| Indiana Jones and the Volcano | | | | within a few inches of the mass. To my |
| Experiencing a live volcano was on top | | | | surprise, the air felt like I had just |
| of our agenda when my friend Rob and I | | | | opened a 400-degree oven. The surface |
| visited the exotic land of Costa Rica. | | | | was so hot, I instinctively jumped back |
| The plane touched down in the capital | | | | a few feet. When we first arrived |
| city of San Jose, and we headed for the | | | | earlier in the morning, the extremely |
| car rental to pick up a 4x4 and a map to | | | | cold wind and pelting rain had so |
| Mt. Arenal, the nearest active volcano. | | | | neutralized the radiant heat from the |
| After an arduous drive through | | | | lava, we didn't even notice the |
| torrential rain, we finally arrived in a | | | | temperature. |
| quiet village supposedly at the foot of | | | | But the heat was not the only aspect of |
| a fire-belching monster. I say | | | | the lava that the elements had concealed |
| supposedly because it was so foggy, we | | | | from us. I picked up a small twig and |
| weren't even sure a volcano existed. We | | | | approached the foot of the black mound |
| couldn't see a tree a block away, let | | | | that had gushed from the top of the |
| alone a volcanic mountain looming 5,000 | | | | mountain. Getting as close as I could to |
| feet above us. | | | | the sulphurous heat, I stuck the branch |
| Locals claim if you really listen | | | | into the rain-drenched ground about two |
| closely, you can hear the beast rumble. | | | | inches in front of the lava. Within a |
| We never heard a whimper. By the second | | | | minute, the lava hill reached the stick |
| misty day and night of no sighting, I | | | | and buried it! |
| suspected the local population had | | | | Suddenly my whole body reeled with the |
| fabricated the story of an erupting | | | | involuntary shudder of recognition. For |
| volcano in order to attract tourist | | | | the last hour Rob and I had been walking |
| dollars. A volcano of convenience. No | | | | on a live, moving lava flow! And Rob was |
| muss, no fuss. Just some imaginary | | | | still up there running around on the |
| rumbling every so often that only the | | | | molten granite. |
| locals hear from a volcano no one ever | | | | Another eruption, three times louder |
| sees because of the rain and fog! | | | | than the first one, filled the air. My |
| Waiting out the rain, we were eating a | | | | ears throbbed from the deafening boom. |
| tasty native dinner of red beans and | | | | My feet and body registered avalanche |
| rice at a colorful local dive when the | | | | after avalanche of crashing rock |
| owner of the café strolled over to our | | | | careening down the side of the volcano. |
| table. Without invitation, he plopped | | | | Descending the rough trail, I ran head |
| himself down. Miguel appeared to me | | | | over heels in a panic, determined to |
| exactly as I've always imagined don Juan | | | | outrun any rockslides coming my way. |
| of Carlos Castaneda fame to look. His | | | | After a half-hour of the fastest, long |
| face was dark and swarthy with a kind | | | | distance race I've ever run, I arrived |
| but inscrutable expression. Staring | | | | at our jeep safely sheltered under a |
| straight into our eyes, he declared in | | | | broad-armed tree. Collapsing into the |
| halting English, "You want to know | | | | front seat, I fought to catch my breath. |
| volcano, not just look at it." | | | | As my pulse and mind quieted, I was |
| Being a veteran traveler, I have learned | | | | overcome with fear for the safety of my |
| to be agreeable in a foreign country | | | | friend still walking around on the |
| and, in general, say "yes" to | | | | moving bed of liquid rock in the midst |
| practically everything spoken to me by | | | | of periodic violent explosions. I began |
| the locals. Not realizing the full | | | | feeling intensely responsible. I'd left |
| import of the distinction between the | | | | a young kid in my charge on top of an |
| words Miguel had used, I responded | | | | erupting volcano! A nightmarish vision |
| amicably, "Yeah, yeah, of course, we'd | | | | bombarded me. I saw his parents, who had |
| like to know the volcano." | | | | entrusted their son with me, watching |
| Without another word, Miguel turned over | | | | local authorities dig through the rubble |
| my paper place mat and began to draw a | | | | of the volcano searching for the body of |
| crooked line. We watched in silence as | | | | the lost American youth. Feeling so |
| he guided the pencil over the | | | | guilty and worried I could neither relax |
| grease-stained paper in absorbed | | | | nor rest, I decided I must leave the |
| concentration. What emerged was a | | | | jeep and hike back up the volcano. I had |
| detailed map of twists and turns with | | | | to find Rob. |
| landmarks indicated by little, kid-like | | | | No sooner had I opened the door of the |
| pictures of trees, stone walls and tiny | | | | jeep than an insistent inner impulse |
| shacks to represent a village. | | | | told me to stay put and listen inside |
| Finished, Miguel sighed and spoke | | | | for further instructions. When I receive |
| directly into our souls with piercing, | | | | such forceful commands from my inner |
| green eyes. "This map take you to | | | | coach, I usually obey. Quieting myself |
| volcano. To be with volcano-to feel and | | | | as much as possible under the |
| know spirit of volcano." Then he laughed | | | | circumstances, I endeavored to get in |
