“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle” – Albert Einstein.
My lucky day
On Tuesday the 22nd of March 2022, I left Mexico City to meet my mountain guide – Juan with whom I was supposed to be climb two volcanoes. I believe that on this day everything that has happened and the decisions that I’ve made since I opened my eyes – created a space for a beautiful experience that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
Good morning Mexico City
In the morning I had a hearty breakfast in one of the local cafes, than from a street vendor I bought some weird mixed tortilla chips covered in thick creamy liquid with avocado on top – I think it was chilaquiles, but not 100% sure!
Anyway, just few minutes after 10 am I met the driver who was supposed to take me to Paso de Cortés. On the way we were meant to stop for lunch and visit Amecameca town but I was full after my big breakfast, and couldn’t wait to see the volcanoes, so we went straight to our destination.
Paso de Cortés
Paso de Cortés at an altitude about 3,400m- which is a saddle between the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes. It is part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt – trust me it is a very magical place. Here, I was supposed to meet my mountain guide, but he was stuck in traffic travelling from Puebla City, and didn’t arrive until hours later.
I was roaming around the place, soaking in the sun, inhaling the fresh mountain air and admiring all the volcanoes: Popocatépetl, Iztaccíhuatl, Pico de Orizaba and La Malinche and beautiful views of the valleys of Puebla and Tlaxcala. Suddenly, I saw some people dressed in beautiful bright clothes, gathering together; so I came closer (of course, curiosity didn’t kill the cat! At least not on this occasion).
People who gathered there were performing a traditional, ancient ritual in front of the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes, asking Grandfather and Mother mountains for blessings. The rituals performed were about cleansing and healing the body, energy, and mind. I was given by Adriana beautiful handcrafted top by Adriana. She said it ‘is a gift from Mexico to Poland, from our people to your people’. I put it on straight away.
Another lady went around me with a palo santo burner, and smudged me and the air around me. You are now protected, this top is filled with strong powers.
I will carry it with me while climbing and I will take it to the top, I said! And it was my promise!
Where the magic happened … video: Itza-Popo
Sometime after we moved in front of Popocatépetl. They set all the instruments, massive seashells which they used for singing, they prepared the offerings to the mountains, herbs, palo santo ‘holy wood burners’, and anything else that they brought as gifts. The shaman asked us to form a circle, and the ritual started. We were given small pieces of cotton collected from the plants which we used to ‘clean’ our body, starting from the top – forehead, eye, lips, chest, arms, hands etc. Next was a special liquid, which we poured on the ground – firstly facing Popocatépetl and later Iztaccíhuatl. Some people also drank it, but I didn’t. After we were given herbs which we spiralled on the ground, for good health. The same with a candle. Each ritual was repeated twice, facing Popocatépetl and after Iztaccíhuatl. We were setting our goals, saying our ‘prayers’, asking for blessings, letting go of the old, letting off the anger, anxiety, bad emotions, sadness and making space for new things. All the offerings were left in the field of grass, some people brought instruments; some food, alcohol, and personal gifts.
The most emotional moment apart from receiving gifts from them, was when Shaman started singing, his voice was travelling so deep inside of me, so many different emotions were awakened, I couldn’t help it … tears just rolled over my cheeks. I couldn’t understand what he was saying but I could feel it, my whole body felt it! The energy of this place and those people was just incredible!
After he finished he walked around the circle, stopping in front of each of us, giving us his blessings. He looked deep into my eyes, like he knew what I was going through, why I was undertaking this journey, what demons I was carrying.
He did his job, ladies started singing and dancing, we were still in the circle, suddenly they all looked up towards the blue sky, I also did. The most incredible, unexplained thing happened, the clouds started swirling around the sun, and eventually they formed a circle around the sun! I was speechless!
And .. No! I didn’t take any drugs to be clear.
Gift of life
One of the people attending the ceremony gave me wrapped in a piece of paper stones, as a blessing. He was impressed with the energy that I carry with me; and wanted me to have it on me. He told me to put it on a plate when I return home. I consider myself extremely lucky, it feels like some unexplained power directs me towards the right places. I felt so welcomed. Those people invited me to share this beautiful experience with them, and they didn’t want anything in return! We are all one energy, we are all one heart! Right? I hugged each of them, thanking them for allowing me to be part of this ceremony! Everything always comes together eventually and there is a reason for every action that we take. If I hadn’t stopped for lunch, if I would have visited Amecameca town, if Juan wasn’t stuck in the traffic I would probably miss this opportunity to be part of something so magical.
It was an amazing way to celebrate the arrival of spring, perfect way to remove the bad energy, clean the body, soul and mind. It’s a way of refocusing and creating space, physically and mentally, for whatever’s next will come my way.
P.S. There was a yoga teacher from Mexico City, Leonardo Estrada Méndez who spoke English and explained and translated things for me 🙂 Thank you!
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