Greetings from Miami! I’m back in my hometown, visiting family and friends. I’m glad to rest and relax after harrowing travel and spending an incredible five days with the village of remarkable Mt Shasta Priestesses.
Travel mishaps from Melbourne to Reno
I have flown from Melbourne to Los Angeles and Miami many times, and the journey has always been different. Sometimes, it’s been comfortable and smooth with no hiccups. This was not one of those times.
This journey from Melbourne to California was the longest. I was supposed to travel from Melbourne to Sydney to L.A. and catch a domestic flight to Reno that evening. In Reno, I was meeting my Girl Gang from Miami, spending the night in a hotel, and driving together to Dunsmuir in Northern California the following day.
My flight from Melbourne to Sydney was delayed, making me miss my connection to L.A. When I landed in Sydney, Qantas had issued a boarding pass for a flight later in the day, but it would make me miss my flight to Reno. At Qantas Transit, I explained my situation and enquired whether I could take an earlier flight or any combination of flights that would get me to L.A. earlier.
I booked my U.S. domestic flight separately with JetBlue, so Qantas was not obligated to help me; their only responsibility was to get me to the destination I booked with them, L.A. Still, the agent was sympathetic, checking flights on her computer and making phone calls. She got me on an Air New Zealand flight to Auckland and a connection to L.A. that would get me there a few hours before my flight to Reno.
Air New Zealand issued me the boarding passes at the gate and asked if I had luggage. I said yes, one suitcase, but I don’t know where it is, and the two agents laughed. They said it would be at L.A. My suitcase did not arrive in L.A. with me. At the carousel, the agent confirmed that mine was one of two names on a list of baggage that was “seen but not loaded.”
I held it together on the outside, but I was distressed. I was going to Dunsmuir, where the average high temperature in March is 61°F (16°C), and Mt Shasta, which was still seeing snow. My thermals, layers, and coat were in my suitcase. The Air New Zealand agents took my details and gave me a $100 gift card.
I had only my personal item, a large bag containing my laptop, Kindle, and basic in-flight essentials. I arrived in Reno on time, checked in at the hotel, and went to a nearby Walmart that evening.
Shopping at Walmart was stressful. Although the store closed at 11:00 p.m., the fitting rooms closed at 7:00 p.m. So, I tried a few things over my clothes on the floor and bought some items to get me through the next few days. I was surprised to find many items, from socks to deodorant, in locked cabinets due to theft, but there seemed to be few staff members, and locating one wasn’t easy. I bought travel-sized essentials instead, along with a small carry-on suitcase. I couldn’t wash my new Walmart clothes, but at least I had a change of clothes after 30+ hours of travel.
Back at the hotel, I had time to shower and eat a microwave meal before my girlfriends arrived. After catching up a bit, we went to bed. The following morning, we had a casual start with breakfast at the hotel, and we hit the road to Dunsmuir.
Mt Shasta Priestesses & Sibyls
The five-and-a-half-hour drive from Reno to Dunsmuir was delightful. I’ve spent little time in cold weather and enjoyed seeing the beautiful snow-capped mountains. It was also wonderful to talk non-stop with my girlfriends about everything from magick to menopause. We had delicious Mexican food along the way (how I have missed it).
We travelled to Dunsmuir, a city with fewer than 2,000 people in northern California, for the Mt Shasta Goddess Temple Priestess & Sibyl Gathering and Cosmogenetrix. The gathering is an annual event for students and graduates of the Mt Shasta Goddess Temple, which offers a two-year Priestess training program and a two-year Sibyl training program, as well as shorter classes throughout the year. Cosmogenetrix is a symposium that anyone can attend. I’ve attended remotely for two or three years and was thrilled to participate in person this year.
In the late afternoon, we arrived at a charming and spacious Airbnb along the river dubbed the Council House, where the Temple’s sisterhood circle of Priestesses, the Council of Wisewomen, stayed. About nine of us stayed in the Council House, while other women stayed in nearby hotels and Airbnbs. We had dinner together and settled in for the night.
The official retreat activities took place on the following day, Thursday, with an opening ceremony in the late morning and a drive to Mount Shasta to visit the Big Springs headwaters, a source of water for the Upper Sacramento River, and the “potentially active” volcano that is Mount Shasta. We drank water from the river, made offerings, sang songs, and collected water and snow for magick. Afterwards, we went to Downtown Mt Shasta and shopped at Soul Connections before having lunch. Soul Connections is incredible. It has multiple large rooms full of clothing, statues, crystals, books, and more; I could have spent hours there.
Back in Dunsmuir, we visited The Sacred Well, a beautiful shop owned by my teacher and friend Yeshe Matthews and her husband, Albert. Yeshe is the mastermind behind the Mt Shasta Goddess Temple and this special weekend.
