Connecting with Lagoa Do Fogo, Crater Lake Energy
Bom Dia Beautiful People!
I’m writing you from Sao Miguel island, the largest island in a volcanic archipelago off the coast of Portugal. It’s been said these islands are the “Hawaiian Islands of Europe.”
The scenery here is a blend of lush, tropical landscapes, old world Spanish charm and a little bit of all the countries that have passed through since the 1400’s.
Just one of many beaches on the island.
During the summer, this island is a bustling tourist spot, but my friends and I are here in the off-season. The fluctuating weather with rainy, overcast days, and temps in the mid 60’s are a recipe for less-crowded landmarks and instant access to great photo opportunities.
Which brings me to what I truly wanted to share with you all… a magical afternoon at the top of Lagoa do Fogo. (Lake of Fire) Pronounced: Lago-do-Fuog
We tried to hike this in the morning but turned back when we saw downed trees blocking our path.
With the weather here constantly changing, (forecast? What forecast!?) we came up with a flexible daily planner of places to visit with rain options for the entire week. On the morning of day one the sunshine led us to visit a trailhead at crater lake, Lagoa do Fogo. BUT, the GPS routed us to the wrong one. So, we re-routed to the other side of the crater and stopped at a small restaurant, Casa Do Abel, in Caloura for lunch. Which turned out to be the most amazing food we’re had so far on our trip. Thank you Universe for the redirect!
Wonderful wine at Casa Do Abel.
As we ate, the rain clouds started opening up, putting a halt to the Christmas decorating happening outside the restaurant window. Donning our raincoats on the way out, we all agreed that we weren’t going to let some less-than-perfect weather keep us from seeing Lagoa do Fogo. I started up the rental car and we began our drive up to a promising lookout point.
The narrow, two lane road made hairpin curves as it cut its way up the side of the volcano. Every turn through the lush greenery was an exciting view until we drove into thick fog and deeper into the clouds.
The fog added an other-wordly feel to our drive, it felt like we were in a movie.
Sometimes life feels like this; standing on the edge of the unknown. You can let fear keep you small, or embrace the excitement of potential.
Pressing on, we passed other tourists pulled over at various foggy lookouts as we continued our drive to the rim of the crater. When we ran out of road I parked the car in the empty lot near the Barrosa Lookout. The amount of internal awe and excitement grew as more of the inside of the crater revealed itself with every step towards the lookout point.
The remaining tourists left shortly after our arrival and we viewed Lagoa do Fogo in perfect solitude. Surrounded by clouds but with a clear view into the crater lake it was better than we could have imagined. The air was chilly, rich with the smell of vegetation and salt. The rain fell softly all around, hitting the hood of my raincoat. In this stillness/non-stillness, we listened to Lagoa do Fugo talk to us. The distant call of seagulls, the wind softly blowing, water dripping from the leaves of millions of plants and flowing down to the lake creating a magical symphony that felt so intimate. Like that moment was created just for us.
A few years ago I learned how to purify my energy by connecting with the elements. As I stood here, soaking up this moment in time, it was easy to feel the energy all around me, very powerful.
I asked my friends if I could guide us in meditation to connect deeper with this ancient volcano. As I guided us through turning our physical senses up and expanding awareness beyond our bodies, I felt pressure building in my heart-space. Prompted to follow the water dripping off our raincoats to the ground, I sent my energy to the Earth and my heart erupted. It felt like I had reconnected to a piece of my soul.
It was truly a Cathartic experience for me. With tears dripping down my face I gave thanks to our creator for that moment, to the land allowing us to commune with her, to the elements for creating a sanctuary, and to be able to share this experience with my friends and now also, with you.
If you would like to deepen your connection to nature and the elements, check out my guidebook:
Purifying with the Elements.
Me and my travel companions.