I often take time out of my crazy chaotic life to go to places where I can find that stillness, that peace that tells my heart, "everything is okay at this moment. You don't have to do anything. There is no fire to put out, no expectations to meet, no rush, just be." The places I go to are very remote and physically challenging but sublime. The mountains and lakes are alive and help me heal.

I found out that to truly be at peace, I don't have to go to 15,000 feet of elevation. We can find that sacred mountain within us by taking a moment every day to do just that, bring stillness to heal ourselves on purpose.

What if I told you that in that moment of stillness is where you get to talk to the real you, where you get to hear your voice and no longer have to please anyone but yourself? At that moment, miracles happen. Truth moves forward, stares you in the face, and says, "you cannot avoid me anymore."

How would your life change if you took five minutes daily to face your truth, heal, and be yourself?

My life is far from perfect, but it's full of miracles. I find peace in every challenge. I find answers in the chaos of life and make sacred mountains come to me daily. I want that for you, so please take those five minutes to find yourself every day so you can also live a life full of miracles.

A menudo hago tiempo en lmi oca y caótica vida para ir a lugares donde puedo encontrar esa quietud, esa paz que le dice a mi corazón, "todo está bien en este momento. No tienes que hacer nada. No hay fuego que apagar, no expectativas que cumplir, no hay prisa, simplemente sé". Los lugares a los que voy son muy remotos y físicamente desafiantes pero sublimes. Las montañas y los lagos están vivos y me ayudan a sanar.

Descubrí que para estar verdaderamente en paz, no tengo que subir a 15,000 pies de altura. Podemos encontrar esa montaña sagrada dentro de nosotros si nos tomamos un momento todos los días para hacer precisamente eso, traer quietud para sanarnos a nosotros mismos con intención.

¿Qué pasaría si te dijera que en ese momento de quietud es donde puedes hablar con tu verdadero yo, donde puedes escuchar tu voz y ya no tienes que complacer a nadie más que a ti mismo? En ese momento, suceden los milagros. La verdad avanza, te mira a la cara y dice: "Ya no puedes evitarme".

¿Cómo cambiaría tu vida si tomaras cinco minutos diarios para enfrentar tu verdad, sanar y ser tú mismo?

Mi vida está lejos de ser perfecta, pero está llena de milagros. Encuentro paz en cada desafío. Encuentro respuestas en el caos de la vida y hago que montañas sagradas vengan a mí diariamente. Quiero eso para ti, así que tómate esos cinco minutos para encontrarte a ti mismo todos los días para que también puedas vivir una vida llena de milagros.

(Versión es Español a continuación)

New Year's Resolutions are something I don't do. Putting energy into impossible things I haven't been able to do to be someone I'm not, isn't appealing. Instead, I like to look back at the past year and ask myself: What is the one thing I haven't dared to do but know I must do?

A few decades ago, I camped on the beach with my closest friends on New Year's Eve. Midnight came around, and after following the tradition of eating twelve grapes and making wishes for the new year, I realized there was something I hadn't dared to do. I had recently graduated from college and had the opportunity to start a life in a new country. I had my visa and the money to travel, but I lacked the courage to make it happen. Somehow as I ate those grapes, I gained the courage to take that one step forward. Within a month, I was in a new land, a different hemisphere; summer turned into winter, fear into budding hope, and dreams into new realities.

Most of us have the potential to be happier with who we are, but something is always stopping us. We get distracted by family obligations and get stuck in life's rhythm. We stay in relationships that have run their course. We keep jobs we are too afraid to quit, delayed decisions we know we need to make, hold on to homes we should sell, and so on. We do this because we fear the consequences of these decisions. We will know once we make them. We only need the courage to go into the unknown.

So today, my guides and I want to give you a New Year's present in the form of a prayer/meditation that will help you have the courage to say YES to the one thing you have been too afraid to do.

Bring your hand to your heart and breath slowly until you feel a sense of peace coming into your body. Take your time. Then say out loud or write on a piece of paper: "Dear father/mother God, give me the courage to …(fill in the blank with the thing you wish to do), and as I make this change, please guide me and protect me along the path that is opening in front of me into my new life." Now, allow divine oneness to fill you with the energy of courage, one of the many versions of undiluted love, that force that makes anything happen. You are now receiving the purest quality of LOVE and support. You can visualize a waterfall of white diamonds and ruby-red energy bathing you. And as you receive this energy, your whole being starts changing into the colors of a beautiful singing rainbow. Take your time to bathe in this beautiful energy and enjoy the process.

Now you are a courageous rainbow warrior, ready to make the impossible possible.

Una alternativa a las resoluciones de Año Nuevo: como hacer que Sucedan Verdaderos Milagros

Una alternativa a las resoluciones de Año Nuevo: Hacer que Sucedan Verdaderos Milagros

Las Resoluciones de Año Nuevo son algo que no hago. Poner energía en cosas imposibles que no he podido hacer para ser alguien quien no soy, no me atrae. En cambio, me gusta mirar al año que ha transcurrido y me pregunto: ¿Qué es lo único que no me he atrevido a hacer, pero sé que debo hacer?

Hace algunas décadas, acampé en la playa con mis amigos más cercanos en la víspera de Año Nuevo. Llegó la medianoche y después de seguir la tradición de comer doce uvas y pedir deseos para el nuevo año, me di cuenta de que había algo que no me había atrevido a hacer. Recientemente me había graduado de la universidad y tenía la oportunidad de comenzar una vida en un nuevo país. Tenía mi visa y el dinero para viajar, pero me faltaba el coraje para hacerlo realidad. De alguna manera, mientras comía las uvas, obtuve el valor para dar ese paso adelante. En menos de un mes, estaba en una nueva tierra, un hemisferio diferente, el verano se convirtió en invierno, el miedo en esperanza naciente y los sueños en nuevas realidades.