That evening, we gathered to witness the new Sibyls take their vows and for some divination. After dinner, there was a dream incubation ceremony in which we drank a unique tea blend, did a guided meditation, and went to bed early. I slept fitfully and didn’t recall any meaningful dreams.
The following day, Friday, the Skydancer Priestesses gathered for our Goddess Mandala work. In the afternoon, we went to the Dunsmuir Community Resource Center to decorate for Cosmogenetrix, which got underway that afternoon. In the evening, all the Priestesses, Sibyls, and students gathered to witness new graduates make their Woman Shaman Priestess commitments and Skydancer Priestess vows.
Cosmogenetrix was on Saturday. This year’s theme was Ourania: Queen of Stars, which focused on goddesses and traditions associated with the celestial. It was an excellent event with presentations and workshops on astrology, goddesses such as Nut, Hathor, and Ariadne, and a Spring Equinox Ritual centred on the Pleiades. There were also a few vendors and a couple of energy healers. That night, our last night together in the Council House, we stayed up late, nibbling, drinking wine, and sharing stories.
We returned to the Dunsmuir Community Resource Center on Sunday to have breakfast together, close the event, and say goodbye. The Caribbean Girl Gang packed the rented Wagoneer, and we drove back to Reno for the night.
From California to Miami
We took a different route back to Reno, but one that was just as beautiful. We meant to call it a night early but stayed up late talking. My three girlfriends had an earlier flight to Miami, so I got to sleep in a little.
By this time, Air New Zealand had found my suitcase and was sending it to Miami. The loss hung over me all weekend. In private and with my husband on the phone, I cried. My friends helped by sharing their extra gloves, scarves, etc. Still, I missed my clothes, personal items, and, most of all, my religious items, especially those that identified me as a Priestess of the Mt Shasta Goddess Temple, like my white shawl, Tibetan mirror, and ruby ring. I’d been in contact with Air New Zealand daily, enquiring and providing any information I thought might help, such as photos of my suitcase and a screenshot from the Tile Tracker app.
I didn’t travel with a carry-on. When I watch YouTube videos about travel, many American YouTubers say they travel only with a carry-on. However, that seems only possible if American airlines are not weighing them. Qantas limits carry-on bags to 7 kg (15 lbs) and weighs them. The suitcase and a laptop easily weigh half of that. So, I don’t understand how people pack clothes, shoes, and toiletries all under 7 kg (15 lbs).
Another reason I don’t typically travel with a carry-on is because, in the United States, I’m almost always forced to check it anyway, and, on one occasion, the airline lost it (they found and delivered it the next day). So, that defeats the purpose. Indeed, on my flight from Reno to Phoenix, I had to check my carry-on because it was full, and there wasn’t enough room in the overhead compartments.
Thankfully, my little Walmart suitcase of emergency wintry clothing made it to Miami. When I arrived at my parent’s house, my suitcase was there, and I could finally really relax.
Despite the delays, the lost suitcase, and the general annoyances of flying these days, the flights were comfortable, the food was pretty good, and everyone I engaged with, staff from Qantas, Air New Zealand, United Airlines, American Airlines, and the Sydney, New Zealand, L.A., and Miami airports, was excellent. Everyone demonstrated patience, attention, kindness, and generosity.
Attending the retreat was an incredible experience. It was sublime to be immersed in a feminist goddess-centred space with intelligent, talented, kind, generous, mature, magical women. One Priestess, Lisa, generously offered to cook all the meals. Others helped with prepping, cooking, and cleaning, but Lisa was in charge and was amazing. She made enchiladas, soups, cornbread, salads, and more, including vegetarian and gluten-free options, from scratch. There was so much sharing, learning, laughter, hugs, and tears. As we said goodbye, I told Yeshe we had a village and would be ready for the zombie apocalypse.
Oh my, what a trip! I’ve always wanted to visit Mount Shasta. Those views and sights are beautiful, and it sounds like you had an amazing experience at the temple. Despite the luggage issues, I’m glad you had good company and people willing to help 🙂
It’s quite the contrast to Florida’s flatness! I did have a wonderful time 🙂
It was such an honour to meet you and all the other magical woman – I am so glad that your suitcase found its way back to you after its unexpected travels.. perhaps it had places it needed to visit… much love and looking forward to getting to know each other more! – Flora )0(
Thank you, Flora. It was great to meet you also 🙂
Aw, thank you, AB 🙂
Such a wonderful time!
This was a lovely post!
I’m sorry you had to go through all those challenges with your luggage, especially with your religious items. However, you had the opportunity to enjoy and celebrate, and I’m very happy about that. 🙏🏾
I love reading about your adventures!
Big blessings,
AB
Loved finally meeting you in person ! So happy to have had the experience of retreat and cosmogenetrix with you❤️