Conclusion to An Ayahusaca Journey Part 1

To say Ayahuasca has changed my life would be the biggest understatement.  It has changed me on a molecular level.  I not only see the world differently but possibly also my purpose.  A few months have passed by and in that time I have found myself thirsting for more knowledge and understanding, not only in the medicine, but also in myself.  I now know that I have only scratched the surface of my true potential.  My mind has never been sharper and I am now living my manifestations instead of waiting for them to happen. 

I have watched many more documentaries since being back, focusing more on the Shaman’s and their importance and connection to Ayahuasca.  The more I learn and study, the more I begin to understand that I am just stepping into a much bigger world.  I have come to learn the purpose for the medicine and how the Shaman’s use it to communicate to the spirits.  These spirits guide them to be medicine men and know what plants cure what ailments.  They also use the medicine to find strength within their communities and have even used it to strategize against governments that look to destroy the earth.   I have also seen time and again the hundreds of lives who have been transformed from the profound experiences and teachings of Mother Ayahuasca.  There is no doubt that it is a sacred plant that its use should never be done in vain.  It is not for a good time, it is work, it is a means to face fear and overcome insecurity. 

There is so much I do not yet know about myself I am learning everyday.  I also have no excuse to say that I am set in my ways and that I cannot overcome challenges that have been plaguing me for years.  It is time I sit face to face with everything that stops me from achieving that which I was born to do.  I believe that it is my path to vanquish all fear, doubt, pain and anger so that I may be able to put myself aside and help others to face their demons. 

There is much I want to accomplish in my life and one thing that was affirmed to me in my second ceremony is that what I am doing with my life has meaning.  Arts are the way in which countless civilizations have documented their history.  It is the way that the early man communicated was through song and art.  I do have a purpose in this life but my purpose has grown much larger.  This purpose is one I now share with an amazing fiancé.  We are planning our wedding for this coming January 2014 in the Bahamas.  For our honey moon in June we will then journey back to Peru where we will climb the Inca Trail up to Machu Pichu and then off to the Andes mountains for another retreat after a stop in at the Tierra Vida for a ceremony with old friends.  Stay tuned I have a feeling that the next Ayahuasca journey is where the real adventure begins. 

Stay tuned for An Ayahuasca Journey Part 2

Below is a collecition of videos that have inspired me and taught me so much about the power of this healing medicine.  Enjoy!!

Epilogue: An Engagement Story

It would be silly to say that when we got back from the jungle that life wasn’t a little different.  We had been told that our power of manifestation would reach new levels after vibrating at such an incredible rate but we had no idea just how powerful.  After returning home Meagan and I discussed that it would be smart to keep what we had learned to ourselves for now since we ourselves were still processing all of the new information.  We had already made the mistake of scaring one of our friends when he picked us up from the airport.   Our excitement got the better of us and we just started unloading all of the amazing things we saw and experienced and it was too much for our friend who almost had a panic attack just listening to us.  Even walking into the 7-11 for the first time a block away from where we live, the staff could tell that we were buzzing off of some serious energy. 

The first few days after coming home I began to experience extreme visions at moments throughout the day.  I could actually feel the pineal gland in my brain being activated.  It allowed me to slip briefly in and out of my conscious state and eliminate my ego.  These visions were not intense like when I was taking the medicine but the thoughts were just as profound.  It was as if I had taught my brain to think in a new way and keep that process going.  My dreams became far more intense and I often was waking up with clear memories of what I had seen and even began to see the things in my dreams come to fruition.  These moments did have breaks in between them where I felt completely normal but even then there was a weight that was no longer there.   Often to get the spark back to reactivate this all it would take was a hit of weed and my mind would begin to let go, but then would become a fine tuned machine sorting through thoughts like rolodex.  Everything was clearer and more organized.

Ramses and Miguel had also said that physical exercise and yoga were very easy ways to get back in this meditative state of mind.  As I went back to the gym I found that the more active things I did the more this vibration would begin to rise.  I had always felt a boost working out but this was more than just serotonin level rising.  Even walking around I could feel my aura beaming brightly for all to see. 

