Nourish body, mind, spirit at Origin

Editor’s Note: Ra Paulette’s Oscar nominated documentary, “Cavedigger” is included in this article.

Caves feature prominently in New Mexico. Whether natural or manmade, the Land of Enchantment is rife with these special places. There are historic Ancestral Puebloan cave dwellings, like those at Bandelier National Monument, and colorful cave formations such as those at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. You’ll also find a luxurious cave hotel that the Flintstones would envy, and even a salt cave created with therapeutic benefits in mind. And then there’s the Windows of the Earth.

This hand-carved cave, the work of world-renowned artist Ra Paulette, is a unique marvel. The cave lies amid the high desert landscape within Georgia O’Keeffe country at a place called Origin. A hacienda-style sanctuary, nestled between Santa Fe and Taos, Origin is known for its well-appointed overnight accommodations, boutique retreats and healing services. It’s a destination for travelers seeking to connect with nature, while experiencing the ultimate in rejuvenation. 

Courtesy of OriginThe 145-acre property offers picturesque views of the Jemez Mountains and the Ojo Caliente River Valley, as well as of the types of notable sandstone buttes favored by O’Keeffe. It’s a peaceful spot, yet teems with life, both flora and fauna, and possesses a colorful history and rich cultural heritage. 

Origin Owner Jill Marie Inanna purchased the property in 2014. She saw a vision for the place, which had previously been a high-end resort, and combined her real estate and construction background with a passion for spirituality and health to create Origin. Having lived in northern New Mexico for many years, Inanna personally had experienced the area’s transformative powers and its ability to enliven consciousness. She wanted to share not only the beauty of this region, but the potential for self-discovery and healing it offers. 

Those who stay at Origin have their choice of one of the casitas adjacent to the main house, with access to common spaces, including indoor and outdoor dining areas, a central courtyard and several patios. The resplendently landscaped grounds have a secret garden-like appeal. Inside, exposed beams, tile floors, earthen plaster walls and kiva fireplaces complete the southwest ambiance.

Guests can also spend time in the cozy living room within the main house or browse in the retail shop, where you can buy everything from fine artwork and jewelry to essential oils and books. 

A complimentary continental breakfast is included and when it comes to other meals, you are invited to bring your own groceries and cook in the fully equipped commercial kitchen. Or private catering can be arranged with gourmet meals provided by Chef Jason.

Overnight lodgers and day visitors can participate in a number of optional activities. You can rent a paddleboard and head to Abiquiu Lake, soak in the nearby hot springs at Ojo Caliente, enjoy a private therapeutic essential oils experience, or have a guided meditation or sound healing session. There’s also plenty of hiking in the area and even a labyrinth on site.

The Innsbruck Labyrinth, which is a seven-circuit sanctum, is made of eighty tons of local rock. It boasts a massive diameter of 62 feet and offers dramatic views of the landscape. There’s no right or wrong way to approach a labyrinth. Typically, you slowly walk along the serpentine path from the entrance to the center and then back out again. You can use the journey however you wish – for contemplation or reflection, to meditate or to quiet your mind. 

Most visitors to Origin are interested in doing a guided tour of the Windows of the Earth cave. The tour encompasses various aspects of the region’s cultural history, local geology, astrology and astronomy. You’ll hear about the Ohkay Owingeh, who have inhabited the area since 1200 A.D., and the Conquistadors, who brutally fought to colonize the territory for Spain. You’ll also learn about the volcanic events that shaped the land, creating the mesas that the Native Americans deem sacred. 

You’ll also participate in a guided chocolate meditation. The chocolates, which are individually wrapped, each have a sticker on the bottom with a word signifying an affirmation or quality, like compassion, wisdom or joyful, for example. You are directed to select one, remove the sticker and place it somewhere on your body, then proceed to let the chocolate melt on your tongue. While enjoying the sensory aspects of this experience, you are encouraged to also “absorb” the quality’s essence.

To reach the cave, you’ll hike about a third of a mile along a rocky path. Your guide will point out prickly pear, desert sand dollars, Palo Duro trees and hoodoos that dot the desert landscape. 

As you near the cave, the conversation will turn to Ra Paulette, his life and journey. A Vietnam War vet, Paulette returned home damaged by his experience. He moved to New Mexico and began working with other veterans in need of healing. Years later, at the age of forty, he found his soul’s calling while watching some kids carve into a sandstone butte. 

For the next thirty years, Paulette carved twenty rock caves, or “wilderness shrines,” as he often refers to them. He recognized the self-healing that resulted from the process, as well as the healing that transpired in others after they experienced the caves. This inspired him to dedicate the caves as “transformative spaces.”

From the outside, the sandstone butte that Paulette bored into appears as a massive sentinel, rising high above the desert floor. You immediately notice the windows that he chiseled out to allow light to penetrate. The anticipation grows as you walk up the stone stairs and enter the cave. Just know that nothing can prepare you for your first view of this otherworldly domain.

Inside, the walls of the cave have a swirled texture, giving the space a dynamic quality. And you can see various designs that have been etched in them. The designs feel organic and naturally incorporated. Benches are carved right into the walls, along with deep niches that contain candles, small rocks, feathers, crystals, and other adornments. Small mirrors appear as pools of water.

You can feel the earth around you, yet it’s not dark, as the sun pours in from the skylight and windows. These portals allow for a seamless integration of the magical landscape. 

There are several small chambers to explore and immerse yourself in the esthetic, while admiring the craftsmanship. It’s overwhelming to imagine the labor and level of devotion that went into creating this sculptural wonderland. Those interested in learning more about Paulette’s process, are invited to watch the Oscar nominated documentary, “Cavedigger,” after the tour. The film is available for viewing back in the main house. Spoiler alert: Paulette never makes any drawings, uses only hand tools, carries all his supplies, including a wheelbarrow, on his back, and digs solo, sans his trusty canine companion.

During your time in the cave, you will be treated to a sound bath. A sound bath is intended to be a meditative experience where attendees are “bathed” in sound waves. These waves are produced via numerous sources such as gongs, singing bowls, chimes, tuning forks, and other implements. 

The use of sound for healing has ancient roots. From Tibetan singing bowls to Aboriginal didgeridoos, sound bathing has been practiced for therapeutic benefits – both mental and physical. 

Our guide had several sized, quartz crystal bowls and she utilized mallets encased in rubber, wooden sticks with dowels, shish kebab skewers and even PVC pipe wrapped in suede to create a variety of sounds with repetitive notes at different frequencies. The cave was the ideal acoustic chamber, as the sound bounced off the walls and vibrated in my body. In a short while, I felt my focus move away from my thoughts, as I simply let the sound send me into a relaxed state. It was a welcome respite from the stresses of daily life and I left the cave with a sense of calm.

To learn more visit originnewmexico.com.  

 

Photos by Debbie Stone, unless otherwise noted.