Spirit of Jasper - a real life gem in the heart of the Canadian Rockies

Maybe collective anguish has a bright side. 

A visionary’s bird's-eye view.

There is no place like home. This is certainly true, now more than ever. The jewel that is Jasper National Park holds an incredible community that is now displaced by a massive forest fire. We are collectively grieving the enormous devastation and loss of homes, hotels, gorgeous resort cabins that have been hosting guests for years and years, as well as other buildings that are now only an energetic fingerprint in our park. While rightly shaken by the loss of 30% of the town’s structures and the many layers of grief and emotion connected to them, the spirit of Jasper to me, lies in the energies of the land. These frequencies remain strong and intact (I might even dare to say maybe even a bit joyful and optimistic!).

If you have not yet met me or worked with me, I am Margo Bereska, a Jasper-born local, out-of-the-spiritual-closet psychic channel, medium, healer and spiritual freedom coach. I have worked intimately with small indigenous communities as well as many Jasper locals to assist in their personal development, seeing the silver linings behind the curtain of difficult times. Bringing clarity and holistic healing with a clear-seeing sight beyond the physical, and with a grounded sense of “woo” and a practical approach, I’m an expert seer with 46 years training in the anatomy of the spirit. I am the owner of Spirit of Jasper Retreats and co-owner of Heart Space Jasper. 

“Margo tells you what you need to hear, not always what you want to hear,” Patti Brososky said after attending a retreat last year, in Mexico.

Just over seven years ago, while experiencing the worst anguish Ian and I have ever known, Patti helped us out with a variance when we bought our home in Jasper. If Patti had not “felt” into our situation to bring a solution, we may not have been able to stay in Jasper. We always help each other out and find a way in our community, despite some of the tight rules of our precious national park.

Our envisioned duplex came into reality through the following of the heart, and holding trust in a dark time, even when it felt impossible to do so. Our home shared a wall with our neighbours, Mike and Cyndi, owners and angels :) of Evil Dave’s Restaurant. For the last seven years 724A Patricia Street has been the home to my husband and I, and then our rainbow twins who recently turned four. This house has held a plethora of emotional ups and downs. We have grieved and healed, rejoiced and created countless, wonderful memories. This property that has kept us safe and grounded in Jasper, is now a pile of rubble. Most of its contents were fortunately emptied, but my lotus town yoga bike, boxes of meaningful kids’ stuffies for the women’s shelter, and a few other things we did not have time to remove are now dust. The images of a flattened west end awaken a baffling reality.

The photo that confirmed the status of our home is bleak, mostly monochromatic in its burnt and ashy nature. The only colour comes from one of two red iconic Adirondack chairs that stands untouched on a patch of green grass, a bizarre testament to the symbolism of our park and the life it has preserved. The chair sits solidly amidst the furious fire’s bleak remnants. Our neighbours, who we adore, are a tight family that have also borne a few too many hard knocks. Go check their restaurant out on your next visit to Jasper! The food is not so much Evil, but delicious and delightful!

The day of our evacuation was the day before we were to hand over the keys to the new family. Our rooftop patio, with one of the best views in town, now currently awaits the rebuild by the new owners. We are truly so heartbroken for them. It has been an emotional rollercoaster ride for sure; we were so happy that our home would be appreciated by another local-born and young couple Brian and Jess Groth. Their business burned down a few years ago. And now they’re home and business again. What a difficult situation for them.

In our own time of deep grief seven years ago, mourning the loss of our stillborn son Olivier, we were graced by the generosity of countless people and even strangers; people reached out to help or send a kind word. Home made cookies were passed over the patio, or a bottle of wine left to soften the blow. Now it is our turn to give back where we can.

I am attaching a few Go Fund Me accounts close to my heart as well as the Jasper community link. It is so hard to highlight given the extent of loss.

“Dear God, give me the grace to accept that which I cannot change and the power to know the difference of what I can.” Beyond the “I” is a WE, much greater than me. That I have come to know. The energy that keeps me awake and accompanies my human journey is a clear connection to the unseen realm.

I believe in Grace. This is the middle name of our rainbow daughter Sofia. She and her brother Austin arrived alive in our arms after twenty years of lost pregnancies and two babies immediately sent to heaven. Grace: a non-judgemental, unconditional force that I have allowed consciously into my life amongst some of the most difficult plot twists. When nothing made sense or when nothing felt fair, grace has got me through. As I deeply trust the voice of grace, I find time and time again I can search for the patch of green grass, the silver lining, that rainbow, usually after the storm. In times of despair my heart reaches higher to get through, to get up and keep going.