There were some people however that I was very excited to share some of these experiences with. I would only talk to people that knew me well enough that they wouldn’t look at me like I was crazy.  Whenever I began to speak about it to anyone that would allow me to just go off I found that this overwhelming feeling would take over my body.  I would feel shivers come over me and at times my body would shake with excitement.  I would have to take deep breathes at times because I could feel my heart racing so fast that I would lose my breath.  In no way was this feeling bad though, I relished when it happened as it made me feel more alive. 

The biggest thing that happened after returning was Meagan’s birthday, which was only a week later after getting back from Peru.  Before we had left I had been spending the first few months of the year designing an engagement ring.  My original plan was to ask Meagan to marry me after our ceremonies at the Tierra Vida.  I thought that it would be an amazing way to ask her after having grown so much together.  After thinking about it for a while I decided that I wanted to make our Peru trip just about our own personal journeys and healing and not steal attention away from others.  I also worried about bringing the ring to another country or worse losing or having it stolen.  Instead I decided to wait for Meagan’s birthday to pop the question since I would have an excuse to travel somewhere special without raising suspicion. 

When Meagan and I first met we had only been dating about a few weeks and Meagan decided one weekend she wanted to go to Banff and stay in a suite in the Banff Springs Hotel.  We drove all the way out only to find out that they were booked for the night.  Remembering this moment I decided that it would be so romantic to take her back there and propose since it was the place we wanted to be on our first trip away together.  I booked the hotel only a few days before online and since we had just done a huge trip as well as I had just purchased a ring I didn’t get a suite but just a regular room.  I knew she would understand under the circumstances why I couldn’t afford to spend more.  I now had a location for the most romantic moment of my life. 

The ring was the next thing on the list.  I had given the jewelry maker a few more weeks with the piece while in Peru to get it absolutely perfect.  I had decided to go to a friend of Meagan’s to have the ring made.   She was so excited to make it for her and especially since I had a very unique design idea.  Meagan and I often talk about being opposites of one another but yet there is a powerful connection that binds us, a piece of us that lives within one another.  I, being raised in a very pure religious upbringing am the light but with a bit of darkness inside.  Meagan being raised in more of a bohemian lifestyle but with much good inside her, she is the dark with a little light.  We balance one another like a yin and yang.  It was with this idea that I decided to make her ring a yin-yang ring.  My mother graciously offered the engagement diamond.  It was important to me that something from our family was in the ring to show the support from them.  It was placed in the ring with the black diamond stones to make up the engagement ring.  The white diamonds with the single black diamond will be the wedding band to symbolize that we are separate until we are joined and then we are one. 

I contacted Debra, the ring maker, a few days before Meagan’s birthday to make sure the ring would be ready.   She had me come in and when I did everyone was so excited for me to see it, as it had been quite the topic of conversation in the shop.  Many had come to admire the work and idea of it.  The craftsmanship was spot on and just looking at it I knew that she would love it.  I had been worried through the whole process that the ring was too big but my faith in Debra’s skills and taste helped me.  The ring had photos taken of it to be used in a new marketing add for the store to show there design capabilities. 

I now had the location and the ring but now I needed a way in which to do it.  I wanted the proposal to be private and not in the open at all to not make it awkward for her or I.  I decided to create a beautiful ambiance in the hotel room and ask her there.  I called a floral shop to get a couple dozen roses stripped of its petals.  I then went and bought a hundred candles and packed up the car and headed to the mountains.

Meagan had said that our vacation was so intense and overwhelming in the jungle that she needed a vacation away from her vacation.  I was excited to be providing that.  While driving up I had a vision of being in a large room at the hotel and even saw exactly how I was going to lay it out.  Although I knew that is not what I had booked this feeling came over me that everything was going to work out.  I even started to think about what I would say but my mind just kept saying “don’t worry about it, it will come to you.”  

