Message From the Heart of the Earth: RS Colombian Retreat
RS Message from the Heart of the Earth with Daniel Pinchbeck
Tayrona National Park, Colombia, Dec. 10-19
You're invited to join a nine-day shamanic encounter with two powerful Colombian medicine traditions: the spiritual masters of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Northern Colombia, and the plant medicine ceremonies of the deepest Amazon.
Discover the indigenous wisdom and healing traditions of the Kogi, one of the last surviving pre-Colombian civilizations in South America. The retreat will take place in the northern part of Colombia, 1 hour from Santa Martha, on a private rustic eco reserve on the Caribbean ocean, with wild beaches located at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in the Tayrona National Park. Participants will have a rare opportunity to explore the sacred Kogi way of life through spiritual teachings and ancient rituals. The Kogis will share their traditions and offer instruction to help us strengthen our healing path while we contribute to the healing of the planet.
In addition, participants will take part in 3 sacred ceremonies with Amazonian plant medicine, the "vine of the souls," that will focus on deep healing, discovery and personal transformation. This spiritual excursion will be hosted by Reality Sandwich's editorial director, Daniel Pinchbeck. Colombian healer Nando Vila and his partner Kathi will lead the ceremonies with the Amazonian plant medicine. In this retreat you will be guided into deeper realms, opening you up to the healing energies of this powerful plant teacher. Before and after ceremonies there will be sharing circles for discussions on how to integrate knowledge gained during the ceremony into our daily lives. There will also be opportunities for private consultations that address how to best develop our core intentions during ceremonial works. In addition to our general welcome, we are putting out a call for second time retreat participants to return to the
Kogi Homeland, as there will be specific teachings offered for them to
go deeper, and pick up where they left off in their first retreat.
Mauricio Florez, a Colombian healer who is recognized as an elder by the Kogi nation, will lead our visits with the Kogi. This retreat will induct you into the powerfully transformative consciousness of the Kogi, to deeply connect with nature and discover your power to heal the planet and ourselves. Under the guidance of the Kogi, we gather to give back humbly from our hearts for this life on earth, thereby affirming our commitment to care for and maintain the harmony in our world. As we connect with nature, we commit to conserving and caring for our resources and the future of life on this planet. The elders will teach aspects of Colombian indigenous culture and heritage. We will learn about local plants and how to communicate with nature. We will visit powerful earth altars, various sacred sights where Kogi elders pass prayers and instructions, teaching participants valuable information for their lives and their inherent role as humans to be guardians of mother earth, not just visitors.
Talking circles will be held with Kogi Mamos on traditional knowledge and the relationship with mother earth.
This extraordinary Reality Sandwich Retreat takes place December 10-19 2011.
THE KOGI
The tribes of the Kogi, Arhuacos, Wiwa, Kancuamos live in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Kogi indian culture of Northern Columbia is the last living heritage of pre-Columbian civilization. Their tradition is many thousands of years old and is based on a deep relationship to nature. The Kogis call themselves our “Elder Brother,” and believe themselves to be guardians of the balance of the planet.
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The Kogi believe that by gathering together in humble reverence for life on earth, we help to balance the health and vitality of our own lives and the planet. They view the Sierra Nevada as the heart of the world, a vital and primal source of energy and the origin of spiritual equilibrium of Seineken (the mother earth). For the Kogi, everything that exists has a sacred spirit and should be respected: air and fire, trees and insects, stones and mountains. They live in a continuous dialogue with creation through their traditions and spiritual practices.
In our current time of intense global change, reconnecting with these indigenous traditions can be powerfully transformative for both the individual and the greater planetary consciousness. This retreat will guide participants through a profound experience of the Kogi’s ancient teachings including lessons in: “cosmovision,” the spiritual components of reality and humanity’s role as earth’s guardians; how to communicate with nature and spirit; techniques for curbing excess in one’s life and finding liberation from negative thoughts and depression.
THE RETREAT
Retreat participants will be guided through the mystical, healing rituals and life-affirming knowledge of the Kogi to discover a deeper connection with nature and spiritual reality. In addition to three cleansing plant medicine ceremonies, the week will include: firsthand lessons in the ancient Kogi traditions including plant identification, talking circles and storytelling, and indigenous prayer practices; journeys to sacred nature sights including waterfalls and rivers, a local community, and powerful earth altars; and enlightening visits with the Kogi Mamos, an ancient lineage of spiritual teachers.