I do not bypass grief as some unevolved form of victimization or martyrdom, but rather as a deep evolution necessary for the evolution of humanity. Fierce and troubled, dark and stormy, fiery and layered, the intensity of it all often lasts much longer than we want it to. It changes our brain, our path and, if left unattended, our personality as well.

We are Gods with feelings.

Although I am a very optimistic person, and a powerful manifestor, with a bold personality, I am also very “real” as to what it is to be fully human. I stand solid and soar in the resilience of grace. I remain clear as a passenger in the seat of life, a messenger in times of hardship as well as celebration. A walking transmuter, conduit and deeply compassionate, untamed spirit. That is my brand.

Nature’s Clock

You don’t have to be psychic to predict nature’s wild and sometimes destructive ways. Although I had no idea of what was about to go down, how or exactly when, I did feel a deep sense that it was time to go.

As I passionately teach, I always follow my gut, no matter how uncomfortable, and I deeply trust the moves that often make little sense logically. Even when others don't agree. That is my brand. I am Margo.

For a while now, we have all been aware that our “Gem in the Rockies” would be at huge risk of a big fire due to the dying, dead parts of dry forest surrounding our homes. BUT nothing prepares you emotionally, mentally or physically for the pain, grief and loss that has now made its mark on our town and park. Like any precious gem, the intensity of holding back the pressure for too long can make it crack or even have a piece fall off. We knew the forest desperately needed rejuvenation, a renewal of life to restore the flora and fauna, a huge fire facilitating the needs of nature.

This does not take away the deep layers of pain, anguish, uncertainty, fear, or trauma of our recent collective experience, especially for those who have lost everything. Soul family is connected.

The massive 300 foot fire wall that took out 30% of Jasper’s homes and businesses is a miracle in itself, to me. This dramatic loss affects 100% of the community and everyone who has ever felt the potent love and magic that Jasper holds. To battle nature’s will is a feat. With a hell of a lot of superhero power from first responders, some of the town’s most crucial structures to house a community still stand. The greatest anguish is clearly held by those who lost their belongings, keepsakes, treasures and valuables. Or their 24 year old son, the hero that sacrificed not only the clothing he wore, but his life. I have seen this affect so many. Those of us that have roots there, or who fell in love immediately with this precious place and made it home are certainly feeling the grit of the wound. I am grateful for every single action, recently and over the years, taken to protect our park. Nature’s plan is harsh sometimes. It just is.

When we look to blame, go deeper.

As a seer of the unseen, with a good eye for truth, I have a unique bond with the spirit of Jasper. It has shown me so much over the years, working intimately with many individuals from all walks of life in Jasper. And there are the things that most people might not really believe if I told you. From employees of Parks to CN, hospital and emergency dispatch, lawyers and people who work closely with municipality, it is often behind the scenes that I have witnessed more than a few shifts and transformations that some may call angelic - frequently with a fiery energy, and sometimes with a gentle nurture. Sometimes words, sometimes silence.

For about two years now I have been consciously doing the work to unplug energetically from the purpose that called me home, and the energy of my birthplace. There’s joy in my soul for the story of completion, the renewal, release and embracing of uncomfortable change. All this to clear some emotional ties, address my own shadows and consciously detach from our dream home, full of everything I loved. It was the the perfect design, with precision carpentry. Our prized spa guest suite was a vision I held for years. The house was a vision to represent a life of wellness, from the basement up.

Our home was filled with too many sparkly shoes for a hiking village, and boxes of sparkly trinkets, and many special gifts, including stuffed animals in celebration of the arrival of our twins. Whether in loss or celebration, our small community reached out big time with food, money, gifts and so much love. Jasper held us through the sorrows of our stillbirth with Olivier and in the joy of our two rainbow babies.

These are all the things that DO matter. Luckily, we had the luxury to decide. What to keep and what to release. So for those that don't have the chance to reclaim the jewels of your history, we feel you.

In 2022 we decided to heed the call to take our kids out of our exceptional Wildflowers Daycare. We travelled back to Mexico where I had lived for ten years. After my spiritual awakening, which was a loud wake-up call that steered me home, I began to see the interwoven connections we all share. It was as if I could see and re-live the history of Jasper in a sense. I got to know some of the spirits that still love to visit Jasper, ones who choose to reside there in spirit, and many of the ancestors that abundantly hang out in Jasper. I got to know the more ethereal ones that I call Jasper’s perma-angels, and the spirits that live in the trees, or the more voracious ones who still visit and frequent the local bars, or deceased loved ones who sit on dedicated benches in the downtown or around our lakes and trails.