When we arrived at the Hotel around 6pm we went to the front desk to check in.  There seemed to be lots of people in the main building.  I saw that there was an AGLC conference going on as many liquor company’s banners were present.  The person at the front desk informed us what was going on and told us that we had been moved to accommodate the conference attendees.  The moved us to the conference building into a presidential suite.  It came as no shock to me but I was excited to see the room.  When I walked in it was if I had walked into the vision in my mind.  It was an enormous room with stairs up to a gazebo that overlooked the whole entrance to the castle.  I immediately saw the scene that I was to create, but it would take more time than I had thought to set up. I had made reservations at the Castillo Ristorante at the Banff Springs for dinner.  My plan was that while we were eating that I would sneak away to the room and set everything setup, as it shouldn’t take too long. 

When we headed down for dinner I kind of prepreped the room so when I got back I just had to set up the flowers and candles and didn’t have to clean it up at all.  Since it was a special occasion Meagan and I dressed up really fancy but little did she know that it was more than just her birthday.  We had the most amazing waiter serve us and every course was better than the last.  We had been tempted with drinking only to appease social convention but neither one of our bodies wanted it after having Ayahuasca, I wondered if ever again.  At the end of the meal I told Meagan to stay and have the bill charged to room while I went and got her birthday present. 

I ran back to the room and began to setup with so much excitement I could barely contain myself.  I placed flowers on the ground like a pathway from the door to the top of the stairs.  I also placed candles in the same fashion and then in a circle in the gazebo.  I then put some larger candles around the room and flowers on the bed.  It suddenly occurred to me that she had no way of getting in so I put my key under the door and then went and got in position.  She walked in with all of the windows closed so the room was just illuminated in candlelight.  She followed the path with a smile from ear to ear still not sure what to expect. 

As she began to get closer to me I could feel my heart beat but not uncontrollably.  There was an unbelievable calm about me.  I had no worry in the world, I knew what to say and I knew she would say yes so there was not need to worry.  She made it up to me and I pulled her in the circle.   I grabbed her hands and said “I think you know what this is,” as I chuckle.  “I love you more than I can put into words.  I asked myself in the jungle but I have known all along you are the one.”  I got down on one knee in my suit and bowtie and I asked her to marry me.  She buried her face in her hands and when she opened them I opened up the box to reveal her engagement ring.  The moment she noticed what it was she began to cry.  I kissed her and said “you still haven’t answered” she said, “of course I will marry you.”  We held each other in that spot for a few minutes and then sat down on the couch in the gazebo.  Looking around the room and feeling the overwhelming feelings of love for my partner made it into one of the most intimate settings I could have ever imagined.  We sat and talked on the couch basically planning our life for the next few hours.  We shared an amazing night together and woke up the next morning had an incredible breakfast, a swim in the pool while the morning fog swept through the mountain air.  I am the luckiest man in the world. 

There is no doubt in my mind that I manifested this whole experience.  I had no real plans the week of my proposal and every detail just seemed to fall in place so effortlessly.  It seems that the people at the Tierra Vida were right, I need to be very mindful of the things I choose to dwell on as they manifest very quickly.  Over the next few months I started to see an influx in opportunities come my way in the way that I wanted them to come.  Although my visions have gone and I do not feel the medicine in me anymore I am now certain that I need to return to the jungle to obtain more teachings and manifest the next part of my life.  

Day 7- A Day of Reflection and Travel

The best sleep in the jungle was that last night.  I awoke with such a sense of excitement and peace I wish I could have lived in that moment for all time.  We went down to breakfast to share in one last group gathering before our journey home.  Everything was so delicious and it got me thinking of just how I want to be eating at home and how much I will miss Miguel’s fresh and delicious cooking.  We share in one last session before we leave and then grab all of our gear to go. 

I will miss every one of these people at the Tierra Vida, they have all become like family.  I am so grateful that Jill and Casey were brought into our lives.  I now look at them as the example of a life that is so selfless.  They offer a place of serenity that allows you to process yourself and although they have a multitude of knowledge to share they only choose to share that which you need in the moment.  I know are paths will cross again for sure.