La mayoría de nosotros tenemos el potencial de ser más felices con quienes somos, pero siempre hay algo que nos detiene. Nos distraemos con las obligaciones familiares y nos estancamos en el ritmo de la vida. Nos mantenemos en relaciones que han seguido su curso. Mantenemos los trabajos que tenemos demasiado miedo de dejar, retrasamos las decisiones que sabemos que debemos tomar, nos aferramos a las casas que deberíamos vender, etc. Hacemos esto porque tememos las consecuencias de estas decisiones. Las sabremos una vez que las tomemos. Sólo necesitamos el coraje de adentrarnos a lo desconocido.

Así que hoy, mis guías y yo queremos darte un regalo de Año Nuevo en forma de oración/meditación que te ayudará a tener el coraje de decir SÍ a la única cosa que has tenido demasiado miedo de hacer.

Lleva tu mano a tu corazón y respira lentamente hasta que sientas una sensación de paz en tu cuerpo. Tómate tu tiempo. Luego di en voz alta o escribe en una hoja de papel: "Querido padre/madre Dios, dame el valor para... (llena el espacio en blanco con lo que deseas hacer), y mientras realizo este cambio, por favor guíame y protégeme en el camino que se abre ante mí hacia mi nueva vida". Ahora, permite que la unidad divina te llene con la energía del coraje, una de las muchas versiones del amor puro, esa fuerza que hace que todo suceda. Ahora estás recibiendo la más pura calidad de AMOR y apoyo. Puedes visualizar una cascada de diamantes blancos y energía rojo rubí bañándote. Y a medida que recibes esta energía, todo tu ser comienza a cambiar a los colores de un hermoso arcoíris que canta. Tómate tu tiempo para bañarte en esta hermosa energía y disfruta el proceso.

Ahora eres un valiente guerrero arcoíris, listo para hacer posible lo imposible.

In my practice, I've witnessed that most family conflicts arise from wanting to change the person we love, whether it is a husband, child, or parent, into someone or something they are not. We want them to be successful, motivated, thin, straight, sober, wealthy...and the list goes on forever.

The conflict arises when we tell them how unhappy we are when we see them "failing." We focus on what is going wrong in their lives but not on what is going right. We become their judge and executioner instead of their cheerleader and advocate. We don't realize that we are projecting our unhappiness and faulty programming onto them.

Society has programmed us into believing a successful person has the perfect family, career, body, and mental health. In short, society wants us to believe in unicorns. Sorry, but they don't exist in this earthy reality.

What would happen if instead of focusing on your loved ones' imperfections, we focus on what they do right?

But you'd tell me, "what do I do with my frustration and pain from seeing them making the same mistakes over and over?

You surrender it to divine source. You say in your prayers:

"Dear mother/father God, please heal my pain. Please take my suffering away and fill me with your love and appreciation. Fill me up with the love I'm craving so I can also share it with my loved ones. So I can accept them as they are, imperfectly perfect."

And when you are full of love, tell your relatives how much you care for them. Listen without giving advice. Tell them that you'll love them no matter how many mistakes they make. Be to them what you want them to be to you. Let that be the best Christmas gift, unconditional love.

Water has the incredible capacity to penetrate any space it gets to. Its fluidity allows it to get to any crevice, any empty space and any corner of everything. It’s influenced by the forces of nature.

Water is like love, it’s fluid, and powerful. Humans are primarily composed of water, so they are too affected by the forces of nature. When mother earth’s mood runs stormy, then water forms waves and surges. When our lives are stormy, then the water in our body, our emotions, also storms.

The element of water teaches us about fluidity, teaches us to go with the flow of life. Going against the flow is a fool’s errand. We can build dams and bridges and divert the path of rivers. But when we do that with our internal fluidity, when we try to control who we are and how we feel, we go against the current of nature. We get stormy inside and we bring tragedy into our lives, the bridges we build, and the dams we create around our hearts will eventually get in the way. And water, instead of flowing, will become stagnant and cause decay.

Water teaches us that things have to flow, as love does: without restriction, without dams, and without conditions.

Mother water sings to us a story that brings us valuable information about where it comes from: what’s up river. A song about what has happened, what is happening, and what is about to happen. It teaches us about continuity and constancy.

Ultimately, if you want to hear your internal song, you have to listen to the messages of the water inside your body. You have to listen to your emotions because they also reveal where water is becoming stagnant. Your emotions tell you what is blocking the way of your flow. And by removing the boulders in the path of your flow, you soon return to calmness.

If you want to learn more our documentary pelase join our Facebook group:

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A few weeks ago, I arrived in Lima, Peru with my husband. Since it is my birthplace, I felt right at home immediately. But my husband was having a hard time. He was not feeling comfortable and was on edge. I was starting to get annoyed when I realized I needed to look at the energy of the situation.

I started looking at my husband's energy, and I realized that his vibration was wrong for the city. He is a successful entrepreneur, used to closing deals left and right with a happy-go-lucky attitude, but used to having things quite perfect. Lima is a different beast. Lima is about pleasures and patience. It's about enjoying fantastic food, good friendships, terrific drinks, and accepting chaos —something we despise in America. It can be very frustrating for someone coming from a place where everything is almost perfectly organized.

