November 22, 2024 • 50 mins
This episode features Amlas the Director of Wildquest, a retreat based in the Bahamas on the island of Bimini. Wildquest encompasses so many forms of healing it’s difficult to condense it down to one thing. It is primarily a human-wildlife encounter with the star of the show being Wild Dolphins, but within each day you are given rare opportunities to transform in really significant ways. Be it through encounters with the ocean, mother nature, wildlife, adventure, human connection or all of the above. I don’t think it would be possible for anyone to spend time at this retreat and not walk away transformed and revitalized.
Our willing participant is Leslie, an Account Director with a global PR agency who visited Wildquest for the first time in May of this year and has generously offered to share her experience with us.
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Episode Transcript
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Amlas (00:05):
Long time ago, I realized that, I didn't want to do
something for money.
in order that I can collectmoney and go and do something
that I want to do, because itseemed like a strange equation.
It means I waste my life, makingmoney to go and do stuff.
I want to do what happens if Idie, before I go and do what I
want to do, then I've wasted it,the people who are there.
(00:26):
They want to be there becausethat's what they enjoy, and it's
their passion, you know, reallymy passion as well to share,
what happens there.
It's a remarkable thing.
Yeah, I feel very grateful.
Krista (00:39):
Welcome to the Beginner's Guide to the Third
Eye, the podcast that delvesinto the profound realms of
spiritual experiences, exploringthe dedicated practitioners and
various modalities that guide uson our transformative path.
Together, we will explore themystical, the magical, the
enlightened, and the sacred.
(01:00):
In each episode, we pairseasoned practitioners,
spiritual experiences, orhealing modalities, and a
willing participant to sharetheir experience in working
together.
We will explore the uniqueinsights, stories, and wisdom
gained from their own profoundjourneys, unveiling the
extraordinary narratives thatshape spiritual seekers and
(01:20):
practitioners alike.
My name is Krista Rauschenbergand my work as a healer has
emerged from hundreds of hoursof certified training, spiritual
initiations, direct experience,and deep personal work.
I have been employed in thehealing arts as a postpartum
doula, an advanced Akashicreader, an Akashic breathwork
practitioner, and a writer.
(01:42):
Facilitating and educatingpeople through their personal,
spiritual, and healing journeysis my greatest source of
happiness.
El (01:49):
And I'm Elle Larson.
I use sound and space to helpbalance internal and external
environments.
I've practiced holistic healingmodalities for over 20 years,
and my work includes Tibetanbull sound healing, feng shui,
reiki, and shamanism.
Krista (02:02):
Welcome once again to The Beginner's Guide to the
Third Eye where we demystify themystical.
We have such a special showtoday.
I couldn't be more excited toshare this experience with all
of you.
Today's show features WildQuest.
It's a retreat based in theBahamas on the island of Bimini.
Bimini is located in the BermudaTriangle, so it sits in a very
(02:26):
powerful energetic vortex.
Wild Quest encompasses so manyforms of healing, it's difficult
to condense it down to onething.
It's primarily a human wildlifeencounter with the star of the
show being wild dolphins, butwithin each day you were given a
rare opportunity to transform inreally significant ways.
(02:47):
Be it through Encounters withthe Ocean Mother, nature,
wildlife, adventure, humanconnection, or all of the above?
Mostly all of the above.
I don't think it would bepossible for anyone to spend
time at this retreat and notwalk away truly transformed, at
minimum revitalized.
(03:07):
So let's welcome our guests fortoday's wild quest show.
Amlos is the director of wildquest, which she established in
1995.
So it's been in existence foralmost 30 years.
That is an incredible successstory.
And it goes to show that wildquest is so needed in the world.
And our willing participant isLeslie Jones, who is an account
(03:27):
director with a global PR agencywho visited WildQuest for the
first time and is generouslyoffered to share her experience
with us.
Welcome, ladies! Ellen and I areso happy to have you.
El (03:39):
Thank you for joining us.
Leslie (03:41):
Thank you for having us.
Krista (03:43):
Amlas I would love to start with you and get a bit of
a background on how Wild Questcame about.
So what came first Bimini or thedolphins?
Amlas (03:54):
Well, actually my partner and I, didn't start Wild Quest.
We had some friends who went andswam with dolphins in Key West
and they had a very powerfulexperience.
They didn't expect it it was aby chance kind of thing.
And they had a very powerfulconnection with dolphins and
realized that, these weren'tordinary animals, there was
something mysterious going on,there was something very
(04:15):
powerful going on.
So they wanted to start somekind of retreat where what was
triggered in humans, Was allowedto grow.
And it was really, something ofthe heart when a human meets a
dolphin it's a bit like meetingthe master.
If you've ever had the joy ofmeeting someone who's
enlightened.
It's a similar kind ofexperience.
(04:36):
And now after 25 years, that is,the main reason I continue to do
it.
They saw that this is apossibility where we can bring
people and people can be broughtto their heart.
And if we create a safe placewhere that experience can be
nurtured, that little flower canbe nurtured and be allowed, that
this is really a service tohumanity, and it's really a
(04:58):
feeling that's what the dolphinswant to help.
They realize that we need help.
So this is that was the kernelof the start of Wild Quest.
I was thinking last night aboutit.
Actually, there's actually onlytwo really powerful things in my
life where there was a momentwhere I knew that was my path
and somehow with the dolphinswhen our friends started this I
knew, even though at that time,I ignored it because our lives
(05:22):
were so different but thenagain, as existence tends to do,
a year later, we bumped intothem again.
We had dinner with them in Miamiand what came out of my mouth
was, oh, I guess we're going tobe working with you.
And they said, what do you mean?
I said, well, I don't know.
I said, it just came out of mymouth.
We then began working with themand then became partners with
them decided that Bimini was abetter place and the water is
(05:45):
clearer, the dolphins are muchmore conducive to connecting
with us.
And in Key West, at that point,there were too many boat
operators.
It was becoming a nightmare.
And actually now, of course, inthe States, it's illegal to swim
with wild dolphins becausethere's too many people doing it
all at once, and if it everbecame like that in Bimini, then
(06:07):
I would stop doing it.
And I would actually, try andmake it illegal in Bimini, but
somehow in Bimini, We seem to beprotected by a bit of a bubble.
It hasn't become this mad houseof lots of operators.
Most of the time we're the onlypeople out there.
There's maybe two other peopleso we then moved to Bimini with
them started getting the setuporganized there.
(06:29):
It was all very chaotic atfirst.
And then they had various healthissues so then we took over so
it was a kind of a serendipitousjourney.
Krista (06:39):
Wow.
In that year that they told youabout it.
And then the year that you haddinner with him and decided
you're going to work with him.
Did you yourself swim with wilddolphins?
Amlas (06:48):
No, I didn't even remember it in that year.
It was only when I met themagain by chance, it was almost
like a light bulb came on in myhead and it just came out of my
mouth.
I hadn't even at that point metdolphins.
My, my interest was really thehuman connection.
I'd been working a lot withother humans.
(07:09):
so it was totally out of theblue.
My history isn't with marinemammals, I'm a mathematician by
training.
So it was really out of theblue.
Krista (07:17):
I'd love to know what was the human connection that
you were participating in?
Amlas (07:22):
I was working, in human development waking up basically.
I did a lot of primal work withpeople in therapy work in a
certain sense, and meditation.
Krista (07:32):
You were primed.
Amlas (07:34):
I was primed already.
Yeah.
I was, yeah.
And it's interesting, it'samazing how existence works,
because looking back I see how,I'd never owned a business
before, I'd never been abusinesswoman, I never thought I
would own a business.
But when I look back, I'd hadmany different skills along the
way that really helped andcontributed to what flowered in
(07:55):
Wild Quest.
Krista (07:57):
I have to say watching you work, you hold incredibly
powerful space.
Having you on the boat, the daysthat we had you on the boat, I
felt so safe and secure.
Without, having to put yourselfin it, you're have this
presence, I guess is the bestway to say it.
So I felt it.
And then tell us about yourfirst encounter with dolphins.
Amlas (08:18):
It's still the same even after, so many years that
whenever I see the dolphins,there's just this childlike, I
could, I feel it in my heart andthere's this joy that just comes
out.
And even now.
Because sometimes, you look fordolphins for a long time.
Sometimes we don't see them, butthen when they come, I always
feel this kind of joy comingout.
(08:40):
And so that was from the verybeginning and still hasn't left
me, it's just like, wow,
Krista (08:45):
one of my favorite things is on the boat when we do
find the dolphins and see thedolphins that ooze and Oz and
the childlike little noises thatwe all make we all go into,
probably the purest place in ourheart, and without worrying
about what it looks like we'retalking like little kids the
relationship comes so naturally
Amlas (09:04):
it is a childlike thing and, I think we tend to forget.
To be childlike, but there's somany gifts in being childlike,
that we can continue to play andbe amazed and live in wonder,
Krista (09:19):
I believe play is one of the biggest ways to heal trauma.
It's a form of liberation and aform of freedom.
And it gives you a completelydifferent perspective.
So the dolphin, just the impactof it takes you there so
quickly.
So what kind of impact havedolphins had on your life other
than what we just discussed?
Can you see the transformationin you?
(09:41):
What do you hold dearest inmind?
to your heart and soul in termsof what they've given you?
Amlas (09:47):
For me, it's really about presence, it's about being in
the present moment.
And for me, that's my journey oflife is like, this moment is all
we have, and so how can I Livetotally in this present moment
because, the mind can go intothe future and the past but
that's not life.
Life is happening here and now.
So for me, it's about a passionfor really living life and
(10:09):
really squeezing the juice fromeach moment.
In Wild Quest, there's manydifferent aspects.
It's not just the dolphins, Ireally love to live in
community.
We have usually eight crewmembers.
And so at the weekend, thecommunity is eight and then, 20
people come and the communityexpands during the week and
contracts again.
So living in community inkindness and caretaking and
(10:33):
safety and fun.
I always say at Wild Quest, it'stotally fine to be exactly who
you are.
You don't have to pretend to besomeone else.
If you feel like crying all thetime, cry.
It's fine.
If you want to laugh all thetime, laugh.
Whatever's happening it's fine.
And emotions come up a lotaround the dolphins.
There's a lot of tears.
I don't know if when you werethere, it was like that.
(10:55):
Sometimes when people make thatconnection people drop into
their heart and they feelconnected and they feel seen and
they feel accepted.
And that usually brings tears,of just this kind of feeling of
expansion of oneself, and soit's a magical thing.
Krista (11:10):
It truly is.
You described it so well.
I've never been able to put itinto words but yes, that's
exactly been my experience andLeslie's as well, which I'm sure
we'll talk about in a second.
You've mentioned it when I wasthere that, this is like a
bubble it's an energetic vortex.
Would you characterize it thatway?
Amlas (11:30):
It seems to be.
Yeah.
When you come and there's been30 people hanging out, babbling
around on the boat for sevenhours a day, eating together,
doing dishes together,meditating together, laughing
together, that creates anenergetic vortex in a way and it
allows people to relax more andto really open.
(11:50):
and expand.
And so, it's an awareness whenpeople leave that, hey, you are
in an altered state, so takecare of yourself as you leave,
be aware, and not just rushinto, life as normal or jumping
in your car and driving, yeah,it's an awareness.
Krista (12:07):
Do you think that, the folklore of the Bermuda Triangle
and that there's an energeticbubble or vortex there.
Do you subscribe to that at all?
Do you see that or feel that orhave you experienced that?
Amlas (12:20):
I don't know.
I'm not particularly esotericmyself.
Bimini's been our home reallyfor 25 odd years.
And it's a funky little island.
It's only 50 miles from Miami,but it seems to be protected in
some way from mass particularlyaround the dolphins.
It seems to have a bubble aroundit.
