…Not that she will ever be forgotten, but today is Polly Noble’s birthday and I just returned from Ecuador where I spent a beautiful week with her entire family.

Two years ago she invited me to her birthday party, but I was with my parents, sister and her husband (who was also born on 11/11) in Vilcabamba, Ecuador. Last year, when she was celebrating on 11/11, I was again in Ecuador at this time running my annual Raw Food & Soul Adventures retreat. This time, Polly exclaimed “That’s it! NEXT year, I’m coming with you!”

She’s a powerful little one…

Indeed this year she came with us. She may not have been there in her body, but she was absolutely there, she even brought with her every single person she loved more than anything in the world- her mum, dad, brother, sister, their other halves and her 7 months old nephew, who Polly got to meet and enjoy just before she passed.

One night at the retreat, I couldn’t get to sleep, so I stayed up preparing for the next day’s activities and making energy balls for everyone, when Polly showed up. I’ve never had this experience before, so it was as odd for me as it may sound to you right now.

We had the most real conversation and for a brief hour, I felt like I had my friend back. She told me about how proud she was of her dad eating raw food, drinking green juice and trying yoga. She told me how impressed she was with her beloved mummy, who hasn’t been further than Germany for her fear of flying, but is now in South America, doing all the things Polly loved to do. She told me to look through at specific photos I took of her sister and her boyfriend and point out to them the condor and the butterfly next to them, as that’s how she showed up to photobomb them. She couldn’t find the words to express how proud it made her to see her perfect brother, now being the perfect father. And if she had another opportunity to choose a brother, that couldn’t be her own, she’d want it to be her precious nephew Freddie. And if she had another opportunity to choose a mother, that couldn’t be her own, she’d want it to be her sister-in-law Michelle. She promised that if she came back, it had to be to her own family and asked me to tell them not to worry, because she would return as the healthiest version of herself.

AT THE TOP OF VILCABAMBA AND POLLY THE BUTTERFLY AS PER ABOVE.

Can you imagine me then having to tell this to her family the following day? I probably lost 3kgs of weigh bawling my eyes out with Polly that night, then 3kgs more telling my own parents in the morning. Yet she chose me as a messenger, so I got the strength from above. From Polly herself, no doubt.

On the last night of the retreat, when everyone showed up wearing white for our closing cacao ceremony (more like a cleansing ceremony, because white represents purity, release and starting over), Polly shows up again. This time she came to my mum and asked for her help in cleansing her soul so she can leave this plane and get ready for a new life. She was always impatient, but the thought of returning to her family sooner than later turned her into a joyful hopeful kid again and even though my mum has never met Polly in person, she saw her as an excited little girl, doing swirls and cartwheels, giggling while saying that she’s ready to ascend as soon as possible.

The time and place were an auspicious combo of synchronicities, as the most unique draw about my parents’ land is that it happens to have an ascension portal and this very day in Ecuador happens to be the day of all souls (or remembrance day).

It was of course entirely optional for others to attend this special good-bye ceremony for Polly, but as the team that everyone has become over the retreat, no one even blinked an eye at the decision and even got to connect and release their own family and friends who have recently passed.

The experience was equally as beautiful and uplifting as it was overwhelming, overpowering and… hot! My Lord we got hot. Now this was a time of day when Vilcabamba becomes chilly, having a rainforest type climate, so we are usually cosied up inside over a hot cup of tea, but not during what we got up to! The presence of our loved ones was indisputable.

We then went on to celebrate by eating high-vibration raw chocolate, drinking hot almond cacao lattes and playing African drums on our large outdoor balcony, from which all you can see is the moon in the sky and the fireflies in the distant trees.

Just moments after 8pm when we were winding down anyway, we got a confirmation of how much light work we really did produce…

The gate bell began  ringing persistently and looking at the time, we enjoyed a joke about this being the cops. It was mainly a joke because partying to techno music goes on nearly every night in Vilcabamba until the roosters start to crow, but here we were away on our own private land and getting asked to stop being naturally happy without being under influence (or even music for that matter) at a time when many families haven’t even started eating their dinner. We still don’t know whether any of the far away neighbours complained but the dark forces work in various ways to disrupt such intense and pure light.

And with that, I recall a wonderful quote our birthday girl once posted on her social media:

“DON’T LET SOMEONE DIM YOUR LIGHT, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT’S SHINING IN THEIR EYES.”

Shine on friends.

Love you,

Tanya

P.S. Here is the tribute I wrote to Polly in a recent Get Fresh! Magazine. Just click the image to enlarge it. x