| softly and cautioned us we would be | | | | touch with my next best intuitive move. |
| scared because the volcano would | | | | I challenged myself, Was it wrong what I |
| definitely erupt when we were there. | | | | did? Was it selfish and self-absorbed to |
| "But volcano not harm you," he added | | | | look after my own safety and leave a |
| hastily. With a wistful look in his | | | | young kid behind? |
| face, Miguel shared how he has picnicked | | | | After I felt all the intense emotions |
| at the edge of the volcano his whole | | | | stirred up from asking these |
| life and the towering inferno had never | | | | soul-searching questions, I received a |
| harmed him. His words only mildly | | | | very strong message directly from |
| consoled me. | | | | Spirit. My inner knowing spoke to me |
| The sound of the cold, drenching rain | | | | emphatically, saying: |
| woke us at dawn. We still couldn't see | | | | "You did the right thing. You followed |
| or hear the volcano. Since the downpour | | | | your intuition. If you recall |
| discouraged us from any tourist | | | | specifically, your inner coach told you |
| activity, we decided we may as well get | | | | that it was dangerous for you to stay, |
| soaking wet following Miguel's map to | | | | and that you needed to leave |
| wherever it led. | | | | immediately. It said nothing about your |
| We drove up the steep mountainside until | | | | friend Rob. Nothing at all. You were |
| the rugged jeep road ended abruptly at a | | | | right to follow your guidance and leave. |
| craggy cliff. I was very surprised | | | | In fact, had you stayed, you may very |
| Miguel's hand-drawn map actually | | | | well have endangered your friend's |
| corresponded to what we found on our | | | | safety! Had you stayed, you would have |
| journey. We followed our friend's | | | | been out of alignment with your |
| makeshift chart through a hole in a | | | | intuition and, therefore, out of harmony |
| fence, up a circuitous rocky path, over | | | | and integrity with yourself. This |
| many collapsed lava rock walls and past | | | | discordant state has a strong tendency |
| long-deserted fruit orchards. The trail | | | | to interfere with another person's |
| ended at an imposing 300-foot wall of | | | | ability to tap into and follow his or |
| solid volcanic lava flow so jagged and | | | | her own knowing. Had you stayed, you may |
| sharp we couldn't climb it. | | | | have hindered Rob's ability to hear and |
| Fortunately for us, Miguel had | | | | heed his inner direction. You took the |
| anticipated this challenge. At the edge | | | | most helpful, loving and appropriate |
| of the lava flow, his map showed a | | | | action by following the letter and |
| naturally camouflaged trail through the | | | | spirit of your intuition. You following |
| dense rainforest. We plunged into the | | | | you own internal urging allowed your |
| dark primeval forest. The jungle growth | | | | friend the space to realize he must rely |
| was so thick with vines and roots, the | | | | on his own internal wisdom." |
| path so muddy and slippery, I felt we'd | | | | Spirit's message was a fascinating new |
| dropped into a comic scene right out of | | | | lesson in intuitive guidance for me. In |
| the Harrison Ford movie "Indiana Jones | | | | general, and for its reassurance in my |
| and the Raiders of the Lost Ark." During | | | | present predicament, I was grateful for |
| one hilarious moment, Rob and I both | | | | this fresh perspective. I never before |
| lost our footing and, clutching each | | | | realized the precision of intuition. I |
| other, slid back down fifty feet of the | | | | never before understood the independence |
| mudslide trail. Grabbing overhanging | | | | of one person's guidance from the inner |
| vines, Tarzan-style, saved the day-and | | | | counsel of another person in a shared |
| our necks! Our guardian angels must get | | | | situation. |
| a lot of overtime pay! | | | | At the exact moment I realized the |
| Undaunted and filled with the rush of | | | | import of what I was being told by my |
| adventure, Rob and I helped each other | | | | inner coach, Rob came streaking down the |
| stand up, pull ourselves together and | | | | trail toward the jeep. In the fury of |
| restart the climb. Clawing and | | | | the last violent eruption, Rob received |
| scratching our way through the | | | | his own internal signal to vamoose. |
| rainforest, we finally reached the top | | | | Guided by his own inner compass, he |
| of the lava flow. My first impression | | | | immediately took the Mudslide Express |
| was how very windy and cold it was up | | | | through the jungle to safety. I was |
| there for a tropical climate. The | | | | extremely relieved-and appreciative to |
| pouring rain and dense fog had | | | | Spirit-that my nightmare vision of Rob's |
| persisted, obliterating the view of | | | | demise was averted. I gave silent thanks |
| anything more than a foot in front of | | | | for the eternal lessons I learned from |
| us. As we inched our way along the top | | | | our escapade. |
| of the volcanic rock, I remembered how | | | | Back on solid ground, Rob and I were |
| Miguel had told us of his many idyllic | | | | anxious to leave the mountain rains and |
| picnics here with his friends. Not very | | | | clouds. We hopped into the jeep and sped |
| conducive weather for a picnic on this | | | | toward the sunny western coast of Costa |
| morning! | | | | Rica. Driving down the mountainside, we |
