Two North American Buddhist havens beckon travelers seeking enlightenment and spiritual solace. Chagdud Gonpa Rigdzin Ling, nestled in California’s Trinity Alps, offers retreats, meditation, and lodging. Meanwhile, the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center in Indiana embraces Eastern traditions and cultural exchange under the leadership of Abbot Arjia Rinpoche. Seekers, prepare for a transformative journey.
Author Archives: Amanda Lynn Barker
On an Ebb and Flow through Krakow
Krakow welcomed me with a rainy embrace, but I couldn’t resist its radiant charm. From a private river tour to savoring traditional Polish cuisine, every moment was enchanting. The bustling Rynek Glowny, the flavors of hearty meals, and the elegance of Baltic amber left an indelible warmth in my heart. Krakow, a city that embraces you like a comforting hug.
The Ancient Steps: Unearthing Knowledge in Mexico’s Tequila Valley
We flopped onto a park bench in the Plaza de la Liberacion. We had been wandering up and down the Avenue Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla for hours, and were dehydrated, famished, and frustrated with each other. The map we had picked up at the hostel refused to match in either scale or street name withContinue reading “The Ancient Steps: Unearthing Knowledge in Mexico’s Tequila Valley”
Hiking Medicine Mountain: A Journey into Transformation in Wyoming’s Bighorn National Forest
Seeking spiritual alignment and a new vision, the author ventures into the Bighorn National Forest to find the sacred medicine wheel. Symbolizing the cardinal directions and life’s fulfillment, the journey unfolds with mystical encounters, like meeting a Russian woman who, like the author, seeks identity amidst the four cardinal directions. The quest for self-discovery continues.
Wilderness Awaits: Three Enticing Forest Lands East of the Mississippi River
The United States treasures its 63 National Parks and 154 National Forests, preserving diverse landscapes and wildlife. While Western states boast famous parks, lesser-known Eastern gems like Shawnee National Forest in Illinois, Ocala National Forest in Florida, and Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Georgia offer stunning vistas, mineral springs, and waterfalls awaiting exploration.
Painted Ladies and Disappearing Horses
A Brief History of Native-Settler Interactions in Very Early Cincinnati While exploring one of Cincinnati’s most charming neighborhoods of Columbia Tusculum on a sunny summer day, I was reminded that the tale of history on colonized land is woven into the language of the colonizer. That’s why Grandmother’s Foot in Bogota, Colombia, is now calledContinue reading “Painted Ladies and Disappearing Horses”
Gazing at the Edge of the World in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina
A blast of chilly air massaged my face, damp with perspiration, as I pushed open the door to a four bed bunk room at the hostel. I was in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, a small border town on the confluence of the Parana and Iguazu rivers. The late February jungle air hung dense, and I hadContinue reading “Gazing at the Edge of the World in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina”
Winter with Our Winged Friends
A new subdivision is being constructed across the street from where I am currently living. Two years ago, this had been a woodland meadow of grass and wildflowers. Often on my walks, I had noticed Cooper’s Hawks circling and hunting overhead. Construction began last spring, transforming the prairie into a field of mud as theContinue reading “Winter with Our Winged Friends”
Channeling Cassadaga: Meandering along the Psychic Footpath
Founded during the peak of the American Spiritualist movement in the mid-19th century, Cassadaga, Florida, is now a US Historic District and continues to host the Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp for seekers, psychics, and mediums to explore the veil between our world and the “others.” Spiritualists essentially believe that living humans can successfully interact withContinue reading “Channeling Cassadaga: Meandering along the Psychic Footpath”
Three Low Impact Eco-Adventures in the American South East
Thirteen percent of the land in the United States is protected from development, which is one-tenth of the total protected land on the planet. These areas are managed under the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. State by state, evenContinue reading “Three Low Impact Eco-Adventures in the American South East”
Following the Nomad Star 