So after I realized what was going on, I told him: "you need to match the frequency of this place because right now you are resisting it, trying to change it into something that it is not." I could see immediately, almost as if a light bulb came on, that he realized that was true. He needed to match the place he was in to have a good time. I saw his face relaxing and his body feeling more at ease, almost as if melting into the air and becoming one with the damp cold air of Lima in the winter. And just like that, his resistance was gone.

We had three incredible weeks. We walked every day through all the beautiful parks, ate by the sea, and navigated the chaotic traffic like it was our second nature.

I always tell my family before a big journey, "when in Rome, do as the Romans do." Don't try to change a place into what you want it to be. Instead, learn from it. Embrace its uniqueness and become one with it. You'll discover new parts of yourself you never knew existed.

Hace unas semanas llegué a Lima, Perú con mi esposo. Como es mi lugar de nacimiento, me sentí como en casa inmediatamente. Pero mi marido estaba pasando por un momento difícil. No se sentía cómodo y estaba nervioso. Estaba empezando a fastidiarme cuando me di cuenta de que necesitaba mirar la energía de la situación. Empecé a mirar psíquicamente la energía de mi esposo y me di cuenta de que su vibración no era la adecuada para la ciudad. Es un empresario de éxito, acostumbrado a cerrar tratos a diestra y siniestra con una actitud despreocupada, pero acostumbrado a que las cosas salgan perfectas. Lima es un animal diferente. Lima es de placeres y paciencia. Se trata de disfrutar de comida fantástica, buenas amistades, bebidas fabulosas y aceptar el caos, algo que despreciamos en Estados Unidos. Puede ser muy frustrante para alguien que viene de un lugar donde todo está casi perfectamente organizado.

Entonces, después de darme cuenta de lo que estaba pasando, le dije: "necesitas igualar la frecuencia de este lugar porque ahora mismo lo estás resistiendo, tratando de convertirlo en algo que no es". Pude ver de inmediato, casi como si se encendiera una bombilla, que se dio cuenta de que era cierto. Necesitaba coincidir con el lugar en el que estaba para pasar un buen rato. Vi su rostro relajándose y su cuerpo sintiéndose más a gusto, casi como si se derritiera en el aire y se convirtiera en uno con el aire húmedo y frío de Lima en el invierno. Y así, su resistencia desapareció.

Tuvimos tres semanas increíbles. Caminamos todos los días a través de todos los hermosos parques, comimos junto al mar y navegamos en el tráfico caótico como si fuera nuestra segunda naturaleza.

Siempre le digo a mi familia antes de un gran viaje, "cuando estés en Roma, haz como los romanos". No trates de cambiar un lugar a lo que quieres que sea. En vez de eso, aprende de ello. Abraza su singularidad y conviértete en uno con ella. Descubrirás nuevas partes de ti mismo que no sabías que existían.

I think of ego as the big elephant in the room. The big monster you have to navigate around. Ego is like the fancy car you can only drive in special occasions, and only certain people are allowed to jump in. Ego requires high maintenance. It's like the crazy aunt you have to watch your words around because if you say the wrong thing she might bite your head off.

Ego is the personality you came with in this life, but I'd rather let my soul lead. Instead, I choose to look within myself to find the answers I need. It is hard though because my ego is a tough nut to crack.

Nobody but you knows your truth. The problem is when you let your ego dictate who you are and how you need to live your life instead of your soul. Surrender your ego to your soul's purpose and you'll learn what happiness is.

What is the ego? The voice in your head that makes you doubt your first instincts, that part of you that always second guesses and makes decisions out of fear. Your ego tries to keep you safe because it sees danger everywhere. The ego has lost its connection to the divine, the ego is its own personal God ⏤only its truth is real⏤that's why ego has to be always in control. However, ego is just as fragile as an Image reflected in a mirror. Don't let your ego lead your life out of false impressions but instead, let your soul shine through the blanket of your ego.

Ego does not listen to the voice of love but the voice of fear. It does not believe in miracles, only in things it can control.

When do you know your ego is making decisions in your life?

When you feel contracted instead of expanded.

When your life is ruled by fear instead of love

When you always imagine the worst-case scenario instead of happy outcomes

When you choose fear over love.

Living a purposeful life is just that simple. Choose love over fear, choose soul truth over ego's truth, choose the glass half full over half-empty. Flip the light on in the dark room of life. It's your right and your choice.

I think of ego as the big elephant in the room.The big monster you have to navigate around. Ego is like the fancy car you can only drive in special occasions and only certain people are allowed to jump in. Ego requires high maintenance. Its like the crazy aunt you have to watch your words around because if you say the wrong thing she might bite your head off.

Ego is the personality you came with in this life, but I’d rather let my soul lead. Instead I choose to look within myself to find the answers I need. It is hard though because my ego is a tough nut to crack.

Nobody but you knows your truth. The problem is when you let your ego dictate who you are and how you need to live your life instead of your soul. Surrender your ego to your soul’s purpose and you’ll learn what happiness is.

What is the ego? The voice in your head that makes you doubt your first instincts, that part of you that always second guesses and makes decisions out of fear. Your ego tries to keep you safe because it sees danger everywhere. The ego has lost its connection to the divine, the ego is its own personal God ⏤only its truth is real⏤that’s why ego has to be always in control. However ego is just as fragile as an Image reflected in a mirror. Don't let your ego lead your life out of false impressions but instead let you soul shine through the blanket of your ego.

Ego does not listen to the voice of love but the voice of fear. It does not believe in miracles only in things it can control.

When do you know your ego is making decisions in your life?

When you feel contracted instead of expanded.

When your life is ruled by fear instead of love

When you always imagine the worst case scenario instead of happy outcomes

When you choose fear over love.

