I awoke this morning to exactly 3:33 AM. There was no alarm, and no particular pre-determined reason to awake at this time, but I came to a fully conscious state, nearly instantaneously, ready to begin my journey. I consider it significant that my journey begins with a triple three, because in my tradition, thrice three is the “Golden Key”, hence the saying: “By the power of three times three”.
There is magic afoot!

I have chosen a silver pendant to wear for this journey that I designed and made, which for me represents the interconnectedness of all creation… The four directions, the web of life, and the circle within which it all is contained. I am also taking my pentacle, to wear in ritual.

I leave for Bangkok Thailand this morning at 11:50 AM, on Cathay Pacific Airlines, named as a World, Inner Peace Ambassador. My journey begins with the hope of joining and creating alliances with world Buddhist traditions and other nature-based spiritualities, in the hope of creating a coalition that can turn the tide against the destruction of nature and our planet, and to develop a worldwide recognition of the sacredness and equal rights of all human beings and forms of life within the Circle.

My journey continues to get increasingly more interesting as more and more opportunities present themselves, and I feel much like I am in an adventure story just waiting to find out what will happen next. On this trip to Thailand, I will not only be meeting with venerable Buddhist lamas and monks, I will now also be meeting with several distinguished spiritual leaders from other traditions to forge sacred bonds and find common ground. So far, I will be meeting with Cheif Kapiteotak Dominique Rankin, also known as T8aminik in the Algonquin language, former Grand Chief of the Algonquin nation and Elder in the Circle Of Medicine Men of the Canadian tribes. I will also be meeting with Master Li Hechun, Master of the Longmen (Dragon Gate) branch of the Ch’uan-chen (Complete Perfection) School of Taoism in China and with Guru Chintamani Yogi of the Hindu VidyaPeethmovement from Nepal, founder of the Shanti Sewa Ashram and Peace Service Center. I will also have the honor to spend part of my journey with Patrick Kuaimoku, Kahuna Lokahi from Hawaii, Keeper of the Ancient Hawaiian wisdom tradition. In such company, it is hard to imagine any part of my journey being anything less than extraordinary.

My direct travel companions will be Dr. Nina Meyerhof, President and founder of the United Nations NGO, Children of the Earth, and the esteemed Dr. Diane DeTerra , Development Anthropologist andFullbright scholar, and former Dean of the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Dr. De Terra will serve as our interpreter.

On my arrival in Thailand, I will be escorted to the northern portion of the country and spend a few days in the famed UNESCO Heritage Site: Khao Yai National Park, through the hospitality of the World Dhammakaya Center, at the serene Phuwanalee Resort, to begin meditation and become spiritually centered and connected with the land and its inhabitants before continuing on to the Wat Phra Dhammakaya Temple as an honored guest of the Vice Abbot and Wise Abbot, Lama Phrarajbhavanavisudh to participate in the great Buddhist Magha puja Celebration and Makabucha and other spiritual events, initiations, and important conversations. The jungle in the Khao Yai region is filled with many exotic inhabitants, including elephants & tigers, and such, and I’m looking forward to speaking with my brothers and sisters of the forest also, to ask their assistance in my quest.
Following my time at the Wat Phra Dhammakaya Temple in Thailand, I will journey on to the temple at Borobudur on the island of Java with the venerable Lama Gangchen of the World Peace Foundation and then finish my trip on the Island of Bali before returning home. But then all of those are stories to be shared after I arrive in Thailand, and so I will sign off for now, as I prepare to leave the airport.