Welcome!
We are so happy that you will be joining us for the Inner Pilgrimage with Ape Chimba and family! This is the first time that Ape will be offering his magic at Yacumama.
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You are about to embark upon a journey of beauty that can bring new perspective to how you see yourself and the world around you.
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While the intention for this journey isn’t necessarily to go immensely deep with the medicine, we can still receive profound healing, insight and beauty through the process. Remember, what we put in, we get back. So, we invite you to embrace the opportunity and follow these recommendations that can help you connect more deeply.
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Know that you will be held in love, and all is welcome. You don't have to be perfect, spiritual or have it together - all you have to do is show up exactly as you are.
We are committed to making you feel safe and prepared. Before we come together, it's important that we have all the information we need to support you in the best way and start to get to know you.
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We'll start this process by having you fill out the registration form linked here, if you haven’t already done so.
You will find the preparation details and information on what to bring below.
Preparation
​​​​​​As you may know, the spirit of our fungi teachers begins to work with us when we say yes to this opportunity. You may start receiving insights or become triggered by something that is ready to be felt and cleared.
In our experience, working with these master teachers becomes more profound with mindful preparation to your commitment.
If possible, it is good to begin preparing a few weeks leading up to the immersion.
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The medicine is a powerful tool to help us return to our true nature but it is not a magic pill. We need to meet the medicine with our openness, courage, presence, and willingness to do what it takes to prepare as well as integrate the lessons into our daily lives so that it is not simply a peak experience but something that deeply transforms our lives.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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​Here are some practices that we have found to be supportive in grounding in our intentional way of approaching the journey.
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CREATING AN ALTAR​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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We invite you to create an altar that will support you in this process of metamorphosis. Each day light a candle and burn some incense, plants or resin to clear your energy at your altar before your meditation or yoga practice.
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Connect into your prayers and intentions for the immersion and offer gratitude, flowers, fruit or anything that feels like a beautiful representation of your prayer.​​​​​​​​​​​​
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When we are in ceremony, it is ultimately a meditation. To prepare your body, mind and spirit, it is highly suggested to drop into meditation, or even stillness, for at least 10 minutes a day.
Moving meditation like walking, dancing or gardening can also be incredibly supportive to quiet the mind, cultivate awareness and connection.
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As much as you can, give yourself the gift of solo time in silence to just be with whatever thoughts, emotions or sensations arise without trying to fix or change anything. The process of allowing, being with and surrendering to what is, is one of the keys to receiving graceful teachings in ceremony.
Another important key is cultivating our connection to our breath. In your meditation and yoga practice focus your awareness on your breath and how it flows through your body.
Notice where you feel areas of blockages or stagnation of your breath and life force energy and see if you can explore what they are connected to and what they are here to teach you.
Yin Yoga is another powerful practice to support with relaxing your nervous system, cultivating a greater awareness of subtle energy, emotions as well as support with surrendering on all levels which is perhaps the greatest preparation for ceremony.
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You can download a guided audio yin yoga practice that Ixchel created that focuses on self love.
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Meditation & Yoga
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Time in Nature
One of the most important parts of both preparation and integration is giving ourselves the gift of time in nature to simply be without distractions. This helps to open and tune our frequency to be able to connect with the spirit of the plants. Walk barefoot, sit directly on the earth, give yourself permission to simply stare at the clouds or the stars. It is equally beneficial to give ourselves this gift as much as we can post retreat.
Diet
We encourage you to listen to your body’s wisdom while following these guidelines. The most important thing is to be eating clean food that is ideally local & organic. Make sure to drink a lot of water for the few days before the retreat as hydration is a multi day process.
We suggest that you refrain from processed foods, chili and spicy foods, fermented food & drink, and refined sugar at least a few days before. It is not necessary but can be helpful to help your body attune to its natural rhythms the day of the ceremony by abstaining from stimulants like coffee. If you wish you can choose to cleanse and refrain from these foods for longer.
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On the day of our ceremonies you can eat a simple meal up until lunch time - about 2pm at latest. It is helpful to eat lighter meals the day of, especially for lunch.
Generally keep your diet vegetarian, (fish and chicken can be ok) and simple without too much food combining, spices, salt or sugar.
It is essential and respectful to the medicine, to avoid recreational drugs, most other medicines, alcohol and processed food for at least a week before we gather and after as well. If you have questions about anything specific please reach out to us.