The staff here I will also miss greatly.  Aga's very calm and positive demeanour, she was so comforting to me on the day when Meagan was extremely sick.  Also without her guidance I don’t think that I would have recognised that the medicine had taken me the first time if it hadn’t been for some of the words she shared with me.   Also Miguel providing the best variety of fruits and vegetables daily kept my body refreshed and rejuvenated.   His passion for this work and medicine is so apparent.  Miguel was such an inspiration to me with how he conquered his fear that it gave me the courage to do it myself and then comprehend it after. 

And last of the staff, Ramses, who is my long lost brother in the jungle.  I had no idea upon arrival just how life changing his presence would be on me.  He helped Meagan when she could barely stand or move, he never left Kristen’s side when she was in her dark place, and without him I wouldn’t have been able to handle my own demons.  Every conversation or piece of advice that would come out of his mouth was always exactly what I needed to hear.  He always knew how to describe things in a way that brought so much perspective.  I really hope that when this is all over and I am home that we keep in touch because he has much more to teach me I am sure of it. 

As for my new family I have really connected with so many unique individuals that I cannot say I would have this level of respect for had I not just shared this astonishing trek.  Harvey has been like the dad here always looking after everyone and spreading so much love and joy.  I hope that he is able to sort out what he needs to at home so that he can share his powerful influence with them as well.  They don’t know what they have if they can’t see he is a beautiful human being. 

Irfan and Rifat have become very close to Meagan and I.  Irfan and I shared some very deep conversations and having similar backgrounds and interests I can see us keeping up communication and possibly participating in another ceremony at some point down the road.  I really wish him luck in his emcee career, I know how tough that can be but I have no doubt that after this experience that his rhymes will be inspired and his power of manifestation will bring him where he needs to be. 

The other Cody was the surprise of my trip.  He and I were slow to become friends but by the end we were sharing some of the craziest parts of our experience with one another and learning from each other without even knowing it at the time.  He is by far the most interesting of the group and also had the most eye opening experiences out of all of us from the sounds of his stories that are so vivid I felt like I saw them too.  He helps keep me humble and focused and I will miss him greatly.

Our Alberta crew Todd, Kristen, Lee and Jen who we shared a tambo with all week.  We will all miss Lee’s infectious personality that kept us vibrating high even when things weren’t always going so smooth.  Todd also played a very fatherly role throughout the week and we shared lots of fascinating conversations.  I really pray that he goes in and has a profound experience on his last night.  He and Harvey deserve to have a selfish night after having been there for the rest of us all week.  Jen has completely transformed before our eyes like a beautiful butterfly.  She is smiling and happy and is even talking to everyone.  I can see that her eyes have been opened and whatever pain she was feeling is filling up with joy. 

The Alaskan’s Brian and Andrea, the veteran hippies as I have come to see them.  Brian always seemed like he was in the medicine even when we were hanging out at the kitchen table.  I always felt that he had the most knowledge but kept it more as a secret to himself.  I wish I had more time to learn more about him and his experience.  Andrea was the biggest beam of light you could ask for.  Both her and Brian having done the medicine before helped us all prepare for our realizations by having them walk us through theirs.

Lastly Matt and Jonnie, who I am also sad to say I did not get to know either one the way I would have wanted to but they too were always a welcome addition to all of the weeks events and I truly felt there energy shift to a brighter place by weeks end. 

As we are getting everything together Jill comes and grabs a pic with us and tells us about how inspired she was when she went to bed last night and how it had reignited her energy in the work they were doing.  She let us know how proud she was of all of us of the work we were doing and how we were no ordinary group that she had had.  She then shared with us how many times she had had ceremony, she said over 100 for personal but over 250 total. They took small doses when we were all in ceremony so that they could vibrate on the same level.  This floored me and made me realize that this could be a way of life and a path.  I began to have thoughts that maybe my mind was capable of handling the challenges and perhaps I needed to move down here to see my full potential.  The thought was not overpowering but definitely worth evaluating, and with my new level of consciousness I could keep this idea in check.  

As Casey began to gather us up for a final photo and some last minute hugs he also told us about how our power of manifestation was going to be very powerful now, we would see things coming to us faster than before, he also told us that we may still purge and see visions after we left as the medicine was still active in us. 