Living a purposeful life is just that simple. Choose love over fear, choose soul truth over ego’s truth, choose the glass half full over half-empty. Flip the light on in the dark room of life. It’s your right and your choice.

"Queridos Ángeles y Arcángeles, queridos guías, maestros ascendidos, saben que vengo a ustedes con dolor en mi corazón ya que toda la Tierra ahora llora por sus hijos. ¿Qué nos pueden decir ahora que estamos pasando por momentos tan difíciles de pérdida? y desesperación?" Mientras digo estas palabras, siento en mi corazón dolor y pena, llanto. Siento en mi corazón el sufrimiento de Jesús. Lo escucho decir: "Confía en tu corazón porque a pesar de que está pasando por tanto dolor, tiene las respuestas que necesitas. Confía en tu corazón, querido humano".

Pregunto: "¿Cómo puedo ver soluciones si todo lo que siento es dolor?"

"El amor es la respuesta. El amor es todo lo que necesitas. Envía a la gente de Ucrania tu amor, apoyo y oraciones. En el amor, todo está bien, todo se comprende y se acepta. Todo está bien".

"¿Estás diciendo que si todos enviamos nuestra energía de amor a la gente de Ucrania, sobrevivirán y salvarán a su país?" Digo, confundida.

"Confía, cree, regocíjate en el amor del mundo porque el amor es lo más grande que puedes hacer por ellos en este momento. Envía tu amor, envía tu poder, ora, cree, regocíjate".

"¿Cómo puedo regocijarme cuando hay tanto sufrimiento?"

“¿Recuerdas cuando eras más joven y pasabas momentos difíciles en tu vida? ¿Gracias a esos momentos difíciles, te das cuenta de que estás donde estás? ¿Que el cambio no se da sin sufrimiento y sacrificio? ¿Que hay momentos en la vida en los que tienes que caminar a través de las brasas del infierno para ascender al cielo?"

"Si, entiendo."

"De la misma manera, la gente de Ucrania es la ofrenda para ese gran cambio en la conciencia de tu planeta. Los grandes cambios vienen con grandes sacrificios, pero deben permanecer positivos. Cree, confía y envíales tu amor, oraciones, y apoyo.

"¿Quién es este que habla?" Pregunto.

"Yo soy quien soy. Yo soy Él".

"Entonces, sabes sobre el sacrificio, el dolor y el amor, ¿por qué es necesario el sacrificio para que ocurra un gran cambio?"

"Imagínate un gran incendio, ardiendo y propagándose en un bosque. Se requiere viento fuerte para extender el fuego, viento salvaje, se necesita el combustible adecuado, las condiciones adecuadas, y luego algo debe quemarse y transformarse. Algo debe cambiar. Se debe elevarse en frecuencia y vibración como el humo que sube al aire, no pasa sin quemarse, algo debe transmutarse.

"¿Por qué los ucranianos?"

“Porque así fue escrito y decidido”.

"Entonces, ¿qué podemos hacer las personas normales para ayudar?"

"Orar, clamar, levantar las manos al cielo y pedir. Porque los escuchamos, los escucha el cielo, pidan ayuda, y vendremos a ayudar".

"¿Algo más que nos quieras decir?"

"Amor, no te olvides del amor".

"Gracias, Maestro, gracias".

"Dear Angels and Archangels, dear guides, ascended masters, you know I come to you with pain in my heart as the whole Earth is now crying for her children. What can you tell us now that we are going through such difficult times of loss and despair?" As I say these words, I feel in my heart pain and sorrow, weeping. I feel in my heart the suffering of Jesus. I hear him say, "trust in your heart because even though it is going through so much pain, it has the answers that you need. Trust in your heart, dear human."

I ask, "How can I see solutions if all I feel is pain?"

"Love is the answer. Love is all you need. Send the people of Ukraine your love, support, and prayers. In love, everything is fine; everything is understood and accepted. Everything is okay.

"Are you saying that if we all send our love energy to the people of Ukraine, they will survive and save their country? I say, confused.

"Trust, believe, rejoice in the love of the world because love is the greatest thing you can do for them right now. Send your love, send your power, pray, believe, rejoice."

"How can I rejoice when there is so much suffering?"

"Remember when you were younger and went through difficult times in your life? Thanks to those difficult moments, do you realize that you are where you are, thanks to those difficult moments? That change does not happen without suffering and sacrifice? That there are times in life where you have to walk through the coals of hell to ascend into heaven?"

"Yes, I understand."

"In the same way, the people of Ukraine are the offering for that big shift on the consciousness of your planet. Big changes come with big sacrifices, But you have to remain positive. Believe, trust, and send them your love, prayers, and support.

"Who is this speaking?" I ask.

"I am who I am. I am He."

"So, you know about sacrifice and pain and love, why is sacrifice necessary for a big change to occur?"

"Imagine a big fire, burning and spreading in a forest. Strong wind is required to extend the fire, wild wind, the right fuel is necessary, the right conditions, and then something needs to be burned and transformed. Something must change. It must raise in frequency and vibration like the smoke rising up into the air. It does not happen without burning; something must transmute.

"Why the Ukrainians?"

"Because that is how it was written and decided."

"So, what can we regular people do to help?"

"Pray, cry, rising your hands to the heavens and ask. Because we are listening, the heavens are listening, you ask for help, and we will come and help."

"Anything else you what to tell us?"

"Love, don't forget about love."

"Thank you, Master, thank you."