I found some website somewherewhere it was talking about the
(12:41):
ley lines on the planet.
And coming from England, I'mfamiliar with ley lines.
It's the energy that go aroundthe planet.
The places where there's manylay lines that cross those are
the major megalithic sites likeStonehenge or the Egyptian
pyramids or Machu Picchu, and itsaid there's seven or I think it
was 11 major points on theplanet where there's many lay
(13:04):
lines crossing and Bimini wasone of them.
Krista (13:07):
Wow.
Amlas (13:07):
And Something made sense to me.
It was like, yeah that's what itfeels like.
There's some kind of powerfulvortex here, that isn't
recognized, I feel it and itfeels like, it's also protected.
Krista (13:19):
I've had different experiences where I've been in
community, and it feels reallygood.
And all of those things that youdescribed exist, but there's
something.
In Wild Quest where it isamplified beyond like I get so
high when I go there.
So I think it is what you'vecreated there, and the safety
(13:39):
and security and the love thereit is a love bubble, but I feel
like it's charged somehow someway.
It creates an incredibletransformation.
And really, everyone that I'veseen go has their arc of
transformation.
They come to life again which isbeautiful to watch and then
(13:59):
beautiful to participate in.
Amlas (14:01):
Yeah I think there's many aspects of it, one is we're
living close to nature with thesunrise, the sunset, the tides.
There's a lot of science thesedays about living in blue, being
by the ocean, being in nature isvery rejuvenating and
transformative.
And it's what we're cravingpeople who live in cities.
(14:21):
It's living in community withlike minded souls, you know,
living close to nature, sleepingwell, eating well not having to
think and stress about anything.
And then, of course, thedolphins are the icing on the
cake.
So I think all of these, cometogether as a pot for helping
people to begin to see theirlife in a different way.
And what I see happen is peoplefind the courage to become more
(14:48):
themselves and to make decisionsthat serve them better in life.
Many, examples I can give, like,people leaving toxic
relationships, having thecourage to go home and say,
okay, I'm scared.
I don't know how it's going togo, but this is not working.
Or whatever toxic is happeningin their life, being able to
have the courage to take thatstep towards something that's
(15:11):
more nurturing and nourishingfor themselves, which for me
it's a huge thing, becausethat's the direction we all
should be living in,
Krista (15:19):
And don't you think that elevating to a place and having
a taste of what I should feellike in my life on a daily
basis, their tolerancecompletely changes.
So it's giving you the gift ofawareness of, wait a minute, I
can feel this good.
I could feel this good all thetime.
I would just have to go home andchange things that don't allow
me to feel good that arecreating barriers.
(15:40):
Against my pleasure in life myconnections in life.
I think it levels you up, andthen you go home and then, with
courage get rid of the thingsthat don't allow you to elevate
that way.
Amlas (15:53):
Right.
I would say it's like, Whateverwe've created in Wild Quest, in
our little community, if we cancreate it there, other people
can create it anywhere, it'slike, you just have to decide
that's what you want, and takethe next step, whatever that
step is, and existence will alsocome and support you, once you
have a desire to go in a certaindirection.
Krista (16:16):
I think some people have no idea that it can exist that
might be their first experienceof sure, me and connection yeah
it has the potential to offer ahuge awakening.
And It's incremental, right?
Like someone will take it asmuch as they can, or it'll meet
them where they are and takethem to their next level.
What a gift, my goodness.
And think of all the people,over almost 30 years, all the
(16:39):
peoples that you've impacted,that must feel incredible.
Amlas (16:43):
For me, it's good news on the planet.
If I think, the Wild Quest tribeout there and all over the
world, there's so much bad news,but I don't like to focus on,
but for me, that's the goodnews.
It's like, wow, there's allthose people out there, all
those juicy people, it's not allbad.
There's some good stuff outthere, I imagine it as little
lights going out, and everyone'sshining their lights around and
about I like that kind of visualimagery,
Krista (17:04):
And it lights us up that's such a beautiful visual.
El (17:08):
I'm curious about the dolphins.
Do you recognize the same podsor do you ever recognize the
same dolphins?
Amlas (17:13):
Sure.
Yeah, we recognize, we seeAtlantic spotted dolphins as
well as coastal bottlenose.
And sometimes we see offshorebottlenose, but yes if they have
certain scars or marks, it'seasy to recognize, and of
course, obviously, the longeryou're around them, it's easy to
distinguish one from another.
So yes, we do know quite a lot,quite many dolphins.
(17:36):
Yes.
And we do them, sometimes youmay not see some for a long,
long while and then suddenlythey'll come back because they
travel I think, quite far andwide it seems sometimes they go
up north or they may go south,but guess there are a lot that
we recognize yet,
Krista (17:52):
Even by personality to write.
Amlas (17:55):
Some of them, yeah, there's some that you think, oh,
she's here, let's see how she istoday, because, she usually
really loves to come andconnect, so yeah, there are
different types, I don't know ifwe're anthropomorphizing with
them or not, but it does seemthat they do have different kind
of personalities.
Krista (18:10):
It must be wonderful to see them have babies and those
babies grow.
Amlas (18:14):
that's always really special to see, the little tiny
babies.
That's very cute.
Of course.
It's always really fun they'rehealthy.
The pod's good.
They have babies all year.
They don't have a certainseason.
El (18:25):
I'm curious about this specific connection with the
dolphins.
For instance, we can haveunconditional connection with
our pets and this heart openingthat happens is it like that
with the dolphin, but amplifiedin certain ways
Amlas (18:36):
yeah, sure.
It is similar, the differencebeing, of course, that these are
wild and free animals andthey're not domesticated, we
don't feed them, I don't knowwhat they get from us, we don't
give them anything, obviously apet, you're feeding a pet
they're dependent on you fortheir security and their life.
So it's a very differentdynamic.
The magic really with thedolphins is that it is a similar
(18:59):
experience but these are wildand free animals and we're not
giving them anything in return.
It's not a business, it's not abusiness deal.
El (19:07):
That's true.
Amlas (19:07):
That's the amazing thing they can be wherever they like
in the ocean.
they can go from naught to 60like that., if they don't want
to be there, they can be gone.
And yet they choose to come andconnect with us.
Look us right in the eye, bringtheir babies, it's a wild
animal.
There's no other wild animalsthat I know of that will bring
(19:28):
their babies.
Literally I've seen mamas.
The babies hang underneath themom in a protected area.
And sometimes in the water, thebaby, if it's young, we'll go to
the other side of the mom, sothat the mom's in between the
baby and us.
And then the mom will go andshe'll push her baby towards us.
And then the baby will go.
(19:50):
And then the mom will push herbaby towards us.
And it really is like, Hey, it'sokay.
They're okay.
You don't have to be worried,and then the baby will come
like.
the magic of it is that theseare wild and free animals and
it's on their terms, they arechoosing to come to us, which is
remarkable, it's totallyremarkable, it's the same
(20:11):
feeling, I think this opening ofthe heart, in the present
moment, with a pet it's a bitlike a marriage, I'll love you
forever thing.
Whereas with a dolphin, the loveis, not this agreement or
business.
It's just in the present moment,just like this connection in the
present moment.
Krista (20:27):
My first experience with the dolphins was the last day
and getting in the water when wesee them is called a drop.
And it was.
The last drop on the last day,and I've had experiences.
They'd swum by me.
It was breathtaking.
It was just enchanting beyondbelief.
Everything about it, being inthat blue water, just looking at
(20:48):
that color, getting in the waterwith the sun and the warmth and
the coolness of the water.
All of it was just incredible.
But I was floating and the podof humans was behind me and I
just went off on my own.
It was just floating and I waslooking at nothing.
The dolphins were somewherearound us, but I just had this
moment on my own.
And the next thing I know, adolphin came up and was right
(21:11):
here.
And I looked at it and it wasright here and we looked each
other in the eye and it was.
Breathtaking, of course, butthen it swum around and it was
facing me.
It's nose was facing me eye toeye.
Now it's squared off with me andthen it dipped its nose down
towards my heart.
And it's so gnarled my heart.
(21:32):
Something happened where myheart just expanded beyond what
I had ever experienced before inmy life.
It was physical, I physicallyfelt it.
And then the dolphin swam off.
I swam up.
I came up out of the water andjust burst into tears
involuntarily, burst into tears.
It was one of the mostincredible experiences I've had
(21:55):
in my life.
Metaphysical, energetic, howeveryou want to characterize it.
But it was In that moment, thatchanged a lot for me.
And it wasn't that you wouldthink that Oh, my heart was
open.
And it was, this beatificexperience it was, but it was
also that all the pain andheartache I was carrying that
(22:17):
had to come out too.
So like I had like a detoxeffect where I had to process a
lot.
It broke it open.
Yeah.
But it also allowed for like apurification.
That was interesting.
Yeah.
So those dolphins are powerfulcreatures that live with us on
this earth.
(22:37):
And I think any interaction youcan have with them it could be
incredibly medicinal and trulylife changing.
Yeah.
Yeah.
El (22:47):
And Leslie, you're you're nodding.
Can you speak a little bit onthat?
Leslie (22:52):
Absolutely.
When I was there, there was twomoms and two babies and we got
in and they were swimming allaround.
That's what blew my mind I'm notexaggerating when I say a baby
came up and they were down atthe bottom and came up and did
like a loop de loop right nextto me going up to the surface.
(23:13):
And I pop up and was like, didanybody else see that?
Cause I just got the mostmagical moment ever.
I was like, Oh my God, the thinglooked at me.
and had no fear and was, 10 feetfrom me, it just blew my mind.
That these animals, thesecreatures will let us have the
privilege of swimming with themand not swim away.
(23:36):
You really just float there andwatch them and they do their
thing and they have no real fearof you.
Krista (23:43):
They're really playful too.
Like they invite you to play alot of the people that can free
drive and go and swim and twirlwith them.
They'll get into these patternsof movement and they'll just
move with humans.
So they invite you into theirdance, which is profound.
Leslie.
you work is a director for aglobal PR firm.
(24:06):
And I can only imagine howstressful that type of work must
be.
There must be elements of crisismanagement that you're tasked
with.
So going on vacation, must havemany layers for you and levels
of decompression.
Would you agree with that?
Leslie (24:21):
Yes, I think I share what, a good portion of America
and people around the world,just the daily grind of work and
I work from home and so, dayscan run together.
And yes, I do take my vacationdays very seriously and I
definitely look at vacation fordecompression versus, going 50
(24:42):
miles an hour and doingsomething, straight for a week.
Krista (24:45):
So before going to wild quest, what were your
expectations if any, and had youhad any kind of expectation of a
metaphysical experience or anenergetic awakening or shift?
Leslie (24:59):
No, not at all.
In fact, I was apprehensiveabout doing it.
I didn't find it myself.
A friend found it for me and andtalked me into it.
El (25:08):
Yeah,
Leslie (25:10):
I didn't know if I could say, I didn't want to point any
fingers, but by the 10th time ofasking to go, asking me about,
El (25:17):
yeah,
Leslie (25:19):
I was like, okay, you caught me on a good day.
I'll do it.
But I had a lot of apprehensionand definitely no expectations
of anything.
I was going for vacation.
Krista (25:28):
So give us a little overview.
Leslie (25:30):
I think my biggest apprehension was the group.
It was the most diverse range.
From 15 to 85, from Denver to,Amsterdam, and all in between,
and somehow it worked.
It was the zaniest.
Hodgepodge of people.
I worked from home.
I lived by myself.
(25:52):
I was like, how am I going to,not only being around, I think
it was 17 in our group at 17people, one or 20.
Krista (26:00):
Yeah.
Leslie (26:01):
But I just didn't who are the people that are going on
this.
And, I don't know what I wasthinking, but.
Krista (26:06):
You were apprehensive about being with strangers.
