- Alyson Laura
- Mar 25
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 1
Challenging Hike to the Cathedral of Trees
The sky had a serious tone for today’s hike to the vortex in what I lovingly call, the Cathedral of Trees. And the animal totems (aka messengers) that made themselves known sent messages of caution. This site is one of the most meaningful vortex locations in Myakka Park, for me as a lightworker in Sarasota, because it was shared with me by a dear friend. She chose this spot as one of the original anchor points set for the Sarasota Prism of Light. (You can read more about the Prism of Light in our FAQ page). I see now, in hindsight as I write at my desk back home, that the start of the journey set the tone needed for the reverence of the vortex. Yes, vortex energy is fun to play in and laugh and share, but they are also deep wells of power and energy that must be respected as such.
Why did the Turtle Cross the Road?
Getting to the Cathedral’s trailhead at the back of the park can be a test of patience. There is only one narrow 2 lane road that carries visitors North-South in the park, in parallel with the river. The park is often sparsely populated in our hot, wet summers, but in peak tourist season (ie. winter) the road can get crowded. Drivers can unexpectedly stop on the road to look at the strange and unusual wildlife, like snapping turtles. Cars on both sides had stopped to get selfies with the reptile, so I had no choice but to watch the spectacle. This snapper was particularly large, with it’s long neck outstretched, pointed snout raised high in the air. You don’t need to be an animal communication shaman to know that this turtle was unhappy with all the attention. More and more cars kept piling up and this reptile was trying to dry out from the mud. I slowly moved past and carried on my way. I didn’t want to capture any of that negative energy. I had higher realms to access.
Sarasota Tour Delights in Animal Trails and Piggy Tails
When I finally arrived at the back of the park, deep into the thick mess of palmettos and pines, there was only one other car at the trailhead. This is a good reason to use a guide when hiking in large parks, forests, and preserves, you can get off the beaten path and avoid the crowds. The trails at the front of the park are always crowded, it’s like waiting in lines at Disney World. But if you are willing to venture into the backcountry, you will be sweetly rewarded for your bravery with a peace and quiet that is unreachable in the city.
So I start out on my merry way, silently sharing my intentions for the day with the trees and mushrooms and flowers and fairies. Just as I am smugly thinking I won the quiet trail lottery, a sound startled me and made me think twice about my luck… hogs! As someone who hikes in Florida, I’m more afraid of hogs than gators. Once you get away from the water, you won’t see gators on most trails in Myakka. But where the gators end, the hogs begin. Their mark on the landscape is evident everywhere. Clods of soil disturbed and turned up by their snouts hunting for grubs and other snacks. It’s easier to bypass the lumpy paths when walking, but the hogs can really mess up trials for cyclists.Â
How to ask for Help from Trees
When I heard hogs nearby, I got silent and felt my heart beat a little faster. Wild hogs, or boar, are one of the few animals that will charge you. Thankfully, most animals want to avoid you as much as you them, even gators! Rather than grab my phone for a picture, my first instinct was to visually locate the animal. As a tour guide, it’s always safety first. The forest was thick on this part of the trial and I couldn’t locate the source of the sound at first. I had no idea if they were in front or behind me. This is where nature communication practice comes in handy. I quieted my mind and tapped into my inner guidance system. I asked the trees to help me locate the hogs. I felt drawn to move forward to get a better view. I silently crept towards higher ground, where there was a clearing where I could see into the clay gully. I felt so relieved when I saw the hogs on the opposite bank, separated from me by water. One adult with several smaller children. Check out the reel I posted on Facebook and Instagram!
How to Interpret Animal TotemsÂ
Once the fear settled, I felt blessed that I was able to watch the family feed by the creek bed. It’s rare to see them in action. It felt like the respect you show by acknowledging power. On my tours, I teach how to interpret animal totems by observing them physically. Then observe their surroundings, then read them energetically. Their behavior I observed is turning over the soil to get to what’s underneath. Rooting out, what is desired, and leaving the rest behind. This is similar to my intention for vortex tours; dig deep to access your power and release what no longer serves you. The best part is, you don’t have to get dirty! Entering the vortex is done through the subtle energy field, so you don’t have to play in the mud.
With the confidence that there was enough space between me and the hogs, I continued down the trail–singing out loud to announce my presence and avoid startling any more animals. I checked in with my inner guidance again to make sure that these weren’t signs to turn around. It’s important to always listen to our gut instinct. Especially when we are walking in nature and told her we want to communicate! She has to speak through her messengers in the plants and animals. I don’t always get a long explanation why, but when I ask, I always get a response to pause or continue. This is the point where it turned into a real journey of the heart. The message was to proceed gently, reverently, with respect towards the destination.Â
I knew I had arrived at my destination when I recognized the whale skeleton in the clearing. I remembered the spot from a fallen tree that looked like a whale skeleton. Not a real whale of course, just a tree that looks like a skeleton of a mega fauna. It also adds to the solemnity of the place. Perhaps I am seeing the essence of the tree, even beyond life, it still speaks. It lies as a guardian of the cathedral; and elder of the forest. There might be a quicker way in, but first greeting the whale skeleton feels like the proper way to do it. Vortex tours aren’t about getting there, it’s about understanding here. The next landmark I look for is the tree with a face. Most trees have a face, and I can teach you to see them on a Vortex Tour, but this one specifically has the friendly face of a shopkeeper. The warm grin invites me to the threshold where a circle of trees encloses a shady nook that I refer to as the Cathedral because of it’s tight diameter and tall canopy. Now it’s time to enter the vortex, and begin the Journey to our Heart.
