JustSimone.com

Simone walks the Santiago de Compostella Pilgrims path

Simone — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:49:49 +0000

On July 17th, I flew to Pau in France At the airport I met four French girls who kindly
gave me a ride to Bayonne. From there I took the train to St. Jean Pied de Port. That
night I stayed in a pilgrim?s hostel. The next morning I left at 6.30am to start my
Santiago de Compostella pilgrimage. This is a path of 815 kilometers (506 miles) and I
need to arrive in Santiago before August 24th. The first two days were through the
Pyrenees. The path was very steep with a climb of approximately 45%. This was quite hard with a backpack of 20 pounds to carry but the view was worth it.

The third night I slept in the old horses tables of Napoleon together with 110 other
pilgrims. What an experience that was!! The daily routine is as follows: I wake up round
5.30am, get dressed, have breakfast then start walking around 6am. Sometimes I even
started at 5am. Walking early in the morning is wonderful as everything is so quiet and
it is still dark outside. Watching the sunrise is another magical experience. I would
arrive at the next hostel after walking between 13.7 & 23 miles. These hostels mostly are
large rooms with an average of 50 beds. You pay an average of 5. - euros per night and
sometimes a meal is included. Then the first luxury is to have a warm shower. Sometimes they are cold. Then I wash my clothes because I only brought 2 of everything. After this,
it is time for a much needed nap. When refreshed, I do some writing, talk to other
pilgrims and have a meal. A pilgrims menu exists of a salad, fish or meat with fries,
bread, wine and water and cost aprox. 8 euros. Then it is time to go to bed. At ten o’clock
the lights dim in the hostel and if you are lucky you will have a good night sleep
without too much snoring. Last week, there was a man from Japan who snored so loud that even with earplugs I could not fall asleep. So, I took my mattress and moved to the
balcony. Soon two others followed. I guess this is part of the whole experience.

So far the camino (journey) has taken me through mountains, forest, vineyards, and fields of grain, green hills, small villages and big cities. The temperature is above 95. This
is quite warm to walk so you really want to be at your destination around 2pm. Yearly
more than 100.000 people walk the camino. The age varies from 18 till aprox. 70 years old and I have met people from many different countries mostly European but some from Korea, Japan and one from Australia. No Americans. Are they too scared???? Even though I walk alone, there is still a lot of contact with others and it feels as if we are one big family. You really support and help each other.

The camino is a journey that can chance your life. I have heard this many times and am
experiencing this as well. By focusing on walking only, I have become very aware of my
thoughts and way of living. I have received many wonderful insights and also some very
important lessons to learn. I have always been very focused on a goal and my goal was to
get to Santiago. To make it in time, I walked too fast and got blisters on my foot. They
became badly infected and my foot started to swell. When I arrived in Burgos (a large
city) I did not feel well at all and went to the hospital. The doctor gave me antibiotics
and told me not to walk for at least three days. The wound took a long time to heal and I
was stuck in Burgos for seven days. This was about 1/3 of the camino.

The camino will really give you what you need and I know that I need this experience as
well. The first few days I felt very sad as I couldn’t continue walking with all the
wonderful people I had met. I was constantly thinking about when I could start walking
again. My thoughts were not in the present moment at all. The man that ran the hostel
where I was staying didn’t speak one word English and I didn’t speak Spanish. Through the dictionary and sign language he told me that it was important to experience inner peace.
It doesn?t matter that you are not walking; you are still on the camino. Find your inner
peace and your blisters will heal, he said wisely. The goal is not important but the
journey in itself. He is right, but how difficult it is to change old patterns. So, this
was a wonderful opportunity to learn this. Every day I would sit on the bench in front of
the hostel writing and observing. Slowly I started to feel inner peace. I am grateful for
this experience and…. my Spanish has improved too.

Every pilgrim who walked too fast or too far in the beginning got problems. Some had huge blisters, others needed to go home because of a sun stroke. Those who started out slowly and listened to their body could continue without problems. I felt that I got a second chance so when I finally started walking again, I started slowly and listened to my body as well. If I will make it to Santiago, I don?t know but it is not important anymore. I
will enjoy each moment.