Leslie (26:09):
Yeah, for a long time and on a boat for, day in day
out and having every mealtogether.
I was like, I don't know aboutthat.
And, once you're on Bimini,you're on Bimini.
So, and like I could just get ina car and go home.
So there was that apprehension,but that was the most beautiful
thing to me.
And I said this exact thing whenI was there is that the dolphins
(26:30):
are the icing on the cake.
It's the people and theexperience that just blew my
mind.
We had a lot of dolphin,encounters when I was there,
luckily, but even if we hadn't,it still felt special.
and I admit it, I was sizingpeople up.
I was like, Oh my God, I don'tknow if I can be with that woman
for, five days straight.
And she ended up being hilariousand funny and, one of my
(26:53):
favorites.
So, admittedly, and I'm ashamedof it.
I was Oh God, I don't know aboutthis.
And then by the end of it, I'mlike, my people, my pod.
Krista (27:04):
So, if I remember correctly, within a few hours of
being there, Leslie is a verydear old friend of mine.
I know you very well.
You don't let people see youremotion.
You get the job done.
You're, you're a very strong,powerful person.
And if I may share within a fewhours of being on the island,
(27:30):
the tears, the impact of it all,just being there, something
about, the energy there createdthis cascade effect where you
were crying inconsolably andcouldn't regulate to go to
dinner that night.
Leslie (27:45):
Yeah.
I was like, oh my God, I don'teven know where this is coming
from, like what is going on?
And it was like, I just metthese people and I couldn't even
go to dinner that first night'cause I looked like I had been
punched by Mike Tyson.
I was in sad shape and I couldnot stop.
I obviously was holding in somuch stress and holding on by a
(28:05):
thread and getting there wassuch a release.
I could not stop it if I tried.
I couldn't even really pinpointwhat, it just was like this mosh
pit of emotion, but I wasn'treally like sad.
It was this release and itcaught me totally by surprise.
That's when I knew it wasdifferent than a vacation.
(28:27):
It felt like therapy
Krista (28:31):
it seems as though you're having a pretty
incredible releasetransformation.
We are on day two and yesterdaywas a pretty cathartic day for
you.
Yeah.
Leslie (28:43):
Yes.
Krista (28:44):
Aw.
And we were talking about havingthe ability to release and it's
as though this place has createdsome form of catharsis where you
have been incredibly emotionalmore so than normal and as much
as that can be dysregulating andbring up a lot of stuff it's
(29:06):
ultimately a really healthyexperience.
Would you agree with that?
Leslie (29:11):
Yeah, it's kind of like after you cry you feel better.
Or after you throw up.
Yeah, seriously.
It's a little bit
Krista (29:18):
like throwing up.
Emotions.
If you crash into a tree.
And so you were saying that, theenergy here, even though you
can't see it, there's somethinggoing on.
Is that how you said it?
Leslie (29:28):
Yeah, well, um, yeah.
Krista (29:30):
There's something happening here.
Leslie (29:33):
Yeah, well, we didn't see any dolphins, but there's a
dog here.
Krista (29:37):
Wait till you see the dolphins.
Yeah, so,
Leslie (29:40):
said this dog has helped me get a little more vulnerable
and let some shit that I hadbeen suppressing big time.
So yeah, for those of you justlistening in, I've been crying
for about the last 10 hours andI couldn't tell you exactly why.
I could tell you a couple ofthings.
Krista (30:01):
It's just a giant purging, correct?
I'm sad and then I'm happy.
Leslie (30:03):
I'm sad about the dog then I'm happy he's being taken
care of.
Krista (30:07):
There's a dog here that's tied up to a tree
Leslie (30:09):
but they're taking care of it.
Krista (30:10):
They're taking care of it.
Leslie's been sitting with itfor hours.
But I think it's the emotionaltrigger that she needed to kind
of start the process of thisemotional purge.
Leslie (30:21):
I mean, she's my dolphin.
So, yeah.
Thanks for opening thefloodgates, Callie.
Appreciate it.
That's the dog's name, by theway.
So, yeah, I'm holding steady,but at any moment I could
spontaneously combust intotears.
And if you asked me why I wascrying, I would say, everything
(30:41):
and nothing.
Not like, wah, just like, tearswere flowing and I'm not even
Krista (30:46):
Sobbing.
Leslie (30:47):
Yeah, it's not
Krista (30:49):
Deep catharsis Yes.
I think too, you're not someonethat is emotional by nature.
No, I'm a suppressor.
Yeah.
And a survivor.
And you know, you just get thethings done.
Leslie (31:00):
Never complain, never explain.
Krista (31:02):
Right.
That's Leslie's,
Leslie (31:04):
well I stole that from Queen Elizabeth.
But it works for me.
It still, yeah, it works.
It fits.
Krista (31:10):
Have you noticed that whatever you were able to
release there, has it brought adifferent level of awareness
have you made any changes?
Leslie (31:20):
I think I'd need more than a week I'm stuck in my
ways.
Admittedly
Krista (31:25):
has your perspective changed like your tolerances to
things
Leslie (31:28):
I think it's so different from your day to day
work life, and that's typicalprobably of any vacation but it
was so vastly different incontrast, it was more of like
what is out in the world and inthis experience, it just, I want
more of that.
Krista (31:48):
Has it impacted your relationships at all?
Or your, relationship to work,your relationship to friends or
family?
Leslie (31:55):
The things I stress about probably ridiculously, I
need to let some of that go,it's just does not matter in the
grand scheme of things I hatethe cliche of don't sweat the
small stuff, but you get joltedout of the stuff that you think
matters, by doing something likethis and then you come back and
it's like, it just doesn'tmatter.
Krista (32:15):
I think that frequency of love to like getting a dose
of that medicine, it justchanges your perspective.
Leslie (32:21):
Yeah, that was another big thing because I'm usually by
myself most of the time.
But reaching out being moreconnected with my friends I
would definitely say that hasbeen something I was nourished
by being around.
I was surprised at how social Iwas and got to know people and
Krista (32:41):
game night that was incredibly successful, all on
your own.
That was huge for you.
Leslie (32:46):
I know it was, you would have thought I was putting on a
Broadway play and it was likeone game, but that's my kind of
anxiety is being in front ofthat many people.
And it sounds so silly, but Iwanted it to be such a success
and it ended up getting ravereviews.
I'm not going to lie, I was sonervous and even things like
that.
Like I just was out of mycomfort zone a lot of the time
(33:09):
there
Krista (33:10):
Yeah.
we got so loved up.
Each and every one of thosepeople became so near and dear
to my heart.
I loved them so much.
Yeah.
That's what, yeah.
Leslie (33:18):
And I wasn't expecting that.
I'm not really that spiritualor, metaphysical and I'm like,
am I going to be the outsider?
And I cannot say enough.
If anybody's listening to thisand thinking about doing it and
they're apprehensive about beingwith 20 strangers.
It works somehow.
If it worked for me I'm a goodbarometer for getting out of
your comfort zone.
There was a commonality ofeverybody being there for the
(33:39):
same purpose and everybody gotalong it was like being at camp
better food.
Krista (33:44):
It's incredible.
Thank you, Niketa.
Yeah.
El (33:50):
I'm curious about Bimini.
How have you seen the islandchange since you started going
there?
Amlas (33:55):
Yes, it has changed.
There's a big resort that'sgrown up on the north end of the
island and they've even built apier and cruise ships come in.
Life is changed, like nothingstays the same, if everything
stays the same, you're probablydead, life is changed.
It hasn't been done in any kindof remarkable way.
It's done raping and pillagingand, there's been a lot of
(34:16):
fights about how the resort wasbuilt, but it has grown.
But, it doesn't seem to haveaffected what we do there
because luckily, it wasn't doneon purpose.
Our retreat center is really.
Tucked away if you didn't knowit was there, you wouldn't even,
know it's there We're in thislittle protected bubble in our
retreat center and the boatdocks right there.
(34:37):
Sometimes I realize I don't goout of the gate.
From one week to the next, I'mjust in the retreat center.
We get on the boat, we go outand we come back and we, he's in
the retreat center.
So, if it has changed and,unfortunately it's not changed
with much awareness or care forthe environment.
It doesn't seem to affect whatwe're doing.
It doesn't seem to affect thedolphins.
(34:59):
So hopefully it will continue,
Krista (35:01):
one of the things I noticed is your relationship to
the locals there.
I can imagine you consideryourself a local at this point
but they have such reverence andrespect for you and your group,
as you do them, it's such ajoyous place the locals there
are so lovely.
Their respect for you and yourrespect for them, does add such
(35:22):
a huge benefit.
To a guest experience there aswell.
And it goes to show, what you'redoing in the water with the
dolphins and for your guests,that extends out to the people
that you're sharing the spacewith, the island with.
Amlas (35:36):
Well, I'm always aware that we are guests in their
home, as it's a bit like when wego out on the ocean, we're
guests in the dolphins home.
And so we act accordingly andit's similar on the island, I
feel, and yeah we have beenthere a long time and the locals
do love us.
They're not really quite surewhat we do.
They know we take people to swimwith dolphins, but the tourists
(35:56):
that come to us are quitedifferent from the tourists that
come to Bimini tend to be fisherpeople, fisher people tend to
rely a lot on alcohol for theirenjoyment, which is a very
different vibe.
I'm not against alcohol in anysense, but, they're very
sensitive, the Islanders, theyknow there's something, and
sometimes when we're meditating,or something will happen, I'll
say it was, it's like our churchbecause they can relate to
(36:17):
church, and so they reallyrespect and they love us, a lot
of the taxi drivers call.
They're like, what do you do?
We bring them there on a Mondayand when we come and pick them
up, on a Saturday, like, what doyou do to them?
It's like the house of love.
This is like the house of love,and I said, that's it, the house
of love,
Krista (36:34):
come on.
That's incredible that theywould know.
That's says a lot, doesn't it?
Leslie (36:41):
I'm gonna have one of my favorite memory.
I've got a million, but the onewhen we're coming back from
dinner, because I don't know ifyou were in the car, but we had
what was our cab driver's name?
It was
Krista (36:50):
there.
Leslie (36:51):
And we had some name, like a celebrity's name, like,
Krista (36:54):
Oh, no, that's right.
Leslie (36:56):
Do you know, I'm lost.
Here's the cab driver that youusually get.
Amlas (37:01):
Block there's block or
Leslie (37:02):
Tron or
Amlas (37:03):
block.
Leslie (37:05):
Yeah.
I think he said H&
Krista (37:06):
R block.
That's right.
H&
Leslie (37:07):
R block.
Sorry.
One celebrity H& R block.
That was him.
We were, blasting music.
Anytime you got in a car or, onthe bed, you're sitting with
different people.
It's just a different group.
It wasn't like people glommedonto each other.
Like it was just whoever got inthe van on the way home, gotten,
got a NISP.
And we were like, I think it waslike a Neil Diamond song and we
were all karaokeing our buns offin the car.
(37:30):
It was just so funny and soenergetic.
I was so energized by the timewe got back in the bed.
I don't think I fell asleep forlike an hour,
Krista (37:38):
it really is a giant dance party masquerading as
adult I
Leslie (37:44):
dance,
Krista (37:45):
oh
Leslie (37:45):
my god,
Krista (37:45):
I dance in my lifetime.
Leslie (37:47):
Oh my God.
And just silliness andeverybody.
Again, the risk of sounding likea broken record, you really
cannot judge, a book by itscover.
Cause I ended up being like, Ohmy God, these people are my new
pod.
Krista (37:59):
Yeah, we've kept in touch to it's family.
It's more family, more love,more support.
It's beautiful.
Leslie (38:07):
Sitting here going, how can I get back there?
They're sure.
Can I think, can I pull thisoff?