I then gave my hugs to everyone and told them that we would all keep in touch through facebook and other forms of communication.  When I got to Miguel however he told me the thing that I needed to hear most.  He said, “don’t be afraid if you feel the medicine calling to you, I feel that she isn’t done working with you.”  It was like an echoing explosion in my head and it made me realize that I wouldn’t just do Ayahuasca again but that it would be soon.  

As Casey took us to the entrance to get in our motokar back to the airport Clark said "it would be so great if we could see the sloth before we leave."  Meagan had missed out on seeing the sloth because she was sick that during the plant walk.  Just as Clark had said the words we turned the corner and boom there was a sloth right over top of the pathway to see us off.  We couldn't believe we had manifested something so quickly.  It was only the beginning.  

Day 6: The Last Day of Rest

After waking up the next morning after my final ceremony the night before I felt completely open and free of fear, however there was a nervous energy still inside me that kept me rocking me back and forth in the night.  There was a feeling last night that I needed to face, the fact that now there was a void where there once was fear.  I needed to start to accept a life without fear.  I went outside just as the sun was rising and way before anyone else was up.  I started to walk to the hammocks outside of the kitchen and started thinking about my experience last night.  I knew if I could just release some emotion that the feeling might purge from my system.  I walked into the kitchen where I could have some privacy and forced myself to release some tears.  About 5 min in Miguel walked into the kitchen, “how was the night?” he said, wanting to pull me into conversation and seeing what I was still processing.  I told him about the fear and how I was able to overcome, but I was now having trouble understanding how to fill this void and deal with an entire part of my life now missing. 

Miguel took in my experience and I immediately see that he could completely relate to the encounter through a similar dealing with fear in his own ceremonies.  He began to tell me about another plant called Iboga that Shaman’s use to be initiated and it can send you in to the trance up to 3 days.  He had been smoking it with them, which brought on shorter experiences but did it for 3 months.  He recalled a story, which I shared in my video journal.  This story as well as a question he asked regarding where the fear originally came from, also talked about in the video, allowed me to overcome some of the nervousness I had.  I could tell that after we had chatted that Miguel was inspired by my stories and he understood the amount of courage I had against the medicine.  He told me that we would be having a flower bath to release all of our negative energy and told me that it was the perfect thing for me after what I went through.

After speaking to Miguel I decided to go outside and many more had started to come in to grab some breakfast and wanted to hear the story.  I told them a short version, as I wanted to hear about there lessons.  It had seemed that this night was a far better experience with everyone, with no one else going to a negative place expect me.  We had breakfast together and than I had a feeling I wanted to share a smoke with these people on my last day.  We all sat on the porch of the ceremonial hut and it all felt so surreal that the experience was over. 

I could feel all the love from the people around me, especially from Harvey who I feel has really connected with all of us and treats us as family.  I know that he does not have the support at home or will be able to share this experience easily with them but together in this place we all can talk freely and openly and without judgment as we all have had a shared consciousness.  Everyone passes some herb around and shares in the community, which gives us a familiar bond of home and an evolved bond here. 

Casey then starts talking about the old location that the retreat was at and how they used to do the brewing process.  We had all thought that we would be preparing the brew and brewing it together in camp but he explained that they had no fully grown Ayahuasca vines yet and that the process was time consuming and sometimes had issues with the potency of the brew.  He therefore has found a source that he purchases the brew from that is very reliable and consistent and frees up his time to do other things around camp and be more of a spiritual advisor. 

After a very intense night where I was sweating more than I ever have before, I decide to go have a shower before my flower bath so that my body will be clean as well as my soul.  I quickly grab my stuff and head to the showers, the water is cold as usual but I now have started to enjoy it and even look forward to it after the sun comes out. 