It felt like I was starting a whole new journey. I was now about one third of the way. The first stage of my journey was one of fun, lots of singing and meeting wonderful people. This new phase was more of an inner journey. In this time, I received many insights about myself and my lifestyle. I discovered that I am a excitement junkie. I am addicted to peak experiences. The minute something becomes familiar, I am searching for new challenges and find my happiness in this. But do I want to continue living like this? No, I realized. I had a strong feeling that the end of the camino would be the end of a phase in my life. It was more than ten years since Nico passed away and since I started my journey of discovering who I am. I did this through al the traveling and through many experiences. Now, I felt I was starting a new phase in my life. One of inner peace. I want to create a more simple life. Now that I am aware of this, I will make different choices that can help me to create this.

After a few days on my new journey, I met a wonderful Italian man who did the camino by bike. He felt that I could teach him something and asked if he could walk with me. Asking many questions and with his bike in his hand he walked with me for two days and 46 miles. This man has entered the World Championships downhill skiing and duathlon for

Italy. He now drives for Ferrari in the auto races. He has climbed a 17000 feet mountain in South America and 16000 feet mountain in

China. Has been on TV and owns a successful dentist practice. He has achieved anything he wanted and yet he is not happy. That is why he is doing the camino. He would like to get insights that can help him to find happiness. This man was a great mirror for me as he also lives from one peak experience to another.

After the big city

Leon, 2/3 on the way, I got diarrhea. Lying in my bed at night I was shivering. I had a fever and was really cold. Pilgrims offered some medicine to me but I felt that this was a physical cleanse so did not accept them. I was letting go of the old. The next morning the fever was gone but the diarrhea lasted a few days. This was quite a challenge while walking but I got through it.

At the Cruz de Ferro, a cross high on a mountain, I left the list with all the names and emotions that you wanted to let go of. Initially I was going to do burn it in Fisterre but this is the place where every pilgrim leaves the stone they brought from their hometown. This stone represents all the things that they would like to let go of. I really felt that I needed to leave the list here so that we could enter a phase of transformation. I am very curious to hear if you have experience anything that is connect to what you wanted to let go of. In these past two months. I would love to hear your story.

A week before I would arrive in

Santiago, I did not feel like walking anymore. The mornings were ok. I would have enough energy but after 7 miles, I was done. I didn’t enjoy the whole routing anymore of getting up early, walking, finding a hostel, showering, washing clothes and sleep and I wanted to go home. I prayed for strength and guidance and learned that this was a very important issue in my life. Normally when I enter such a phase, I look for a new peak experience. Now, I felt that I really needed to persist and hold on to the vision of my goal. I could make it to

Santiago and I realized that I could choose to enjoy these last steps. With new energy I continued to walk. It was a very emotional experience for me when I finally arrived in

Santiago on August 22^nd. I had made it; not just physically and mentally but I had also received so many important insights. With tears in my eyes, I entered the Cathedral and witnessed the special service for pilgrims.

I had intended to walk another 62 miles to Fisterre. This is where the land meets the ocean and where the camino really finishes. It is also called: The end of the old world. This is very appropriate for a pilgrimage. Because I had to rest in

Burgos for seven days, I didn’t have enough time to walk another three days. My flight to

Holland would leave early in the morning on the 26^th. I did feel that I needed to go there so I took the bus and walked the last 10 miles. At night, I went to the ocean and burned some clothes as a metaphor to let go of my old self. When the sun went down, I felt that I indeed had finished a phase in my life and I had entered a new one. With much gratitude and many fond memories I think back to an incredible experience. This journey has changed my life.

In peace.,

Simone Awhina

Presenting at conference for Therapeutic Riding

Simone — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 17:09:13 +0000

June 24, 2007

It is funny how horses have come back into my life again. Here I was at a conference for Therapeutic Riding and I have learned so much. There were people from Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming and most of them work at a

Therapeutic Riding Center. In the morning we were at the Holiday Inn where we learned more about what the benefits are of Therapy with horses as well as how to take care of your horse which was presented by a vet from

Sheridan.

