Walking on Water

´´I met this girl in Mexico who told me about Jesus. We hit it off really well and I knew I had to meet the guy. That was many months ago, but look, here I am.´´ When Brandy spoke his voice resonated with a cool California harmony: never stressed, overly excited, or monotone. Just balanced; the kind of voice you want to listen to. ´´He has a store on the corner of San Blas. It’s called ´Magic Hands´ and a sign that alway says open, but he won´t open it for just anybody. He reads you from the back of the store and then decides whether or not to let you in. The first few times he didn´t let me in, but after two weeks he finally did. I guess my energy changed or something, Cuzco will do that to you. Anyway, the guy is gifted. He tells you about yourself and recommends a small piece of jewelry that might help you along your journey. It’s up to you if you buy it, but it’s a nice memento.´´ Brandy finished with a smile that matched his voice.

Hanging on the inside storefront of ´Magic Hands´´ is a larger than life dream catcher that looks more like a oversized cob web than a spiritual protector. The first time I stopped by his shop the lights were off and I passed on knowing he wasn´t there. But later that afternoon the lights were on and I walked straight up to the glass doors and knocked. The reflection made the doors mirror like, so I couldn´t see what was going on, but within seconds a stocky voice said,´´Hola,´´ but made no move to open the door.

´´Hola, como estas?´´ I replied to the reflection.

´´Estoy bien. Estoy bien. Me preguntaste como estoy. Estoy bien.´´ (I am good. I am good. You asked me how I am. I am good.)

I laughed at this and he said most people don´t listen to the questions they ask. I made some goofy comment about asking goofy questions and the voice chuckled. I heard a click and the doors opened. A paunchy individual dressed in a white t-shirt, leather vest, and jeans was standing across from me and behind an octagonal display case that measured no more than 2 feet in radius. The case was filled with feather earrings. The paunchy man smiled. I took a counterclockwise step to the right and he simultaneously took the same step. Hmm. I decided to break the octagonal cobweb-catcher-tension, ´´I´m here for several reasons, but one of which is because a resident of the Republic of California spoke highly of you.´´

´´Republic of California?´´ he laughed again.

´´Yep.´

´´What’s that?´´

´´Good question.´´

After some friendly banter he introduced himself as Jesus and asked to see my right hand. He told me to hold it out at an angle and then maneuvered himself behind me and placed his left hand on my neck and his right hand underneath my outstretched arm. ´´Say your name.´´ I did and Jesus began: ´´Simon puts out a tough exterior but is really sensitive. Simon has a conflict between his heart and his mind. Simon has trouble making decisions. Simon does good things with energy but absorbs a lot. Simon….. Simon… Simon…and Jesus went on and on describing aspects of my life, some of which I was able to connect with and some of which I wasn’t.

We talked for another half an hour and Jesus explained that he was mixed blood (half Native American and half Inca) and that he came from a long line of shamans. ´´You know, I only spend 15 days here and then I go into the jungle to help people. I´m a tough guy to get a hold of, you’re lucky.´´ As he finished the sentence a middle aged European couple walked up to the glass doors and tried to come in. They fiddled with the knobs for a good 15 seconds while Jesus just watched. ´´I´m closed right now,´´ he finally said. ´´See, they can´t come in here. Well, she can but he can´t. His energy is off. I wouldn´t let him in for anything, I know energies.´´ Jesus then told me that he could help me and went to the back of his store and brought out a tiny little box. He opened the lid and pulled out a necklace that he said was made of 8 different metals, a condor claw fossil, a magnet, a baby condor feather, and a topaz stone. He explained that in order to fix my “energetic situation” I would need engage in a bit of shamanism by burying the necklace at the beginning of each month, dipping it into filtered water, taping it to my chest at night, and meditating with it on my solar plexus after a full moon.

“So how much does it cost, Jesus?”

“200 dollars.”

Jesus. I think I started to hyperventilate after he said this. The thing is, when you spend close to an hour with somebody who is “doing you a favor” pro bono and also has the name ´´Jesus´´ you feel slightly indebted. But 200 dollars for a conversation, necklace, and solar plexus full moon ritual? ´´In actuality, it’s worth a lot more.´´ he said.

I closed my eyes, ´´Jesus, I’m sorry but this is a bit out of my price range.´´ He laughed once more, we shook hands, and as I walked out of the store I noticed that it had begin to poor and that San Blas had turned into a veritable river. I had no choice but to continue on and as I took my first step into the wetness of the square something odd happened. My foot seemed to be staying on top of the water, not sinking at all. I took another step, same thing, so I shrugged and continued on.

-Simon