When I dry off and come out in my swim suit ready for my flower bath it comes to me that this is a perfect time to grab a picture of everyone individually so that I can see everyone in a very happy and free state of mind.  A pure and natural moment to capture.  I grab my camera and return just as Jill is bringing out the two giant pales of Ice-cold water with lots of flowers and leaves in them, I grab a handful to smell and it is absolutely lovely.  One by one we all sit down in the sun on a stool as Jill pours 3 ice cold buckets over our head.  We all joke that this really isn’t cleansing but a way for them to get back at us for cleaning up after us all week.  Of course it isn’t and the feeling of the water although cold is the most refreshing and the most freeing sensation describable.  I get a picture of everyone as they go up except Ifran who is sick. It comes to me last and as it comes over my shoulders I feel reborn.  I feel all of the week’s experiences wash away and a complete feeling of relief come over my being.

We all go and shower off the flowers and other plants in our hair and in our shorts and return back for lunch. We have a wonderful beat salad.  After lunch Meagan and I slipped back to the cabin and laid down on the bed and have a quick nap before the artists come to bring paintings and other textiles to buy.  The nap is short lived as they arrive almost immediately.  Meagan and I buy a few more things for friends and my mother and then go look at the amazing artwork and start to have memories of the colors we saw in our visions portrayed in the art.

There is one that is calling to Meagan and I, many are extremely colorful and have amazing detail and realism however it is the simplest of pictures that speaks out.  It is the green that Meagan had seen in her visions about the pyramids.  We get him down from $300-$150 but we have to make the payment through western union when we get home as we don’t have the money on us, so he decides to think about it. 

While we are waiting I tell Jill that I want a Witto tattoo to commemorate the achievement of facing my fears from the night before.  I want an Ayahuasca cross section with the Icaros surrounding it with two serpents circling the piece and crawling over my shoulder.  The piece will only cost me 15 Soles about $7.  The sun is hot so we try to find a corner where it is cooler and shaded but it is hard to keep myself from perspirating while he draws on my back.  Only an hour later and the piece is finished but is very light on my skin.  He tells me it will get darker through the night.

Todd decides to buy the painting we wanted so we take a pic of it as we plan to have it printed because it still speaks to us.  We then head back to our hut and begin by packing up everything and preparing to leave tomorrow morning.  The feeling is half of excitement to start this journey home and half of worry, that no one will understand us like people do in this place.  The reality is that we need to start the real journey of life with all of this new knowledge and part of our brain active and use it for good or the experience is worthless. 

After packing we head back to the sharing circle and to share in our last supper together as a group.  We are having lentils in a curry with mixed veggies.  We are some of the last to arrive and find ourselves in position to share last.  After hearing everyone and there positive experiences it comes to me and I know that there is much I would like to share but don’t want to take too long as I had just recorded a long video diary with lots of realizations.  I am by far the longest talker as I give everyone the greater part of the experience and when I am finished the room is in awe.  Many shared how powerful it was for them to hear and comprehend.  Jill shared at the end that many of the experiences that we shared tonight reminded her of the things that she went through and inspired her to build this place with Casey. 

We all then shared our deep appreciation of one another through this process and the amazing love and support we had for one another as there really was nothing to hide anymore. They had heard or seen us go through some of our most personal moments in our lives.  I shared my respect and love to Ramses who had multiple times brought me through some pretty powerful realizations.  We shared a hug and grabbed a photo and I told him he was a brother to me and I wanted him to be present at my wedding if he could. 

As we left the kitchen we asked a few to come back to our hut and share in a smoke before bed.  A few turned into the whole group of travelers.  We shared our love once again and talked about whether or not we would do it again.  The general consensus was that we all would at some point but none was in a rush too, a feeling that would change by morning. 

Just as we were about to send everyone back to their huts to go to bed Lee shared a conversation he had had with Casey that hit me hard.  He said that after you had done Ayahuasca more times and worked through all of your questions and your challenges that you started to have abilities that were far beyond our minds capacity.  He shared of one of these abilities being 360-degree perception and awareness.   This made me realize that I was capable of much more and why many devote their path to exploring other capabilities with in there own consciousness. 

This was the thought I went to bed with and little did I know that I would enter into a vision in my dream that would change my outlook on my experience the next morning.  