Mi esposo y yo viajamos a Perú y Bolivia con un grupo de estudiantes de Geología con la intención de aprender sobre la minería en estos países. Visitamos unas minas muy exitosas y lo más interesante fue ver come el concepto del Ayni todavía existe en estas comunidades, especialmente en Perú. Aquí uno puede encontrar unas minas exitosas con largas expectativas de vida. El éxito de estas minas no depende solamente del valor de sus acciones en la bolsa de valores o cuanto dinero producen para la compañía. Su éxito se basa también en los beneficios que brindan a las comunidades que las rodean. Estos beneficios son brindados a la comunidad en forma de trabajos, educación y atención médica, es una situación en la que ambas partes se benefician. Ese es el modelo perfecto del Ayni. Sin embargo, al cruzar la frontera con Bolivia, la circunstancias cambiaron. Después de un frustrante atento de cruzar la frontera sin visas, y un poco de magia y "negociación" se nos permitió entrar al país. Bolivia es uno de esos países en los que los Americanos no son muy bien vistos. Su presidente a puesto en vigencia la regla del "ojo por ojo" con nuestro país. Los Bolivianos tienen que pagar entrada y reunir requisitos para entrar a los Estados Unidos, y consecuentemente, los Estadunidenses también tienen que reunir ciertos requisitos y pagar entrada. Obviamente, nos enteramos de esta situación un poco tarde.

Continuamos nuestra visita a una de las más controversiales minas en el mundo, la mina de Cerro Rico en Potosí. En nuestro camino a la ciudad podíamos ver esta montaña desde muy lejos. Dominaba el paisaje de la misma manera que subyuga la vida de los Potosinos.

La mina de Cerro Rico en Bolivia fue descubierta por los españoles poco después de la conquista y es una mina rica en varios minerales, especialmente plata. Con tal motivo, fue puesta en producción inmediatamente para el beneficio de la Corona Española. Los indígenas de la localidad fueron forzados a trabajar en las minas a través de un sistema de labor forzada llamado Mita. Los españoles utilizaron la religión para intimidar a los indios, diciéndoles, que Dios los castigaría si no les obedecían. Los pobres indios les creyeron a los españoles y obedecieron. Lo interesante de la historia es que cuando los indios se referían a Dios, ellos no podían pronunciar las letras D o S, ya que estos sonidos no son comunes en la lengua quechua. Ellos pronunciaban la palabra Dios como "Tío" y al pasar del tiempo este Dios fue conocido en El Tío, un Dios malévolo, prácticamente, el mismo Diablo.

Mientras nos preparábamos para visitar esta mina, nos informamos que este "Dios" , vive en las entrañas de la montaña, y que hasta el día de hoy, los mineros le pagan tributo. "Somos católicos fuera de la mina, pero adentro le pagamos culto al Tío," el diablo, sino, "el tío nos puede matar."

La mina de Cerro Rico es responsable por la muerte de más de 8 millones de personas desde la conquista, ya sea por silicosis o accidentes mineros. Los temores de los mineros no son infundados, las condiciones de trabajo son horribles, y la expectativa de vida de los mineros no es de más de 40 años de edad. Estas condiciones de vida nos alarmaron, ya que en nuestro camino habíamos visitado otras minas en las cuales la seguridad de los trabajadores era su prioridad. No era así en Cerro Rico.

Paramos en el mercado local camino a la mina para comprar regalos para los mineros: botellas de gaseosa, hojas de coca y cigarros; eso es lo que nos recomendó nuestro guía. El también le compró un regalo para El Tío, ya que era nuestra primera visita a la mina, teníamos que pedirle permiso.

Nos pusimos nuestro equipo minero y nos dirigimos a la mina. Como psíquica estaba preocupada. Soy muy sensible a la energía, y me preguntaba si esta visita era recomendable para mí. Así que decidí consultar con mi ser supremo. Durante mi meditación escuché que no era mala idea visitar la mina, pero que tenía que seguir las reglas del Tío. Yo creo que no escuché el mensaje claramente, o al menos, no lo entendí, ya que pensé que si me rodeaba de energía positiva todo iría bien. Como verán más adelante, estaba equivocada.

Llegamos a la mina que era una montaña rojiza que se podía ver por todo Potosí. Al bajarnos del autobús, unos niñitos de no más de 10 años se nos acercaron. Ellos llevaban consigo unas cajas llenas de muestras de mineral que querían vender por 10 Bolivianos, aproximadamente, $1.50. Sus ropas sucias y su tristes caritas eran evidencia de lo difícil que era vivir alrededor de la mina. Un muchacho de nuestro grupo con mucho cariño les dijo que esas piedras a pesar de ser muy bonitas e interesantes, eran muy toxicas, y les recomendó lavarse las manitos después de tocarlas. Nuestro guía nos dijo que los niños pueden empezar a trabajar en la mina a partir de los 12 años de edad. Al escuchar esto, dije un pequeña oración en secreto pidiendo de que estos niñitos que acabábamos de conocer nunca tuvieran que trabajar en esta mina, pero la verdad no tenía muchas esperanzas. Al acercarnos a la entrada de la mina empecé a sentir un hormigueo en mis manos, lo cual me avisaba que la energía era muy diferente cerca de la mina, casi como nerviosa o exaltada. No entendí al principio lo que se lo significaba, pero una vez que vi a los trabajadores llenándose la boca con hojas de coca y cal durante todo el día, comprendí. Para poder soportar trabajar en esas condiciones tenían que entumecerse, estar en un estado de mente alterado.

