The last 4 days were certainly among the most interesting on my trip. They were both spiritual and physically demanding, I had cultural experiences I never thought I could have. It healed and cleansed my soul of some nasty attachments and habits that got stuck the last 5 years (like a persistent restlessness). And finally I regained some of my old abilities in meditation and learned some new tricks.
Usually the Sacred Healing Retreat is organized primarily for foreigners on a separate location. However, the local community recently lost their own land. So they are all joining us this weekend. In addition to that, the two chiefs of the Putumayo tribe from the Amazonas were coming to visit the community and stay with us the whole time. This is the tribe where the Yage Rituals originated from in Colombia. And it was great to meat the elders and highest Taitas of these people. This attracted even more Taitas (Shamans) from other tribes to join us. So we basically participated in a indigenous meeting of Taitas talking about spiritual topics and performing rituals for the local community. We few Westerners were almost invisible to them. This is probably the most authentic ethnic experience I will ever have.
Taita Juan, preparing the Yage
The medicine hut
some of the essences they coverd us with (over and over again, my clothes were already soaked after the first night)
There was only one guy, Samuel, who spoke English. But he was so busy due to all the guests that we barely saw him. All the other Taitas and most of the locals only spoke Spanish. However, we felt far from neglected. Our days were packed with purging and cleansing rituals, herbal showers, fire rituals, blessings, crystal massages and so on. Many of the rituals were performed by the guest Taitas, mostly the elders themselves, and together with the locals. There was no distinction between us. On the second day I had something like a breakthrough in understanding Spanish. I think I understood most of the lectures the Shamans gave to the community. I felt really included.
most community members brought their families. So there were children playing all the time (till late night)
rice, fish soup, some fried banana, and nothing after 2pm
relaxation after a hard night
a daytrip to Santa Elena, where they make the silleteros for the Feria de las Flores
many of the sacred plants are grown on the property
Tobacco is sacred as well, though the Taitas absolutely disapprove its misuse as cigarettes. Instead it is might with other herbs and salts so some bitter paste, that is supposed to sharpen your mind.
preparation of the coca paste (another sacred plant)
the coca paste is put in your moth to sweeten your words, the tobacco paste on your hand is licked occasionally to sharpen your mind. Both taste terrible (I exaggerated a bit for the picture :D)
As of the Yage Ceremony. It is only one part of it, though the most central and sacred one for the community. The ceremonies last the entire night (every night, 22:00-8:00). We have tents near the medicine hut if we want to lay down. The beds are only for sleeping during the day. Most people go to be bed after breakfast (8am) or lunch (2pm). Afterwards there is no food to prepare ourselves for the yage. In general you barely eat anything during the weekend to keep your body clean for the sacred plants (apart from fish soup).
The elders explained that the effect on the individual are very personal and different every time. They belief that the plants making up the Yage brew are sacred and given by god himself to mankind to heal all their self inflicted diseases as well the the influence of something they call “the big negative”. That is a detrimental force working on this planet that stops people from being happy, especially in the western world (Colombia is part of the Western world after all!). The following description comes from Wikipedia, but it gives a very accurate depiction of what happened here night by night (what others reported afterwards)
People who have consumed ayahuasca report having spiritual revelations regarding their purpose on earth, the true nature of the universe as well as deep insight into how to be the best person they possibly can.[32] This is viewed by many as a spiritual awakening and what is often described as a rebirth.[33] In addition, it is often reported that individuals feel they gain access to higher spiritual dimensions and make contact with various spiritual or extra-dimensional beings who can act as guides or healers.[34]
Apart from these supernatural experiences the ritual also involved nearly the entire tribe vomiting and fighting diarrhea all night. One girl cried for nearly 6h nonstop, confessing every evil she ever committed to any friend or family member in her entire life. Many described a little death before being reborn in a realm of total awareness. An almost absolute memory allows us to confess, redeem and heal scars and injuries that are deeply hidden in our souls. All these things I could see happening to the people around me night after night.
the inside of the medicine hut (daylight)
late at night, packed in blankets around the fire
As for my own experiences. Yes, I did´t find the answers I was looking for and much more than that. The various cleansing and clearing rituals of the first day had a huge impact on me. I was able to let loose to many thoughts and worries that got attached to me over the years. The restlessness, always thinking about the future. Bathed in several layers of herbal essences, and treated with fire, crystals, chants and shamanic blessings I got rid of an immanent restlessness that had stopped me from truly living in the flow of the moment for most of the last 5 years. Apart from my inner peace I regained my ability to see visions naturally. Something that was an integral part of my life before. A trait that I thought I had lost years ago. That was purely do the the Shamanic Rituals, without the effect of Ayahuasca.
However, the Yage had a much different effect on me compared to my companions. I seem to have a very strong resilience against it. Whenever I closed my eyes a massive wall would build up. Sometimes of rocks, sometimes of massive golden Snakes, sometimes of the faces of numerous indigenous elders. Apart from seeing this wall I was nearly unaffected (in contrast to everyone around me). However with help of the Taitas and some new spiritual tricks I managed to break trough in the 3rd night. The realm behind resembles what you see in many artistic depictions (see below, I actually saw all these beings as part of my visions).
For me it was actually not that much of a life changing experience. I saw nothing that I had´t already seen before (though maybe not in exactly that composition). But it felt massively rewarding to enter this ream again. Most importantly, I know now that I am still able to do these journeys on my own, how revealing and useful they can be and that I won´t need the Yage to get there again.
I am very grateful for this weekend. I kept a really detailed report about everything that happened, to me and also the reports of others. Some of it is a bit worrisome, some stuff a bit scary and a lot of it is actually hard to believe. It fills 41 pages, more that I want and should cover in travel blog.
I might at some point in the future create a report of these 4 days. If not, don´t hesitate to ask me once I am back home
Yours
Christian
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