Soul Connects@ SPITI VALLEY

Sometimes due to the erratic lifestyles that we lead; some trips just get planned.  There is not a lot of thought; no dissections on why to go; what to see and with whom to travel; things just work out as if the place has sent you a special invite with a round trip ticket to come and make it your abode for few days!

Spiti to me was one such trip.  Not many internal deliberations.  The place was on the bucket list for some time and while I may love to say I made a choice to go there; in hindsight; the place had reserved a spot for me to pay a visit and the reasons unfolded while I took this trip.  I could have left a few pictures and their descriptions for people to read and decide if they would want to experience the majesty of this place; but I feel it would be unfair and incomplete if I do not share the spiritual churn I underwent in each of the 8 days that I was lost in those mountains.  These experiences are well cherished and through this blog I am attempting to share some of those that made this trip meaningful beyond what the eyes could see and the heart could feel.

They say some things are destined to happen to you! I would rate this trip as the one that was destined to happen to me along with many mini experiences that shaped it in a way it turned out eventually.  A small book that found its place in my bag pack at the last minute was destined to travel with me and impart valuable life lessons along the way and so did my DSLR which also didn’t shy away from teaching a lesson or two; albeit in its own ‘click worthy’ way.

So here is what happened:

1.     Day 1 in the mountains ensured that there was no cell phone connectivity.  The social media deprivation was about to make my heart sink when our driver in his philosophically chatty way said something that stuck to me profoundly – Absence of something could mean presence of something else. What could that something else be? The sinking heart then had a reason to elevate and find larger possibilities of doing something meaningful in those eight days with the mountains.  That’s when a better and ‘stronger than a cell phone’ connectivity emerged – The connectivity with my own self; with my emotions; perceptions; the peaks and troughs of life.  This magical connectivity had the potential to give clarity for de-cluttering things that were not serving any purpose and to experience the joy of living in now; living in a space that was devoid of all kind of biases and unrest. The mountains taught me; that day; the importance of clearing the mental space and connecting with your own authentic self; that is so often ignored and is often demanding attention.

2.       Day 2 of the trip had an extensive road travel. The book in my hand said “the mountains are powerful, they call you and you don’t really choose to be with them”.  It also said “when with mountains, just look ahead, keep moving, don’t look back”.  The manifestation of these messages happened really soon.  The road block on the way and the roaring river Chandra that threatened to flood our path ahead with its magnificent flow meant that we had to turn and return to our base location.  It meant no journey ahead till the road clears.  And that’s when the realization dawned that if mountains have called us to them and they insist that we shouldn’t look back; then the vehicle will find its way through the choppy waters.  This is precisely what happened after a long wait to cross the road for 7 hours. When a lot of vehicles turned and moved back to the base location; our driver sat near the rough patch observing how some vehicles were still finding their way through that patch.  As if soaking in the skill through observation.  He made mental notes on the technicalities of crossing that patch and as if our intent to move ahead and not look back was strong; he magically figured out that the only way to cross the most difficult patch of that journey was to not stop and accelerate with all the strength and might which naturally pushed the vehicle forward.  Once the patch is crossed; there was enough time to slow down; breathe and take it easy.  The mountains really have a way to teach you lessons that you need to learn to be able to stride ahead.

3.       Day 3 was a first day when we encountered altitude sickness.  What followed were bouts of breathlessness; dizzy head and a constant urge to just sleep through the day.  That sickness provoked and taught a valuable and a profound life lesson too: Breathe slowly; slow down the pace and stop chasing other people’s speed; their endurance; their way of coping with the sickness.  This journey has to evolve and needs to be customized in your own way.  Figure out what means the most to you and do it.  Slow down and allow yourself to breathe and soak in life and its beauty once in a way.  Above all; be aware always and give yourself the permission to stay involved with the magnificence around you.

4.        The days that followed again brought some valuable reflections around the place and life in general. Being one with the place stays on the top of the list. The mountains taught us to connect with the warmth of the people who gave us the place to stay in their homes.  It taught me to be in the moment; having a cup of tea while enjoying the starry skies in the night; feeling joyful on spotting the milky way; making a wish while spotting a shooting star or just listening to the life stories of fellow travelers.  There is so much in life beyond what you experience in your own.  End of it; you are only responsible for making the whole experience memorable for yourself.

5.       The mountains demand of you to pay attention to people; lives and the beauty around you. They give you space to save the most beautiful conversations with your fellow travelers and keep you away from being slaves to your emails and phones.  No phone connectivity really equated to connectivity with your own self.

6.       While we think that human beings are the most powerful race in this universe; the nature has its own way of proving it otherwise.  A sudden landslide or an unexpected spell of rains can spoil your best laid plans. Is there a merit, then, in not taking the nature for granted and instead planning to the extent that you can; especially in the mountains; and then allowing yourself to soak in the experience and moving with the flow?

7.       The mountains also provoke you to keep all your senses alive.  So while your camera may want to click itself at every turn; your eyes and the vibrational energy of the body can store a lot of what you see in its own beautiful way that is not dependent on any kind of fancy camera.  You capture all that is a raw; grand and attention worthy in every way and the pixel quality of the sub conscious mind that stores these pictures is way beyond the capability of any camera in this world.

8.       These mountains imparted some lessons on being inclusive as well. The fact that there are no resorts and you stay with the locals in their house speak about how the locals have converted a rough terrain and an extremely strenuous place into an inviting experience for people who visit Spiti. Also; the way vehicle drivers gave space to each other on the narrow mountain lanes was such a respite from the constant honking and ego battles that drivers indulge in metro cities.  Probably, the message is not lost to them as well that everyone needs to thrive in such rough conditions and therefore making space and being inclusive is the only way to be.

T   The Spitian Mountains do have an effect on your being.  This was probably the first time in so many years of my existence that I experienced the bliss of simply sitting in a monastery or by the lakes or by the huge rocks; not thinking of anything; not doing anything but just being there, one with the space, one with every element of nature; one with myself!

    Did you ever feel your life in that way? The ultimate bliss that connected with you beyond your senses? The bliss that connected with your soul? Do share your experiences here and connect with many souls that are waiting to hear your experiences :)