I had somehow stumbled across a link whilst surfing the internet and had bookmarked it. It was for a tour to the Mayan Temples n Guatemala. That bookmark called me and I ended up selling my house in Dunedin. I packed up my life in New Zealand and set off.  It all happened pretty quickly.

I was going to Guatemala, I didn’t know why, I just knew I had to go. Here I was, I was in Guatemala. The tour was called ‘Awakening to the New Earth – Soul Immersion with the Maya Elders’. (a lot of things listed were not a part of the tour). It was hosted by Deborah Skye. 

After a night in Flores, I went to El Remate. This was where we were to be based for the Soul Journey. It was to take place from the 8th – 23rd October. I got there first, the day before everyone else and met Deborah.  I am accustomed to sharing a room with others in backpackers style when I travel. Deborah showed me to my own private room with ensuite, and it felt quite decadent!  The rooms were open with no windows, and big mosquito nets.

Deborah is Canadian, and had been to Guatemala many times, so was quite at home. She took me to a nearby pool, there were Howler monkeys performing for us in the trees above. I swear not. They wait until you look up at them. Then they perform by shaking the tree and letting out lots of monkey noises.  They have a real bravado and cheekiness about them, and make quite a sound at night. My favourite part of the jungle in Guatemala is the monkeys – they are a delight.

We were staying at Hotel Eco Gringo Perdido. Located on the quiet shores of Lago del Peten Itza (Lake Itza). This is a great lodge right on the lake. The staff were really friendly. The food was fresh, local, and plentiful. Tortillas were made on an open fire stove. Amazing sunsets on the lake. Swimming in the water was gorgeous. It was especially refreshing after getting back from the El Mirador excursion. When the whole body was in recovery mode.

There were two men and two women taking the tour with Deborah.  Linda (from England) Rob and Michael (two Canadians) and myself. We went on day trips to Tikal, Yaxha, and Uaxactun. Before the main trip to El Mirador.

On one of the days, Deborah organized that we helped concrete a floor for a local family. We all supplied the money for the concrete. It was hard work because it was hot. Rob and Michael did most of it. We carried buckets of water to them.  In the rainy season, the houses can be quite muddy, so the concrete means less mud around the house. Linda, Deborah and I snuck away to the local café for delicious smoothies. I think the others were still mixing concrete, sorry guys! I must say that it was amazing what they did.

We enjoyed those times talking together outside.  The lodge is very much about being outside, as everything is open.

After the El Mirador walk, we went to a local orphanage.. We were drawing and played games with the children, this is one of the drawings.  The orphanage is a part of Ix Canaan. Anne Lossing is the founding member of this organisation. She is a friend of Deborahs, and we all met with Anne that day. She took us out and showed us the set up. “Project Ix-Canaan offers programs of Health, Education and Opportunity, to enable the people of the jungles to become truly: “Ix-Canaan – the Guardians of the Rainforest”.  Website

She also organised project Unificación Maya. A cultural and spiritual festival, held every year up to 2012. This festival was run as a ‘portal to the new cycle‘.

She says “The Indigenous Maya believe that this is the dawning of a new Age for mankind … an age of Brotherhood … a time of Unificación … the coming together of the Eagle and the Condor.    They believe they must begin by bringing together the Mayan tribes after being driven from their lands in other parts of Guatemala. Years of persecution caused many of the people in the larger communities to deny their Mayan roots and they no longer wear their traje (Mayan clothing) or follow their Sacred Calendar. Amongst the others that still live in their remote jungle communities, so many of their Shamans were butchered by the army that many have lost their connection to the Calendar and retain only the vestiges of their practices.

That said, there is a resurgence all over Guatemala of interest in the Mayan Calendar and Sacred Fire Ceremonies. The President of Guatemala, Alvaro Colum, has been initiated as a Mayan Spiritual Guide. The Mayan Shamans from the mountains and lake area are accepting more and more “novices” for training every day (both local and foreigners) and are being asked to travel internationally to speak and do ceremony. This past year, Tata Pedro spent a month touring the United States, and a month in Germany and England.

The roots of Unificación Maya grew from a vision. Fifteen years ago, when I first drove into Peten to visit Tikal, the roads were like dusty washboards and after jouncing slowly along for about 200 km., we were forced to overnight at Finca Ixobel, a famous stop for backpackers along the route. That night, under the full moon in February, I sat in a jungle clearing to meditate, and I saw a bright beam of Light, shining like a beacon up into the Center of the Universe from Peten. This brilliant Light was made up of the combined intention of many people that would gather together here in the jungle homeland of the Maya. I knew in that moment that I had reached the end of my journey … and the seed of Unificación Maya had been planted.

Here in Peten most of the traditional teachings have been lost.  During the war, jungle villages were bombed out of existence so they wouldn’t harbor the guerrillas, thus many rattle, medicine bag or talisman for the final day.” Anne Lossing.

We had lunch with her.  I was feeling very ill that day. Something I had eaten on El Mirador walk did not agree with me. I couldn’t keep anything down.  Was fasting a lot on these days.

Sept 23^rd last day of tour, we all packed up and said goodbyes… It had been an immense trip for all of us, and one that will be etched into our lives forever.  I went not far, back to Flores, as felt it was a good place to rest for a bit.