​There is an exit near Eagles Nest off I-80 between Wendover and Salt Lake City (SLC) and on the South side of the freeway is a little hill with 3 pillars of rock on the hill and look similar to the rock cairns from this photo. That area was used as a council site for several Native American tribes over 500 years ago. The council would discuss such things as sharing of the grass lands between tribes. Grass, at that time, was a main source of food; similar to our wheat of today, according to John U.K.

"The placing of the rocks on the cairn was part of a ritual to enter the council area. Not everyone was allowed to place rocks on the cairn; only those who were designated for that honor," John U.K. continued.

• The lowest pillar of rock cairns represented fire. Each person who was permitted to speak in the council would pile a rock on the pillar and travel towards the next pillar up the hill.
• The next pillar represented water. It was higher because it could put fire out. Again a person would place a rock on the pillar.
• The next pillar contains more round-shaped rocks as well as flat rocks. This pillar represented earth (the round rocks) and sky (the flat rocks). Again, the individual would add a rock on the pillar. From there they would walk up the hill to a flat area where the council was being held. The council would discuss such things as sharing of the grass lands, which was what they used for food, kind of like our wheat of today.

These rock cairns still stand today. They are a monument to these original Native Americans who used the rock cairns in honor to the earth, water, and sky. And with that simple gesture of ritual, the speakers could be reminded of their connection with nature as well as one another while they began their discussions to share the earth's resources.

Rituals are a way to direct and focus thought. These Native Americans would use rituals to help establish that community connection with each other as well as the Tao (or All-that-Is/Source Energy).

During the time I was being taught about spiritual energy tools and gifts, one of the tools I was learning was about ritual. John suggested we visit a place known as "Michael's Temple" to participate in a ritual ceremony. I was scared and excited about this opportunity. I was half expecting a place of wonder, filled with a gaggle of angels singing.  I did not share this with John U.K. - these were my own private expectations which I now see rooted from my religious upbringing.

John advised us to go to Southern Utah, near Grosvenor Arch, and from there, he directed us down another dirt road where we parked the car, got out, and then started walking a few miles in a dry dirt river bed. I was hot, tired, and now very sweaty.  

Eventually we climbed up some natural rock steps and came to a dead end. We were now surrounded by red rock on three sides. We did have an open sky and the ground was a soft, cool, and sandy. It was not what I expected.  It was very simple. There were no angels, no majestic gold plated walls, no God, and no music.  It was just us sitting in the shade of a a simple cavern of red rock.  

We sat and waited. John U.K. then communicated with us saying this was an earth energy site.  He called this place "Michael's Temple" and expressed how he want us to come here for two reasons;

• to show us this sacred earth energy site so we could feel the energy, and
• to ask us a question

John U.K. then asked us "Do you want to continue on this spiritual path we were on or not?"  He said this was the time when we could decide to return to a regular, normal life, or we could continue on this path.  This path, however, continued on an unknown and untraveled path. There would be no road map. He didn't know where it would lead.

We both said "yes".  That was essentially it.

This experience taught me a few things.

1. We made a choice. The decision to journey down this path was ours. John U.K. was calling attention to the fact we were making a deliberate decision and choice. Life is the same - we make choices all the time whether or not to stay on the same path or not. We were being made aware of this simple truth - choice.
2. This simple inquiry was a ritual. It didn't feel like much and didn't meet my expectations about what a ritual should be like.  But the ritual was about the preparation and journey to that simple moment - an act of awareness and a confirmation we accepted this path. This process helped to sear the awareness and power of what we just did and said yes to in this sacred place.  It became a spiritual moment.
3. I gained more insight on the difference between spirituality and religion in this remote spot in the earth. Religion often uses churches and temples where they try to create and manufacture beauty with gold and ornate paraphernalia.  Spirituality, however, is rooted in things that are simple and pure. The feelings at these types of natural sacred places are usually much more powerful than buildings we create. 
4. I learned how there many sacred places in the earth where the spiritual energy is strong. I also could see how it was so much easier to have spiritual experiences in these earth energy sites because there was so much more life force energy to draw from. 

This experience at Michael's temple was a life changing moment for me. I sometimes revisit this place in my mind when I am looking to create peace and comfort in my life because it was such a powerful energetic space to be at.