| Suddenly, a booming roar filled the air, | | | | both lapsed in and out of thankful |
| followed by a very powerful rumble that | | | | silence for being alive. Perhaps the |
| reverberated throughout our bodies. We | | | | next day, the morning's events would |
| felt the Earth roll in one undulating | | | | seem a great adventure, but, right then, |
| wave after another! Even though Rob and | | | | the very real danger we'd just survived |
| I had never experienced an eruption | | | | remained very palpable and raw. Our |
| before, we instinctively knew this was | | | | minds, emotions and physical bodies were |
| the volcano showing its might. The | | | | still remembering and replaying our |
| ground continued to heave in unnerving | | | | narrow escape. |
| spasms. People-size boulders sped past | | | | Suddenly, Rob and I experienced |
| us down the slope. Flying rocks were | | | | simultaneous intuitive hits to pull over |
| propelled into nearby trees, the sheer | | | | and get out of the jeep. Leaning against |
| force imbedding the projectiles cleanly | | | | the vehicle, we turned as one toward the |
| into their trunks. We heard and felt | | | | top of the mountain we'd just descended. |
| nearby avalanches crashing their way | | | | As if waiting for us to stop our |
| down the mountain. We could only see a | | | | downward trek away from the mountain and |
| fraction of the devastation because of | | | | turn our gaze upward, the clouds parted |
| the blinding downpour, but our bodies | | | | to reveal the awesome Mt. Arenal volcano |
| definitely registered the massive | | | | for the very first time since our |
| rearrangement all around us. | | | | arrival in Costa Rica so many days |
| A sharp electric terror shot through | | | | earlier. The dense mist lifted. We saw |
| every cell of my body. Its message was | | | | exactly where we had been hiking on the |
| explicit and commanding, "Leave! Now! | | | | lava flow. We pinpointed where the tree |
| You must go now to save your life." | | | | line ended and the lava flow began. We'd |
| I shouted to Rob, "We're out of here! | | | | been standing only a hundred yards from |
| It's not safe!" To my astonishment, he | | | | the open mouth of the volcano when it |
| shook his head from side to side | | | | erupted! |
| indicating he didn't want to go. | | | | The restaurant owner Miguel had promised |
| "I'm staying. This is too cool!" he | | | | we would be with, we would feel and we |
| yelled over the roar of the wind and | | | | would know the spirit of the volcano. He |
| falling rock. He was nineteen years old. | | | | said the mountain would definitely erupt |
| His sense of novelty and exploration was | | | | when we were there. And he'd promised |
| still stronger than his sense of danger | | | | the volcano would not harm us. The rain |
| and good judgment. I started to argue. I | | | | and his crude map tricked us into going |
| made zero impression on the brash, young | | | | so close to the volcano that we did, |
| daredevil. | | | | indeed, get to know the volcano, not |
| Then another explosion rocked our world. | | | | just view it. |
| I watched in horror as the heat, ash and | | | | Was it the spirit of the volcano that |
| force of the blast denuded a huge | | | | sent Miguel to us? -and turned the skies |
| 200-foot tree in one second, stripping | | | | into a torrential downpour in order to |
| off all its leaves and limbs. If this | | | | obscure the treacherous nature of our |
| volcano could do that to a tree, it | | | | journey so we wouldn't be scared off? |
| could do the same to us! I knew with | | | | Rob and I agreed, stranger things have |
| certainty I was supposed to leave | | | | happened. One thing was certain. If we'd |
| posthaste. | | | | been able to see where we were going, we |
| Jumping off the top of the lava mound | | | | would never have walked as close as we |
| right into the rainforest, I bolted | | | | did to the mouth of the cauldron. |
| without another thought. I threw myself | | | | Now, viewing the majesty of Mt. Arenal, |
| into the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" | | | | we were humbled and ever so grateful for |
| express mudslide, riding the flowing | | | | the experience of having been able to |
| water and sludge through the dense | | | | safely feel the mountain's power and |
| jungle growth down the side of the | | | | personality. As we were sending out our |
| still-quaking mountainside. In what | | | | thankfulness to and admiration of the |
| seemed like only a few seconds, I | | | | volcano, the mountain erupted again with |
| arrived at the bottom of the lava flow. | | | | an explosion twice as high as the |
| The path was certainly faster and easier | | | | volcano itself. Two miles of elegant ash |
| going down than climbing up! For a brief | | | | plume shot up into the dark blue sky. |
| moment, I lay soaked to the bone, | | | | The event was quite dramatic and very |
| resting in a mud puddle, my ripped | | | | humbling. |
| clothes covered with brown muck. | | | | We knew the volcano was responding to |
| Recovering some of my composure, I | | | | our love and appreciation for its gift |
| became aware for the first time of heat | | | | to us that day. Then the clouds closed |
| radiating from the lava flow smoldering | | | | back in and our mighty friend said |
| several feet to my left. I crawled in | | | | good-bye, leaving us forever changed and |
| the direction of the flow until I was | | | | enriched by its friendship. |