Day 5: Ceremony 3: Fear! The Thief of Dreams

Last night was one of the greatest experiences of my life.  I spent most of the morning sleeping and decided to have a late breakfast so I can bask in the memory of last night’s epiphanies.  During breakfast and afterwards we all just keep sharing our experiences from last night since everyone went into the medicine.   I seemed to have had the most positive journies from last night as many were talking about very dark presences and lots of fear in the room.  I felt the need to share about how I was able to work with my consciousness to achieve great realizations to possibly bring light to others. 

After a delicious quinoa salad for lunch we had a little free time before share circle so I went and had a nap to process and get ready for tonight’s ceremony and hopefully another night of bliss.  After a quick nap I head back to the ceremony room to share again in a more formal meeting to learn and listen to others once again.  Even when you are not sharing, the light and positivity still bring you up and it is so great to be apart of.  I sit next to Irfan and Meagan, there are a few missing today including Jen and Cody, but most are present. 

Jonie shared that she had much of the same visions from the first night, which upset her because there was so much pain that night.  She said that she felt she was being shown it again because she needed to face it again without any emotion. 

Matt, Harvey, Brian, Clark and Hillary all told about their demons they saw.  Many didn’t quite know how to handle it or what there meanings were.  Hillary spoke of seeing many skulls and Clark saw a hooded figure but chose not to face it and ran away from it. 

Kristen spent most of the night crying and was terrified.  She said she didn’t know how to process any of it, which is to be expected for someone so young.  Lee spent a lot of time that night trying to suck the pain away from Kristen with the help of Orlando but didn’t do lots of work himself that night. 

After all had shared their experience it came to me.  I was the only one who had feelings of heaven on earth. When I shared my story I went on a bit longer than others. When I was done I expected people to comment that I spoke a little too long but instead everyone was really taken back by my comments and many commented how beautiful my experience sounded.  That made me feel amazing that I was able to bring some positive energy back in the meeting. 

After the meeting I quickly went back to the hut to grab my journal and iphone to record a video journal about last night before the ceremony tonight.  I spend the next couple hours getting everything out, either on paper or on video and then grab my stuff to head to ceremony three.  I hope that the experience isn’t exactly the same but even if it is I will be happy for it.  See you on the other side.  


Below is another video describing my most intense and profound night with Mother Ayahuasca.  It is a true representation of what is possible when working with the medicine.  It is by far the best video of the journey.  Enjoy!!

Day 4: Ceremony 2: Journey to the Center of my Mind

We woke up early today, around 6:30, as soon as the sun came up.  I slept soundly for the first time since we have been here.  I had only slept two hours total in the past two days so a nice rest was much needed.  I rolled over to see how Meagan was feeling and to my excitement she looked and felt 100% better.  Meagan also realized that her yeast infection was gone. She believes she may have puked it all out over the past day.  Hillary and Clark also had great sleeps and felt very refreshed and excited for an event filled day. 

We had a shower since we didn’t in the last two days and got in some clean clothes to tackle this new day.  Meagan is not a camper by any means so I am sure not changing or showering in a few days has been quite an adjustment.  Breakfast was served at 8:00am, oatmeal, hard-boiled eggs and smoothies again.  It is all so good I don’t even care.  I down as much as I can as we only have a short amount of time before we head to the Shapibo village of San Francisco where they are preparing lunch and selling some textiles and other Ayahuasca merchandise. 

We all head back to the cabin to grab what we need for the day, I get my camera, 400 Soles, my hat but because of the cloud coverage today I decide not to toss on any sun block.  When I arrive at the kitchen to meet everyone we head to the front entrance to await transportation via motokar.  It will only cost 8 Soles, which is $3 American.  So ridiculous since it is over 20 min away.  It just shows the poverty in the area. 

We hop in with Matt and bounce along the dirt road and into Pucallpa*.  Matt and I haven’t had an opportunity to talk or bond much since arriving so I take the time to chat with him a bit as I have travelled in Australia and New Zealand.  We arrive in Pucalpa and it is so different from Lima in atmosphere, lifestyle and energy.  We arrive at the river and I am so excited to get in the boat.  We had originally thought that we would be arriving at our camp using the boats but that was to the Tierra Vida’s previous location. We are happy that we still get the opportunity.  Our group separates into two boats and we head down the river.