The wheels are spinning, likemore vacation days to have left.
Can I squeeze one more of thesein And
Krista (38:20):
you'd probably go alone this time, huh?
Leslie (38:21):
I don't know about that, but
Amlas (38:24):
we have a lot of women come alone.
A lot of women.
Oh
Leslie (38:27):
yeah.
Oh, I would be perfectlycomfortable doing that.
Yeah.
If anybody is listening thatthinks, Oh, I don't know if I
could do this, but you totallycould.
El (38:35):
Yeah,
Leslie (38:36):
absolutely.
feels like an extended family.
I don't know how else todescribe it.
You would feel very safe andcomfortable.
Krista (38:44):
You also have such a solid structure to it.
You fly in to Fort Lauderdale ona Sunday, Monday morning, early.
You're picked up and you'retaken to a charter flight.
Which is what 30 minutes to theisland and by Monday afternoon,
you're on the boat out on thewater.
Everything just runs likeclockwork.
There's never a moment where, Ididn't understand what was going
(39:06):
on or hadn't been told.
So, yeah,
Leslie (39:09):
y'all are very, it's very buttoned up.
Krista (39:13):
Yeah.
Leslie (39:13):
Relaxed.
Krista (39:15):
That's what's so extraordinary about it.
I was saying that the staff havesuch a big responsibility, for
our safety out on the boat inthe water.
And yet you'd never know thatthey're thinking about that part
of it.
Everyone feels like they arehaving, incredible enjoyment.
Yeah.
Leslie (39:30):
Prepping the boat, prepping the food, prepping
everything.
I know they're scurrying aroundbehind the scenes and there's
probably stress that we don'tsee.
They never showed it once, butit was definitely organized.
I feel like in a way I'm highmaintenance, like I need a tight
operation.
In order to feel, safe for mepersonally.
And I was like, okay, thesepeople know what they're doing,
(39:52):
but it didn't feel regimentedor.
Controlled.
Krista (39:57):
Everything's fun.
Leslie (39:58):
Felt like camp in a way and the best way that I could
describe camp.
You had a schedule, but itdidn't feel like, Oh my God,
give me a second.
Krista (40:06):
I like that we have the morning.
So free.
Just to linger and chill.
And then we have so much time onthe boat.
It's like, how long are thesedays?
Everything feels so relaxed andyet rich it's like time stand
still or something.
Leslie (40:21):
Yeah.
And it's even fun.
When we had that rain shower, itwas still fun on the bed.
Krista (40:26):
That rained out on the boat.
How quick are they?
They knew the rain was coming.
And the next thing I know,everything's canopied up and
snapped and secure, and thenwe're all huddled in playing
games on that back table.
So much fun.
Leslie (40:40):
This is really making me wanna, I'm sitting here scheming
goFundMe for Wild Quest tripnumber two, would that be
inappropriate?
Krista (40:48):
Just your family.
Leslie (40:49):
Yeah.
And you.
Krista (40:51):
Yeah.
And me.
Big shout out to the crew.
They're just extraordinarypeople.
Each and every one of them.
I'm in awe of their gifts andtheir skills
Leslie (41:00):
I have to give a shout out.
To Dipti, but also Kathleen.
Wow.
What a find., as close as youcan get to a living mermaid.
I wish I could talk to her everyday.
She has the most calming,soothing, authentic love of what
she does.
That woman is one in a million.
Half the time I thought it was adolphin and it's her down at the
(41:20):
bottom, taking the coolestpictures.
I'm like, Oh, it's Kathleen.
Krista (41:23):
That's another thing we forgot to mention aside from
going out on the boat andswimming with the dolphins,
there a classes availableKathleen did this incredible
movement class that was Partyoga, part expansion in your
energy and your body.
I did breath work and had anincredible experience.
So there's also these healingprotocols and modalities that
(41:44):
are offered that you can take ifyou want, you don't have to.
So you offer so much more.
And then the food is just, I wasabout to say the
Leslie (41:53):
food we have to touch on the food is incredible.
Krista (41:55):
Yeah, by one woman.
So all this to say, it's a veryspecial place.
And anyone that goes to beenriched and revitalized and
changed and filled with what isI think the most powerful
medicine on the planet, which islove.
And anytime we can open ourhearts and allow more of that
in.
(42:16):
It can only benefit us, thepeople around us.
It will telegraph out to thepeople that we love and the
people that they love.
So, thank you from the bottom ofmy heart.
Thank you.
Leslie (42:27):
For such an amazing experience.
I'm glad to be part of the Wildquest pod.
It's funny.
I want everybody to know aboutit, but I don't want everybody
to know.
Amlas (42:36):
To think of it as an open secret.
Leslie (42:39):
Yes.
I'm like, do I really want totell people about this?
Cause I want to keep myself, butI'm going to spread the gospel
of wild class.
I did say at the end of theweek, and I really do feel this
way, if there was no dolphinsall week, I still would have
given the trip a 10 out of 10.
The dolphins to me were thatadded special magical bonus, but
it was all the other things thatcame together that you're not
(43:00):
going to find anywhere else oron just a regular vacation.
And I can name 10 things thatall just magically came
together.
Still blaze my mind that wilddolphins swim up and can do a
little loop de loop right infront of your face and not be
scared of you, I'll take thatwith me forever.
Thank you.
And if y'all have any openings,if y'all need like an assistant
carrier, well, I know they're inkaraoke, but like an assistant I
(43:22):
don't know her
El (43:23):
job to change her life.
So I can break
Leslie (43:24):
the sand I'll be the official Cat feeder I can just
be part-time.
We can start part-time and seehow it goes.
Krista (43:35):
she'll send you her resume?
Yes.
Leslie (43:37):
Yeah.
Krista (43:38):
Amlas, what do you see for the future of Wild Quest
Amlas (43:41):
well, I trust that, Wild Quest will continue, it's been
going now, for so long it feelslike it's doing a beautiful
thing and I trust it willcontinue to do its beautiful
thing you know that's really allI can hope for.
Krista (43:55):
Before we wrap up, I want to let people know how to
get in touch with you.
The season runs from April toOctober?
Amlas (44:03):
Yeah, we usually start in April through to October, you
can check the website,wildquest.
com and there's a schedule pageand it tells you, what's
happening each week.
There's a contact page as well.
We have a lovely lady, Nala, whoworks in the reservations office
and she's very helpful if youhave any questions or anything
like that.
Her phone number and email isalso there on the website.
(44:24):
So yeah do check it out.
Krista (44:26):
And we'll put that on our website as well.
So wild quest.
com.
All right guys.
Thank you so, so much.
Almost lovely.
To see you, Leslie.
I love you.
Yeah, thank you.
Thank you ladies.
That was awesome.
Take care.
Thank you.
Bye-Bye.
Bye.
Bye.
Hi, we have just landed back inFort Lauderdale in the real
(44:46):
world and feel like emotions areHow would you describe it
Leslie (44:52):
raw
Krista (44:53):
Raw like thunder and raw like
Leslie (44:56):
kind of a boil A festering boil.
Krista (44:58):
So tell me about your trip.
What were the highlights?
What were the things that wereunexpected?
Give me your best overview.
Leslie (45:06):
I would say that it's weird the one thing I noticed
this was like a mini rehab ithad a lot of the elements of
what you do and therapeuticwise, but
Krista (45:17):
none of those practical underpinnings, like that's not
their purpose.
Oh yeah.
No, but it had
Leslie (45:22):
that same s feeling structure.
Right.
Krista (45:24):
I mean, inadvertently they are rehabbing people.
Leslie (45:27):
it makes you open up, just add the therapeutic
qualities of that.
I'm not a spiritual person.
and I got a lot out of it.
No, it was more the release andI would say it was a.
It wasn't a typical vacation.
I would describe it as magical.
Krista (45:43):
That's big for you.
Leslie (45:44):
I know.
I don't use that word.
I actually make fun of peoplefor using that word.
I would use that word for this.
Krista (45:49):
Tell me what properties were magical to you.
Leslie (45:52):
I would say the, the group dynamic.
I don't know if we just had areally special group or if it's
special every time.
I don't know.
It's just fascinating to me thatyou can bring together, however
many that was, 19 people fromdifferent countries, different
ages, different genders, just sohodgepodge of different,
(46:12):
backgrounds and everything, andwe all bonded like freakishly.
So much
Krista (46:18):
love and acceptance.
I I felt so safe there.
So unjudged.
Leslie (46:24):
I agree.
So yeah, I felt like I, like Isaid, I felt like I had a tribe,
I mean, not a tribe, a pod.
Krista (46:28):
Yeah.
Leslie (46:29):
For those of you listening in, I live by myself.
I am not a social butterfly.
I like to be with people one onone, so the first couple of days
with that many people were a weebit jarring for me and then you
kind of ease into it and get toknow people and you know.
Krista (46:47):
Yeah, you opened up to everyone and everyone really
responded.
To you as well.
There was a lot of bonding goingon, the level of safety.
I think for me there's someenergy there that just opens
your heart up and allows you toconnect.
Leslie (47:06):
I would definitely say there's something, I wouldn't
say something in the water, butit's definitely as we know, I
spent, I did have a lot ofreleasing of tension and
emotions.
At first it didn't feel okay tocry.
I mean, I was like, I can't evenget a dinner cause I'm so
embarrassed cause I've beencrying.
And by the end of it, I couldhave cried my face, I mean I was
(47:26):
crying my face off.
Leaving everybody.
Yeah.
Like you get to where I'm like,oh my God, these people must
think I'm the biggest freak onthe planet.
And then it was like, they don'tcare.
They did not care.
Like they totally fine with it.
They weren't like, there wasn'tany judgment for me being
emotional, which in my familyit's like show emotion and
Krista (47:45):
your judgment.
Leslie (47:46):
Yes.
We're not a big show emotionfamily, so that was really hard.
How's that?
How that working for you?
Yeah, seriously.
So I was not feeling comfortablethat first 12 hour.
But that was my own stuff.
Yeah.
Because they had a dog therethat anyway, a big animal lover
and I wanted to take it homewith me as usual.
(48:06):
So, being out on a boat is justhealing in and of itself.
And that water, yeah, thedolphins were icing on the cake,
but that wasn't transformationalfor me as much as throwing all
these people together and havingit work out so perfectly and
just the right balance ofactivity and rest.
Krista (48:27):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
The food was amazing cooked bythe sweetest woman.
And there's so much love putinto it.
Yeah.
The unsung
Leslie (48:35):
hero of Wild West.
Krista (48:37):
Also, one of the guests in one of the sharing circles
said, that this place restoresher faith in humanity and I
certainly
Leslie (48:46):
felt that
Krista (48:47):
because you walk in and you're with strangers and by the
end of it, each and every one ofthem has their own light and
level of happy and contributionand connectedness.
And everyone brings somethingwould you come back again?
Leslie (49:04):
You know, if you'd asked me that at the beginning of the
week, I would have said no.
And now I am open to it forsure.
Krista (49:10):
Yeah, it was amazing.
Leslie (49:12):
But, you know, my policy is the people make the place.
Krista (49:15):
Yeah any last thoughts?
Leslie (49:19):
No, just other than I was a skeptic and um, I'm still
unpacking a lot of stuff as Isaid, but I'm, I'm feeling the,
I'm feeling the vibe that it'sputting out.
Krista (49:30):
And does this help you understand and or believe that
we are all energy and there's aton of energy exchange that goes
on?
Yes, and that's not
Leslie (49:39):
really, I come from a family of medical doctors, so
Krista (49:42):
yeah,
Leslie (49:43):
that's not my problem.
Krista (49:46):
Just saying
Leslie (49:46):
the word vibe
Krista (49:47):
for you I think is a big leap too.
Yeah,
Leslie (49:50):
I know, I don't even know where that came from.
