Community

Travelling to Puno is a beautiful but long drive so to break it up a bit we stop at Raqchi to  balance our feminine and masculine energies, come into alignment and spin off all of our guilt.  It’s quite a powerful ceremony ending up in one of the 365 stone cylinders built for different prayers for every day of the year.  Raqchi was a huge temple where thousands of people once gathered.  In a group what happens to one happens to all, but after all day in a van together each person was to find their own space and go within.  Everyone’s process affects everyone else’s!  We are however, a very tightly knit group.

We stopped in a farmer’s field to have a quick picnic, feed the farmer and a random passer by before continuing on the road.  Eventually we arrived at Tinanjani with offerings of bread for Cezarico the grandfather teacher of Roberto’s teacher Victor.  Unfortunately he was out of town but we stood amongst the stone formations in the fading evening light discussing our fears and how we manifest and process them.  

I was having a strange sensation of San Pedro Medicine since I was getting creeped out about the thought of taking it there because of all the mountain spirits looming over us in every stone.  And at the same time, it intrigues me to give it a go! We discussed how we sometimes let fear stop us from doing things, and how we invent that kind of fear in our own minds.

We eventually made it to Puno stopping for dinner where we were graced with live music and local dances.  Waking up in our lakeside hotel was splendid as the sky was clear bright blue with a stunning turquoise and blue Lake Titicaca spreading out below.  There was a PARO happening (where they close the roads across the whole country) so we changed our Sillustani plans to go out on the Lake instead.

We had a boat to ourselves and Roberto was talking about the floating communities called Uros.  After the big flood, Lake Titicaca was the birthplace of our humanity and the first civilisations were the floating islands.  He talked about community “comunidad, como uno,” Como Uno means Like One.  Community, Come Into Unity.  We all went on top of the boat to connect with the energy of the lake but I think we all pretty much passed out in the hot sun, As One!

On one of the Uros Islands we were invited into their homes and Paivi and Dawn even dressed up in the local costumes.  I was in my usual horizontal position splayed out on the reeds feeling my energy spiralling up through me.  We got back on the boat and went to another island for the freshest fish ever and fried cheese.  Lake Titicaca energy is very intense anyway but I was also still processing realisations from the night before.  I have no idea why we stopped in town, but there was a big festival going on and lots of dancers in the streets.  

At dinner Roberto publicly complimented my Spanish and not only how I have been translating constantly but how I am able to translate the vibration of what he is saying so it really allows him to teach at a deeper level.  I was very pleased to hear this, and privileged to be able to rise to the occasion because I am far from fluent!  Words are energy and I think many times this group is understanding what Roberto says before I translate it!

Today we managed to go to Sillustani despite the PARO as it doesn’t seem to be that serious down here.  Sillustani is an interesting place filled with stone cylinders that were graves for the dead but they would leave one block open facing the east so the sun would shed light on their journey.  Amazingly a guard gave Roberto permission to go inside the biggest one and the rest of the group went with him with offerings of coca leaves, reverence and letting go of anything that would not help them further on their path of service.  

From sweltering hot sunshine the mood shifted in a moment to cold windy sprinkles of rain and we found ourselves having another condor moment on the edge of a stone on a cliff over the gorgeous lake with the flat topped island in the middle of it.  That sure blew the cobwebs away!  When one person is having a condor moment, all of us are having it with them. It is exhilarating in the practice of it, but a little nerve wracking to watch!  

The condor is about higher vision, being able to see the bigger picture but with clear sight on all the details.  It is also about trust and surrender, knowing that when we step out into the abyss, our wings will carry us.  How would it be if our ‘wings’ were our community?  

My lovely group tonight were definitely my wings allowing me my own process, I’m sure they will all benefit from my own healing. My healing is their healing.  I toast them all, with both hands and lots of love.

Sacred Retail Therapy

Today was pretty much spent in deep connection with the Spirit of Retail!  We have a gift giving ceremony at the end of every trip and much of today was spent shopping for others. It is a lovely focus to think about individual people and what might be a really great gift for them.  Some of us have only known each other for a very short time so we have had to use our intuition and get connected to our feelings of each person travelling with us.

