Where Attention/Intention Goes, Energy Flows

My intention for our trip to Mexico and Central America was put in place before we caught our plane from the Twin Cities. Its elements were simple: Keep yourself open to the people and situations you encounter. Treat everyone you meet with warmth and generosity.

Once I set this intention, of course, I WAS more open. This "go with the flow" attitude helped us through innumerable situations. When we missed our bus stop at Tela, Honduras and continued on to La Ceiba, we did so with relative ease. When we arrived in Placencia, Belize after dark, we found lodging quickly through the aid of a local gas station owner. When we deplaned in Guanaja, Honduras, we located our own private island with the help of Simeon, a local water taxi, despite the fact that we had no knowledge of this island and no advance reservations.

Wayne Dyer's translation of the Tao Te Ching, Verse 27, says, in part:

"A knower of the truth
travels without leaving a trace,
speaks without causing harm,
gives without keeping an account....

"Be wise and help all beings impartially,
abandoning none.
Waste no opportunities.
This is called following the light."

Dyer explains further: " ... live more spontaneously--you don't need to neatly wrap up each detail of your life. Understand this and you can travel without being attached to a plan that covers every possible scenario. Your inner light is more trustworthy than a guidebook, and it will point you in the direction that's most beneficial to you and everyone you encounter..... have faith in yourself to go on a trip with a minimal amount of planning. Allow yourself to trust in the energy of the Tao to guide you ..."

Of course, during our travels Frances and I relied on Lonely Planet guidebooks to provide information on local customs, transportation options, directions, and lodging recommendations. But we often made decisions based on what "felt" right to us. This allowed us to design each day centered on our energy levels, our interests, and our moods. Anxiety levels were kept to a minimum because we had no pre-set agenda to follow, no reservations to keep. That allowed us an amazing amount of freedom. And, most days we varied our route and even our tentative plan for that day based on the circumstances that presented themselves from moment to moment.

Frances often doused to determine what lodging might suit us best and we were never disappointed. On only one occasion throughout our entire seven week trip did we make lodging reservations in advance. Cerros Beach Resort was located across the bay from the town of Corozal, Belize and we phoned Jenny and Bill, the owners, to discover whether they had an opening--over Christmas Eve and Christmas--before we arranged transportation across the bay to their resort. We then discovered that Bill provided boat transport to any clients who wished it.

Our own private island in Guanaja, Honduras was another example of trusting the Universe to deliver us to the just-right location. And, after we'd spent five nights on our own private island, we discovered that the Caye where we stayed was, indeed, the Caye Frances doused out and highlighted on a map in our guidebook prior to our arrival.

This willingness to be open to the Universe was not always easy but it taught me one all-important lesson: Practice, practice, practice.