Krista (49:52):
I noticed it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Alright, thank you so much.
My pleasure.
My pleasure.
Thank you for joining us forthis episode of The Beginner's
Guide to the Third Eye.
For more information about theshow, visit our website
Beginners guide to the thirdeye.com.
(50:13):
For show inquiries, email us atGuide to the Third i@gmail.com
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Thank you.
See you soon
Long time ago, I realized that, I didn't want to do
something for money.
in order that I can collectmoney and go and do something
that I want to do, because itseemed like a strange equation.
It means I waste my life, makingmoney to go and do stuff.
I want to do what happens if Idie, before I go and do what I
want to do, then I've wasted it,the people who are there.
(00:26):
They want to be there becausethat's what they enjoy, and it's
their passion, you know, reallymy passion as well to share,
what happens there.
It's a remarkable thing.
Yeah, I feel very grateful.
Krista (00:39):
Welcome to the Beginner's Guide to the Third
Eye, the podcast that delvesinto the profound realms of
spiritual experiences, exploringthe dedicated practitioners and
various modalities that guide uson our transformative path.
Together, we will explore themystical, the magical, the
enlightened, and the sacred.
(01:00):
In each episode, we pairseasoned practitioners,
spiritual experiences, orhealing modalities, and a
willing participant to sharetheir experience in working
together.
We will explore the uniqueinsights, stories, and wisdom
gained from their own profoundjourneys, unveiling the
extraordinary narratives thatshape spiritual seekers and
(01:20):
practitioners alike.
My name is Krista Rauschenbergand my work as a healer has
emerged from hundreds of hoursof certified training, spiritual
initiations, direct experience,and deep personal work.
I have been employed in thehealing arts as a postpartum
doula, an advanced Akashicreader, an Akashic breathwork
practitioner, and a writer.
(01:42):
Facilitating and educatingpeople through their personal,
spiritual, and healing journeysis my greatest source of
happiness.
El (01:49):
And I'm Elle Larson.
I use sound and space to helpbalance internal and external
environments.
I've practiced holistic healingmodalities for over 20 years,
and my work includes Tibetanbull sound healing, feng shui,
reiki, and shamanism.
Krista (02:02):
Welcome once again to The Beginner's Guide to the
Third Eye where we demystify themystical.
We have such a special showtoday.
I couldn't be more excited toshare this experience with all
of you.
Today's show features WildQuest.
It's a retreat based in theBahamas on the island of Bimini.
Bimini is located in the BermudaTriangle, so it sits in a very
(02:26):
powerful energetic vortex.
Wild Quest encompasses so manyforms of healing, it's difficult
to condense it down to onething.
It's primarily a human wildlifeencounter with the star of the
show being wild dolphins, butwithin each day you were given a
rare opportunity to transform inreally significant ways.
(02:47):
Be it through Encounters withthe Ocean Mother, nature,
wildlife, adventure, humanconnection, or all of the above?
Mostly all of the above.
I don't think it would bepossible for anyone to spend
time at this retreat and notwalk away truly transformed, at
minimum revitalized.
(03:07):
So let's welcome our guests fortoday's wild quest show.
Amlos is the director of wildquest, which she established in
1995.
So it's been in existence foralmost 30 years.
That is an incredible successstory.
And it goes to show that wildquest is so needed in the world.
And our willing participant isLeslie Jones, who is an account
(03:27):
director with a global PR agencywho visited WildQuest for the
first time and is generouslyoffered to share her experience
with us.
Welcome, ladies! Ellen and I areso happy to have you.
El (03:39):
Thank you for joining us.
Leslie (03:41):
Thank you for having us.
Krista (03:43):
Amlas I would love to start with you and get a bit of
a background on how Wild Questcame about.
So what came first Bimini or thedolphins?
Amlas (03:54):
Well, actually my partner and I, didn't start Wild Quest.
We had some friends who went andswam with dolphins in Key West
and they had a very powerfulexperience.
They didn't expect it it was aby chance kind of thing.
And they had a very powerfulconnection with dolphins and
realized that, these weren'tordinary animals, there was
something mysterious going on,there was something very
(04:15):
powerful going on.
So they wanted to start somekind of retreat where what was
triggered in humans, Was allowedto grow.
And it was really, something ofthe heart when a human meets a
dolphin it's a bit like meetingthe master.
If you've ever had the joy ofmeeting someone who's
enlightened.
It's a similar kind ofexperience.
(04:36):
And now after 25 years, that is,the main reason I continue to do
it.
They saw that this is apossibility where we can bring
people and people can be broughtto their heart.
And if we create a safe placewhere that experience can be
nurtured, that little flower canbe nurtured and be allowed, that
this is really a service tohumanity, and it's really a
(04:58):
feeling that's what the dolphinswant to help.
They realize that we need help.
So this is that was the kernelof the start of Wild Quest.
I was thinking last night aboutit.
Actually, there's actually onlytwo really powerful things in my
life where there was a momentwhere I knew that was my path
and somehow with the dolphinswhen our friends started this I
knew, even though at that time,I ignored it because our lives
(05:22):
were so different but thenagain, as existence tends to do,
a year later, we bumped intothem again.
We had dinner with them in Miamiand what came out of my mouth
was, oh, I guess we're going tobe working with you.
And they said, what do you mean?
I said, well, I don't know.
I said, it just came out of mymouth.
We then began working with themand then became partners with
them decided that Bimini was abetter place and the water is
(05:45):
clearer, the dolphins are muchmore conducive to connecting
with us.
And in Key West, at that point,there were too many boat
operators.
It was becoming a nightmare.
And actually now, of course, inthe States, it's illegal to swim
with wild dolphins becausethere's too many people doing it
all at once, and if it everbecame like that in Bimini, then
(06:07):
I would stop doing it.
And I would actually, try andmake it illegal in Bimini, but
somehow in Bimini, We seem to beprotected by a bit of a bubble.
It hasn't become this mad houseof lots of operators.
Most of the time we're the onlypeople out there.
There's maybe two other peopleso we then moved to Bimini with
them started getting the setuporganized there.
(06:29):
It was all very chaotic atfirst.
And then they had various healthissues so then we took over so
it was a kind of a serendipitousjourney.
Krista (06:39):
Wow.
In that year that they told youabout it.
And then the year that you haddinner with him and decided
you're going to work with him.
Did you yourself swim with wilddolphins?
Amlas (06:48):
No, I didn't even remember it in that year.
It was only when I met themagain by chance, it was almost
like a light bulb came on in myhead and it just came out of my
mouth.
I hadn't even at that point metdolphins.
My, my interest was really thehuman connection.
I'd been working a lot withother humans.
(07:09):
so it was totally out of theblue.
My history isn't with marinemammals, I'm a mathematician by
training.
So it was really out of theblue.
Krista (07:17):
I'd love to know what was the human connection that
you were participating in?
Amlas (07:22):
I was working, in human development waking up basically.
I did a lot of primal work withpeople in therapy work in a
certain sense, and meditation.
Krista (07:32):
You were primed.
Amlas (07:34):
I was primed already.
Yeah.
I was, yeah.
And it's interesting, it'samazing how existence works,
because looking back I see how,I'd never owned a business
before, I'd never been abusinesswoman, I never thought I
would own a business.
But when I look back, I'd hadmany different skills along the
way that really helped andcontributed to what flowered in
(07:55):
Wild Quest.
Krista (07:57):
I have to say watching you work, you hold incredibly
powerful space.
Having you on the boat, the daysthat we had you on the boat, I
felt so safe and secure.
Without, having to put yourselfin it, you're have this
presence, I guess is the bestway to say it.
So I felt it.
And then tell us about yourfirst encounter with dolphins.
Amlas (08:18):
It's still the same even after, so many years that
whenever I see the dolphins,there's just this childlike, I
could, I feel it in my heart andthere's this joy that just comes
out.
And even now.
Because sometimes, you look fordolphins for a long time.
Sometimes we don't see them, butthen when they come, I always
feel this kind of joy comingout.
(08:40):
And so that was from the verybeginning and still hasn't left
me, it's just like, wow,
Krista (08:45):
one of my favorite things is on the boat when we do
find the dolphins and see thedolphins that ooze and Oz and
the childlike little noises thatwe all make we all go into,
probably the purest place in ourheart, and without worrying
about what it looks like we'retalking like little kids the
relationship comes so naturally
Amlas (09:04):
it is a childlike thing and, I think we tend to forget.
To be childlike, but there's somany gifts in being childlike,
that we can continue to play andbe amazed and live in wonder,
Krista (09:19):
I believe play is one of the biggest ways to heal trauma.
It's a form of liberation and aform of freedom.
And it gives you a completelydifferent perspective.
So the dolphin, just the impactof it takes you there so
quickly.
So what kind of impact havedolphins had on your life other
than what we just discussed?
Can you see the transformationin you?
(09:41):
What do you hold dearest inmind?
to your heart and soul in termsof what they've given you?
Amlas (09:47):
For me, it's really about presence, it's about being in
the present moment.
And for me, that's my journey oflife is like, this moment is all
we have, and so how can I Livetotally in this present moment
because, the mind can go intothe future and the past but
that's not life.
Life is happening here and now.
So for me, it's about a passionfor really living life and
(10:09):
really squeezing the juice fromeach moment.
In Wild Quest, there's manydifferent aspects.
It's not just the dolphins, Ireally love to live in
community.
We have usually eight crewmembers.
And so at the weekend, thecommunity is eight and then, 20
people come and the communityexpands during the week and
contracts again.
So living in community inkindness and caretaking and
(10:33):
safety and fun.
I always say at Wild Quest, it'stotally fine to be exactly who
you are.
You don't have to pretend to besomeone else.
If you feel like crying all thetime, cry.
It's fine.
If you want to laugh all thetime, laugh.
Whatever's happening it's fine.
And emotions come up a lotaround the dolphins.
There's a lot of tears.
I don't know if when you werethere, it was like that.
(10:55):
Sometimes when people make thatconnection people drop into
their heart and they feelconnected and they feel seen and
they feel accepted.
And that usually brings tears,of just this kind of feeling of
expansion of oneself, and soit's a magical thing.
Krista (11:10):
It truly is.
You described it so well.
I've never been able to put itinto words but yes, that's
exactly been my experience andLeslie's as well, which I'm sure
we'll talk about in a second.
You've mentioned it when I wasthere that, this is like a
bubble it's an energetic vortex.
Would you characterize it thatway?
Amlas (11:30):
It seems to be.
Yeah.
When you come and there's been30 people hanging out, babbling
around on the boat for sevenhours a day, eating together,
doing dishes together,meditating together, laughing
together, that creates anenergetic vortex in a way and it
allows people to relax more andto really open.
(11:50):
and expand.
And so, it's an awareness whenpeople leave that, hey, you are
in an altered state, so takecare of yourself as you leave,
be aware, and not just rushinto, life as normal or jumping
in your car and driving, yeah,it's an awareness.
Krista (12:07):
Do you think that, the folklore of the Bermuda Triangle
and that there's an energeticbubble or vortex there.
Do you subscribe to that at all?
Do you see that or feel that orhave you experienced that?
Amlas (12:20):
I don't know.
I'm not particularly esotericmyself.
Bimini's been our home reallyfor 25 odd years.
And it's a funky little island.
It's only 50 miles from Miami,but it seems to be protected in
some way from mass particularlyaround the dolphins.
It seems to have a bubble aroundit.
I found some website somewherewhere it was talking about the
(12:41):
ley lines on the planet.
And coming from England, I'mfamiliar with ley lines.
It's the energy that go aroundthe planet.
The places where there's manylay lines that cross those are
the major megalithic sites likeStonehenge or the Egyptian
pyramids or Machu Picchu, and itsaid there's seven or I think it
was 11 major points on theplanet where there's many lay
(13:04):
lines crossing and Bimini wasone of them.
