The Vortex

by Michelle rose

          

Around 650 A.D., a group of people anthropologists refer to as the Sinaqua, entered the area of east central, Arizona. The name, given by the Spanish explorer's, means 'without water'. Of course, today we know the area was not only wetter than today, but provided an ideal habitat that permitted the Sinaqua, to flourish until around A.D. 1400

The next societies, to exploit this area, were the Yavapai and the Apache. Both were hunter gather cultures and their small bands migrated within their established boundaries. Following the game and seasonal wild crops, their dominion over their lands remained uncontested and fiercely defended. This way of life continued until 1583 when, the first Spanish explores entered the area. By 1864 the U.S Army was building forts throughout the Yavapai and Apache ancestral lands. As these societies were confronted by the Europeans, their lands were lost and unspeakable atrocities befell the Native Americans. Some tribes, unable to resist, were decimated within one generation.

The severity of the climate and terrain, in the Southwest, gave some a temporary respite from their fate. As generations were murdered, the timeless history of these once great people was lost to mankind. Without a written language, knowledge was passed from generation to generation, in the form of stories and ceremonies. Fortunately, there are still many elders who retain some of the histories and present day attempts at documentation, will preserve it for future generations.

My training is as an Anthropologist, but my hobby is Metaphysics. Native society is inseparable from the living and spirit worlds. There are sites, almost always a geographic formation, that are, deeply entwined with the spirit world. Remarkable and extraordinary influence on human events is attributed to these sites. We have come to know these places as a, Vortex. I find the collision, of ancient religious ceremonies, human endeavor and the world of spirits, just too good to pass up.

Over the past several years, I have made several presentations to the Tribal Elders, seeking their permission, to formally gain access to these sites and the local tribal members. Each time, they listen carefully, showed genuine interest, but always denied my requests.

That was until I met a Native American woman, known to me, only as Adie. I was in my hotel room in Kayenta, Arizona after my latest failure with the Elders. I was preparing to return home, when I heard, a soft knock on the door.

In her late 20's, she was tall, muscular and very fit; she introduced herself and entered my room. Well educated, politically active and very resourceful, she seemed to be sympathetic to my idea. We spent the entire afternoon, discussing the history of the local cultures. She was very knowledgeable about my area of interest and claimed to have been sent by the deities to 'assist' me in my studies. When I reminded her of my difficulties with the tribal leaders, she informed me; she would take my case to the council and would call me when the needed permits were secured. With that she got up and simply, left.

Sitting in my room, I rejoiced at my renewed hope. How and why kept me wondering, but as I left and headed for home, I was very content with what had just happened. But, what was all that stuff about her being 'sent' by the deities? As I drove back to the Valley of the Sun I pondered this question, but could not come up with a plausible explanation. That will have to wait, there's so much to do if……she can deliver.

The days passed and my preparations were well under way. First, I needed to down load several years of reference material into my notebook. Then I needed to select which sites would be included in the study and finally, collect all the needed photographic, electronic and satellite link up electronics. The days became weeks and the weeks became a month but, still no word. Finally the moths became a season and I began to get a little depressed. By the end of August, just as my hopes were begging to fade, the dreams started.

Subtle at first, with just of few glimpses, I tried to make sense of the imagery, but could only attribute them to my subconscious anxieties. These, quick looks, continued for a few nights and soon became clear as day. I was dreaming things from ages ago! I was seeing, no….being shown what I could not have seen. What I saw were images of the origins of the native people, their early societies and their evolution to vast tribal networks. In my dreams, I was seeing this, but…how?

I was there, living and being among the people, but how. Was this a former life? Were these lessons from the spirit world? I couldn't understand any of it… One thing, that was very clear was my perspective of tribal life and that was, from a woman's point of view. In all my dreams, I was a girl! And, very much like Adie…why had she not called?

As time passed I became a little desperate. It had been almost four months and still no word. I began to contemplate returning to the area and look for Adie, but she did tell me to wait in Phoenix. Then on day, after work an email arrived from her! How she did it, is still was mystery, but, on her first presentation, full access was granted.