In the afternoon we went to CHAPS which is the riding center in

Sheridan. Michelle from

Arizona did a presentation in which we had to either act out a disability or be the volunteer to help this person. I was the volunteer for a woman who had to pretend that she was blind. As I had never worked like this before I said to her; I am not sure if I will be of much help guiding you but I can sing for you. We all had a great laugh about this one. After she had been brought to the horse and had brushed him, it was my turn to have the blindfold on and to pretend that I was blind. It was interesting to experience this. I enjoyed feeling the horse with a visual input. As I have very little experience working with people with disabilities, I found all the information very helpful.

On Sunday morning a massage therapist for horses did a presentation and I was really fascinated by this. She works with pressure points and also mentioned energy work. Afterwards I felt drawn to talk to her and explain what I do. She was really interested and feels that some of her clients would benefit from a workshop.

I did my presentation on Sunday afternoon. Never thought I would do one in an arena for horses. I am so glad that I was part of this conference. I have learned so much and have met wonderful people. New doors have opened for me and I am excited to see where this will lead.

Listening to my intuition

Simone — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 17:05:34 +0000

June 23, 2007

My intuition is increasing tremendously. When I was driving from Jackson to

Sheridan, which was about 7 ½ hrs, I heard this soft voice inside my head saying to check the tires. I ignored this voice and about 100 miles later; I heard a loud bang and realized I had a flat tire. As I was in the middle of nowhere I had to drive another 20 miles to the nearest town where I found a petrol station that was able to help me out. These big tires can’t be replaced by someone like me without the right tools. After the spare tire was put on, I saw that some wires were dragging on the ground. They were broken but we couldn’t see where they were coming from. I still had another 200 miles to go and had to cross the

Big Horn Mountains with an elevation of 9660 ft. What was I to do? The man at the gas station didn’t know of any one who could help me so I had no option but to drive on. It bothered me that I didn’t know what they were for and every thing I tried was still working. While driving all these thoughts popped in my mind; what if it is related to the breaks or the steering wheel and I am in the mountains and I crash? Fear came over me. When I realized this, I took some time to tune into my intuition and ask if I should drive on. I felt I would be ok as long as I was careful. So of I went visualizing that I would arrive safely in

Sheridan and I did.

When I was in

Sheridan last week, I saw a flyer for a Victorian ball and really wanted to go there but I didn’t think that I was going to be in town for this event. While driving I remembered that this was on the 22^nd, I was excited as I would be able to attend this event. The flyer had said that it was a costumed ball so I was wondering what I could wear for the occasion. I didn’t really have anything Victorian and there was no time for me to rent something. Then I realized that when I was in a store in Denver a few weeks ago, I had seen a dress that was on sale and it was a more classical gown than I usually wear. I had bought it as I felt I could use it if I would do a more classical type of concert. This dress was perfect for this event. I arrived half an hour before the ball started so had to rush to fresh up, do my hair and make up and get dressed.

When I walked in, I saw some people from the Chamber of Commerce and suddenly I hear; Simone, what are you doing here? It was Edre whom I had met at the Holistic Fair. Most people came in pairs but I was lucky that I got asked by Nathan from Colorado, who turned out to be the perfect dance partner. It was great fun to see everyone in beautiful costumes and to learn Victorian dances. I had a great time and it was another one of those things that you don’t get to do very often. I just love to experience new things so when it is my time to pass on, I can look back and say; I have done all the things that I wanted to do. I have had an incredible life.

