Maui Magic: Dancing with the Whales
To be in the presence of whales is to be in the presence of God.
My body is still vibrating from my experience yesterday swimming with a small group of whales on the west shore of Maui. Words are hard to find, since my experience was so visceral. The calmness and awe that I felt out there will remain in my body as a touchstone of peace. Here is a small sliver of my story and how deeply moved I am by this magical encounter.
A dear friend and I took a kayak out to sea with a glimmer of hope that we might catch the sight of a tale or spout showing us the glory of a whale or two swimming nearby. The day was just perfect. The ocean was glassy with the sun shining and a bright blue sky overhead. I was mesmerized by the expansiveness of the ocean and the gentle rhythm of our paddles gliding through the water. There was a lightness to our adventure with little expectation of what would happen. Being out there on the water with good vibes and a feeling of freedom was enough. As we chatted and sipped in the peacefulness, we had a few whale sightings in the distance. The gentle giants glided by us. Even though at first we could only see small glimpses of their magnificent bodies - a tale, a spout or a moment of seeing their backs come to the surface, I was moved to stillness by the way I felt being so near them. The call for stillness and presence was palpable.
Listening with Presence
As we got closer, my friend suggested I get in the water so that I could hear them. I have never heard such a mournful, joyful, soulful sound! As I swam with my head under the water I could hear them sing and communicate creating a vibration in my body that was electric. That experience would have been enough! The world stopped for a moment. I felt so present and alive. No thoughts. No expectations. No seeking. Just presence.
I could feel their wise, intelligent energy in every cell of my body! My friend and I held the space for the most amazing encounter to unfold..
An Experience of Grace
As we swam underwater listening to their voices, a mama, baby and third enormous whale swam right over to us. Under the water, I was nose to nose. They came from below at first, a little bit of fear swirling in my belly. They circled us, swam next to us and with us, almost touching us at times. It went on and on.. this dance of connection and grace filling me with a love so big I could hardly contain it. I had to hold in a scream. The energy was intense. The quiet power they evoked brought me to my knees with gratitude for this opportunity to feel their wise, loving presence.
I have been playing this moment over and over again in my mind. What I am struck by is that they chose to come over to us and to swim and dance in our presence. What a gift and honor to receive their blessing. I feel changed by simply being in their field and curious about how I can integrate this feeling of presence into my body and my life. I long to feel the awe and magnificence that comes with presence in the ordinary moments.
Wisdom of the Whales
The takeaway for me from this divine encounter is the healing power of presence and the importance of practicing this in my personal and professional lives. Somatic grieving is rooted in the practice of tuning into ourselves, feeling our bodies and listening to our inner guidance. With presence, we feel seen and have the ability to see and hold others in their truth too.
What I felt with the whales was a feeling that did not have words. Their presence said it all. Presence is often all that is needed for healing to happen. What a gift the whales offer us as spiritual teachers. They remind us to slow down, dance in the expansiveness of our own oceans, connect with ourselves and our communities to cultivate the groundedness and wisdom that they naturally embody. I will hold the memory of this experience within my heart as a reminder of grace.
With Gratitude,
Wendy