Entramos a la mina y tuvimos que caminar agachados para evitar golpearnos la cabeza con las vigas que soportaban al bajo techo. La batería de la linterna de mi casco estaba tan baja que prácticamente no podía ver nada, así que me pegué a la persona que estaba delante de mío para poder guiarme con su luz. Pero era muy difícil el caminar, el suelo era muy lodoso, casi líquido y desnivelado. Mi botas de jebe junto con mi falta de luz no me permitían controlar mi balance. El túnel era angosto con cables de electricidad expuestos y un bajo techo sostenido por vigas colgadas al azar. Era como entrar a la madriguera de una rata del tamaño de un ser humano.

Llegamos a una bifurcación del túnel y aquí nuestro guía nos dijo que habíamos llegado a la guarida del Tío. Tan pronto lo vi, entendí el porque de su reputación. Este era una ser "come hombres," entendí que la montana dentro de la que nos encontrábamos tenía como finalidad robar vidas. Sin embargo los mineros habían llegado a un acuerdo con el Tío, el guardián de la mina, "te compramos con regalos y tu nos dejas sacar los minerales." Pero el Tío es un ser en el cual no se puede confiar. El es como un perro abusado, que cuando menos te lo esperas, te ataca, quitándote la vida. El Tío era una estatua de madera, pintado de rojo, con cuernos y un pene enorme. Estaba cubierto con hojas de coca. Nuestro guía se le acercó humildemente and le cambió el cigarro prendido que un anterior visitante le había puesto en la boca por uno nuevo. Nuestro guía le rezó por nosotros y le pidió permiso para continuar nuestro trayecto en la mina.

Durante todo este proceso traté de mantenerme sumisa y no pensar nada malo sobre el Tío. Pero cuando regresé al túnel principal pensé : " Hey ya no estoy en su presencia, puedo subir a una vibración de energía mas positiva, más segura," tan pronto pensé esto, el Tío me golpeó. El techo del túnel había disminuido mucho en altura, y sin darme cuenta, me golpee la cabeza con una viga que sobresalía del techo. El impacto fue tan fuerte que me bajó hasta el cuello. Tenía puesto un casco protector, así que no le pasó nada a mi cabeza peri si me hizo doler mucho el cuello. Entonces me di cuenta de lo que pasó, le dije al Tío, "Esta bien, como tu quieras, bajo tu techo obedeceré tus reglas." Este ser era tan real que podía conversar con él abiertamente.

Continuamos explorando la mina. A un punto nuestro guía nos ofreció subir por escaleras y cuerdas, pero nuestro grupo ya había visto suficiente y decidimos irnos. Tan pronto salimos, suspiramos con alivio, la mina no tenía sistema de ventilación y se sentía como una trampa mortal.

El dolor en el cuello me duró por varios días y me hacía recordar sobre mi experiencia dentro de la mina de Cerro Rico. Así que decidí escribir este blog. La experiencia que tuve con el Tío y otras situaciones que pasé en Bolivia me hicieron darme cuenta de algo muy importante. Me había acostumbrado a expresar mi punto de visa sin importar las consecuencias, vivo en un país donde eso es permitido. Pero hay situaciones en la vida en las que tenemos que tener cuidado en desafiar el statu quo. A veces tenemos que seguirle la corriente al mal para salvarnos. Esto por definición es estar en una situación de sobrevivencia. A veces tenemos que obedecer reglas en las que no creemos o las que les tenemos miedo. Nadie nos puede echar la culpa por tratar de salvar nuestra propia vida. Esto me hizo pensar en las victimas de rapto que tratan de enfrentarse a sus captores que terminan siendo asesinadas. Me hizo pensar en los niños que viven en hogares donde los maltratan, y también me hizo pensar en los países comunistas donde no hay libertad de expresión. Sí, hay veces en las que tenemos que seguir la corriente al mal hasta que se presenta la oportunidad de "escapar de la mina." Nuestras acciones bajo un estado de sobrevivencia no deben ser juzgadas por nadie, porque solo estamos tratando de asegurar nuestra sobrevivencia, y este es un derecho humano. A veces tenemos que pasar por malas situaciones para poder darnos cuenta que existe la posibilidad de escape y poder alcanzar una mejor vida. Aún en una situación de sobrevivencia, se pueden aprender lecciones de vida y en mi opinión yo pienso que cada ser debe pasar por situaciones como estas en una vida u otra. Si no pasamos por estas situaciones negativas, no podemos cambiarlas, no podemos luchar por una vida mejor. Tengo la esperanza de que algún día las cooperativas de Potosí que organizan a los mineros encuentren una alternativa diferente que los libre de la relación de abuso que tienen con El Tío. Lo interesante es que hay muchos lugares como este en el que se ha tratado de establecer una sociedad utópica que beneficie a todos, pero por el contrario, han creado un sistema de fracaso, un infierno en la tierra.

A través de mi visita a las diferentes minas de Perú y Bolivia, he aprendido que la minería es necesaria para la humanidad y en la mayoría de los casos es conducida en una manera responsable, protegiendo el medio ambiente y las comunidades. Así fue como lo vimos en varias minas en Perú y en la mina de San Cristóbal en Bolivia. Lugares como la mina de Cerro Rico so los que le dan mala reputación a la minería. En mi opinión, la gente en general esta mal informada con respecto a la industria minera. Considero que es mi deber hablar sobre esto ya que he presenciado como la explotación minera se puede hacer de la manera correcta. Sé que muchas personas consideran que la minería debe desaparecer, pero mientras sigamos dependiendo de teléfonos celulares, automóviles, paneles de energía solar y maquinarias médicas, vamos a necesitar seguir explotando minerales.