Going back to Sheridan

Simone — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:24:07 +0000

June 22, 2007

Last night I found a nice place at Mosquito Creek in

Wilson to park my RV for the night. I parked it really close to the creek and felt drawn to sing so while I was cooling down my feet, I gave a concert for the trees and wildlife of that area. There is something special about singing in nature and not having a human audience. In nature it doesn’t matter how I sing or what I do, it is always ok and I never feel judged. We as humans and I am guilty of this too, do have a tendency to judge. Our mind is a funny thing. Every time we see something, our mind needs to label this. How often do we try to change someone if this person is different or acts different than we do? We would like them to act, behave and live like we do but when we really look into this, how would this world be if everybody would be the same. I am observing these thought patterns now and try not to pay attention to this. I would like to see the brilliance in every thing and every body and accept someone for who they are. It is such a wonderful feeling to be accepted for who you are. This is probably the biggest gift you can give to someone.

Karen Clift, the singer from Sheridan, had given me the name of her friends Denny and Sally Beckers who live in Wilson which is close to

Jackson. I had called them when I first came into town and they had invited me for breakfast in their home so this morning at 8am I was welcomed into their beautiful home. They have a B & B so the table was filled with people from all over. They came from Florida, California, Dallas and even the

UK. I always love to meet new people and hear their stories. Danny and Sally are very warm and hospitable and their house is located on top of a hill surrounded by lush greens and a great view of the mountains. Their website is www.cruising-america.com/tetontreehouse

After a wonderful home cooked breakfast with great company I went back the Riding Center again as Donna had asked me to work with a group of people who were mentally challenged. This was a fun group with lots of play time so I did some singing with them which they enjoyed.

Afterwards Donna said that she was going to this NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) and that she had talked to the organization and it might be possible for me to do a presentation on the Healing Power of Sound. I asked her where this conference was and had to laugh when she said Sheridan. I guess Sheridan is calling me again. I had not even been gone for a week and I am heading out there again.

Healing at the Therapeutic Riding Center

Simone — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 18:44:22 +0000

June 21, 2007

Yesterday morning I took the ski lift up onto the mountain at 8000ft from which I had a great view of the Grand Tetons. These mountains have stolen my heart. I feel extremely drawn to them. From there I hiked all the way down which was really nice. I like

Jackson. I think I could live here although the winters might be a bit too cold for me.

In the afternoon I went back to the

Therapeutic Riding Center as Donna had asked me to work with some children. They were both around 16 and mentally and physically challenged. After I did some toning for a while Sydney, one of the girls, started to make sounds as well. I followed her tone and she seemed to really enjoy it. With some tones, she even shaped her mouth. Her mother told me later that she has never been so verbal and that she doesn’t speak so for her to shape her mouth was really amazing. She really got into the toning and it was a very special moment. The physical therapist of both girls was present and she said that the other girl McKeanna had been more quite and relaxed.

After this session there was an older woman Donna and Laura, the woman from yesterday, in the same session. Donna really enjoyed the toning and when I asked her if she liked to sing, she started to sing a song and it sounded really beautiful. We then sang Ave Maria together and she knew most of the words to this. The trainers had goose bumps all over. After this, I asked her to tone with me and she did so. I then worked on Laura and got her to tone with me and focus on certain areas of her body while also visualizing a color in that area. She could feel the resonance through her own sound and her body relaxed.

She had mentioned that after the first time I worked on her, she could still feel the benefit of this in the evening. She had felt her whole neck and jaw area much more relaxed.

The next session was a young Spanish boy, who every time I stopped with toning said; mass which means more. I couldn’t even take a breath or he already asked for more. He also did a bit of toning with me.

It is so wonderful to work with all these different children and people and see what kind of effect it has on them.

Kelly, the executive director, said that they had a board meeting that morning and that she had mentioned what had happened. The board was really interested and might like to have me as part of the therapy. We will see where this goes but I am very excited about all the possibilities.

An amazing experience

Simone — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 18:43:32 +0000

June 20, 2007

Something really amazing happened yesterday. When I had sent out an email to my friends that I was coming to Wyoming and if they could recommend any places, my friend Ed from upstate New York emailed me that he was in

Jackson. I told him that I longed to be on a horse ranch and if he knew of any. He asked his friends but they didn’t know of any but Ed gave me the phone number of his friend Trace and said that I could call him when I was in

Jackson. So when I arrived two days ago, I called him and ask if he knew of anyone with horses as I still had that longing to be with horses and hopefully to do some riding in this amazing area. I did wonder why I still had this strong longing as I haven’t had that for years. Trace told me he only knew of the

Therapeutic Riding Center and that they always are in need of volunteers. I felt I needed to go there so in the afternoon I drove to the center.