We joke about it being Sacred shopping, but actually it is.  When you are in alignment with your highest self you are in connection with God... and God clearly loves to peruse the markets!  Some of our group members did all their Christmas shopping today.  Paivi's colourful hat was surely the best buy of the day.

We were pretty chilled out because God also loves to dance all night at the disco for Cusquenans!  I take my passengers to the Peruvian disco because it is such a different atmosphere than the touristic nightclubs, of which there are plenty in Cusco.  Cusco has a great night life and we were treated to a hilariously fun late night with our shaman Roberto, his lovely brother Rene and their teacher Victor.  

Roberto collected us at 11:30 and took us to a karaoke bar where people sat at tables and passed a microphone around to whoever’s song came up next on the screens that were strategically placed around the bar.  No preparation, no stage, no warning, just ‘here’s the mic, now sing!’  Neither Dawn nor I had ever sung in a karaoke bar and I am sure we are glad it was a random one somewhere in Cusco for our first appearance!  

Victor had a way of toasting his Pisco sour drink every ten minutes or so which meant everyone at the table had to toast and have a drink.  This went on for some time...eventually we went to the disco.  Peruvians are very tactile.  Everyone dances with everyone, I felt my six weeks of Ceroc dancing in Brighton had really paid off as it was very easy to follow all the spinning around and different varieties of dance steps.  

During one of the many continued toasts all night, we asked why they toast holding the glass with both hands and Roberto said, “You don’t hug someone with one arm, that is just giving part of yourself, when you toast, you toast with all of yourself.”  We liked that.  I managed to make my one caipirina last all night topping it up with Sprite which seems to be my saviour from alcohol here.  These Peruvians eat big and drink fuerte (strong), neither of which any of us do so we were all feeling a bit challenged.

The three singing shamans walked us home at 4:30 in the morning pausing while we stopped to hug an ancient wall, as one must do under the moon and stars in the deserted streets of Cusco in the early hours.  We were like giggling teenagers and recounting the stories today while shopping was Divine.

In Peru it is very easy to find a sense of the sacred almost everywhere you look as it is so integrated into the culture here.  Nature is sacred for a start, but singing, laughing and dancing are so fundamental to your health.  Nourishing your soul, by gifting yourself and others is also a wonderful way to tap into your own joyous abundance and honour the people you love.  So get out there and discover the sacred in your delicious cup of perfect coffee, the energy of an ancient stone wall, a fabulous hat or simply in a random karaoke bar.  Whatever makes you smile inside is indeed Sacred. 

Privilege versus Pride

I am way overdue for a blog as we have been on the road and without connectivity.  We travelled the extremely scenic 8 hour mountain ride to Vilcabamba which is not on the tourist trail at all...yet.  Most mornings over breakfast Roberto passes on his wisdom to us about one theme or another, this particular phase of the trip was loaded!  

Vilcabamba is a pre-Incan temple and we had one of the most beautiful despacho ceremonies there I have ever had.  Everyone unwrapped three of the packages containing spices or sweets or incense and Roberto channelled the messages each person needed to receive.  It was so moving and spot on!  He and I were working together and so deeply connected telepathically, it was quite intense!  This is a very evolved group and everyone is receiving all the messages beautifully and with open hearts.  It is truly such a blessing to be travelling with this allyu (family).

 

A beautiful double rainbow appeared for all of us and it was probably one of the most vibrant spray of colours I have ever seen!  Roberto said when the seven masters of the universe come they appear as a rainbow.  I love that connection.  Beyond the temple is an amazing giant rock that is believed to have been carved to represent the alien spaceship that came before it.  The rock is not from that area and it does indeed have a very different kind of feeling to it!  We all laid on it, meditating.  I leaned my head back onto a dragon fly which was alarming, but also such a great message as dragon flies are the bringers of light!