Así que hagámoslo de la manera correcta, beneficiando a nuestras comunidades, creando trabajos en zonas remotas donde no hay esperanza, educando a los niños y proveyendo atención medica a las familias. La minería puede ser un excelente medio de llevar progreso a lugares que no se desarrollarían bajo otras circunstancias. Recordemos que minas como la Mina de Cerro Rico son una forma de esclavitud. Esta es una esclavitud de la mente, cuerpo y alma; una esclavitud del peor tipo. La explotación a tajo abierto no es una opción porque Cerro Rico es una montaña sagrada y es considerada por la UNESCO un patrimonio natural y cultural de la Humanidad.

Potosí siempre será un pueblo minero, pero espero que los Potosinos rompan ese acuerdo espiritual que tienen con el Tío y se libren de su influencia. Espero que en algún día los funcionarios del gobierno dejen de ignorar esta horrible situación. Será posible que su corazón y no su bolsillo guíe sus decisiones? He presenciado el mal y el bien en la industria minera y sentí que era mi obligación el compartir esta información con ustedes.

La magnífica fortaleza de Sacsayhuamán está construida con vistas a la ciudad de Cuzco hacia el sureste. Es una impresionante fortaleza de piedras, cada una de ellas colocadas en los muros encajando entre sí sin mortero. Tal vez, este es uno de mis lugares favoritos para visitar en el mundo gracias a su construcción única e imponente presencia. Acompañada de un grupo de amigos psíquicos y un excelente guía, llegué a la ciudadela a media mañana. Nuestro guía Julián nos sugirió que nos sintonizáramos con la espiritualidad del lugar a través de una meditación. Julián sacó una bolsa de hojas de coca y nos hizo tomar cuatro. "Colócalas, en un quintu," un grupo de cuatro hojas superpuestas, "y sopla tus intenciones en las hojas. Presta atención a lo que te dice este lugar ." Soplé mi intención en las hojas sagradas y comencé a masticarlas. Cerré mis ojos para meditar, e inmediatamente recibí una visión, la cual, me dejó muy sorprendida.

En medio de gran un campo abierto, un hombre vestido con túnicas de color rojo oscuro, sosteniendo un bastón de oro, caminó a darme el encuentro. Llevaba una corona adornada con plumas y joyas en sus muñecas. Él caminaba con un paso imponente y determinado. La visión fue tan clara y precisa que decidí compartirla con mis compañeros de viaje. Ellos me sonrieron, ya que también percibían la misma visión en sus mentes. Me entraron dudas, y dejé que me intelecto me dominara. De todos los años como psíquica intuitiva, nunca había visto una imagen como esta, era demasiado clara. Le pregunté a Julián si la gente suele ver este personaje en este lugar. Me contestó que sí. "¿Quién es?" Pregunté. El me contestó que era el Inca Pachacútec. Tan pronto pronunció su nombre me di cuenta que tiene razón. Este hombre que se nos apareció era poderoso. Pachacútec es conocido, en la historia del Tahuantinsuyo, como el Inca "capaz de cambiar el rumbo de la tierra." Transformó su dominio en un vasto imperio, fue un gobernante estratégico y capaz. No es de extrañar que todavía esté aquí en este lugar cuidando su reino. Decidí cerrar los ojos y escuchar lo que él quería comunicarnos esa mañana. El se sentía muy decepcionado por la condición de su imperio y, por extensión, estaba decepcionado por la condición del mundo. El me decía "Esto no es cómo se deben hacer las cosas, tantos errores y están matando a la Pachamama", la Madre Tierra.

Sigo escuchando y de nuevo me entran dudas. Yo le pregunté "¿por qué me dices esto? Soy sólo una mujer sencilla, que no ha vivido en esta tierra durante más de veinte años, apena he regresado. No tengo poder. Yo no soy el Inca Pachacútec, ¿quién me va a escuchar?" Él me incentivó diciendo "sé un catalizador de cambio."

Regresé al hotel y pensé mucho en lo que había escuchado del Inca esa mañana. Lo último que me había imaginado era que un antiguo gobernante iba a imponerme su agenda de protección ambiental y de anticorrupción. Pero es la verdad, aunque quiera negarlo, estoy de acuerdo con él. Yo he viajado por el mundo y sé de lo que él se queja.

Pienso en todos los lugares que he visitado, pienso en el país en el que vivo, Estados Unidos. Un gran país limpio, casi inmaculado en comparación con el resto del mundo. Pienso en cómo tantos políticos de buen corazón han luchado para mantener al país libre de contaminación. "No contamines mi zona", les oí decir, pero ahora sé que no es suficiente. El lema "ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente" ya no funciona. Porque no hemos cambiado nuestro modo de ser, porque aunque no estamos contaminando en nuestra zona, en realidad estamos enviando nuestros productos para que se fabriquen en otro lugar, al otro lado del mar, donde no tenemos poder sobre cómo se producen, donde no tenemos influencia sobre las leyes y regulaciones ambientales.

El viajero experimentado sabe de lo que estoy hablando. Si viajas por avión desde la India o China y vuelas hacia el oeste, probablemente vueles a través de una capa de contaminación que tiene millas de ancho y millas de profundidad, no podrás ver el fin de ella, y se está haciendo más grande y más profunda cada día.

Si has visitado el Polo Norte o Alaska a lo largo de los años, habrás visto cómo han desaparecido los glaciares, para no volver nunca, y esto es un hecho, tengo las fotografías para demostrarlo.

Si vives en la Florida, ¿está preparado para el próximo huracán o para que tu patio se hunda en el mar? No mencionemos los terribles incendios en California que han causado mucho dolor y mucha pérdida de vidas.

