During a recent trip, the power of being on a small piece of land in the middle of an ocean became quickly apparent.

I was on the Big Island of Hawaii on top of Mauna Loa, overlooking the caldera of Kilauea . . . perhaps the earth’s most active volcano with the earth’s core just inches below my feet and heaven overhead. My reading during this trip included Asara Lovejoy’s “The One Command” which instructs to stand and imagine flowing into and anchoring to the earth’s core and from there soaring to the heavens so that you are simultaneously grounded and soaring.

Before leaving on a research trip to Hawaii, I practiced the exercises at home in California with significant emotion. However, there are only few places on this planet where earth’s core–earth’s fire–is mere inches below one’s feet. An active volcano is one of those places. And there are only few places on this planet where the heavens overhead are in such close proximity to magma. Wedged between fire and heaven in such a dramatic setting can only be life changing.

During time in Hawaii, I was also reading James Michener’s “Hawaii” to remind me of the beginnings of these magic islands. Michener points out that Hawaiians–without Christian influence–were thoughtful and graceful people with their own powerful beliefs. The spirit of Hawaii is in a little book I found while in Hawaii.

A Little Book of Aloha: The Spirit of Healing by Renata Provenzano

It is a small book with wisdom that carries through the ages written in both Hawaiian and English.

Ola mai iloko mai: Health comes from within.
Ho’Okahi no la’au lapa’au, o ka mihi: The first remedy is forgiveness