When I arrived, I told them that I was in town for a few days and that I had been told that they need volunteers. They cheered and asked if I could help now as they were putting invitations for their fundraiser in envelopes. So I joint the group and smiled to myself. Here I was, in a new town, preparing invitations and meeting new people. Most people go sightseeing when they haven’t been somewhere before. What I love about this is that it is a great way of meeting new people quickly.

They told me about the special programs that they do and recommended that I go and watch a session so I sat down outside of the arena watching Donna, the therapist, work with Laura. Laura is a woman of 34 who had been in a terrible accident seven years ago. She was paralyzed and the doctors had told her that she would not be able to walk again. Two years ago, she came out of her wheelchair and is now walking with a cane.

While watching her, I felt that I might be able to help her so I thought I would approach her after her session and offer to do some healing on her. Donna suddenly asked Laura what kind of music she likes as she works with music in her sessions. Laura said classical as well as Jazz. I knew that this was the perfect time for me to speak up so I said; how about live music? I am a singer and a sound healer. Donna invited me in the arena. While I walked into the arena, I felt tingling throughout my entire body. Laura sat on Smokey the horse; two women held her legs and one was leading the horse. While the walked around the arena, I did my toning. After about 5 minutes I stopped and Donna came up to me with tears in her eyes. She said; that was amazing. Laura told me that she had felt her entire body relax which she has not been able to do at all for the last seven years. Donna asked if I wanted to do some more so we did another five minutes. In the meantime, Donna has asked for Kelly the executive director to come and watch and some other people who were there watch too.

After I was done, the three of us looked at each other and we all knew that this had been a very special moment. Even the trainers who were working with the horse had felt it. Laura said that she had felt the horse totally relax and that this was better then any massage that she had ever had.She said that since the last seven years she had constantly felt pain but in the last ten minutes she had not felt any. She is writing a book about Chronicle pain and all the things she has discovered that can help and said; I want to add another chapter to my book about this. Can I interview you? I want to know all about this. I was really excited about this whole experience as in the morning I had asked the Universe if I could get a testimonial that my tones really help people. Well, I couldn’t get a better testimonial then this. I told them that I had a CD out with my toning and that I would give one to each. Donna said; do you have two? I will be going to a congress on Hypo therapy this weekend and would like to tell them about this.We all felt so blessed by this very special moment and knew that this had been very important for all of us. This would open many new doors and we are all very excited about the possibilities.

Every morning when I wake up, I say; please show me where I need to go, what I need to do, who I need to meet and let me be of service. This has brought me many unforgettable moments but what had happened today had truly been a God’s gift.

Coming home at Grand Teton

Simone — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 18:42:39 +0000

June 19, 2007 I had planned to leave early to

Grand Teton

National Park yesterday but woke up in the middle of the night and did some songwriting. After I finally went back to sleep I woke up at 8am so by the time I was ready to leave it was 9am.

I visited the Old Faithful Geyser and was lucky that it started to blow only 10 minutes after I was there. From there I drove to the

Grand Teton

National Park. The minute I saw those incredible mountains I was mesmerized by them. They are the most incredible mountains I have ever seen. It is as if they radiate light. I felt like I had been here before and it felt like coming home. The energy here is really beautiful and I have a similar sense as when I came to Sedona although Sedona is very masculine energy and this is more feminine yet powerful in its own way.

I went for a beautiful hike along

Jenny

Lake and then drove to a campground to stay for the night.

Yellowstone National Park

Simone — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:52:56 +0000

June 18, 2007

Yesterday I drove from

Bridge Bay to

Canyon Village where I saw the Yellowstone Grand Canyon. Wow, the colors of the canyon were just amazing. Because of the sulpher they had pallets of yellow, while, red and pink. The waterfall in the midst of these beautiful colors just added that extra magic.