We ended the day hiking down the mountain in the dark which has to happen at least once on a trip in Peru!  Later that evening over dinner I was telling the story of learning how to hula hoop for the first time in my life and that I was really proud of this!  Roberto told me that the word “Orgullo” (pride) although used by thousands of people about a variety of things really comes from ego because it is about one, whereas Privilege comes from a place of service.  It doesn’t really translate in English, but the essence of the word can be felt.  If I say I feel privileged to have finally learned to hula hoop, that feels much cleaner than feeling proud of myself.  In fact, as we travel along these dusty Peruvian trails, experiencing all sorts of challenges, both physical and mental, all quite emotional, we really DO feel privileged to be in this space, connected to nature, having all our stuff stirred up so we can heal.  It IS a privilege.  It is a privilege to face our truths even if they make us feel sad.

How may people go through life completely missing their own truth?  How many are lost to their deepest expression of joy, or finding their true gift?  How many people THINK they know who they are but really have no idea because they have not been awakened to their highest self?  How many people are living the lives their parents wanted them to, or living the life they think they are expected to live, or living the life they think they should so others won’t judge them?  Pride is something to be examined.

Find what makes you privileged.  Here in Peru it is the simple things that count, connection to nature, hearing a river, feeling the warmth of a fire.  Roberto talked about the academics, intellectuals and scientists who think they know so much, but can they touch any of their thoughts?  Can they feel any of their thoughts?  Can any of their thoughts help them actually enjoy life?  We are human, we are given life to live on an earth that is abundantly alive, why do we cover it with cement?  Why do we question everything when all we need to do is go outside and simply BE.

The Incans had no cell phones, money, or prison.  They worked on exchange.  They trusted each other.  They helped each other.  Where has the AYNI (reciprocity) of the world gone?

Vilcabamba was rather rustic.  My group was cool about that.  In ten years time there will probably be wonderful hotels there and ropes forbidding you to enter and touch nature like the rest of Peru is suffering from the National Institution of Culture’s robbing of the magic from the history here.  

From Vilcabamba, where we had the best food of the entire trip so far thanks to Agata’s fantastic culinary skills, we headed back to Ollanta to collect our bags and then on to Cusco.  I had intended to blog the night we arrived in a lovely hotel with hot water and wifi, but by the time I’m crawling into bed I can barely keep my eyes open!  We do pack it in on these trips!

We had our first full day in Cusco yesterday exploring the beautiful sites of Sacsaywaman, Q’enco and Tambomachay with our lovely shaman Adriel who totally has the balance right of taking the work seriously but making light of ourselves.  Today he took us to Tipon, the magical site of the sacred water and we had a lovely despacho ceremony there before he cleansed us with ruda (rue plants) and the sacred water.  I gave everyone Bands of Power which is a beautiful gift.  Then we made our way to the channels of water and cleansed our mesa stones.  

Later after a wonderful lunch we made our way back into Cusco and met up with Santiago, a very gifted Altomesayok shaman who called in the mountain spirits (Apus) for us.  This was a particularly moving experience as four of us were called up to the table in the dark and had their hands on us, infusing us with healing and more strength and power.  It was a delicious ceremony.  I love Santiago’s mesa and I love the Apu’s who are so supportive and loving to me.  I feel extremely privileged to be in contact with this angelic realm and to be part of the heritage of Peru, once again.

Sacred Seven

Sacred Seven

Here we are in Machu Picchu and the philosophy is easy: Three bodies, physical, mental and emotional.  There is not a difference between them, they all function together. One is not more important than the other, they all function together.  Four elements, earth, air, fire and water.  Become in alignment with your three bodies and four elements and then you are on the right track.  It’s simple.

When you are in alignment you are in a place of giving and receiving love.  As it is above, it is below.  That’s called yanantin-masintin and in Machu Picchu they have carved stones to reflect the mountains to symbolise heavenly connection.

Today we had the universe on our side weather wise with perfectly clear skies and sunshine all day.  We found another way to “fly” in the Crystal Temple, upside down and it was really cool, everyone had a go and it was clear to see how many limitations had dissolved in this first week of travel. Beautiful.

For those of you who know I have been searching for the whale stone, la balena, well, we finally found it thanks to Roberto and Cristian and we had a very intense ceremony there with llamas holding space for us and clearly doing yoga!

