountain behind us. It was like a curtain being pulled up in front of us.
I called the others out to verify what was happening in my skeptical brain. This cloud was engulfing everything in sight and it was coming right at us! It was scary and exciting and unbelievable all at the same time. As everyone fumbled with their cameras to capture this moment, I just watched as it turned everything gray and hazy in the background.
No lake town lights, no boats, no water even, nothing but a huge alive cloud coming at us at breakneck speed. Then right before it threatened to engulf us, it lifted high above us and moved over the mountain behind us. It was like a curtain being pulled up in front of us.
Magically, then there were the volcanoes, the twinkling lights of the villages on the other side and, of course, the silky deep blue water. I had never seen anything like that.
As I reflect now on the Lake Atitlan experience for myself, I believe the time I spent being present with that clear lake, helped me get clarity around the next steps in my life. I feel stronger than ever that my place is here in San Miguel de Allende . I have had one foot in a boat called the US and one foot in a boat called Mexico for too long now. Those boats begin to drift apart and as I continued to try to straddle them it became uncomfortable. I want both feet in one boat. That boat is at the dock on Callejon de Curtidores and that's were our house is in San Miguel.
The three chairs Lucas, our major-domo, covered with towels each morning with a look out over the lake. Great place for coffee
The mysterious movements of the lake reflected on the surface. The ripple effect.
The volcanoes Toliman and Santiago across the lake with gathering clouds.
The mysterious mass of clouds beginning to move across the lake towards Casa Colibri.
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