Journey to the Center of the Universe at Vidette Lake
People call it the Center of the Universe but a more fitting description would be a place where people can go to get centered in the Universe. Called the place of life by the area's First Nations people who acknowledge it as an ancient native spiritual site, this grassy knoll became a popular as a Buddhist place of pilgrimage in 1980 when a man dressed in white robes arrived at Vidette Lake in Deadman Valley claiming to have found the Center of the Universe. The apprentice monk from San Francisco had been sent there by his master teacher who had pointed to a location on a map claiming it to be the spot. The apprentice conducted a series of tests which produced positive results thus clearing the way for his Master Teacher’s visit.
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Along with his entourage of followers, the Master completed his tests proclaiming the top of a grassy knoll overlooking Vidette Lake to be the real deal. Monks believe that the Center of the Universe is an area where power lines intersect and one can find peace, or get centered, hence the name. A number of markers were used to identify the area: it needed to be shaped like the prow of a ship and sloping to the South and supernatural occurrences like hearing the sound of singing and seeing fire with no source of ignition must also take place.
The site is part of the Vidette Lake Resort, a small wilderness resort. How Ray Stad came to be the ckeeper of this mystical property is a magical story. Years prior to purchasing the property, his partner at the time, Ruth Edwards clipped out images of the life she wanted to create and pasted them to a dream board. At the bottom corner of the board she pasted a picture of the view of Vidette Lake from the Center of the Universe. She had no idea where the picture had been taken, she just liked it. A few years later she received a phone call from a friend telling her to check out a resort that was for sale. Her and Ray purchased the resort but it wasn’t until a year later that Ruth realized it was the same place from her dream board. When visiting the site it is best to call ahead and request a private tour from Ray Stad. Having been the keeper of this sacred place for a number of years he regales his guests with tales of healers from around the world who have made the pilgrimage to the site, interesting hidden mysteries along the trail and rituals involved with visiting the site. On the way from the road to the site, be sure to stop and hug Larry the Healing Tree. A healer named Larry pointed the tree out to Ray during a visit advising Ray that hugging the tree for 20 minutes a day could cure any ailments one might have. From there you reach the portal stone whereupon it is best to remove your shoes in order to better connect with the earth’s energy. After walking around the stone five times in a clockwise direction, one enters the site where they first come across some Tibetan prayer flags hung by Buddhists. It is believed that as the wind blows the flags, the prayers said unto them make their way into the Universe to be answered. Next one can walk to Turtle Rock and place their feet in the footholds and meditate allowing the sites energy to heal them. The site is also a native holy site and Turtle rock was named by the native people of the area. Before leaving the site, be sure to visit the altar and leave an offering. Previous guests have left such offerings as a card blessed by the Dalai Lama, a cufflink with a red cross left by a Swiss doctor and a bracelet from a Canadian soldier who had served in Afghanistan. The electromagnetic energy of the area is most likely a result of the mineral content. Gold, silver and copper veins were known to prospectors as early as 1898. However, active development did not take place until 1931, and following 335 meters of underground exploration and development, the Vidette Lake Gold Mine was put into production in 1933. Between 1933 and May 1939, the mine produced a total of 1449 kilograms of silver, 929 kilograms of gold, and 43,825 kilograms of copper and 161 kilograms of lead. It was this mine that provided jobs to many Kamloops men during the Great Depression. |
Hugging Larry the Healing tree
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A Tibetian prayer flag at the Center of the Universe
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Vidette Lake
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Offerings left behind on the altar at the Center of the Universe
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Teresa the Traveler, Yvette and Ray Stad at the Center of the Universe
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HOW TO GET THERE...
From Kamloops travel west on Hwy 97. After 50 Km turn right on Deadman Creek Road. Follow this road for 50km and you are at Vidette Lake Gold Mine Resort. For more information visit www.videttelake.com or call 1-866-Vidette |
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