Aquarian Education - Back to the Roots

            I always envision school much different than it actually is. Since Hogwarts does not seem to fit within the modern day limitations, I envision campfires with happy children playing music, cooking dinner, sharing stories, and philosophizing about the riddles of the universe. An environment created where children are comfortable enough to explore the depths of their own thought without the hindrance of unnecessary stress. How is this accomplished? Through embracing and living with Mother Nature.

            As we continue to progress at exponential rates, we pull ourselves farther from Nature; whether it be an iPhone, television, vehicle, plastic clothing, or scientifically altered food. I was there, in the heat of it. I remember being a young boy in the early ‘90s and having one of the first Apple computers. A simple machine that rapidly progressed into an Internet search engine (Yahoo), email, video, and online gaming. A good chunk of my middle and high school years were devoted to “computer classes.” In fact, one summer I volunteered for a “website design” company, since I was sure my future would be intertwined with the use of these fantastically amusing machines.

            Through my college years I was involved in online gaming, graphic design, and the rising/creation of social media (Facebook). Luckily, this also marked my first time owning a cell phone; which was before the iPhone’s time. During these years, I witnessed a shift in the way people began to relate to one another. Rather than mustering up the courage to meet girls face to face, guys started connecting with girls via social media and “breaking the ice” online. It became common to exchange cell phone numbers or Facebook tags with someone after meeting them for a few minutes; only to fantasize about the potential of your lives together, or to call them in a haze of drunken courage. As these sorts of interactions evolved, I found myself becoming increasingly isolated. Then I broke free.

            I was camping in Vermont with family and friends during the summer of 2005. One morning, my friends and I ate a handful of magic mushrooms and ventured into the forest. My lid was absolutely blown off of my head. The spirit of creation revealed itself in me, and I could not deny the powerful presence. From that morning on, my entire experience on this earth shifted. Perhaps my friends did not understand the metamorphosis that I was going through, since it was painful. When I realized the truth, that we are all Love and connected through breath, I needed to shed the layers of sludge that was weighing me down and keeping my existence blurry. I know that I am meant to be in harmony with the earth and all beings that live here.

            What do you mean, Mom, that people are pumping the animals full of antibiotics and hormones? I could not believe I was eating poison without knowing. On top of this, the animals are being treated terribly in most commercial farms! I am eating their fear! From one day to the next, I changed from a meat eating, power lifting macho man, into a vegetarian, meditating yogi. I needed to clean my vessel from 19 years of pollution. I radically changed overnight: becoming a raw foodist, then a macrobiotic, then pescatarian, etc. etc. until my family and friends began to look at me like a chameleon – changing my skin with every season. I was trying everything on, during these experiences I would lose weight, gain weight, feel strong, collapse in weakness, and go through every emotion of the Rainbow.

            When I was 21, I became a math/science middle school teacher in inner city Los Angeles. I was devoted to my classroom and my kids. We were totally confined in our little bungalow with 40 laptops and a Smart Board. I did my best to pound their heads full of Algebra curriculum while staying true to myself and sharing positive vibrations. My students always reacted better to my authentic self (stories, jokes, experiences, etc.) than they did to California curriculum. I learned quickly to create an atmosphere where I could be my authentic self, and they would perform well on tests – but it was damn hard, and I did not really believe in it. I remember standing in front of my kids saying, “I have no idea when you will need to know this formula in real life, but you will need to know it for the state test.” When testing time came, I remember my students saying, “This test is whack Mr. D., but we are gonna Ace it for you!” The only way I could extrinsically motivate my students was through my heart.

            During these two years in LA, I was trained in Kundalini Yoga. It was my pleasure to bring these teachings into the classroom through meditation, music, and a yoga club. Every day we began class with a meditation with mantra music playing. One day I was approached by a handful of teachers asking me, “Mr. D., why are all these kids running around the school talking about how they are ‘so happy’?” When I left the school, my principal contacted me and said, “Mr. D., we miss your positive vibes here at 32^nd St. It was like your aura had a positive effect on the school.” I wasn’t anything special, I was just myself – and my kids knew it. I was transparent with them – I told them my fears, my weaknesses, and they watched me persevere through them.