There were several conditions attached, but all were acceptable. First, Adie would be my chaperon and accompany me, in every aspect of the study. Second, no other outsider can be part of the team. Adie would secure the equipment and assistants, they would all be Native Americans, mostly Navajo or Apache. Lastly all artifacts, publications and royalties would be the sole property of the Tribes. I would be allowed to be the official spokesperson for the council and receive any academic accolades that may arise from the work. Agreed, agreed and agreed! The first expedition was scheduled for October and the time for preparations did pass swiftly.

The day finally arrived and our team set out with little fanfare, just one tribal elder and some dancers to see us off. The ceremony was short, in a Navajo dialect, and continued as we rode off to the northwest. As the day progressed, Adie and I discussed our plans. She offered a warning, of the inexplicable occurrences at the Vortex. legends so old, nobody can recall their origins. They spoke of fanciful romance, victories at war and long forgotten peoples. She gave me a charm to wear around my neck, just a crude figure of a woman on a leather cord. She claimed this would identify me as a friend to her people and protect me from malevolent spirits.

When she handed me the charm, I went to put it on and as I did, Adie began a rhythmic chant. Her voice was barely audible, soft and more feminine than I could ever imagine, but the words were understandable. 'We are coming, as you commanded, we bring the one who you, have selected for this honor', the odd part, she was singing in Navajo and I could understand it! How can that be? I don't speak Navajo!

We rode for days before arriving at our destination. A helicopter would have gotten us here in a few hours, but, Adie claimed, that would anger the spirits. When we arrived, we established our camp in the shade of the Cottonwood tree's, which grew in abundance in the riparian environment. The steam ran fast, with clear and cold water from high in the mountains. I felt an odd sensation when seeing the river for the first time. I had checked satellite images of the area before we left and no such river could bee seen. In fact, surveys from just 1 year ago, showed only remote wilderness with, no river! Adie just smiled at me when I questioned her, reminding me that the Votex , was just around the bend in the river.

She asked, if I was wearing her charm, I pulled it from under my shirt to show her and she smiled. She began; this vortex was one of the most spiritual sites to her people. It was considered a gateway to the spiritual world and one that would induce all changes necessary to maintain the harmonic resonance within all males who visit. This was woman's site! I didn't mention it, but all my colleagues were, in fact women. No man wanted to come here, the assistants, all three very husky and with strong backs had volunteered. Here, is the portal that new life uses to enter this world. It is here, where the spirit leaves the underworld and enters the body of the unborn child. When the life cycle is complete, the spirit will leave this world through this portal.

We took a few days to recover from our trip in. The horse's had plenty of wild grass to eat and the purity of the water was remarkable. With our camp established, preliminary surveys were completed and the real work began. One little note, nothing major, but most of my cloths seemed to be just little big for me. I didn't pay it any attention and figured, with all the strenuous work of the last week, I just lost a few pounds. But, that didn't explain why my pants were a little snug around my hips and but! One last thing, this place is so beautiful; my heart feels lighter just being here!

The days became weeks and we settled into our work schedule; three days on and then one day off. The pace was productive, but relaxed; keeping our bodies strong and our spirits high. The changes to my body continued and didn't go unnoticed. I hardly needed to shave and my body hair became nonexistent. My hands seemed to be thinner and my skin was defiantly softer. I needed to wear work gloves to protect my hands, since the callus that was on my hands, seemed to disappear overnight. I was defiantly loosing weight and I just felt, a little shorter!

Soon, something very strange began to happen. I found myself more and more interested in the idle conversations the women were having. I thought nothing of it, since the women were my only companions. One day, they began referring to me as, one of the girls! As my weight reduced, they began kidding me about it, saying that, if I keep loosening weight, I'll have to borrow some of their things! I began to feel a kinship with the women and enjoyed being with them. As these changes were difficult to ignore, the other women were also experiencing similar alterations, but for them, they became more feminine!

