Peru. The land of wonder, color, and love.
My most recent adventure to Peru was packed with soulful experiences and meaningful life lessons. Here are six things Peru helped me to remember.
Presence
Deadlines were looming. My inbox was blossoming.
Normally, when I travel it’s easy for me to wrangle my attention, open my cherished MacBook Air and blast through what needs to be done.
But, in Peru, the majesty of the mountains and the kindness of the people reminded me of what matters.
Productivity was traded for presence.
Beauty
She was four years old.
Her eyes were shining with light as she shyly raised her hand up to my face and offered me a flower. I knelt down to thank her and she jumped into my arms for a quick hug before squirming away to guide me up a winding path to her school.
As I walked up the path, I listened to the symphony of conch shells, handmade drums, and wooden flutes played by the colorfully dressed Shamanic apprentices who proudly welcomed us into their world.
Beauty, in all her forms, cracked me open.
Intuition
After a making an offering to the mountains, we were invited to a traditional Peruvian meal.
I make a point of exploring as much of the culture and the land as possible when I travel. I have picked a family of chiggers out of my feet after traipsing through the Guyanese jungle barefoot and I have spent three days recovering from a massive sunburn after accepting a dare to swim between two islands in Tobago.
Saying yes isn’t always the wisest choice. But, I do it anyway.
On this day, my intuition was strong and told me decline the traditional meal and eat the protein bar I tucked into my bag. But, my desire to experience the culture overrode my intuition.
After sipping San Pedro, savoring a traditional Peruvian meal made by the children, and sitting in a natural hot spring for a few hours my insides were churning and the meal came up.
Even though I felt gross, I was grateful.
I nodded a bow of appreciation to my intuition for trying to warn me, gave thanks to the locals for the meal, and closed my eyes to let the lesson sink in while my stomach settled down.
Expansion
Travel expands – comfort zones, assumptions, perspectives, gratitude, community, trust, love.
While in Peru I remembered …
… sisterhood is sacred
… running water is a luxury
… love transcends language
… conflict can deepen compassion
… a solid Internet connection is uncommon
… awe can be found everywhere – if you remember to look
… transformation doesn’t always feel the way you think it will feel
Movement
We saw mothers walking with children strapped to their backs with brilliantly colored blankets, market-goers walking home with their purchases stacked on their heads, teens walking through the village streets with alpacas on leashes, and children walking for miles to go to school.
When returning from the Shamanic love ceremony, we saw a very {very} old woman walking down a dusty, bumpy mountain road. Her hair was white and deep lines were etched into her skin betraying a long life lived under the sun. Her strong body and feisty disposition were evidence of many hours walking up and down the steep mountain roads.
I remembered how the human body is made for movement, how strong we are, and how sacred a simple walk can be.
Soul
Those who embodied the values of a great life – courage, community, and consciousness – created Machu Picchu. They stepped outside the status quo, mustered their strength, harnessed their vision by working together, and honored the soul by constructing a sacred monument.
They created something remarkable by taking the road less travelled. You can too.
Out of all the adventures I’ve had, Peru has been the most soulful.
Images cannot capture the beauty and words cannot convey the richness. It’s a country that must be experienced to be understood.
I am taking a small group to Peru from March 20 – 26, 2016.
If it’s calling to you, please join us.
This is a luxury adventure {you won’t be picking chiggers out of your feet and the food is incredible}. We’ll explore ancient ruins, stay in a luxury retreat center in the heart of the sacred valley, enjoy organic meals together, and engage in life design sessions.
You can secure your spot right over here or explore the details right here.
Whether you join us for a Great Life Adventure or create your own, may your exploration be soulful and sacred.