Finally a trip to the hot springs which was more crowded than I have ever seen it, but it soon cleared out and I was able to “float” my group with Watsu, a wonderfully relaxing experience.  Roberto made up his own version to float me and it was heavenly.

An early start in the morning takes us back to Ollanta before we begin our journey to Vilcabamba.  I may be out of touch for a few days, not sure if there will be any connection there!

If you are not in a place of love you are not in alignment with your three bodies.  Self forgiveness is the most important thing you can do.  All of our thoughts travel out into the universe, love yourself, love others, accept and forgive, live in the moment, be kind and be honest.  Seven sacred life lessons filled with Incan energy from the magical citadel of Machu Picchu.

Giving Back

Giving Back

It seems so much of the world as we know it is striving to “make it”, looking after ourselves and doing what we can to get ahead in the world.  How many people do you know who  actually “give back”?  Yes, people donate to charities, that’s good, but do they ever see where their money is really going?  How do you give back?  

In Peru AYNI means right thought, right love and right action.  Do you share your knowledge with the world?  Do you help strangers?  Do you forgive yourself and others?  A few days ago we went to Urubamba market to buy supplies for the kitchens that we support.  Each group had a list of things they needed to buy: Dawn and I had vegetables, Susie and Cristian had spices, Paivi and Glendi had chicken and pulses and Carlos and David had all the fruits.  

It was great fun perusing the markets for the right ingredients and we had big bags and an envelope of money and the rest was pretty much winging it!  Who knew cauliflowers could be so HUGE!  Dawn and I had the longest list and ended up buying more bags until we finally had eight bags between us.  We also stopped so Dawn could buy some footballs for the schools.

Eventually we all reunited and took all the supplies up to the first school in Rumira where the children sang songs for us.  I have done this a number of times so my tears don’t tend to flow as much as they used to as it is a very moving experience.  We proceeded high up the mountain to T’astayoc where the children still wear their original orange and red ponchos and hats.  They are so loving and greeted us with hugs and kisses and helped us carry all the supplies across the fields to their school.  

They decked us with flowers from the greenhouses and we enjoyed see-sawing and helping prepare the wonderful food that they cook under ground.  I would really love to bring corporate groups here for team-building a greenhouse over two days.  Making a difference first hand is a completely wonderful experience and touches you more deeply than simply writing a cheque.  10% of my trips’ cost goes towards supporting these schools kitchens and greenhouses so I like to bring my groups up to see where their money is going.  Everyone had the most fantastic day.

Later that same day we descended back into Ollantaytambo and climbed up to the temple.  Cristian is by far the best guide I have ever had the pleasure of exploring Ollanta with a group.  I have been there so many times and never heard many of the wonderful stories he shared with us.  He was born and raised there and recounted much of his childhood experiences.  When Cristian speaks, magic happens.  In fact when Roberto speaks, magic happens, and when Freddi speaks, magic happens.  We are so blessed.

We all went to dinner together and then went to our friends bar and stayed there until quite late.  Sacred healing comes in all forms!  The next day we went up the mountain to Antanuca where our San Pedro Shaman Freddi was waiting for us.  San Pedro is a beautiful sacred plant medicine, cactus based and it connects you to all there is.  We made individual despachos (offerings) putting our prayers into them while we waited for the medicine to take effect.  Then we put on our warmies and went outside of the sacred circle to begin the purging process.  It is different every time.  

The moon was high in the sky and there was mostly cloud cover which was surprisingly okay because it made the lighting so cool and gave a background for spirits and Beings to appear where they might not be so visible if all the stars were taking all of our attention.  We saw some stars, but the night was with the mountain.  Four of us had lost our mothers recently so we called in their spirits.  Freddi told us his mother had said, “Love God above all else and you will always be happy in this moment.”

It touched my heart so profoundly because it really is THAT SIMPLE.  We are born connected and knowing this, then somehow we get shut down and some people never get to re-remember this.  Those of us who do, realise we have always known it, always understood there is another way of being; connected to the earth, connected to spirit, always trusting we are part of God, One with the Universe.  