Krista (13:07):
Wow.
Amlas (13:07):
And Something made sense to me.
It was like, yeah that's what itfeels like.
There's some kind of powerfulvortex here, that isn't
recognized, I feel it and itfeels like, it's also protected.
Krista (13:19):
I've had different experiences where I've been in
community, and it feels reallygood.
And all of those things that youdescribed exist, but there's
something.
In Wild Quest where it isamplified beyond like I get so
high when I go there.
So I think it is what you'vecreated there, and the safety
(13:39):
and security and the love thereit is a love bubble, but I feel
like it's charged somehow someway.
It creates an incredibletransformation.
And really, everyone that I'veseen go has their arc of
transformation.
They come to life again which isbeautiful to watch and then
(13:59):
beautiful to participate in.
Amlas (14:01):
Yeah I think there's many aspects of it, one is we're
living close to nature with thesunrise, the sunset, the tides.
There's a lot of science thesedays about living in blue, being
by the ocean, being in nature isvery rejuvenating and
transformative.
And it's what we're cravingpeople who live in cities.
(14:21):
It's living in community withlike minded souls, you know,
living close to nature, sleepingwell, eating well not having to
think and stress about anything.
And then, of course, thedolphins are the icing on the
cake.
So I think all of these, cometogether as a pot for helping
people to begin to see theirlife in a different way.
And what I see happen is peoplefind the courage to become more
(14:48):
themselves and to make decisionsthat serve them better in life.
Many, examples I can give, like,people leaving toxic
relationships, having thecourage to go home and say,
okay, I'm scared.
I don't know how it's going togo, but this is not working.
Or whatever toxic is happeningin their life, being able to
have the courage to take thatstep towards something that's
(15:11):
more nurturing and nourishingfor themselves, which for me
it's a huge thing, becausethat's the direction we all
should be living in,
Krista (15:19):
And don't you think that elevating to a place and having
a taste of what I should feellike in my life on a daily
basis, their tolerancecompletely changes.
So it's giving you the gift ofawareness of, wait a minute, I
can feel this good.
I could feel this good all thetime.
I would just have to go home andchange things that don't allow
me to feel good that arecreating barriers.
(15:40):
Against my pleasure in life myconnections in life.
I think it levels you up, andthen you go home and then, with
courage get rid of the thingsthat don't allow you to elevate
that way.
Amlas (15:53):
Right.
I would say it's like, Whateverwe've created in Wild Quest, in
our little community, if we cancreate it there, other people
can create it anywhere, it'slike, you just have to decide
that's what you want, and takethe next step, whatever that
step is, and existence will alsocome and support you, once you
have a desire to go in a certaindirection.
Krista (16:16):
I think some people have no idea that it can exist that
might be their first experienceof sure, me and connection yeah
it has the potential to offer ahuge awakening.
And It's incremental, right?
Like someone will take it asmuch as they can, or it'll meet
them where they are and takethem to their next level.
What a gift, my goodness.
And think of all the people,over almost 30 years, all the
(16:39):
peoples that you've impacted,that must feel incredible.
Amlas (16:43):
For me, it's good news on the planet.
If I think, the Wild Quest tribeout there and all over the
world, there's so much bad news,but I don't like to focus on,
but for me, that's the goodnews.
It's like, wow, there's allthose people out there, all
those juicy people, it's not allbad.
There's some good stuff outthere, I imagine it as little
lights going out, and everyone'sshining their lights around and
about I like that kind of visualimagery,
Krista (17:04):
And it lights us up that's such a beautiful visual.
El (17:08):
I'm curious about the dolphins.
Do you recognize the same podsor do you ever recognize the
same dolphins?
Amlas (17:13):
Sure.
Yeah, we recognize, we seeAtlantic spotted dolphins as
well as coastal bottlenose.
And sometimes we see offshorebottlenose, but yes if they have
certain scars or marks, it'seasy to recognize, and of
course, obviously, the longeryou're around them, it's easy to
distinguish one from another.
So yes, we do know quite a lot,quite many dolphins.
(17:36):
Yes.
And we do them, sometimes youmay not see some for a long,
long while and then suddenlythey'll come back because they
travel I think, quite far andwide it seems sometimes they go
up north or they may go south,but guess there are a lot that
we recognize yet,
Krista (17:52):
Even by personality to write.
Amlas (17:55):
Some of them, yeah, there's some that you think, oh,
she's here, let's see how she istoday, because, she usually
really loves to come andconnect, so yeah, there are
different types, I don't know ifwe're anthropomorphizing with
them or not, but it does seemthat they do have different kind
of personalities.
Krista (18:10):
It must be wonderful to see them have babies and those
babies grow.
Amlas (18:14):
that's always really special to see, the little tiny
babies.
That's very cute.
Of course.
It's always really fun they'rehealthy.
The pod's good.
They have babies all year.
They don't have a certainseason.
El (18:25):
I'm curious about this specific connection with the
dolphins.
For instance, we can haveunconditional connection with
our pets and this heart openingthat happens is it like that
with the dolphin, but amplifiedin certain ways
Amlas (18:36):
yeah, sure.
It is similar, the differencebeing, of course, that these are
wild and free animals andthey're not domesticated, we
don't feed them, I don't knowwhat they get from us, we don't
give them anything, obviously apet, you're feeding a pet
they're dependent on you fortheir security and their life.
So it's a very differentdynamic.
The magic really with thedolphins is that it is a similar
(18:59):
experience but these are wildand free animals and we're not
giving them anything in return.
It's not a business, it's not abusiness deal.
El (19:07):
That's true.
Amlas (19:07):
That's the amazing thing they can be wherever they like
in the ocean.
they can go from naught to 60like that., if they don't want
to be there, they can be gone.
And yet they choose to come andconnect with us.
Look us right in the eye, bringtheir babies, it's a wild
animal.
There's no other wild animalsthat I know of that will bring
(19:28):
their babies.
Literally I've seen mamas.
The babies hang underneath themom in a protected area.
And sometimes in the water, thebaby, if it's young, we'll go to
the other side of the mom, sothat the mom's in between the
baby and us.
And then the mom will go andshe'll push her baby towards us.
And then the baby will go.
(19:50):
And then the mom will push herbaby towards us.
And it really is like, Hey, it'sokay.
They're okay.
You don't have to be worried,and then the baby will come
like.
the magic of it is that theseare wild and free animals and
it's on their terms, they arechoosing to come to us, which is
remarkable, it's totallyremarkable, it's the same
(20:11):
feeling, I think this opening ofthe heart, in the present
moment, with a pet it's a bitlike a marriage, I'll love you
forever thing.
Whereas with a dolphin, the loveis, not this agreement or
business.
It's just in the present moment,just like this connection in the
present moment.
Krista (20:27):
My first experience with the dolphins was the last day
and getting in the water when wesee them is called a drop.
And it was.
The last drop on the last day,and I've had experiences.
They'd swum by me.
It was breathtaking.
It was just enchanting beyondbelief.
Everything about it, being inthat blue water, just looking at
(20:48):
that color, getting in the waterwith the sun and the warmth and
the coolness of the water.
All of it was just incredible.
But I was floating and the podof humans was behind me and I
just went off on my own.
It was just floating and I waslooking at nothing.
The dolphins were somewherearound us, but I just had this
moment on my own.
And the next thing I know, adolphin came up and was right
(21:11):
here.
And I looked at it and it wasright here and we looked each
other in the eye and it was.
Breathtaking, of course, butthen it swum around and it was
facing me.
It's nose was facing me eye toeye.
Now it's squared off with me andthen it dipped its nose down
towards my heart.
And it's so gnarled my heart.
(21:32):
Something happened where myheart just expanded beyond what
I had ever experienced before inmy life.
It was physical, I physicallyfelt it.
And then the dolphin swam off.
I swam up.
I came up out of the water andjust burst into tears
involuntarily, burst into tears.
It was one of the mostincredible experiences I've had
(21:55):
in my life.
Metaphysical, energetic, howeveryou want to characterize it.
But it was In that moment, thatchanged a lot for me.
And it wasn't that you wouldthink that Oh, my heart was
open.
And it was, this beatificexperience it was, but it was
also that all the pain andheartache I was carrying that
(22:17):
had to come out too.
So like I had like a detoxeffect where I had to process a
lot.
It broke it open.
Yeah.
But it also allowed for like apurification.
That was interesting.
Yeah.
So those dolphins are powerfulcreatures that live with us on
this earth.
(22:37):
And I think any interaction youcan have with them it could be
incredibly medicinal and trulylife changing.
Yeah.
Yeah.
El (22:47):
And Leslie, you're you're nodding.
Can you speak a little bit onthat?
Leslie (22:52):
Absolutely.
When I was there, there was twomoms and two babies and we got
in and they were swimming allaround.
That's what blew my mind I'm notexaggerating when I say a baby
came up and they were down atthe bottom and came up and did
like a loop de loop right nextto me going up to the surface.
(23:13):
And I pop up and was like, didanybody else see that?
Cause I just got the mostmagical moment ever.
I was like, Oh my God, the thinglooked at me.
and had no fear and was, 10 feetfrom me, it just blew my mind.
That these animals, thesecreatures will let us have the
privilege of swimming with themand not swim away.
(23:36):
You really just float there andwatch them and they do their
thing and they have no real fearof you.
Krista (23:43):
They're really playful too.
Like they invite you to play alot of the people that can free
drive and go and swim and twirlwith them.
They'll get into these patternsof movement and they'll just
move with humans.
So they invite you into theirdance, which is profound.
Leslie.
you work is a director for aglobal PR firm.
(24:06):
And I can only imagine howstressful that type of work must
be.
There must be elements of crisismanagement that you're tasked
with.
So going on vacation, must havemany layers for you and levels
of decompression.
Would you agree with that?
Leslie (24:21):
Yes, I think I share what, a good portion of America
and people around the world,just the daily grind of work and
I work from home and so, dayscan run together.
And yes, I do take my vacationdays very seriously and I
definitely look at vacation fordecompression versus, going 50
(24:42):
miles an hour and doingsomething, straight for a week.
Krista (24:45):
So before going to wild quest, what were your
expectations if any, and had youhad any kind of expectation of a
metaphysical experience or anenergetic awakening or shift?
Leslie (24:59):
No, not at all.
In fact, I was apprehensiveabout doing it.
I didn't find it myself.
A friend found it for me and andtalked me into it.
El (25:08):
Yeah,
Leslie (25:10):
I didn't know if I could say, I didn't want to point any
fingers, but by the 10th time ofasking to go, asking me about,
El (25:17):
yeah,
Leslie (25:19):
I was like, okay, you caught me on a good day.
I'll do it.
But I had a lot of apprehensionand definitely no expectations
of anything.
I was going for vacation.
Krista (25:28):
So give us a little overview.
Leslie (25:30):
I think my biggest apprehension was the group.
It was the most diverse range.
From 15 to 85, from Denver to,Amsterdam, and all in between,
and somehow it worked.
It was the zaniest.
Hodgepodge of people.
I worked from home.
I lived by myself.
(25:52):
I was like, how am I going to,not only being around, I think
it was 17 in our group at 17people, one or 20.
Krista (26:00):
Yeah.
Leslie (26:01):
But I just didn't who are the people that are going on
this.
And, I don't know what I wasthinking, but.
Krista (26:06):
You were apprehensive about being with strangers.
Leslie (26:09):
Yeah, for a long time and on a boat for, day in day
out and having every mealtogether.
I was like, I don't know aboutthat.
And, once you're on Bimini,you're on Bimini.
So, and like I could just get ina car and go home.
So there was that apprehension,but that was the most beautiful
thing to me.