Adie was relentless in her zeal for the work. She kept everyone working, just 4 hours a day in the field and the afternoons were spent examining and cataloguing every artifact we found. It was around this time, that we found a sub-terrain room, filled with Kachina's, all of them female deities. As our work progressed in this ceremonial room, we located a passage way that had been covered over by the mud stucco covering the walls. It took about a week, but we soon found it to be an entrance to a cave. As we explored the cave, another passageway was discovered in a dark corner. Adie was very excited, but before she entered, she took me aside and urged me not to go inside. Powerful spirits are present and even the charm, would not protect me if their wrath was inspired! This was a sacred place, for women only, and I should stay out! I took her warning seriously and continued my work in the ceremonial room. She and the other girls went inside.

After what seemed an eternity, they returned. Strangely they looked very refreshed. No tiredness from hard work, but rather, younger and oddly, the workers seemed changed … some how they were now, very beautiful!! Adie was always pretty and the others still paled in comparison. I couldn't explain it, but by night fall I was certain, something happened to them inside the cave. I tried to discuss it to her, but Adie, just smiled and asked me, 'how long had it been, since I was with a woman?' That caused a roar of laughter from my colleagues. It consumed me and by morning I decided, I must enter the cave, despite Adie's warning!

The next day, was an 'off' day, so I'd have some time to myself. After our morning meeting, I told Adie I would be going out for a walk to scout out some photographic sites. Since I'd been taking pictures every chance I got, she was not surprised. I left camp with my photo gear and walked out of sight, then, circled around to the Vortex. It took about an hour, but, I was soon standing out side the second passage.

The tunnel entrance was back, in a dark corner of the cave. Behind an outcrop of solid rock, there was small recess and in there, in the darkness, was the opening. The air was cool, almost cold and burned a little as you breathed it in. But, it was so fresh smelling, strange, being so far underground! As I looked in to the passage way, I could see a faint light coming from the end of the tunnel. I hesitated and then, gathering my strength, I entered the tunnel.

I felt a chill run through my body! It started, in my toes and moved up my legs, it passed through my body and made me shiver! A sense of impending doom took hold and it took all my concentration to maintain my calm. Who am I kidding, I was scared! I tried to run, but couldn't!

I continued to walk and in the middle of the tunnel, I passed through a barrier of sorts! In an instant, forty years where removed! In that instant, I was no longer myself! My entire body seemed to shrink, my maleness stripped away. As I passed through the barrier, my, inner body was released. Like the sculptor, he releases the work from within the stone. My new form, released from with my old body. My cloths were stripped and I emerged on the 'other' side, a very changed man! I was now, a woman!

As my aches and pains, from 52 years of rugged living, disappeared; I felt the elixir of youth returning! My heart was pounding, I wanted to run, but something held me. Something called me forward and into the unknown. I walked a short distance and found myself on a small precipice. From my vantage point I could see a trail leading into a small valley, open to the sky! It was beautiful! Deeply forested with a shimmering lake, the fragrance of spring blossoms filled the air. I walked on. It was then, I heard her voice, Adie's voice and she said, 'I had been warned, but now it was too late'. By coming to the place, I had been claimed by the spirits of this place!

Later, I would learn the changes that started at the camp, would never have changed me to much. Maybe, I'd be a little smaller with finer, even feminine features, but, I would have stayed male. By disregarding the warnings, by entering this sacred place, I was taken and made a disciple of the spirits.

Had I been in a male site, I would have been given the attributes of a warrior, but since this was the vortex of a female deity, I was given the attributes of femininity! Then Adie was by my side. She took my hand and welcomed me as 'sister'! With my hand in hers, I was led me down the path. I was aroused by her, in way, I never knew as a man. A knowing smile erupted on her full lips and she kissed me. Breaking away, she said "soon, my pretty, but now we must complete the ceremony". "Can, you swim?"

  

  

  

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