Dive In... Testimonial by Gradys María Tinoco
Dive In... Testimonial by Gradys María Tinoco
Tal’s magic is indescribable. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing her for a relatively short period of time, a bit over a year and a half, yet the depth of what we’ve shared in those months is comparable to the friendship of a lifetime. She is not only an artist, but she, herself, is a work of art. True to her craft, her attention to detail is impeccable and everything she does carries intention and strong prayer. This can not only be seen, but deeply felt, during her Water Blessing ceremonies, or her Dive In Outdoor Performances.
I’ve participated in these two consecutive years and it’s become something I look forward to with reverent excitement. The unbelievably beautiful altars she creates are composed of all the the elements: candles (fire), sea shells (water), feathers (air), and flowers (earth), and are arranged with a coherent elegance. It’s truly a feast for the eyes (and Soul), so much so that even bystanders pause from their night strolls on the beach to admire and inquire about the spectacle.
Both years I’ve had the body suit experience, and it is quite other-worldly. During my first time, we sat facing the ocean and I remember feeling deeply nurtured, as if cradled in my mother’s womb once more. Even through the suit and behind closed eyes, I could perceive smiling down upon me in her full glory, enjoying the gathering of hearts that had come to receive her blessing. My second experience was equally as profound in a different way. Meditation in a full body suit quiets the five senses in a way that merely closing the eyes cannot. I dove into a space of complete quietude within myself, that absolutely still place where one can be with God uninterrupted.
I began by stating that Tal’s magic is undeniable, now let me give you a glimpse of how it is so. Once Tal had finished arranging every aspect of her most recent altar, with every petal and grain of sand in it’s rightful place, a complete rainbow revealed itself before us, both ends visibly dipping into the space where ocean meets sky. The scene was so pristine not even my compulsive behavior of grabbing my phone to capture the moment could move me. We gazed at the arch in awe, a doorway to the Heavens had opened with the altar at its heart-center. As I looked above, drops that could barely be felt began to sprinkle, and the rain looked as it never had before or since. What I saw were twinkling specs, like what fairy dust must look like, or what would come off the stars when they dance. I had to blink a few times to ensure I wasn’t imagining it. I preserve that spark of eternity deep within my grateful heart.
Soon after, it began to pour upon us, and Tal amazed us yet again with her graceful way of being. Like a mama duck protects her young, Tal ushered us all beneath the nearest lifeguard hut, and with steadfast faith, assured us that everything was unfolding as it needed to, that the rain would pass and we would begin shortly. True to her intention, this is exactly what happened! Her faith left me speechless, for I knew the amount of time in planning and dedication in executing it had taken her to conjure up this Dive In Experience. Yet she did not convey a smidgeon of worry, I knew we were in God’s hands.
I call her performances Water Blessing ceremonies because they are guided by prayer. In fact, in the beginning, a piece of paper is passed around on which we all get the chance to write down the names of our loved ones who we’d like to send healing to. This sheet is then placed within the Zohar and we each get to take a pocket-sized version of this Holy Book home with us. Though it is in Hebrew, a language I do not understand, Tal has taught me that simply scanning the letters (left to right, of course!) activates codes within our being.
The Water Blessing is not just for those who attended it. The power of unified prayer, especially one that comes from a place of Soul-deep gratitude, will move mountains, and that is exactly what Tal cultivates in these experiences. We plant out seeds of thanks within a jug of water: the heart of the altar. We imbue this life-providing substance with waves of gratitude, for it holds memory of all our Earth has witnessed since her conception. Then, Tal lovingly pours this water into the ocean so her waves can carry our psalms of praise to every shore for generations to come.
We’re also gifted a small glass bottle marked with a sacred symbol full of water which carries the night’s blessing so we may place it on our own altars at home. The bottle includes a dropper so we can easily infuse our own drinking water with prayer. A drop is enough, for one of water’s miraculous qualities is its connectedness, so that the light of one drop naturally saturates all its neighbors with the same vibration. Similarly, a small bottle of this water is enough, for all one has to do to preserve its elevated frequency is refill it just before it runs dry.
Tal is truly a marvelous host, and she takes care of us even after the ceremony by sharing teas and treats, not to mention her sincere gratitude (though it is WE who are indeed grateful for HER!) and words of wisdom. All in all, it is an absolutely delightful and multi-sensory experience that I will attend as long as she offers it!
With all the love,
Gradys María Tinoco
11 july, 2019 Pucallpa, Peru 🇵🇪