And I said this exact thing whenI was there is that the dolphins
(26:30):
are the icing on the cake.
It's the people and theexperience that just blew my
mind.
We had a lot of dolphin,encounters when I was there,
luckily, but even if we hadn't,it still felt special.
and I admit it, I was sizingpeople up.
I was like, Oh my God, I don'tknow if I can be with that woman
for, five days straight.
And she ended up being hilariousand funny and, one of my
(26:53):
favorites.
So, admittedly, and I'm ashamedof it.
I was Oh God, I don't know aboutthis.
And then by the end of it, I'mlike, my people, my pod.
Krista (27:04):
So, if I remember correctly, within a few hours of
being there, Leslie is a verydear old friend of mine.
I know you very well.
You don't let people see youremotion.
You get the job done.
You're, you're a very strong,powerful person.
And if I may share within a fewhours of being on the island,
(27:30):
the tears, the impact of it all,just being there, something
about, the energy there createdthis cascade effect where you
were crying inconsolably andcouldn't regulate to go to
dinner that night.
Leslie (27:45):
Yeah.
I was like, oh my God, I don'teven know where this is coming
from, like what is going on?
And it was like, I just metthese people and I couldn't even
go to dinner that first night'cause I looked like I had been
punched by Mike Tyson.
I was in sad shape and I couldnot stop.
I obviously was holding in somuch stress and holding on by a
(28:05):
thread and getting there wassuch a release.
I could not stop it if I tried.
I couldn't even really pinpointwhat, it just was like this mosh
pit of emotion, but I wasn'treally like sad.
It was this release and itcaught me totally by surprise.
That's when I knew it wasdifferent than a vacation.
(28:27):
It felt like therapy
Krista (28:31):
it seems as though you're having a pretty
incredible releasetransformation.
We are on day two and yesterdaywas a pretty cathartic day for
you.
Yeah.
Leslie (28:43):
Yes.
Krista (28:44):
Aw.
And we were talking about havingthe ability to release and it's
as though this place has createdsome form of catharsis where you
have been incredibly emotionalmore so than normal and as much
as that can be dysregulating andbring up a lot of stuff it's
(29:06):
ultimately a really healthyexperience.
Would you agree with that?
Leslie (29:11):
Yeah, it's kind of like after you cry you feel better.
Or after you throw up.
Yeah, seriously.
It's a little bit
Krista (29:18):
like throwing up.
Emotions.
If you crash into a tree.
And so you were saying that, theenergy here, even though you
can't see it, there's somethinggoing on.
Is that how you said it?
Leslie (29:28):
Yeah, well, um, yeah.
Krista (29:30):
There's something happening here.
Leslie (29:33):
Yeah, well, we didn't see any dolphins, but there's a
dog here.
Krista (29:37):
Wait till you see the dolphins.
Yeah, so,
Leslie (29:40):
said this dog has helped me get a little more vulnerable
and let some shit that I hadbeen suppressing big time.
So yeah, for those of you justlistening in, I've been crying
for about the last 10 hours andI couldn't tell you exactly why.
I could tell you a couple ofthings.
Krista (30:01):
It's just a giant purging, correct?
I'm sad and then I'm happy.
Leslie (30:03):
I'm sad about the dog then I'm happy he's being taken
care of.
Krista (30:07):
There's a dog here that's tied up to a tree
Leslie (30:09):
but they're taking care of it.
Krista (30:10):
They're taking care of it.
Leslie's been sitting with itfor hours.
But I think it's the emotionaltrigger that she needed to kind
of start the process of thisemotional purge.
Leslie (30:21):
I mean, she's my dolphin.
So, yeah.
Thanks for opening thefloodgates, Callie.
Appreciate it.
That's the dog's name, by theway.
So, yeah, I'm holding steady,but at any moment I could
spontaneously combust intotears.
And if you asked me why I wascrying, I would say, everything
(30:41):
and nothing.
Not like, wah, just like, tearswere flowing and I'm not even
Krista (30:46):
Sobbing.
Leslie (30:47):
Yeah, it's not
Krista (30:49):
Deep catharsis Yes.
I think too, you're not someonethat is emotional by nature.
No, I'm a suppressor.
Yeah.
And a survivor.
And you know, you just get thethings done.
Leslie (31:00):
Never complain, never explain.
Krista (31:02):
Right.
That's Leslie's,
Leslie (31:04):
well I stole that from Queen Elizabeth.
But it works for me.
It still, yeah, it works.
It fits.
Krista (31:10):
Have you noticed that whatever you were able to
release there, has it brought adifferent level of awareness
have you made any changes?
Leslie (31:20):
I think I'd need more than a week I'm stuck in my
ways.
Admittedly
Krista (31:25):
has your perspective changed like your tolerances to
things
Leslie (31:28):
I think it's so different from your day to day
work life, and that's typicalprobably of any vacation but it
was so vastly different incontrast, it was more of like
what is out in the world and inthis experience, it just, I want
more of that.
Krista (31:48):
Has it impacted your relationships at all?
Or your, relationship to work,your relationship to friends or
family?
Leslie (31:55):
The things I stress about probably ridiculously, I
need to let some of that go,it's just does not matter in the
grand scheme of things I hatethe cliche of don't sweat the
small stuff, but you get joltedout of the stuff that you think
matters, by doing something likethis and then you come back and
it's like, it just doesn'tmatter.
Krista (32:15):
I think that frequency of love to like getting a dose
of that medicine, it justchanges your perspective.
Leslie (32:21):
Yeah, that was another big thing because I'm usually by
myself most of the time.
But reaching out being moreconnected with my friends I
would definitely say that hasbeen something I was nourished
by being around.
I was surprised at how social Iwas and got to know people and
Krista (32:41):
game night that was incredibly successful, all on
your own.
That was huge for you.
Leslie (32:46):
I know it was, you would have thought I was putting on a
Broadway play and it was likeone game, but that's my kind of
anxiety is being in front ofthat many people.
And it sounds so silly, but Iwanted it to be such a success
and it ended up getting ravereviews.
I'm not going to lie, I was sonervous and even things like
that.
Like I just was out of mycomfort zone a lot of the time
(33:09):
there
Krista (33:10):
Yeah.
we got so loved up.
Each and every one of thosepeople became so near and dear
to my heart.
I loved them so much.
Yeah.
That's what, yeah.
Leslie (33:18):
And I wasn't expecting that.
I'm not really that spiritualor, metaphysical and I'm like,
am I going to be the outsider?
And I cannot say enough.
If anybody's listening to thisand thinking about doing it and
they're apprehensive about beingwith 20 strangers.
It works somehow.
If it worked for me I'm a goodbarometer for getting out of
your comfort zone.
There was a commonality ofeverybody being there for the
(33:39):
same purpose and everybody gotalong it was like being at camp
better food.
Krista (33:44):
It's incredible.
Thank you, Niketa.
Yeah.
El (33:50):
I'm curious about Bimini.
How have you seen the islandchange since you started going
there?
Amlas (33:55):
Yes, it has changed.
There's a big resort that'sgrown up on the north end of the
island and they've even built apier and cruise ships come in.
Life is changed, like nothingstays the same, if everything
stays the same, you're probablydead, life is changed.
It hasn't been done in any kindof remarkable way.
It's done raping and pillagingand, there's been a lot of
(34:16):
fights about how the resort wasbuilt, but it has grown.
But, it doesn't seem to haveaffected what we do there
because luckily, it wasn't doneon purpose.
Our retreat center is really.
Tucked away if you didn't knowit was there, you wouldn't even,
know it's there We're in thislittle protected bubble in our
retreat center and the boatdocks right there.
(34:37):
Sometimes I realize I don't goout of the gate.
From one week to the next, I'mjust in the retreat center.
We get on the boat, we go outand we come back and we, he's in
the retreat center.
So, if it has changed and,unfortunately it's not changed
with much awareness or care forthe environment.
It doesn't seem to affect whatwe're doing.
It doesn't seem to affect thedolphins.
(34:59):
So hopefully it will continue,
Krista (35:01):
one of the things I noticed is your relationship to
the locals there.
I can imagine you consideryourself a local at this point
but they have such reverence andrespect for you and your group,
as you do them, it's such ajoyous place the locals there
are so lovely.
Their respect for you and yourrespect for them, does add such
(35:22):
a huge benefit.
To a guest experience there aswell.
And it goes to show, what you'redoing in the water with the
dolphins and for your guests,that extends out to the people
that you're sharing the spacewith, the island with.
Amlas (35:36):
Well, I'm always aware that we are guests in their
home, as it's a bit like when wego out on the ocean, we're
guests in the dolphins home.
And so we act accordingly andit's similar on the island, I
feel, and yeah we have beenthere a long time and the locals
do love us.
They're not really quite surewhat we do.
They know we take people to swimwith dolphins, but the tourists
(35:56):
that come to us are quitedifferent from the tourists that
come to Bimini tend to be fisherpeople, fisher people tend to
rely a lot on alcohol for theirenjoyment, which is a very
different vibe.
I'm not against alcohol in anysense, but, they're very
sensitive, the Islanders, theyknow there's something, and
sometimes when we're meditating,or something will happen, I'll
say it was, it's like our churchbecause they can relate to
(36:17):
church, and so they reallyrespect and they love us, a lot
of the taxi drivers call.
They're like, what do you do?
We bring them there on a Mondayand when we come and pick them
up, on a Saturday, like, what doyou do to them?
It's like the house of love.
This is like the house of love,and I said, that's it, the house
of love,
Krista (36:34):
come on.
That's incredible that theywould know.
That's says a lot, doesn't it?
Leslie (36:41):
I'm gonna have one of my favorite memory.
I've got a million, but the onewhen we're coming back from
dinner, because I don't know ifyou were in the car, but we had
what was our cab driver's name?
It was
Krista (36:50):
there.
Leslie (36:51):
And we had some name, like a celebrity's name, like,
Krista (36:54):
Oh, no, that's right.
Leslie (36:56):
Do you know, I'm lost.
Here's the cab driver that youusually get.
Amlas (37:01):
Block there's block or
Leslie (37:02):
Tron or
Amlas (37:03):
block.
Leslie (37:05):
Yeah.
I think he said H&
Krista (37:06):
R block.
That's right.
H&
Leslie (37:07):
R block.
Sorry.
One celebrity H& R block.
That was him.
We were, blasting music.
Anytime you got in a car or, onthe bed, you're sitting with
different people.
It's just a different group.
It wasn't like people glommedonto each other.
Like it was just whoever got inthe van on the way home, gotten,
got a NISP.
And we were like, I think it waslike a Neil Diamond song and we
were all karaokeing our buns offin the car.
(37:30):
It was just so funny and soenergetic.
I was so energized by the timewe got back in the bed.
I don't think I fell asleep forlike an hour,
Krista (37:38):
it really is a giant dance party masquerading as
adult I
Leslie (37:44):
dance,
Krista (37:45):
oh
Leslie (37:45):
my god,
Krista (37:45):
I dance in my lifetime.
Leslie (37:47):
Oh my God.
And just silliness andeverybody.
Again, the risk of sounding likea broken record, you really
cannot judge, a book by itscover.
Cause I ended up being like, Ohmy God, these people are my new
pod.
Krista (37:59):
Yeah, we've kept in touch to it's family.
It's more family, more love,more support.
It's beautiful.
Leslie (38:07):
Sitting here going, how can I get back there?
They're sure.
Can I think, can I pull thisoff?
The wheels are spinning, likemore vacation days to have left.
Can I squeeze one more of thesein And
Krista (38:20):
you'd probably go alone this time, huh?
Leslie (38:21):
I don't know about that, but
Amlas (38:24):
we have a lot of women come alone.
A lot of women.
Oh
Leslie (38:27):
yeah.
Oh, I would be perfectlycomfortable doing that.
