Swimming with Humpback Whales

by Alandra Three Feathers

It was a call from the humpback whales that I answered. This call from the whales was for a grand family reunion, the most transformational journey of my life, with the transformations ongoing six months later.

Over twenty years ago when swimming in the ocean close to whales became my heart's deepest passion, I sensed they were speaking to my soul but did not know why. In these years I have come to understand that whales were the first masters to grace our planet, that they carry the entire history of our earth and that their songs help hold our magnetic grid in place.

In these years as I have opened to them, the whales have felt more and more like my family. I shed many tears grieving our distance, believing they did not know this person named Alandra living in this big world.

On this trip, however, I learned they do know me personally, as they know us all in their higher consciousness. I learned they are ready to aid our healing and evolution if we only ask. And I also learned they come in love and joy to honor the profound link between us.

In spite of all my intense growth and releasing of the past six years, I knew my heart was still hardened. The week my place was confirmed on this trip the whales began working with me, at my request, to initiate the process of removing the tight bonds encircling my heart. I experienced emotional and physical challenges four months prior to my departure, a process that accelerated when I reached the boat.

My first outing, seeing these gentle friends in their home, I felt as if I were in shock. Under our boat a female laid o her back with her pectoral fins outstretched on the ocean floor sending us love and inviting us to open to the unlimited love and harmony of the universe. I felt moved to another dimension, and my heart did indeed open as I repeated to myself, "I'm home, I'm home." Burying my face in my towel, I sobbed uncontrollably.

Nearly catatonic the first three days as I felt huge releasing of past traumas and beliefs, I could hardly eat or talk. For hours I sat staring out at the sea feeling emptier than I ever had. I did not know how the void created by letting go of my past was to be filled but believed that this trip was a preparation for something new in my life.

For five days our triple deck catamaran, Bottom Time II, anchored ninety miles off the coast of the Dominican Republic at the Silver Banks. Thousands of humpbacks migrate thousands of miles each year to this protective reef known as "the nursery," the largest birthing and breeding grounds in the world. We saw mothers with newborn calves and their escorts and groups of two to four "rowdy males" who came to challenge the escorts, competing for the females' favors. We witnessed explosive, breathtaking breaches, huge flukes slipping gracefully into the water, and we heard the loud "whoosh" of their outbreaths as they arched alongside our boats.

The greatest privilege of all: Our group of twenty-three included two animal communicators. Not only did we swim with these sacred ones, but also shared verbal exchanges through the communicators. Each day after breakfast and lunch as two small launches took us out for our encounters, the communicators called to those whales who wished to interact with us. Those who answered waited while we donned snorkeling gear and quietly eased into the water. (The whales called our snorkels our adapters.)

What a miracle to be within feet of these giants, making eye contact and sharing love and gratitude. The whales told us they were as joyful and grateful as we, that by the end of our week together we would have established a spirit circle in the sky, formed by human hand to whale fin. All of us, whales and humans, would be changed in ways that would ripple out into the world.

One mother responded to our call with a request that we quell our excitement as she wanted to teach her baby, who had not yet been with people, which humans to trust. To avoid frightening her calf she asked us to come calmly so that her baby could feel our love. A male and female preparing to mate told us they liked our watching their courtship dance, that he was "showing off just a little." As she reveled in her sensuality, the female revealed that she chose her partner to provide the richest genetic environment for her offspring as they already knew the incoming soul from their union. When they mated, pure love emanated from them, flowing outward and outward to fill and bless the entire planet.

Coming close to our small boat two males breached and breached, teasing one another with, "He doesn't jump as high as I do!" An exuberant baby girl entertained us for over two hours with spyhopping, bursting out of the water and slapping the water with her fins. So many times we were shown how joyful and playful these whales are.

However, not all whales participate in human interaction and those who do risk rejection by others. One female informed us that her contacting us took great courage, but she now felt fulfilled and healed of her old, old fear of being shunned and harmed. This was our gift to her.

On the fourth day as I slowly came back to myself, I questioned, "What is the new? How will I fill this emptiness?"

To be alone I climbed to the small upper deck. There I felt caressed by life and I sensed that life kissed me with an invitation rich with potential. I rolled onto my side, turning my back to life. No casual invitation this, for its answer required full self-researching. To accept life's kiss meant moving beyond who I had been.

Am I really that puny, powerless person I claimed to be? Or am I ready to reach a new level of self-love, self worth and personal power? Am I willing to meet my Self in a Higher Place? Listening to the lapping of the sea against the boat and looking to the stars overhead as they twinkled wisdom and guidance, I wrestled in the inquiry for quite some time.

Then Love flooded my whole being. Yes, Yes! I AM ready! A brilliant shooting star trailed above me in celebration as I eagerly turned back to life with a smile of joy. In a full embrace I returned the kiss.