After 2 years, I picked up a pink slip in my mailbox that read something like, “Thank you for your service to LAUSD. We do not have enough money to pay for teachers anymore.” I took this as an opportunity to break free and dive deeper into my spirituality. The universe responded me by granting me a job babysitting for a couple of weeks in the Caribbean. This spiraled into me staying on St. John for 6 months, and totally reconnecting with my yin energy while embracing a disciplined yogic lifestyle. My experience in St. John was filled with barefoot exploration, beach volleyball, drum circles, full moon dancing, snorkeling with the sharks/octopus/turtles, and teaching yoga. One thing led to the other with fluidity and grace; Mother Earth had me in her bosom!

I have learned to follow the flow of life, trust the experiences that present themselves to me, and embrace the love that surrounds me. A brief bullet list of my flow since 2009 and St. John (since my main source of inspiration in this moment is to share ideas about a school!):

-                    4 road trips across the United States (various times) connecting with friends, exploring mountains and waters, attending yoga festivals

-                    6 months in India (2 trips) backpacking from Himalayas down to the tip of India. Deeping yoga practice, studying Kalaripayatu Martial art, co-leading 11/11/11 International KY festival children’s program

-                    6 Months in Alaska leading Youth Trail crew – SAGA – Americorps. Helping at-risk youth learn to work/live in harmony outdoors.

-                    6 Months in Alaska leading Wilderness Therapy Expeditions for Alaska Crossings – 48 day canoe/mountaineering behavioral health trips in the wilderness with at-risk youth. Teaching survival skills, team building, moral support and modeling “how to be a responsible human”

-                    2 months in Guatemala, Lake Atitlan – diving deep into spiritual practice – including ceremonies with Cacao Shaman.

-                    9 months Big Island, Hawaii & Kauai, HI. Exploring the land, self-sustaining from Mother Earth, swimming with Dolphins! Building, farming, living.

-                    6 Months Mexico, Tepoztlan, Oaxaca, Tulum, Palenque. Learning Spanish, meeting the love of my life and her family, yoga festivals, learning about culture, opening my heart

-                    1 month Taiwan, 2 months Bali, 1 month China, couple weeks Thailand – studying martial arts (Tai Chi), deepening yoga practice, learning to surf, eating Durian (King of Fruits!)

-                     6 months through Switzerland, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, England, Sweden, and Norway – culture immersion, hitchhiking from place to place, exchanging with a plethora of beings

-                    2 Months Egypt & Israel – Great Pyramids, teaching yoga on the Red Sea, hiking Sinai, floating in Dead Sea hot springs, experiencing Jerusalem, crossing “the wall” enclosing Palestine.

-                    A few trips here and there through 48 of our 50 United States and into Canada – connecting with people/community.

It’s been a wild journey…I have learned more than I can relay with simple words. Currently, I am sitting in South Kona, HI on the ocean, writing as the sun is setting. I wrote this bullet list as a perspective on my life and the discoveries I am finding along the way.

Someone asked me one: how do you do this? Are you a millionaire or something? The truth is: I spend a great deal of time camping the forest; I have no cell phone, no car, no insurance, and no rent. The money I make goes towards plane tickets, food, and necessary gear. I trade services where I go for entry into festivals, food, and lodging; I keep an open heart and smile, and believe it or not, people respond well and share what they can!

My most enjoyable experiences have been in nature with people I love. Our culture and educational system is moving away from sharing these experiences. The masses are creating human robots to operate synthetic machines, while a whole different movement is reawakening to our spiritual depth, endless potential, and the infinite source of love that fills each of us with life force.

Since the folks with the money and political power are interested in keeping the mass population subdued, what is the answer? I have been trying to answer this for years, and I continue to come to the same simple solution: live outside of the system, live with Mother Earth, patience pays. This is easy to say or philosophize about, but it is much harder in practice; as the use of the Internet or a credit card is quite convenient…so is the Post office! So, what do you do?

