Mountain Spirit's Blog

By Randall Richards
My son and I were down at the Lake Hawea waterfront today, at the dam, not far from Mountain Spirit, our home and retreat centre here on New Zealand’s South Island. We were fishing for salmon which have a habit of hanging around the dam this time of year in a vain attempt to swim downstream. That’s where the fishing is reportedly good, but we didn’t catch anything this day.

As we were leaving a fellow named Cliff drove up in rental car. He’s from California and, as I tend to do, got to chatting with him. Today is his first day here in New Zealand. As it turns out, he is a principle in a company called Abroad which leads executives and business leaders all over the world, teaching by experience, different ways to think about success and leadership other than the typical profit centered paradigm.

They have led trips to Peru, and Bhutan. They like to work with indigenous leaders locally wherever they end up taking their high-end clientele. I mentioned our little retreat centre to him, and also mentioned the domes at the Lake Hawea Campground and The Oasis as alternative retreat centres who could a bigger group such as his. I mentioned a bit about my background as a cultural and mountain guide in Peru, Outward Bound Professional, and the sort of activities we do at Mountain Spirit such as yin yoga, music studio and sweat lodges. He said he does all the hiring for the company, and this is a bit of a recon for future programs. He asked if his business partner and he could pop by Mountain Spirit for a visit this weekend. When he mentioned he plays guitar and sings, I even invited him to pop by our local Free Market at Leaane’s Camphill Coffee as I’d be playing there, and there’s sort of an open mic atmosphere. He could play a song or two if he was so inclined. We sent each other a text with contact details so we could be in touch over the next couple of days.

All was going quite well until he asked if I knew any Maori people in the area. I explained a bit of what, and who I know in the area, and then, he made the comment, “Oh we did have a Maori person on board our company, but he went a bit off the rails. It was very surprising to us, and we had to let him go because of the things he was posting on Faceboook.” When I asked if he could expound, he continued, “He went extreme right-wing on us, and was posting things about the vx and other stuff about conspiracies and government overreach.” Then, there was an uncomfortable silence.

We said our goodbyes after I had given him some suggestions on what to see and do here in the area for his afternoon in Hawea/Wanaka. Then just after he drove off, I happened to check the local Telegram chat channel, and came upon this post by “Man Alive”, whatever that is:

“For men, the hardest place to sit is on the fence.
Hoping, wishing, waiting for something to
change.

Let me let you in on a little secret..

“If you don’t change, nothing else will.”

Many men know this but spend years umming &
ahhring

Living a lukewarm, mediocre existence

When they know deep in their heart that they are
capable of so much more

They just need to get off the fence
They need to come alive again.”

Before reading that, I hadn’t really come up with a plan of action, but I had an inclination. But after reading that quote, I decided I’ll text Cliff and ask him for the Maori’s contact info. He sounds like am interesting fellow. I’ll send that text just after I post this.

Postscript: I had a good look at Abroad‘s website, and the vision as Cliff explained it, seems like a brilliant initiative, and I feel we’d be a good match, in a different world, I’m finding harder to go back to the way things were. I can’t unknow what I’ve learned over the past few years regarding the dangers of vx, the mandates, and how it’s not about health but power and control.
It’s extremely unlikely that this Maori fellow has gone off on some “right-wing tangent”. It’s more likely our new friend is parroting the media’s label of someone not following the MSM narrative. I know many “progressives” who are liberal in ideology, but only see madness in the current woke camp. I, for one, am grateful that the last few years have only strengthened my resolve to see the truth, and make no apologies about standing tall for what I see.

Being mandated out of public places changed our lives, and seeing the truth for what it is, forces the issue. It’s easier now, not sitting on the fence. My hat’s off to Cliff and his work. I would have liked to get involved with Abroad, but not at the expense of my values. Not only would it be a matter of time before he came cross my Facebook posts, but also, I could see this was, most likely, a dead-end. I’m on a different path and not looking back. I hope Cliff gives me that Maori fellow’s contact info. Who knows, maybe our paths have already crossed, at the Wellington protest, or we’re on some group chat. It’s a small world when it comes to truth these days.