Spirit Quests

One of the ways I seek discernment is by listening to the insights of gifted psychic mediums. I don't regard these readings as absolute truth or unquestionable prophecy. Rather, I receive them as invitations—symbols, images, and possibilities to hold alongside my own intuition and experience.

Over time, I have found that meaningful guidance often emerges not from any single reading, but through the unexpected convergence of inner experience, synchronicities, relationships, and life itself.

What follows is one such journey.

It began unexpectedly in June 2022 and unfolded over the course of a year, eventually leading me to discover something I never anticipated: the spiritual home of my grandmother—a woman I barely remembered—and, through that discovery, a deeper understanding of my own spiritual lineage.

I share this story for several reasons. It is part of my own ongoing transformation. It is an invitation for others to pay attention to the subtle ways life sometimes speaks through coincidence, intuition, and relationship. And perhaps most importantly, it offers one person's experience of how meaning can emerge when we become willing to follow a thread whose destination we cannot yet see.

By the summer of 2023, I believed my dragon journey had come to its natural conclusion.

What had begun as an unexpected psychic reading had led me to rediscover my grandmother's spiritual home, the Gedatsu Spiritual Center in Sacramento. Along the way, I had encountered dragons in surprising places, learned about Benzaiten, and experienced a series of synchronicities that deepened my appreciation for my family's spiritual lineage.

I felt complete.

Then, during another reading with Tiffany, an unexpected message emerged.

She suggested that my journey with the dragon was not over.

Rather than speaking about my grandmother or the Gedatsu Church, she mentioned a place I had never heard of—a small island in Lake Biwa, Japan, called Chikubushima, home to Hogonji Temple.

She encouraged me to visit if the opportunity ever arose.

That was all.

No explanation.

No prediction.

Simply an invitation.

At the time, Chris and I had no plans to travel to Japan. Even if we eventually did, there were countless places I imagined we would visit before making our way to a small island in the middle of Japan's largest lake.

So I wrote the name in my journal and let it go.

Or so I thought.

Along with a friend, Elaine created this video for a panel discussion on the intergenerational effects of the Chinese Exclusion Act, which was held on April 11th.

CLICK HERE FOR ELAINE’S VIDEO

All images are original artwork and photography by Elaine Chan-Scherer and from Elaine's family archives. Music copyright Dionne Kohler "Beloved," 2024, "The Sun Rose," 2019, www.spiralmuse.band.

The full program, “What’s Your Real Name?”, can be seen from the link below. It was held on April 11th at the Clarion Performing Arts Center in Chinatown, SF. It featured an exciting intergenerational discussion about the impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and the historical political, and social context of our times which contributed to the formation of our identities.

CREATED IN 2019, “DEAR —” IS A LIVING ARCHIVE OF LETTERS & A CHAPBOOK ADDRESSING THEMES OF JUSTICE, ART-MAKING, AND INTERGENERATIONAL HEALING. GROUNDED IN EXPERIENCES OF THE WWII-ERA INCARCERATION OF THE JAPANESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY, “DEAR—” IS CURATED BY BRYNN SAITO IN COLLABORATION WITH DENSHO.

Densho, a Seattle-based grassroots organization, is dedicated to preserving, educating, and sharing the story of World War II-era incarceration of Japanese Americans in order to deepen understandings of American history and inspire action for equity. “Dear—” was also produced with the support of the Santa Fe Art Institute and the College of Arts and Humanities at California State University, Fresno.

Brynn Saito (she/her), MA, MFA, is the author of three books of poetry, most recently Under a Future Sky (Red Hen Press, 2023). A 2023 California Arts Council Individual Artist Fellow, Brynn is the winner of the Benjamin Saltman Award and a finalist for the Northern California Book Award. Brynn also co-authored with Traci Brimhall the poetry chapbook, Bright Power, Dark Peace (Diode Editions, 2016). She teaches in the Creative Writing program at California State University, Fresno, located on the traditional lands of the Yokuts and Mono peoples. Brynn is coediting with Brandon Shimoda an anthology of poetry written by descendants of the Japanese American/Nikkei incarceration, forthcoming in 2025 from Haymarket Books.

As an architect, graphic designer, modeler, storyteller, webmaster, and builder, I bring to life the mythic world of Cyclops. In plays, graphic novels, and architectural designs, an inner reality quite different from what we see takes shape in his presentation, The Shaman’s Doorway.

Framed as guided imagery, a story unfolds suggesting a way out of our present psychological and environmental deception––a tale that calls us back to hunter-gatherer basics, engagement with plant pharmacology, and the re-invention of Family to reconnect the circuit in our brain designed for play.

Presented as Fluxus Art, twelve video clips create a narrative that centers on expanding consciousness through family, education, and psychedelics. They describe a personal path of liberation that illustrates the pitfalls of political leadership and the possibility of a type of liberation that does not require leaders.

Don’s most recent piece is on “Futuristic Architectual Hospitality.” - CLICK HERE!

Peter Wenner retired from “Silicon Valley” and is diving into writing about history and music. Check out his work/art and perhaps, you’ll be inspired to a similar endeavor.

Writing history holds profound spiritual significance as it serves as a bridge between the past and present, allowing us to connect with the collective human experience. This act of documentation transcends mere recording of events, delving into the essence of human existence, struggles, triumphs, and wisdom. It invokes a sense of continuity and shared destiny, reminding us of the lessons learned and the values upheld by our ancestors. The spiritual dimension of writing history lies in its ability to evoke reflection, foster understanding, and inspire a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of all life. It is through this sacred endeavor that we honor the legacy of those who came before us and illuminate a path for future generations, enriching the human spirit and nurturing a sense of purpose and identity.