During my time in Guatemala, I was welcomed into the home of the shaman and his wife. From very first day, I felt the balance created by their partnership. Together, they held the space with a combination of strength and warmth that seemed to flow naturally between them. It felt like an expression of the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony, which set the tone for the entire retreat.
The shaman carried a deep well of wisdom and presence. He responded to questions with patience and clarity, offering guidance that felt both gentle and precise. There were times when just a few words from him brought a sense of calm or understanding that stayed with me long after.
His wife contributed an equally powerful energy; quiet, grounding, and compassionate. The way they moved around each other and the group created an atmosphere that felt deeply respectful and held. I often noticed how attuned they were to what was happening in the space and in each person.
The ceremonies were held in the temple, surrounded by volcanic mountains and waters that seemed alive in their own way. The energy of the land itself felt like an essential part of the medicine, something that reached into every aspect of the experience. There were moments I could feel the volcanic earth under my feet and a sense that the place itself was working with us.
Each detail... the songs of the musicians, the attentiveness of the facilitators, the meals prepared and shared together, felt connected to this same living field. For me, the medicine was not only in the ceremony but in every interaction, every quiet moment, every step taken on the land.
Throughout the retreat, everything felt integrated as one whole experience. Nothing stood apart or felt separate. I left with a sense of having been welcomed into something complete, alive, and profoundly healing. By the end, I felt almost as if all the participants were good friends. There was a natural closeness and trust between us that arose from sharing an experience shaped with so much wisdom and care.
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