Hey there.
Just checking in after a full 10 days or so. Wanted to drop an update about our doings, and upload some photos as well.

So we left Juan's house about two weeks ago. It was a tenuous parting, and yet a happy one. Nikki and I simply felt our hearts seeking elsewhere, with the universe promptly responding. Here is a picture of most of the kids and ourselves on the day of parting.


And so we arrived in town, finding a very nice, very simply hostal, where we re-collected ourselves and prepared for our next journey. Here are two pictures from the indoor patio of the hostal at night.



After a brief respite, we headed off with our trusty guide Carlos into the jungle, Nikki's first venture into the Amazon proper. We were following our hearts and the cosmos, seeking the healer that was meant for Nikki...and after a full 7 days of being under this healer´s skillfull care, we both feel that we have found who and what we were looking for. Below are pictures of the campamento (jungle site) and of our healer, Doña Othellia.

Our Maloka...
...and our hammakas


The lovely vista


Doña Othellia, Nikki, and one of our comrades in healing


Ayahuasca brewin


The ceremony space



Plant photos




A sherbert dusk...


Our time with Doña Othellia has been wonderful, full of medicinal teas, herbal baths, massages, remedies, simply tasty meals, and uninterrupted rest. Interestingly, the one thing that we have not been doing is Ayahuasca. Doña Othellia's advice, specifically for Nikki, was to clean, heal, and vivify the body before doing any more ceremonies. The impression I recieved was that of a clogged flute, through which the beautiful music of Ayahuasca is trying to play, but simply can't. Also the image of a electric circut that has resistors in it, such that when the current is run through the circut, there is too much resistence, heat builds up, and the circut shuts down. So for now, we are focusing on the other plants, with which Doña Othellia is highly competent.

Also, the others that are here with us at the campamento are all very beautiful, very interesting people; and we feel that we are in a support group of healing...that, though our afflictions are unique to ourselves, we are all going through this together, moving from sickness to health. It's very powerful, and lovely.

So Nikki and I are currently in town, taking just a few days for essentialities before returning to Doña Othellia's for another 16 days. This will be the deepest period of our healing here, and I reckon we are ready for it. Yet finding Doña Othellia has not been the least of our blessings, as yesterday our friend and guide Carlos invited us to a very special event among the Boras of the Amazon.

The Boras are an indigineous group that have consistently made their living in the jungle, though they have not been untouched by modernization. Yesterday marked the 8th aniversery of the building of their main hall, their 'gran maloka' (pictured below).


This was an incredible event for many reasons, made even more special because it was not open to tourists. Carlos is basically an unofficial member of the tribe, and he was personally envited by the leader of the tribe, Don Raphael, pictured below in traditional garb.


It was clear that our small group of gringos were held in high honor at the fiesta, and we were encouraged to be at home, to enjoy as we would what they had to offer. The fiesta, which ran for a continuous 24 hours, was filled with food, games, music, traditional dance, conversing, getting toasted on a fermented yucca beverage, and just general enjoyment. Assorted pictures below...


Kicking off the party

and the dancing


The ceremonial drums, the name of which I have summarily forgotten


Peruvians are incredible at two sports, soccer and volleyball



Oh, and here are some pictures of our boat ride to the fiesta. The amazon river is so full right now that the water almost covers the tall trees on the banks.




Our boat captain, Percy



and our Aussie friends, Liz and Purty


So this is all for now. Further updates to come, after our final leg in the jungle. Please hold us in your thoughts during this time of healing. May all beings be cared for, may all beings heal.

eka