Victoria Falls and Brianna Falls

 Hello!

This past weekend I explored Victoria Falls with a new friend, Romy. What a wonderful place. However, this was an expensive expedition as I was charged $50 USD both to go in and to go out of Zambia. I would have saved myself 50% by presenting a World Cup ticket – who knew immigration departments had sales?? Zimbabwe then charged me $75 for a Visitor Visa. My South African counterpart was charged nothing. What did Canada ever do? Regardless, it was worth the cost. Victoria Falls are magnificent. They are more rugged and raw than Niagara. They remind you who is boss: Mother Nature. As a visitor, you can get very close…almost dangerously so but this is Africa. The Falls run along a deep canyon for many kms. I loved the noise (roar) of the Falls and the mist that came up from the trenches below. Bright rainbows shone in the water.  In many sections, it was impossible to even see the Falls as the spray was so intense. I wore a rain coat, and even then, got soaked.

We went to the Falls twice, in the daytime and again at night to witness the ‘lunar rainbow’. This is the only place in the world where you can see this due to the brightness of the full moon. (You used to be able to see this phenomenon at Niagara Falls but not anymore due to commercial development in the area.) What an amazing sight this was! Spiritual. We were guided through the park by a Ranger with a dull lantern and at one point he says, “Turn around”. Voila! A rainbow in the mist! It was so dark you couldn’t even see the Falls (however, you could sure feel them as water battered our clothes). The universe felt HUGE in that time and space.

Going into the weekend, I also wanted to experience the ‘adventure’ offered at Victoria Falls. The Bridge over the Falls is known for its bungee jump.  I have been talking about doing the bungee for a few months. Yet, when I got there, I wasn’t excited, rather, I felt sick to my stomach just looking at the ropes. I was quickly reminded how much I dislike the feeling of going upside down (even as a child on the playground) and thought, “I don’t know that I want to do this anymore”! It felt very stressful and as I stood on the ledge, looking down, bungee cord wrapped around my feet, a war was raging inside of me:

EGO: “Bungee you silly moron. You can do this. Everyone else does it. You are lame. It’s only a few seconds of your life. See? Others come back alive and smiling.”

SOUL: “You don’t need to bungee. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. You are centered and pure. You don’t have to go through this agony to show that you are brave.”

EGO: “What will everyone think if you don’t do it? Oh, man, you are so stupid. Just do it.”

SOUL: “Breathe. If it does not feel right, there will be other opportunities when you can come back to this spot. You are already strong. You face your fears daily.”   

I stepped back and never felt braver.              

SOUL  1                 EGO  0

Since this defining moment, I have been looking for an explanation or further understanding as to what I was experienced there, on the bridge. This passage comes close:  

“The ego wants us to do things to be accepted. It will never happen. The ego is coming from the premise that we are essentially incomplete. Actions that stem from the acceptance of my Being are totally different from actions that arise from the doing of my ego, even though the actions may look identical. One is done in the full Consciousness of Soul and Love of Self. The other is done from a sense of incompleteness, inferiority, and fear of not being enough. It is our choice. It merely takes a shift in perception from ego to Soul-Centered Awareness."

Now, don't be fooled. I still jumped. But on MY terms and with a shift in my perception of jumping. I did what was called the Gorge Swing. I fell in a swinging motion, rather than just straight down. In fact, the speed of the fall is faster than bungeeing because of the momentum. I LOVED IT! I was in control, and able to embrace the fall, without fear, and felt fully in my heart as I stepped off the edge. Who knew you could feel so GROUNDED flying through the air?

I am fortunate to have had this 'soul vs. ego' debate arrive, unexpectedly, and as a result, am more in touch with  myself than ever before. 

Finally, I must also comment on how beautiful Zimbabweans are, on the inside and out. We were greeted with such warmth, generosity and kindness. Thank you.

Until next time, 

Brianna

PS-I can't help but laugh at my own ability to take this "In Between Bars" theme to a whole new level now. I literally did hurl myself through the air!