I am in my third week at Pacha Mama, which is an alternative community in Costa Rica. Pacha Mama means "Mother Earth".
http://www.pachamama.com/default.asp
There are people here, visitors and residents from all over the world, but the majority are from Israel, Greece and Germany. This community is really a collaboration of people from all different backgrounds and lifestyles, melting into one in which each person has the space to work on themselves in their own way while being supported by the whole community. "we work on ourselves in order to help others, but also we help others in order to work on ourselves".
There are many workshops and spiritual events here. Currently one is happening called Path of Love, which has made for a very intense energy around the commune for the past week since the participants are in silence for this particular retreat. Last week I participated in a Dual Dance called Red Road to the Moon which is a Traditional Mexican Moon Dance lasting two days and nights during the full moon. The purpose of this Dance is to "Reunite women and men, humans and Earth, upholding individual and community, teaching oneness between Earth and Sky". Two Grandmothers from Mexico traveled here to share this ceremony with us. Usually the moon dance is only for women, so this actually was very sacred since this is the first time that men and women participated together, making it the dual dance. During the ceremony we were fasting and praying. We danced all night. When I say dance it is not in the sense that you are most likely thinking. Rather, we had line formations with a leader for each line in a huge round dance floor down by the river. If you looked from up above it would look like we had formed a flower. There are really no words to describe this experience and unfortunately it is disrespectful to make videos or photos of sacred ceremonies so I do not have any to share with you of the actual dance, but the photo attached here is of the entrance to the dance floor with prayer bundles attached. Each person made prayer bundles. 13 of each of the four colors (Yellow, White, Red, Blue). Each color represents a different direction (North, South, East and West) and signifies different spiritual qualities. Each prayer bundle holds a prayer specifically from the person who made it. I will try to give a good description of the dance. If you can imagine a giant drum in the middle being drummed by seven women from the community and praying through singing all night while we are dancing under the full moon for two nights all dressed in white. Involved in this was four sweat lodges, which for me was a new and overwhelming experience. So, basically about 100 of us split into two sweat lodges down by the river. They are domes low to the ground with a pit in the middle. Rocks are heated in a fire and brought in each round. There are generally four rounds. They bring in the hot rocks, pour water on them and we sing a few ceremonial songs, usually in Spanish. It is called a "sweat lodge" for a reason.....obviously you sweat a lot. In fact, it's so hot at time I had to get low to the ground to breathe. It is such a relief when they finally open the door at the end of each round to get more hot rocks because fresh air comes in. You really have to go inside yourself during the sweat lodge to make it the entire time. It is very cleansing for the mind, body and soul if you are able to do it.Check this link for more information, explanation and photos for Red Road to the Moon Dual Dance. http://www.pachamama.com/red-road.asp
I am doing work exchange here 25 hours a week. And I have found myself in the last place I thought I wanted to be after so many years in Food Service during college.....the kitchen. However, it has been very humbling and rewarding. It is a vegetarian commune so all the food is really healthy. |Also, I work with great people who are dedicated to basically volunteering their time and energy to make Pacha Mama what it is. The exchange is free accommodation if you are camping and discounted accommodation if you choose not to camp. You betcha I'm camping. It's so amazing to be in the jungle and so close to nature with others who also really cherish getting back to their roots and loving Mother Earth.
Other than work, each morning I go to yoga, try to fit in a trip to the beach nearby, do some reading and each night I join together with the rest of the community to do silent sitting, which is basically meditaiton in the great hall called Osho Hall. It is really magnificent with marble floors and such amazing energy you can't imagine unless you have experienced it. Already many villagers and visitors have heard that I study Naturopathic Medicine and have come to me for advice. It has been such a pleasure to use what I know to help others when they are not feeling well. My little medical kit was amply stocked for the most common and basic health problems one could run into on a journey around the world. Initially it was for myself in case I personally got sick, but now I feel like a little Che Guevara! All in all the first three and a half weeks of my journey have been amazing. I will spend two and a half more weeks here before continuing on to Peru. I have been humbled and my heart feels more open than ever before. This was such an amazing place to begin all the processing that is in store for me this year.
I would like to share something I found quite inspiring from Pema Chodron's book to end this session:
Dedication of Merit
By this merit, may all attain omniscience,
May it defeat the enemy, wrong doing.
From the stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness, and death,
From the ocean of samsara, may I free all beings.
By the confidence of the golden sun of the great east,
May the lotus garden of the Rigden's wisdom bloom
May the dark ignorance of sentient beings be dispelled
May all beings enjoy profound brilliant glory
Namaste