There was drumming and fabulous instruments that made the coolest sounds and because of the cloud cover the night was surprisingly warm, still cold, but not ridiculously freezing as it usually is!  I danced around the circle, and with the fire, and sang a few songs for everyone.  In the morning Carlos and Cristian prepared breakfast for us, wonderful fried egg and cheese sandwiches and fruit and yogurt on a table with a white lace tablecloth!  Perfect.

Now we are in Machu Picchu. 

Earlier we walked to the butterfly house and then to the orchid sanctuary.  Tomorrow is an early start so we can make it to the sunrise in the citadel.  We will be trailing coca leaves with us to leave as offerings for the mountain spirits.  Now it’s time for prayers and sleep.  Praying keeps you in touch with spirit....staying connected with spirit keeps you happy in every moment.

Divine Respect in Pisac

Divine Respect in Pisac 

I don’t know how many times I have actually been to Pisac, all lovely experiences because it is such a beautiful sacred mountain with so many wonderful temples, but today was by far the most profound experience I have ever had there.  It might have even been one of the most important moments I have ever had in Peru!

Every time I come here I say, “This is the best trip ever!” because it just keeps getting better and better and this time is no different.  I have a very small group but it is like travelling with family, and as ever by day three we have all bonded profoundly, shifted incredible amounts, shared laughter, tears, secrets and important realisations.

There are no accidents.  There are no coincidences.  Divine Timing is exactly that; Divine because it is perfect in the timing, deliverance and reception of the ultimate gift that is bestowed.  Whatever challenges have come before are perfect in our preparation for what is to come.  And then THE moment comes; the great “Aha”, the Internal Shift, the Willing Surrender, the Perfect Answer, the Condor Soaring.  Magic.

This morning over breakfast we talked about love.  It is the uniting energy of all life.  We need to surrender to that love force.  People think it is the weak who surrender, but you must be at your greatest strength to fully surrender.  Roberto pointed out that the stones in Pisac and every Incan site are not held together with any cement. They are simply cuddled up next to each other providing a purpose for the other; strength, support, and the adjoining wall mirrors that.  The walls are built to integrate with nature showing respect for the forms that are already there.  These structures have stood for hundreds of years and withstood many earthquakes, yet buildings held together with cement fall apart.  He used this as an analogy for relationships built on attachment (ie: some kind of motivational glue like fear, neediness, loneliness, money, children) but when the grounding is rocked the relationship falls apart.  If people came together with unconditional liberated love, respecting the other person as they already are, they would remain united through every challenge.

Today’s first theme in Pisac was to connect with our ancestors and continue our self healing. This, for me was unlike any experience I have ever had in this process (I connect with my ancestors often).  It was the most profound homecoming at a cellular level, complete with electrical sensations pulsing through my body and absolutely clear images of the faces of my ancestors who were me; who are me because we are all One, and no, I was not experiencing any plant medicine of any kind during this fundamental understanding at a physical level.  Totally WOW.

We then proceeded along the winding path, up and down ancient steps, to arrive at another altar this one seriously edgy!  We didn’t step out onto this one, but sat comfortably back to project our energy out and receive the wind life force into our souls and connect once again with the condor.  I sat as far back as possible with my knees bent over the vertical edge and leaned my torso almost flat against my thighs with my arms open.  I closed my eyes and became the condor....I was flying.  It was so excellent.  Eventually I felt a tug at the back of my trousers.  Roberto had come up behind me to just hold on, protecting me, knowing that the invitation from spirit to fly comes in a breath with the greatest temptation...

Other group members were having their own magical epiphanies.  It was a divine commemorating moment for all of us, each in our own space yet completely connected.

The rest of the day continued with succinct answers, absolute hilarity, delicious food, exquisite shopping and perfect chocolate.  We know our ancestors are celebrating that divinity. Respect! 

Self Healing

We all have the power to heal ourselves, just as we all have the power to attract illness and misfortune into our lives.  What we don’t seem to realise is how unconscious we have become.  Our senses have become dulled and our inner clarity has become distracted.  