From there I drove North to Tower- Roosevelt and saw Moose, Deer, a Black Bear cup, and Elk. This place is a heaven for wildlife. I then drove up to Mammoth Hot Springs and saw the beautiful terraces. I am amazed how the scenery constantly changes. You only have to drive a few miles and you go from green hills, to deep canyons, then to a lake shore and then to hot springs. I had been told that

Yellowstone National Park was really beautiful but had not expected this. From the

hot springs I drove south to Norris and the weather changed. It started to snow! I couldn’t believe it. Yesterday morning it was 75 C and now it was 40 C. I am glad that I bought some warm clothes. Tonight I am staying at a campground in

Madison.

Although I am really enjoying being here in this amazing piece of nature, I wish that I could share this. Staying at the campground, I see couples and families and realize how wonderful it is to share these special moments. So I am glad that I can at least share this with you.

Indian Powwow

Simone — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:52:06 +0000

June 17, 2007

Yesterday night I stayed at the Wall-mart parking area with a lot of other RV’s because of the Powwow that was happening today. I can’t believe my luck. Of all days that I have been traveling exactly on the day that I am in Cody there is a Powwow. I have never experienced one so decided to attend. It is quite funny; one moment I am hanging out with the cowboys and the next I am surrounded by Native American Indians.

The Grand Opening was really beautiful with Indians of all ages dressed in a variety of customs. They danced while others were playing the drums and singing Indians songs. This really resonated with me and I could feel the vibrations in my body. After spending a few hours there, it was time to head to

Yellowstone National Park.

The drive through it was really beautiful. I drove through a beautiful canyon and was surrounded by majestic mountains. I had made reservations this morning to stay at the

Bridge Bay campground and arrived around 6pm. I love the energy of this park. You can really feel that you are in a National Park where there is no industry or residential area at all. There is just nature.

Singing National Anthem at the Rodeo

Simone — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:40:19 +0000

June 16, 2007

It was time to say good bye to Padlock Ranch and finally head towards

West Wyoming. I had to go through the

Bighorn Mountains and the pass was about 7500 ft. I have to be honest that I could not look into the depth and had to take some deep breaths. It was only 10 years ago when Nico and I drove through

New Zealand in the RV and I couldn’t look at all when we were driving through the mountains. I have come a long way and am proud of myself that I don’t let my fear stop me from doing what I love to do. Here I am, driving a 30 ft RV through the mountains all by myself.

On my way I saw a beautiful waterfall and amazing scenery. I had to take another pass but this one was only 9000 ft. Hey, I am getting used to this! When I was in shell I called the Flitner Family. They own a large cattle Ranch as well as a dude Ranch in Shell. Vicky had told me last week that they might let me stay on their ranch and help with a cattle drive. This was before I knew I was going to stay at Padlock. When I arrived in Shell, I rang the lady and she said that I needed to talk to the manager of the dude Ranch as he might be able to help me. I rang but got the voice mail so I decided to drive by. When I arrived, for some reason I felt that this was not the place for me to stay right now. I did have my cattle drive and it was time to move on to something new so I drove on to Cody.

In Cody, I saw that they have nightly rodeos so I went to the Rodeo Ground and talked to someone of the organization. I mentioned that I am a singer and that I would like to offer to sing the National Anthem. They loved the idea and so at 8 pm when the rodeo started and after the announcer said a prayer, I entered on a horse to the center of the arena while the announcer introduced me. I then sang the National Anthem for aprox. 1000 people and then canter out of the arena. It was a great experience! I was then able to watch the Rodeo. Having spent a day with the cowboys, I now understand why they do all these exercises and what the purpose of it is. Although I don’t really see the purpose of riding the bull. I guess this is just to prove the manly hood of the guys.

When the Rodeo was finished, I went to a cowboy bar where they had live music and ended up doing the Two Step with a man who was a great dancer. So, I now know another dance!