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If you are taking any pharmaceutical medication, it is very important that you let us know on the registration form so we can determine if there are any contraindications.
This is a wonderful opportunity for cleansing on every level and the more we prepare beforehand, the more receptive we will be.
Sexual Intimacy
When we are sexually intimate with someone our energies merge on many levels. This energy stays with us very strongly for at least a few days and beyond. It is suggested that you not make love for a minimum of 3 days both before and after the ceremony, especially with someone you are not in the container of relationship with. This is so that you can be in your own energetic field.
Keeping your Field Clear
As part of your preparation, we invite you to start to lessen your screen time a couple of days before. It can be helpful to refrain from using technology for at least the first and last hour of each day and take these times when the veil into your subconscious is more open to do some of the practices and journaling suggested here.
We ask that you put your devices on airplane mode and store them in your bags during the journey so as not to distract you, the other participants, and the field.
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It is ideal to give yourself as much time as possible post retreat for integration. At the very least, do not plan anything important for at least one day after the retreat so you can continue to reflect, integrate and be in your own energetic space.
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To keep your field clear please refrain from any intense experiences, conversations, news, movies or media as it can leave imprints in our mind and our energetic body. It is recommended to refrain from these at least a few days before and after our time together.
Journaling / Intentions
​​If there is any fear arising, know that this is completely natural as we prepare to go into the unknown. Journaling before the retreat can help us process fear as well as begin to formulate our intentions for the experience.
Creating our intentions is an important part of the experience. It invites us to go deeper into our WHY - what is the deeper calling inside of us?
It is also beneficial to stay open to the intelligence of the medicine and know that we will always receive exactly what we need even if it is not exactly what we ask for.
It is also beautiful to be in an open enquiry around our intentions and see what comes, especially when we first wake up and right before bed.
Here are a few suggested journaling prompts to prepare for the immersion.
* Is there a thought loop or fear that takes up a lot of space in your mind? Do some free writing asking where it comes from, where it lives in your body, what qualities of energy it has and anything else to bring greater understanding.
* Is there anything unspoken, not forgiven, withheld or incomplete in your life or with your relationships that is weighing on you? Do you feel the energy of this somewhere in your body?
* What are your dreams for your life? If there were no limits around time, money, location, experience, education, etc. what would you be doing with your life right now?
* What fears arise inside of you and what do you feel is holding you back in your life?
* What is the legacy you wish to leave for the future generations? ​​​
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* Choose 3 specific things in your life that you are ready to transform or upgrade and write them out in detail.
Tune into the emotions and how you feel in the timeline where these shifts have already taken place and write out how it feels in as much detail as possible.
* What habits or ways of being do you see that you can shift or release in order to actualize this and live a life of greater liberation?
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* What ways of being would be beneficial to step into to actualize these shifts? ​​​
YACUMAMA WELCOME GUIDE​​
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Please see the welcome guide with everything you need to know about travel to Yacumama and information to support your stay.​​​​
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- Comfortable ceremony attire – anything that feels true for you. It can be nice to present yourself to the medicine in a nice way.
- Some layers as the evenings can cool off and the medicine can bring in temperature fluctuations.
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- Bathing suit for the river – if you feel to come early or if you’re staying the night.
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- Natural insect repellent & itch soothing cream
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- Headlamp/Flashlight/red light
- Reusable water bottle
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- Journal and pen
- Sacred objects for your own altar if you wish
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- Cash for the remainder of the retreat
If there are any of these things that you don't have we can likely help provide them for you. ​​
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Remember that these guidelines are here to support you in your process and to offer a set of practices for how to meet the medicine, and yourself, in a reverential way. Feel into what feels true and supportive for you as that in itself is medicine.
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Please contact us with any questions.
We look forward to welcoming you!​
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​​What to Bring
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​ARRIVAL
Please arrive to Yacumama between 3:30PM and 4:00PM and park in parking lot 2. If parking lot 2 is full, drive back down to parking lot 3 and park accordingly.
Walk to our welcome tent near parking lot 2 to check in and be guided to the Shala.
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We will meet you here!
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We are happy to coordinate private taxis. Please contact us with any questions.
​​​BOOK A ROOM
Option to book a room & stay at Yacumama the night of February 2nd. Room includes breakfast at 9am on Feb 3.
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Stay for The Inner Pilgrimage Integration Workshop at 10:30am on Feb 3 for an extra $40USD.​
Contact us with any questions at info@yacumama.love