We can create educational systems/programs that bring our children in contact with Mother Earth. Create an environment where they can listen to Mother Earth without the sounds of the technological static that is a byproduct of the modern world. Children need a space where they can be creative, socialize, and search for their truth. Why are we building walls and putting kids in them for 6-8 hours a day? Sunlight is healthy, as is rain, wind and all the elements. The more we build up technological safe houses, the more we isolate ourselves and lose human & earth connection. I don’t need to ramble about the statistics of ADD, ADHD, etc. and the increase of social development issues – but this is our reality.

What happened to listening to the elder’s stories around the fire? Or making a quilt with your grandmother?  Modern culture lacks connection to our elders and our ancestors. Indigenous cultures treated the elders and ancestors with the highest respect. They are/were known as the greatest source of wisdom and knowledge. The elders led boys to become men, girls to become women, and helped grow their communities. Where are our rights of passage in the modern day world? In Iron John, Robert Bly explains the importance of “coming of age” rituals, and the detrimental effects our society is incurring due to our lack thereof. Sure, you can find “rites of passage” in some specialized schools, and some individuals choose to put themselves through a self-initiation; I feel our children need more opportunities to step into their full power of a human being.

I envision a small school located deep in the forest, with a large garden that sustains the students and staff. The students plant and harvest the garden, sing and make music with the plants, experiment with growing cycles and methods, cook the food together, dance in the forest, imagine possibilities beyond our current reality, create friendships, laugh and smile, breath fresh air, use their bodies for physical activity, and learn life lessons through the process.

We will practice yoga, Tai Chi (martial arts), meditation, and other healing arts together. The idea is to create a space where the child’s true avatar can shine. There are many prophesies about the “Rainbow Children” or “Star Children” that are coming into our planet now; regardless of which prophesy you believe, the reality is: the younger generation is vibrating very fast, and they are capable of things beyond our comprehension. They just need a space and someone to guide them in their development. One child will like the flow of Tai Chi, another will prefer to sit next to a river and listen to Gaia, others will prefer to sing and play harp with the birds; no matter the specifics of the activity, the students must be given that chance and encouraged to tap into their infinite potential.

Purity of food, water and air will help their physical beings develop, as well as their minds to stay clear. The overconsumption of sugar possesses the youth of today and polluting their minds. There is a mind, body, and spirit connection. Working in the earth will keep all of us grounded, and help the Earth to flourish. The ancient, sacred practices will help their spirits be active on earth and help their inner eye to open and focused.

It is the Aquarian age; the age of the Rainbow; the melting pot. Many of us realize that we are all one, and we all have something unique to share with the other. As do the indigenous tribes with Sweatlodge/Temescal, drum circles, full moon ceremonies, sacred dance and song, vision quests, offerings to the Earth, myth and story, etc. Let us reawaken to the mystery of life. Let us embrace the beautiful ceremonies that our ancestors created, regardless of skin/eye color or geographic location. All humans have a heart, let us put all else aside and revisit the cosmic, golden spiral that binds us all at the heart level.

In the evening, the students can build fire together – reconnecting with creation – and ponder the stars. Find inspiration and meaning in our existence through story, myth and sharing. Elders can pass a talking stick, guest speakers can share experiences, and children can create their own stories and philosophies to share. We will treat one another as family, in love and respect for one another, a simple formula for becoming an incredible human being.

Expeditions will be an integral part of the experience. Students will have the opportunity to pack a backpack, hike through the woods or paddle on the waters, rely on their instinct, listen to nature, and change their normal patterns. During the expeditions there will be initiatives set up to challenge the students to work together to solve problems and overcome their fears. As a group, we will work together to build confidence in the elements so the student is ready for their own personal rite of passage.

I am going to create this space for children of the Aquarian age to grow. I only wish to serve the planet and all she grows to my highest capability. I appreciate all the help that is offered. I need a large piece of land with access to mountains, delicious water, and very large trees, and a lot of funding to back it up so we can develop a sustainable property that will totally embrace all of the children that spend time there. If you resonate with my ideas, please contact me about working together. Any input on my words is much appreciated. My ideas are always evolving; please feel free to chat with me about anything – mdenicola9@gmail.com. 

I love you all…In peace and Aloha that surrounds us all – in and around!