Carlos recounted his childhood to us here in Ollantaytambo when there was still no electricity and they lived by candle light.  They always used to go fishing at night with nets and they could easily see in the dark.  Once electricity came to the town and he got used to having lights on, he gradually lost his ability to see in the dark.

Our humanity has lost its ability to connect with the earth and remember who we really are; not just human shells, but an exquisite composition of our physical bodies, our spiritual bodies and our psychological bodies mixed in a potent concoction with the four elements of earth, air, water and fire.

Today was about honouring the Pachamama and healing our physical bodies, the earth element.  We started the day with a lovely breakfast all together at our hotel choosing Medicine Woman cards to help us set our intentions for the day and let the learning begin!  We then went to Urubamba market to buy fruits and flowers for our despacho (offering) the the earth at Moray.

Moray is a series of meteorite created holes in the earth which have been terraced for farming different varieties of corn.  Seven terraces in each with their own eco system due to the brilliant Incan drainage system.  We were not permitted to enter our usual temple because of the high volume of tourists and this made me sad because I felt the guards have lost sight of spirit because of the sickness of money. As per every "trigger" a deep conversation ensued.

We hiked to a less frequented spot and had a beautiful ceremony creating an infinity spiral on the floor with our flowers and fruit offering our prayers to the earth and inviting ourselves to receive healing from her nurturing energy.  There was a giant heart shaped cloud above our circle the whole time.  Once this process was finished we entered the spiral and had a deep meditative healing journey.

This is one of my favourite ceremonies because it is so conscious, moving, healing and connective.  Afterwards we hiked out and had a picnic in a scenic spot on the way to the salt flats.  Before shimmying along the narrow salt path, we connected with the spirit of the condor in a strong windy altar.  This was edgy stuff, standing on a ledge with arms spread allowing the wind to hold us in place, with Roberto’s trusted force right behind us of course!

The hike down the salt flats allowed group members to share personal life stories, as walking does have a tendency to unite people.  Once back at our hotel, our friendly Alicia brought her gorgeous jewellery and now of course my girls are decked in Peruvian silverware!

We enjoyed a lovely dinner out followed by a fire ceremony and a trip to the bar to try some sacred ‘te macho’, a medicinal healing drink in itself.  We’ve had a full day of self healing in a variety of ways, and now for the most essential part, "dulce suenos" sweet dreams.

Soul Home

Peru simply IS the most magical place.  I don’t know why it still continues to amaze me as it truly is like coming home, a sense of place and belonging like I have only felt well, at home!  So it begs the question where is your home?  I am not speaking literally, but rather more profoundly inside yourself.  Where is your comfort, your self nourishment, where do you belong with yourself? What is essential to your soul?

I certainly do not belong in Lima, and despite all the ecological opposition I cannot WAIT for an international airport to be built in Cusco! That would enable us to simply come here, to the ‘Cosco’, the center, and BE in the total splendor of this magnificent energy and these beautiful people.  The transition of sluggish travel detail to embraced with loving energy and emotion was immediate upon being met by our wonderful team, Carlos, Roberto and Cristian at the airport.

After introductions and gifting (already!) we were whisked off to Chinchero to soak up the wool dyeing and weaving demo and revel in the festival of The Native Virgin in front of the gorgeous old church with wall murals hundreds of years old.  There were dancers in full costume and families picnicking, music, flags, and generally fabulous displays in the welcoming atmosphere. What a treat!

We walked down to the stunning huaca (sacred power place) and had an earthing, self healing ceremony laying on the grass in the sunshine under the perfect blue sky.  I thought I might have to leave my group there as no one seemed to be moving for quite some time.

Eventually we made it to Ollantaytambo and had very welcome food and the local cerveza (beer) before arriving at our lovely hotel.  After all the travails of everyone and their bags actually getting to Lima in the first place we were all feeling somewhat sleep deprived so we all said goodnight.  I am guessing my lovely group all unpacked and went to sleep.

I sat out under the stars by the fire talking to Roberto (our wonderful shaman) and Cristian (our group photographer).  Roberto and I walked to Carlos’ brother’s bar to sample the “te macho” and solve all the problems of the world.  Of course, everything is fine now.