If you’ve ever experienced the incredible gift of a boat tour on Maligne Lake, you know well, the unseen “energy” of the gateway to the Gods, home of the infamous Spirit Island. As a deep feeler, I can say that I’ve never been able to hold back heart-opening tears in this potent portal that is a profoundly active with Spirit. You know.

The spirit of Jasper holds intense energies of transformation, even in times of destruction. It has served many settlers and thrived for centuries. As a matter of fact, as I have remotely viewed Jasper daily for the last few weeks with psychic vision, I can say the forest is actually quite tickled for its new makeover. The night I played flute music as we all tried to sleep knowing what was going down, I asked Jasper what percent would be damaged and got a very clear answer. I could see what was happening and I knew what areas were most impacted. So now here we are. Jasper as we know it. Is different. She is a strong gem. It's why so many people visit every year, the pull is a force. The boomerang effect, it brings ya back. Or keeps you for a while.

It is the people who are the ones that tend to the generous land, who hold the hard emotions right now, and rightfully so. She doesn't often ask for much back. So as she restores her beauty and holds herself in great ability to do so this collective aura will also heal, and renew. Even strengthen in time.

For as long as I have been able to feel and see, Jasper has been at the core of vibrational healing, self-discovery and empowerment. Jasper does not allow you to push much under the rocks of her majesty, rather she holds and takes what is hard. She takes the ouches and turns them into a river afloat with giggles and laughs; she is home to the water-benders in her rivers. She teaches us to stand tall and proud, beaming in her exquisite beauty. She says that her beauty will change and that gold is coming. She simply has a timeline, where the spirit of manpower and teams will help her along. Her spirit can hold you, and everyone that has left their footprint on her majestic heart of emerald, blues and greens. Peacocks show up, to make a noise and leave a lasting imprint in a place where bears and coyote roam.

When I was guided to hold off on hosting Harvest Moon retreat this October at the Iconic Jasper Park Lodge, it was clear she was pressing the pause button for now. Jasper knows best, and tells us what we need to know and teaches us how to “tune in” and listen. So you can bet that for our next retreat, something spectacular is coming…

For now, amongst all the torment of draining emotions and disbelief, the coming together is here, where we can share our experiences and hold each other. Speak openly for whatever is true for you and us. Everyone has a voice. This is the energy needed to keep the link to our human spirit intact. This is a phase of pain and loss for so many. For the homes that stand, and that hold the essence of Jasper, we must hold strong for those who have lost everything. Continue to open your homes, your hearts and your thoughts in alignment with the healing energy and the passionate will to rebuild. Remember to take in her beauty and potency often. Remember to be held by her healing powers. What you appreciate, appreciates. With the correct lens, even destruction is beautiful.

So from the spirit of Jasper that remains intact, we hold our hands in the shadows, through the days, months and years that it will take to rebirth the physical part of our boomerang-shaped town. It will not be the same, as I so ignorantly said a few weeks ago to a friend. Although I am sad to leave, Jasper will remain the same. Just maybe not the "same" though, as it seems.

But, what if it was "better"? What if change is good? What if we can see the bright side of the blade? Right now, Jasper needs "us" - a harmony of two halves as a whole. In spirit, the rebirth is already done. So keep envisioning your outcome. Why? Because it works.

In an unprecedented and unexpected departure for the Sheldon-Bereska family, with a rapid heartbeat and a fire under my ass, I drove away from our park in flames, and deep smoke took over the mountains. In the rear view mirror, as our rock "giants" disappeared, I spit out my first blog in ages in dedication to my birthplace. I have released deep, deep roots to relocate them and plant anew. The source of my power is my spirit. The source of my roots, The Spirit Of Jasper, which remains boldly intact. We are ready for a makeover and some collective healing to restore what "was" and to hold what "is".

Maybe destruction has a purpose after all. It puts a fire under our ass, and revolutionizes the meaning of natural order to bring change, and bring us closer in compassion, to foster growth in times of anguish. To make big space for the power of Grace. To give back. To truly discover the healing powers of Jasper. To be held. In trust of her emerald wisdom.

#Wearethemountains

With so much love,