Yeah.
If anybody is listening thatthinks, Oh, I don't know if I
could do this, but you totallycould.
El (38:35):
Yeah,
Leslie (38:36):
absolutely.
feels like an extended family.
I don't know how else todescribe it.
You would feel very safe andcomfortable.
Krista (38:44):
You also have such a solid structure to it.
You fly in to Fort Lauderdale ona Sunday, Monday morning, early.
You're picked up and you'retaken to a charter flight.
Which is what 30 minutes to theisland and by Monday afternoon,
you're on the boat out on thewater.
Everything just runs likeclockwork.
There's never a moment where, Ididn't understand what was going
(39:06):
on or hadn't been told.
So, yeah,
Leslie (39:09):
y'all are very, it's very buttoned up.
Krista (39:13):
Yeah.
Leslie (39:13):
Relaxed.
Krista (39:15):
That's what's so extraordinary about it.
I was saying that the staff havesuch a big responsibility, for
our safety out on the boat inthe water.
And yet you'd never know thatthey're thinking about that part
of it.
Everyone feels like they arehaving, incredible enjoyment.
Yeah.
Leslie (39:30):
Prepping the boat, prepping the food, prepping
everything.
I know they're scurrying aroundbehind the scenes and there's
probably stress that we don'tsee.
They never showed it once, butit was definitely organized.
I feel like in a way I'm highmaintenance, like I need a tight
operation.
In order to feel, safe for mepersonally.
And I was like, okay, thesepeople know what they're doing,
(39:52):
but it didn't feel regimentedor.
Controlled.
Krista (39:57):
Everything's fun.
Leslie (39:58):
Felt like camp in a way and the best way that I could
describe camp.
You had a schedule, but itdidn't feel like, Oh my God,
give me a second.
Krista (40:06):
I like that we have the morning.
So free.
Just to linger and chill.
And then we have so much time onthe boat.
It's like, how long are thesedays?
Everything feels so relaxed andyet rich it's like time stand
still or something.
Leslie (40:21):
Yeah.
And it's even fun.
When we had that rain shower, itwas still fun on the bed.
Krista (40:26):
That rained out on the boat.
How quick are they?
They knew the rain was coming.
And the next thing I know,everything's canopied up and
snapped and secure, and thenwe're all huddled in playing
games on that back table.
So much fun.
Leslie (40:40):
This is really making me wanna, I'm sitting here scheming
goFundMe for Wild Quest tripnumber two, would that be
inappropriate?
Krista (40:48):
Just your family.
Leslie (40:49):
Yeah.
And you.
Krista (40:51):
Yeah.
And me.
Big shout out to the crew.
They're just extraordinarypeople.
Each and every one of them.
I'm in awe of their gifts andtheir skills
Leslie (41:00):
I have to give a shout out.
To Dipti, but also Kathleen.
Wow.
What a find., as close as youcan get to a living mermaid.
I wish I could talk to her everyday.
She has the most calming,soothing, authentic love of what
she does.
That woman is one in a million.
Half the time I thought it was adolphin and it's her down at the
(41:20):
bottom, taking the coolestpictures.
I'm like, Oh, it's Kathleen.
Krista (41:23):
That's another thing we forgot to mention aside from
going out on the boat andswimming with the dolphins,
there a classes availableKathleen did this incredible
movement class that was Partyoga, part expansion in your
energy and your body.
I did breath work and had anincredible experience.
So there's also these healingprotocols and modalities that
(41:44):
are offered that you can take ifyou want, you don't have to.
So you offer so much more.
And then the food is just, I wasabout to say the
Leslie (41:53):
food we have to touch on the food is incredible.
Krista (41:55):
Yeah, by one woman.
So all this to say, it's a veryspecial place.
And anyone that goes to beenriched and revitalized and
changed and filled with what isI think the most powerful
medicine on the planet, which islove.
And anytime we can open ourhearts and allow more of that
in.
(42:16):
It can only benefit us, thepeople around us.
It will telegraph out to thepeople that we love and the
people that they love.
So, thank you from the bottom ofmy heart.
Thank you.
Leslie (42:27):
For such an amazing experience.
I'm glad to be part of the Wildquest pod.
It's funny.
I want everybody to know aboutit, but I don't want everybody
to know.
Amlas (42:36):
To think of it as an open secret.
Leslie (42:39):
Yes.
I'm like, do I really want totell people about this?
Cause I want to keep myself, butI'm going to spread the gospel
of wild class.
I did say at the end of theweek, and I really do feel this
way, if there was no dolphinsall week, I still would have
given the trip a 10 out of 10.
The dolphins to me were thatadded special magical bonus, but
it was all the other things thatcame together that you're not
(43:00):
going to find anywhere else oron just a regular vacation.
And I can name 10 things thatall just magically came
together.
Still blaze my mind that wilddolphins swim up and can do a
little loop de loop right infront of your face and not be
scared of you, I'll take thatwith me forever.
Thank you.
And if y'all have any openings,if y'all need like an assistant
carrier, well, I know they're inkaraoke, but like an assistant I
(43:22):
don't know her
El (43:23):
job to change her life.
So I can break
Leslie (43:24):
the sand I'll be the official Cat feeder I can just
be part-time.
We can start part-time and seehow it goes.
Krista (43:35):
she'll send you her resume?
Yes.
Leslie (43:37):
Yeah.
Krista (43:38):
Amlas, what do you see for the future of Wild Quest
Amlas (43:41):
well, I trust that, Wild Quest will continue, it's been
going now, for so long it feelslike it's doing a beautiful
thing and I trust it willcontinue to do its beautiful
thing you know that's really allI can hope for.
Krista (43:55):
Before we wrap up, I want to let people know how to
get in touch with you.
The season runs from April toOctober?
Amlas (44:03):
Yeah, we usually start in April through to October, you
can check the website,wildquest.
com and there's a schedule pageand it tells you, what's
happening each week.
There's a contact page as well.
We have a lovely lady, Nala, whoworks in the reservations office
and she's very helpful if youhave any questions or anything
like that.
Her phone number and email isalso there on the website.
(44:24):
So yeah do check it out.
Krista (44:26):
And we'll put that on our website as well.
So wild quest.
com.
All right guys.
Thank you so, so much.
Almost lovely.
To see you, Leslie.
I love you.
Yeah, thank you.
Thank you ladies.
That was awesome.
Take care.
Thank you.
Bye-Bye.
Bye.
Bye.
Hi, we have just landed back inFort Lauderdale in the real
(44:46):
world and feel like emotions areHow would you describe it
Leslie (44:52):
raw
Krista (44:53):
Raw like thunder and raw like
Leslie (44:56):
kind of a boil A festering boil.
Krista (44:58):
So tell me about your trip.
What were the highlights?
What were the things that wereunexpected?
Give me your best overview.
Leslie (45:06):
I would say that it's weird the one thing I noticed
this was like a mini rehab ithad a lot of the elements of
what you do and therapeuticwise, but
Krista (45:17):
none of those practical underpinnings, like that's not
their purpose.
Oh yeah.
No, but it had
Leslie (45:22):
that same s feeling structure.
Right.
Krista (45:24):
I mean, inadvertently they are rehabbing people.
Leslie (45:27):
it makes you open up, just add the therapeutic
qualities of that.
I'm not a spiritual person.
and I got a lot out of it.
No, it was more the release andI would say it was a.
It wasn't a typical vacation.
I would describe it as magical.
Krista (45:43):
That's big for you.
Leslie (45:44):
I know.
I don't use that word.
I actually make fun of peoplefor using that word.
I would use that word for this.
Krista (45:49):
Tell me what properties were magical to you.
Leslie (45:52):
I would say the, the group dynamic.
I don't know if we just had areally special group or if it's
special every time.
I don't know.
It's just fascinating to me thatyou can bring together, however
many that was, 19 people fromdifferent countries, different
ages, different genders, just sohodgepodge of different,
(46:12):
backgrounds and everything, andwe all bonded like freakishly.
So much
Krista (46:18):
love and acceptance.
I I felt so safe there.
So unjudged.
Leslie (46:24):
I agree.
So yeah, I felt like I, like Isaid, I felt like I had a tribe,
I mean, not a tribe, a pod.
Krista (46:28):
Yeah.
Leslie (46:29):
For those of you listening in, I live by myself.
I am not a social butterfly.
I like to be with people one onone, so the first couple of days
with that many people were a weebit jarring for me and then you
kind of ease into it and get toknow people and you know.
Krista (46:47):
Yeah, you opened up to everyone and everyone really
responded.
To you as well.
There was a lot of bonding goingon, the level of safety.
I think for me there's someenergy there that just opens
your heart up and allows you toconnect.
Leslie (47:06):
I would definitely say there's something, I wouldn't
say something in the water, butit's definitely as we know, I
spent, I did have a lot ofreleasing of tension and
emotions.
At first it didn't feel okay tocry.
I mean, I was like, I can't evenget a dinner cause I'm so
embarrassed cause I've beencrying.
And by the end of it, I couldhave cried my face, I mean I was
(47:26):
crying my face off.
Leaving everybody.
Yeah.
Like you get to where I'm like,oh my God, these people must
think I'm the biggest freak onthe planet.
And then it was like, they don'tcare.
They did not care.
Like they totally fine with it.
They weren't like, there wasn'tany judgment for me being
emotional, which in my familyit's like show emotion and
Krista (47:45):
your judgment.
Leslie (47:46):
Yes.
We're not a big show emotionfamily, so that was really hard.
How's that?
How that working for you?
Yeah, seriously.
So I was not feeling comfortablethat first 12 hour.
But that was my own stuff.
Yeah.
Because they had a dog therethat anyway, a big animal lover
and I wanted to take it homewith me as usual.
(48:06):
So, being out on a boat is justhealing in and of itself.
And that water, yeah, thedolphins were icing on the cake,
but that wasn't transformationalfor me as much as throwing all
these people together and havingit work out so perfectly and
just the right balance ofactivity and rest.
Krista (48:27):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
The food was amazing cooked bythe sweetest woman.
And there's so much love putinto it.
Yeah.
The unsung
Leslie (48:35):
hero of Wild West.
Krista (48:37):
Also, one of the guests in one of the sharing circles
said, that this place restoresher faith in humanity and I
certainly
Leslie (48:46):
felt that
Krista (48:47):
because you walk in and you're with strangers and by the
end of it, each and every one ofthem has their own light and
level of happy and contributionand connectedness.
And everyone brings somethingwould you come back again?
Leslie (49:04):
You know, if you'd asked me that at the beginning of the
week, I would have said no.
And now I am open to it forsure.
Krista (49:10):
Yeah, it was amazing.
Leslie (49:12):
But, you know, my policy is the people make the place.
Krista (49:15):
Yeah any last thoughts?
Leslie (49:19):
No, just other than I was a skeptic and um, I'm still
unpacking a lot of stuff as Isaid, but I'm, I'm feeling the,
I'm feeling the vibe that it'sputting out.
Krista (49:30):
And does this help you understand and or believe that
we are all energy and there's aton of energy exchange that goes
on?
Yes, and that's not
Leslie (49:39):
really, I come from a family of medical doctors, so
Krista (49:42):
yeah,
Leslie (49:43):
that's not my problem.
Krista (49:46):
Just saying
Leslie (49:46):
the word vibe
Krista (49:47):
for you I think is a big leap too.
Yeah,
Leslie (49:50):
I know, I don't even know where that came from.
Krista (49:52):
I noticed it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Alright, thank you so much.
My pleasure.
My pleasure.
Thank you for joining us forthis episode of The Beginner's
Guide to the Third Eye.
For more information about theshow, visit our website
Beginners guide to the thirdeye.com.
(50:13):
For show inquiries, email us atGuide to the Third i@gmail.com
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