During the course of our time together, we will explore the following themes:
- The spiritual components and the role of humanity
- The importance of making pagamentos” payments to Mother Earth, learning to pay for each individual life and everything received from mother earth.
- Sacredness in the practice and places
- Storytelling, myth-making
We will explore practices of the Kogi culture, including:
- Methods of constructive praying
- Mambeo (cocoa chewing ritual)
- Sewing practices and prayers
- Teachings from the elders
- Circles and prayers
- Practices with crystals and instruments for the offerings
Instructions will be given to women and men to learn how to communicate effectively with mother earth effectively. There will also be techniques given for curbing excess in ones life, overcoming negative thoughts and depression.
CEREMONY LEADERS
Nando Vila is a Colombian an environmentalist, practitioner of plant remedies and traditional healing methods. He has worked closely with indigenous groups across South America – assisting with ecological projects and keeping alive the traditions of music, plant medicine and ancient wisdom. Nando offers his gifts of song and purifying healing in many ways, from holding prayer circles, workshops and founding preservation projects and youth leadership programs. His prayers are focused around the connection with mother earth, Pachamama and the continuity of herbal remedy wisdom and earth teachings.
Kathi is a dancer and healer from South Africa and Germany. She has spent time with elders from Bushmen tribes in southern Africa; the Tuareg in the Sahara; Gabonese Eboga priestess Bernadette Riebenot; the Lakota, Navajo and Cherokee in the United States; Xawante,Fulnio and Huni Kuin in Brazil; and the Camsra and Kogi of Colombia. Kathi works toward advocating rituals as a key element in human evolution and initiation into adulthood. She embraces the spirit of the divine feminine through communion with the elements: the earth and its foods, the fire and its transformation, the water and its purifying power, and the air in which we move in our dance of life.
Mauricio Florez is a healer from Colombia, and elder recognized by the Kogi nation. He carries the prayer of healing oneself in relation to the earth and supports the preservation of the ways of ancestral traditions. Mauricio is a trained acupuncturist, herbalist, and specialist in bio-energetic therapies and Kogi and Chinese medicine. He will be leading us into the Kogi culture and facilitating activities with the Kogis during the retreat.
Daniel Pinchbeck is author of 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl, Notes from the Edge Times, and Breaking Open the Head. He is editorial director of Reality Sandwich.
Various Mamos (spiritual leaders) and their wives from the Aruhacos and Kogui tribes from the Sierra Nevada will be present as special guests.
LOCATION
The workshop will take place in the northern part of Colombia, 1 hour from Santa Martha. Participants will be staying at a private rustic eco reserve on the Caribbean ocean, with wild beaches located at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in the Tayrona National Park.
COST & ACCOMMODATIONS
To sign up for the retreat, see the Registration section at the bottom of this page.
$100 discount to Evolver Social Movement Members
* $2,000 per person for bungalows
Specific accommodations are offered on a first come, first served basis, depending on availability. There are private double-occupancy rooms available for couples, as well as singles beds in rooms shared between 3 to 4 participants.
The Retreat cost includes:
* 3 sacred Amazonian plant medicine ceremonies
* Delicious, freshly prepared meals (vegetarian options are available by request)
* Transportation from the Santa Marta airport to Tayrona Park and back (see Travel section below)
* All transportation during retreat
* Guided nature hikes
* Morning toning sessions each day (yoga/qi gung/bioenergetics)
TRAVEL
Please note: Travel into and out of Colombia is not included in the Retreat cost. Participants will need to make their own arrangements to fly into Bogotá, and then to fly to Santa Marta. We recommend to buy both flights in one ticket with the international ticket. Airlines have partnerships with local carries in Colombia, such as Aero Republica or Avianca for example.
The retreat takes place a 1 hour drive from Santa Marta, Colombia.
REGISTRATION
Space for this Reality Sandwich Retreat is limited to 35 participants.
TO REGISTER OR INQUIRE ABOUT COST, EMAIL Jennifer Palmer: jennifer(at)evolver(dot)net
Early Bird Discount: Get $100 off the price if you get your deposit (50% of the total retreat cost) in by Nov 11th to reserve your space. Full payment is due by Dec 2nd.
We look forward to joining you on this unforgettable adventure!
