Hello friends! Brotherly greetings! We just arrived home after the journey to the Mazatec Sierra So as promised, here is the update. We had not gone to the Sierra since last year when we visited Julia, to our farewell. Since then, the entire grieving process and the closeness we kept with the family was by phone or text. Doña Julia was the head of the family almost in every possible way. Many times Mazatecs operate in a matriarch frame, this was the case of this family since Julia's husband died decades ago. Julia's loss is big and left a huge empty space, and still, family members don't know exactly how to fill it. Julia passed only last December. Obviously, they are still grieving. Yet they are standing up, they are active, challenged, and still a bit confused, they keep alive their good mood and good humor despite the sadness they live. They all say: "We are learning to live again" The majority are young people, some teens, children, and recently arrived babies. The biggest son of Julia, Fausto, and his wife just received a baby two weeks ago. A girl, Fausto is considering to name her "Julia" To honor his mother.
The Ceremonies It was very interesting to see how all related to the sacred plants and ceremonies are such an important aspect of their culture that it is not affected by whatever is going on in everyday life, not even grieving... All their work and attention around sacred plants, ceremonies, and healing is profound, special, and important, you can feel their actions with their minds in silence... Sacred plants, a magical place outside of the everyday world. The ceremony went smoothly, the participants had a very good and transcendental experience and found things they were looking for.
We have planed a near visit Basically, because we know they are now struggling, and need support, the pandemic did arrive at the sierra, basically, every business closed, many went broke, and almost everyone is jobless now, but still needing resources to live. Such is what we now saw. Our visit to their home provides them with work to earn very needed resources for the house, family, and animals. The days we visit them every family member has a job and they all team up smoothly, they do it very well. It's an honor to be received at home and be taken care of with such care.
In the Mazatec Sierra 35 years ago
Hermelinda (The mother of Julieta) taught me that "One hand washes the other hand" because one hand alone cannot fully wash.
Meaning they give us something we don't have, and we give them something they don't have.
...two hands help each other, both benefit, both win, both clean both bettered...
Would you come with us next August?
The Mazatec Sierra has since ever been a territory of magic, healing, lucidity, and consciousness thanks to its extraordinary people and their profound Sacred Plants. A place to transcend, grow, find, detach, forgive, clean, find... This time your visit would have an additional layer of beauty, providing the family with work and resources to have it easier at this moment. Details here: https://www.concienciaindigena.org/mazatec-sierra
You can't come but still, wish to support? Your donations are welcome. (They will be given hand to hand) <3 DONATE: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=nBFL8bx8y8Eq-xuPmI487kXJukbomKBjqTvrYRDGd1LnOVebBcm7semWDxwJ-w3Oodkp-O9G4c0oPGJH Thank you!