It is one of those days, unbeknownst to me, where magic is lurking just around the corner. Because I am tired from lack of sleep, I find myself lingering in bed. The thought of catching just a little more shut-eye seems irresistible and my exodus from bed approaches the light speed of “molasses in January,” as my grandpa would have said. I almost cancelled this trip because of being so tired, but it felt important to connect with soul family who I haven’t seen in a while. Thank heavens I have learned to say “yes” to my intuition from time to time.

The traffic entering Los Angeles is bumper to bumper and I smile at the familiar drill of making ones way through this populous town via car.  Following the GPS directions, my little hybrid tools down Hollywood Boulevard past Grauman’s Chinese Theater and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. How fun to see these renowned landmarks again and again, as the novelty never wears off for me.

Turning onto Sunset and then down a side street, I can now see my soul sister Valerie pointing out a parking place. We haven’t seen each other in almost a year and can barely contain our excitement as I hastily park and then jump out of the car to embrace her. As the sun is pours down in LA, we walk down the street to one of her favorite gluten free restaurants and sit outside to soak up the rays. Little by little I strip off the layers of clothing until I can remove no more without being arrested for indecent exposure. Valerie orders a turkey burger with pesto and I desire to eat a bit lighter with salad, which is totally defeated with the delivery of an order of sweet potato fries and a side of sauce laden with horse radish.

It was just a year ago that I met this sweet soul sister in the hot springs of Ojai. There was an immediate recognition between us, as though we were long lost family who had been reunited after a lifetime of separation. Since then we’ve tried to get together on several occasions with the result of many near misses. Catching up on all of our adventures via conversation, we decide to saunter into another gluten free haven for organic coffee and flourless chocolate cake. Once again, my attempt to eat light is dampened by the arrival of my favorite food, chocolate, which has surely been gifted to this planet by some divine being.

Time passes quickly and we reluctantly say a teary eyed goodbye as I punch in the address of my next destination. Scooting through the streets and onto the nearest highway, I think that it would have been more prudent to take Sunset straight down to Silver Lake, but then I would have missed the bumper-to-bumper traffic on the freeway during drive time in this amazing city.

The Night Lands Me in Hot Water

I arrive at the home of my next dear friend and again, can hardly wait to park and greet him. “Cat,” he shouts as he walks up to embrace me. “Kute,” I shout back as we hug each other and laugh. It is then that I see a glint of mischief in his eyes.  He asks, “Are you ready for an adventure Cat?”  “Always,” I respond with a smile. So we jump into his car and drive down Sunset Boulevard.

We enter Korea town and the entire backdrop of Los Angeles transforms into bright colors and storefront banners written in a foreign language. There are so many different neighborhoods and realities in this city that it is befitting Los Angeles is the mecca for film – a medium primarily focused on creating a multitude of realities for viewers to experience.

Eventually, we pull up in front of a plain looking building and Kute informs me that we ‘have arrived.’ In my many experiences of this town, I’ve grown accustom to things not being what they seem based on their surface appearance.  As we enter, the smell of mineral hot springs is unmistakable. To my amazement, here in the heart of this mega metropolis is a natural hot spring with highly potent mineral waters – who would have guessed that such a thing could still exist?

Kute smiles at my expression and tells me to head toward the women’s side of the spa and he will meet me in a few hours. Like a child who has just been handed the keys to a candy shop, I make my way through the doors to discover a pool filled with steaming mineral water. A woman who works at the spa suggests that ‘naked is the best way to experience this place.’ So, for the second time today I strip myself of clothing and begin my exploration of this amazing oasis.

The pool of hot spring water causes my body to instantly relax and I lay back to let the minerals soak into my skin. After a few moments, I notice a smaller pool of what is most likely cold water and go over to explore. The temperature reminds me of Lake Erie in the winter, as it is so frigid that I can barely walk in up to thigh level. It becomes clear that my goal on this evening will be to reach a point where I can completely submerge myself – but it will certainly not be in this moment.

I quickly retreat back to the hot springs and find the sensation on my legs to be one of a mild yet exquisite pain – then a tingling – then a sensation of pure bliss. An awareness sets in of the therapeutic potential of vascillating between the cold and warm waters.

An woman approaches me in a black bikini and beckons me to follow her – so I do. Finding myself in a small room with a spongy table, she directs me to lie down, face up. I close my eyes and prepare for whatever is next. The feeling of warm spring water overtakes me as she throws bucket after bucket of it onto my body. Then there is a brushing sensation against my skin and as I open my eyes to see what’s happening, I realize it is this woman’s goal to polish every cell on my body –   and it feels absolutely amazing.

With each stroke, my skin feels more alive and every once in a while, she throws another bucket of warm spring water over my body. After reaching my head, she takes out a bottle of shampoo and asks if she can wash my hair. I nod yes and jest to myself, “Is she kidding? Of course she can wash my hair. What sane person would say ‘no’ to further pampering?” My friend Kute is notorious for creating adventures that invoke ecstatic states and this one is no exception.

Eventually, my time pampering time comes to an end and I effortlessly rise from the table, almost as if floating.  Again I soak in the warm waters and again I attempt to go a bit deeper into the frigid waters, but only up to my waist this time. Then, I return to the warm water for the few moments of tingling.

The next exploration is of the eucalyptus steam room and it feels like my own personal sweat lodge, as no one else is in the spa at this point. Quietly I sing an Iroquois song – one from the Tuscarora reservation in my hometown of Buffalo.

When I can take no more steam, I enter the dry sauna. It is in this room that emotion escapes my body through tears. The cleansing effect of this mineral spa feels even more potent as the dry heat purges pockets of sadness from within me. How perfect that these toxins are exiting my body as water in the form of tears.

Once again I feel the call of the frigid waters and this time, enter from the side versus the steps, so there is an immediate immersion waist high. For some reason, it doesn’t feel as cold this time and I immediately muster up the courage to fully submerge, before I can change my mind. What a feeling of exhilaration as the cold water completely initiates me in this rite of spa passage! As I re-enter the hot spring pool and feel tingling all over my body, the most amazing thing happens – all of my pains disappear. I can’t remember the last time that I was without any trace of an ache somewhere and am amazed at the therapeutic value of this evening.

By the time I meet Kute in the lobby, my whole face is glowing. “You look transformed,” he says. It is obvious that he is pleased by the outcome of his efforts to create an amazing experience for me. “Thank you,” I say. “This has been absolutely amazing!”

LoveStock?

We then venture out to find some sushi and discuss collaborating on Kute’s upcoming LoveStock event in September. His natural inclination to create transformative events for people will be expressed on a larger scale, as thousands amass upon the Avalon Theater for a music, food, bodywork, and dance extravaganza.

Feeling complete with the day, we say our good byes and I begin my drive back up to Santa Barbara. Though an hour and a half away, the drive flies by as I bask in the elation of visiting with soul family and the baptism from hot mineral waters. I feel high on life and focus on gratitude. Today was a very good day – and one that I could have easily missed had I not said yes to life and the adventures it offers. Thank you, thank you, and thank you for all of the goodness that is present in this world! All we have to do is to open up to the magic, and it appears.