A Brief Update After a Life Altering Journey in Peru.

Embarking on a personal wellness journey in Peru offered more than just a a glimpse into the world of wellness retreats; it opened a door to a newfound personal understanding to Dietas and had the opportunity to experience some of the more traditional ceremonies. My recent trip to Peru immersed me in ancient healing traditions, deepened my understanding of plant medicine, and inspired exciting plans for the wellness retreats centers that we want to build to that others can receive these powerful experiences locally. It has been awhile since I did an update and I also wanted to share my personal insights on healing, exploring the benefits of a dedicated dieta retreat, and highlight the outstanding locations, maestros/curanderos/curanderas that assisted us, and programs and contacts for those curious about this path and wish to learn more.

From the moment my partner and I arrived in Peru, the energy of the land felt different—ancient, alive, and deeply connected to nature. We were invited to join a carefully cultivated journey arranged by the lovely healers community at Cielo(https://www.instagram.com/cielogold.co and https://cielo.gold/). It was an all inclusive experience so that they individuals participating only needed to focus on their healing journey. Our journey began with a meeting of all of the participants in Iquitos. We were introduced to local artisans and had a chance to adjust before we traveled into Amazon rainforest. Once we arrived at our first location we warmly greeted by the entire staff of Puka Yuka Lodge. Puka Yuka Lodge is a traditional plant medicine facility guiding pasajeros towards wellness through dietas. I have never done a dieta before. The experience was intense and humbling. The medicine worked on multiple levels: emotional, mental, and spiritual. It was definitely something where if I personally didn't have an experienced staff helping me out, I might've not made it through.

During the ceremony, I confronted fears and limiting beliefs I hadn’t fully acknowledged before. I was offered a opportunity for growth that I took with the intent of receiving with more grace than I did. The plant medicine helped me access a state of clarity and calm that lasted well beyond the dieta. I learned that these medicines are not magic pills but tools that require respect, intention, and focus during my integration.

One of the most valuable lessons was the importance of preparation and aftercare. The shamans and healers have emphasized the importance of intent alongside balance. After a few days to relax we met up with a maestro Martin whom used to work at the Sacred Temple in Chavin, Peru. Maestro Martin led us through a few ceremonies while guiding us to three sacred sites. It was very reassuring to have a local bilingual guide as someone who isn't a well seasoned traveller. Our group was guided to multiple locations to find local wares that we were interested in at reasonable pricing.

The first place that we were guided to was the Sacred Temple in Chavin. We had a small private ceremony before were given a detailed tour of the the temple. There was a meditation done at private locations while also learning about all the culture and history of one of the worlds oldest societies. We got to explore some of the sacred parts of the temple and interact with energies stored within. Afterwards we were escorted to a local restaurant and then had our travel accomadations arranged for our next few locations.

We then had a ceremony in Hatun Mache mountain. This was the second most difficult time that I experienced during my Peru adventures. There is extreme elevation to go alongside with breathtaking views. There were so many different spots on the sacred mountain that resonated deeply within me. I wanted to enjoy the day more but my personal discomfort makes me want to experience the mountain again soon.

Maestro Martin knew that Hatun Mache is intense for most people. He offered us a day off or a trip to the world famous thermal pools. He had our group get there early so that we could have some privacy and time before the crowds arrived. After we took a day we went to the Llanganuco Lakes at Mount Huascaran. This was the third location that Maestro Martin brought us to for a ceremony. There was so much natural beauty that I felt like I was on a movie set. We were led to a secluded area and we were able to commune with nature. I was surprised that I was still releasing and dissipating so much negative energy. The feelings that I was aware of were far different from what I was working on towards the end of this journey. I felt strange because I thought that I brought enough of my emotional baggage to have months to work on and by the end I was working on things that I didn't even plan for.

After three weeks of our group doing three weeks of doing some serious healing and introspection, our chaperones at Cielo took us to the shopping district for souvenirs and to the beach for a day of recouperation. Our group had all travelled on different days so they made sure that each and every one of us made it to our flights. They have continued to check up on us for the two weeks since we have been home. This was my first trip to Peru but will not be my last. I will be keeping an eye out for the healing trip next year.