I have always been artistic for as long as I can remember. I can remember back to when I was only 2 years old when my mom placed a crayon in my hand for the very first time. I immediately tried to eat it. Orange looks like it would be a good color to eat, doesn’t it? I remember her laughing, then she guided my hand to paper and I saw the yummy looking orange color create more orange on the paper. From that moment on I was hooked.
Growing up my school system offered Art as a regular part of the curriculum so I had Art as part of my school day five times a week. On the weekends I would color and draw at home. Art was a huge part of my daily life. By the age of 16 I already had two one-woman art shows under my belt and I desired to become a professional artist. That’s when my parents and teachers began telling me that there was no money in Art. When my own senior year Art teacher also told me that he basically crushed my dream. I then went on to college at Northwestern University and majored in Anthropology – ironically, another field in which there is very little money to be made.
While at Northwestern I was so busy studying and trying to keep my head above water that Art went out the window along with my guitar playing, which I dearly loved. I still made time for both on the weekends, but Art and Music were no longer a part of my daily life and it was a harsh adjustment for me to make. I not only managed to do well despite dealing with psychiatrically challenged roommates and racial discrimination, I maintained a consistent high B average at Northwestern, which is no small feat. Of all the friends I had as a freshman only myself and 3 others managed to graduate.
Those four years were difficult, but during my junior year I finally managed to fit Art in when I took two classes from Professor William Stipe. After our first few assignments he told me I had a “good eye” for composition and he could see that I “had some talent.” He was also the only person to ever say to me if I desired to have Art as a career, by all means I should pursue it. He was also the first person to tell me it’s important to be happy with your chosen career. I have never forgotten his advice. He made a tremendous impact on me and in 1995 after graduating with my doctorate I decided academia was not the life for me. I began working at a new age shop and from there I began my own business and have been online at Magickal-Musings.com offering card readings and visionary artwork since 1997.
All that brings us up to 2009 when my husband and I went to Maui for what we thought would be the only time in our lives. Little did we suspect that we would both fall so much in love with the place that we would return again. And again.
Sea turtle at the Maui Ocean Center aquarium park.
That first trip to Maui was magical in and of itself. I don’t know if it’s the superior air quality over there, or what, but all the colors just seemed to be more vibrant. Nature is everywhere in Maui and there are so many places to see that are all still basically untouched by human hands. You can drive for miles and not see a single man-made structure. It’s beautiful, serene, and also very healing. The energy there runs “high” for those of us capable of feeling energy. Due to that I felt a tiny bit drunk for the entire duration of that first trip. Thankfully, I never felt hung over.
After a lovely week we had reached our last day in Maui. Our flight didn’t leave until after 9 PM. We had checked out of our hotel and had one day remaining to explore a little bit more of the island. We began to drive around aimlessly looking for something to see or do when I saw one of those little brown state park signs. All it said was, “Iao” with an arrow pointing to our left. I told my husband there was a state park coming up somewhere to our left, why don’t we go check it out? He agreed so we followed more signs and took that left turn.
That single left turn changed my life.
The drive up the slope of the Iao Valley is beautiful.
On the way to Iao State Park, a giant bougainvillea bush.
We saw what must be the world’s largest bougainvillea bush that was taller than the house it bordered. There were hens and roosters just running around loose along the road. We couldn’t figure out if they were wild or had escaped their chicken coop. At one point the road forked and if you ever go, take the right-hand fork. That leads to the park. On the way is a cultural garden. It’s been kept up better in the past than now, but still worth a stop, if nothing else to pay your respects to the Virgin Mary, whose statue is the central element of the Portuguese garden. Each garden is dedicated to and decorated in the style of a particular culture that has influenced the island’s culture.
Once we reached Iao State Park as I stepped out of the car I could just feel the magic in the air. It swirled all around me and I actually held my arms out to either side and laughed. Of course my banker husband thought I was crazy. He thinks that at least five times a day.
The Iao Needle. Iao State Park, Maui, Hawaii.
There is a paved path you can take through a small garden and up along the top to see the Iao Needle, as it’s called. In the time of King Kamehameha II 3,000 Maui warriors fought to the death at Iao when the King attempted to invade Maui. It is said that the river there ran red with their blood. You do NOT feel that type of energy there. Instead, it’s incredibly peaceful, serene, and healing.
Off to the left of the paved path there is a break in the trees where a sign has been posted to not go beyond this point. Well, we all know signs are made to be ignored, don’t we? My husband and I took that path, and WOW! The sights we saw! The native Polynesians obviously take that path, and many times because we found piles of stones that had been wrapped in the leaves of the Ti plant, sacred to the Polynesians. They were in tiny to large piles in various places.
Petroglyph & my husband at Iao State Park.
My training as anthropologist and archaeologist immediately told me these were offerings either to the gods or to the ancestors and we were not to touch them. So we did not. I did photograph a couple, but again, with respect and I did not photograph every single offering area we saw.
We even found a petroglyph, a carving of what appears to be a god or warrior, carved into the base of a huge boulder. My husband posed next to it for scale and I took the photograph.