It is so surreal how it feels to be in a completely different part of the world doing things I have only seen on the television, like the Amazing Race.  Everyone on our boat sparks up a mopacco that we light off of the engine motor, and smoke as we continue down stream.

The boat nears the dock and we all hop off and see this enormous rock staircase.   It leads us to the longest rickety wooden bridge over top of a swamp like environment.  I am sure anacondas are lurking below us, they are very common in these parts.  Apparently anacondas are not poisonous but it doesn’t mean I want to run into one.  As I am walking down this scary bridge with no rail the scene from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom comes to mind when a single board breaks and Short Round falls through. Just as I think of this, a board flips up and I almost fall off.  Thankfully dancers never fall so I recover gracefully, or at least I think so. 

The sun starts beaming through the clouds and I can feel it on my back.  This close to the equator it is sure to burn me so I try to walk in shade the most I can.  After about a ten-minute walk we arrive in the village of San Francisco*.  It is lined with children all following us from the dock almost as if we were celebrities**.  They all have been warned that foreigners are coming to town.  The houses** are beaten down and by first glance it looks like extremely poor standard of living.  The houses have no walls and no toilets, just holes in the floor.  It gave me a whole new perception of poverty, however the kids and families seem to be so happy and everyone seems safe and loving. 

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Upon arrival at our meeting place we are met with a multitude of people who have prepared lunch and setup their market*.  The first thing we do is a little more shopping.  Meagan and I have been talking about buying a tapestry** to bring home.  There are so many beautiful ones but the trick is to buy something that will still make sense at home.  I am a big bracelet person so I found a couple of nice ones to bring back as well.  Everything works out to be about $40 American but that is a steal based on the quality of materials. 

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The Shapibo’s have prepared for us a fish called Shirrapira that looks kind of like a catfish.  The fish is not gutted and you pretty much rip it open and work around the guts and bones to find the meat.  It is a lot of work but the skin and meat are extremely delicious.  There are also beans, avocado, tomatoes and plantains.  I make sure to eat as much as possible to make sure I have enough energy for tonight’s ceremony. 

As we are all eating another Caucasian comes up to us and asked us where we are from.  He sounded like he was German.  We told him that we were from Canada but our group was from all over.  He had said that the Shaman had said that foreign travelers were coming so he wanted to come and see who they were.  It turned out he was living here with the Shapibo’s to do 50 ceremonies with the Shaman.  That is extremely inspiring to me that someone could come and devote so much time to learn more about themselves.  He talked to us briefly and then went on his way. 

After lunch we make the trek back to the boats.   Lee decides to hop in the water with some of the kids playing first.  He is told that there are small piranhas in the water but he doesn’t care since there appears to be kids having fun.  Immediately when he jumps in he screams from the bites.   It is not painful he says, but you can feel it all over your body for sure.  He hops back in the boat and we head back the way we came. 

After arriving back at camp, the Shamans from the other night have arrived to bring Meagan and Kristen their medicinal remedies.  It is all completely organic and is made up of all plants that have been found in the jungle.  The Ayahuasca speaks to the Shamans and tells them what plants to use for certain people and afflictions.  They say they hear this from the spirits that live in the jungle.  We pay them an offering of 100 Soles; it is not required but suggested to show our appreciation.  Meagan gives it a taste and is amazed by how good it tastes. 

Meagan and I head back to the cabin to gather our things.  Meagan tells me that she is going to participate in ceremony tonight after what the Shaman’s had told her.  She does not want to be afraid of the medicine after she has seen its healing powers already on her body.  We then head to the ceremony room and I choose the spot with a dolphin blanket because I saw one today when we were on the boat.  We have a new Shaman tonight, Orlando.  I look forward to a beautiful night. 

Below is a video to account everything I could remember from the experience. It is long but extremely vivid in detail. I couldn't imagine putting it all into words so I felt it was best to hear it and see it from my mouth. It was made the day after the 2nd ceremony.