That walk we took beyond the sign was the second best part of our entire trip, other than the Road to Hana, which was nothing short of absolutely amazing. You’ll hear more about that in later posts. We saw a giant uprooted tree and wondered what sort of storm would knock down only one tree, so we guessed perhaps it had been diseased and the park service pulled it down, but had yet to remove it. I could hear the
Uprooted tree in Iao State Park.
breeze whispering through the dense trees and it seemed to be talking, perhaps to everyone, or maybe only to me.
As we began to head back, hesitant to go too far into the interior since we had no idea what lay ahead, plus we had seen in the park itself signs posted about the danger of rock slides, I sensed a Presence. I wasn’t sure who or what it was, but it felt benign so I allowed it to follow us back to the main park area. I did not address it and it did not seek to communicate with me at that point.
As we were leaving the park I turned back to take one final look at the grand vista that lay before me and I sighed. I felt great sadness for all of those brave Maui warriors who had died defending their land from invasion. Then I felt the presence come all around me, envelop me as though it was giving me a hug. Then I heard a gentle laugh, a female and she told me not to mourn because every warrior had died with honor and by so doing also brought great honor to their family.
I then asked her her name and she replied, “Nashia, and I am connected to the land here. I guard it and place respectfulness in the hearts of all who visit here.” She told me she worked there with three other spirits who all had the same job. As I communed with her my husband had left my side and was already waiting for me in the car with the motor running. I told Nashia it was an honor to meet her, but I had to leave and that I’d be going home to Texas later that evening. She then told me, “you will be back, and very soon.” I replied that, no, a trip to Hawaii is very expensive and this one basically broke the bank. She laughed at that and said not to worry, I would be back, that I was destined to return.
As I bid her good-bye and began to walk towards our rental car I felt her rush up alongside me. I clearly sensed she wanted to come with me, so I asked her if she would like to come visit Texas. She replied that she would love to and said she had to ask permission first. I felt her presence leave my side for a few seconds, then she came back with a huge rush, and great big laugh and said, “they have approved my vacation!” That made me laugh out loud. As I did so several people turned and stared at me. Don’t worry. I’m used to that.
Nashia very much enjoyed her first plane ride. She was laughing continuously and poking fun at the staff and several passengers. I kept giggling and my husband said if he didn’t know any better he’d say I was drunk. That plane ride was the most fun I’ve never had on a plane.
Nashia taught me to focus on being grateful for the tiny things of life: a cup of coffee, sunlight filtering in through a window, the purr of a cat, and so on. Soon upon our return she inspired me to create a Facebook group all about expressing gratitude. The group did very well for a long time until some dark individuals sought to undermine it. I ended up deleting the group, but moving everyone over to my “Magickal Musings ~ Spiritual Sharing & Gratitude” group where we continue to express our gratefuls and share metaphysical and paranormal interests in a safe and friendly environment. Gratitude is a huge component to that group’s composition and we all have Nashia to thank for that.
After being with me a little over two years Nashia left to return to Iao, but she promised me we would meet again. Our second trip to Maui occurred when she was still with me, but she left shortly thereafter. She told me I would come back to Iao and at that time if I was ready, we would resume our partnership to work on other things.
June, 2014 found my husband and I returning to Maui for a third trip in celebration of our 20th anniversary we celebrated in May. Iao was one of the first places we visited. The moment I stepped out of the car I felt Nashia’s energy envelop me. It was like being hugged by a long lost friend. The feeling was overwhelming and I began to cry. My husband stood respectfully to the side. He knows how special Iao is to me.
Nashia walked with me all through the park. As we headed back to the car she asked if I was ready to commit my time and energy to our project as she reminded me of my idea back in 2009 to create an oracle deck out of my photographs. I told her I was ready.
A river running through Iao State Park.
Nashia came home with me and over a 3 week period of working 4 – 5 hours a day we went through approximately 3,445 photographs taken during all three of our trips to Maui. We set aside photos we both thought would make meaningful oracle cards, then from there further edited down the group by eliminating those that included people and those that had bad lighting or other issues. We were then left with a group of 221 photos.
Examining the final 221 photos I have found some intriguing things. Mainly orbs, and those pictures occur outdoors, one at night, the others in broad daylight. I also seem to have some strange bluish light anomaly captured at a waterfall that also includes orbs. It is clear that the spirits are all around one when you visit Maui. Many wished for their picture to be taken. Those pictures will appear in the final version of “The Aloha Spirit of Maui Oracle,” as well as many others. Numerous photos will be showcased here first, so I do hope you enjoy watching the progress of the deck unfold as much as I enjoy sharing it with all of you.
Until next time, Aloha and Mahalo for visiting my blog.
~ Nefer Khepri, PhD, R. M-T.
Magickal-Musings.com
All text & photographs copyright Nefer Khepri, 2009, 2011, and 2014. Sharing my blog posts is fine, but reproduction is strictly prohibited.
of 2015 by the American Tarot Association & their publication, Tarot Reflections, which is a tremendous honor for me, especially considering the very talented people who were nominated along with me. This has motivated me to get a move on with all of my other creative ideas.
Maui is incredibly healing. I experienced this first-hand. I attempted to take pictures that captures some of that wonderful energy that I hope will come through in the images I am creating for The Aloha Spirit of Maui Oracle Deck.
The Aloha Spirit of Maui Oracle Deck 