Sé que el Inca Pachacútec no estaba hablando de China, India o Florida esa mañana. Hablaba sobre el dolor de la Madre Tierra, hablaba sobre los ríos contaminados de América del Sur que están envenenando a nuestra población, el cambio en los patrones climáticos, los desastres que experimentamos cada vez más a menudo y por su puesto hablaba de la corrupción política. Él estaba hablando de la codicia, y la ambición, los conoce bien. Él nunca hubiera construido un vasto imperio si no las tuviera, pero existe el camino equivocado y luego está el camino correcto para hacerlo. Podemos ser exitosos y prosperar al mismo tiempo que beneficiamos a nuestra comunidad, tal como lo hizo Inca Pachacútec.

Sin ninguna agenda política y con un inmenso amor por la Madre Tierra, una mujer sencilla está compartiendo esto con ustedes porque, también tú puedes ser ese catalizador de cambio. No son los políticos los que nos van a salvar, somos nosotros, que con cada decisión que tomamos, con cada ejemplo que damos a nuestros hijos, podemos causar un cambio. No estoy diciéndote de qué manera debes de hacerlo, o cómo hacerlo. Sólo me gustaría que seas consciente y hagas lo que puedas, de acuerdo a tus sus propias creencias para lograr un cambio para mejor.

Sin embargo, hay algunas creencias fundamentales que pueden ayudarnos a hacer ese cambio. Podemos optar por poner la conciencia sobre la codicia, la razón sobre el orgullo, la comunidad sobre el individuo. Porque cualesquiera que sean nuestros antecedentes, o cualesquiera que sean nuestros puntos de vista políticos, todos queremos cuidar nuestro planeta. Todos queremos que nuestros hijos hereden una tierra mejor y que estén seguros, y este deseo es lo que nos puede convertir a todos en catalizadores de cambio.

Al día siguiente nos reunimos con una mujer chamán, Vilma. Ella pertenece a una familia que ha practicado la curación espiritual a la manera andina durante varias generaciones. Mientras su esposo observa a su niña juguetona, en un hermoso patio frente a las imponentes montañas de Pisac, ella nos guía en una ceremonia de Despacho. Despacho es básicamente un ofertorio para la madre Tierra para poder pedirle que nos ayude a cumplir nuestros deseos. Esta es la costumbre andina, se llama "Ayni", una forma de reciprocidad en las comunidades andinas. No podemos pedir si no estamos dispuestos a dar. Un concepto extraño en esta época en que el mundo está dividido entre gente que da y gente que quita. Esa es una lección en sí misma, una lección de equilibrio. Mientras nos preparamos para darle un regalo a la madre Tierra, Vilma nos hace recoger doce hojas de coca y pensar en los verdaderos deseos de nuestros corazones. Al principio, mi verdadero deseo era borroso en mi mente, pero a medida que miro más profundamente, se revela mi verdadera intención. No fue lo que pensé. Mi creencia era que escribir era mi siguiente y único paso. Últimamente, he estado reorganizando mi vida en torno a ese deseo. Mi corazón mostró algo mucho más grande, algo que no había encarado conscientemente, algo que va a requerir mucho crecimiento personal, pero sobre todo permitir que mi camino me guíe, sin resistencia.

Vilma nos hace masticar las hojas, lo que hago a regañadientes, porque me saben amargas. A otros en mi grupo les saben dulces. Vilma me explica más tarde que las hojas de coca tienen el mismo sabor de cómo te sientes en tu interior. Ella me explica en una conversación privada, que tal vez todavía me aferro a algunos viejos resentimientos que necesito dejar de lado, ella tiene razón. Poco a poco, todos pensamos en nuestros deseos y creamos “quintus”, grupos de cuatro hojas de coca, algunos de grasa de llama y pétalos de claveles, que forman parte de nuestro ofertorio a la madre Tierra. Las emociones surgen, de alguna manera, esta pequeña ceremonia llega a lo más profundo de mi alma y me da conciencia de lo que siento. Siento que la amargura de mi corazón se libera mientras las lágrimas ruedan por mis mejillas. Para aquellos familiarizados con el trabajo psíquico, entenderán que en realidad no estoy llorando, simplemente liberando una energía profunda dentro de mí que ya no era válida en el presente. Lagrimear es una forma muy efectiva de liberar energía estancada. Es una liberación profunda de energía dentro del cuerpo, no se adjunta la tristeza. Vilma agrega todo tipo de golosinas y cositas a la ofrenda: sal, azúcar, flores, comida, etc. y lo envuelve en un paquete que luego se quemará.

Después del almuerzo, algunos de nosotros decidimos tener una lectura de hojas de coca con Vilma. Ella extiende las hojas de coca en una mesa pequeña y de inmediato comienza a describirme como una persona, lo bueno y lo malo, no hay forma de ocultarlo. Todo lo que dice es increíblemente preciso y claro como si lo estuviera leyendo en un libro. Como psíquica, he aprendido de mis clientes que, si no haces suficientes preguntas, no recibirás suficiente información. Por lo tanto, sigo haciéndole preguntas, esta vez, yo soy la cliente, buscando las respuestas que no puedo alcanzar por mi cuenta. Ella describe a las personas en mi vida con una precisión increíble. Lo que les motiva, cuáles son sus deseos de corazón, sus discapacidades, sus traumas; incluso las experiencias de su vida pasada, y ella obtiene toda esta información de montoncito de hojas de coca.

¡Continuará!

My husband and I decided to join a group of geology students in a tour through Peru and Bolivia. We visited some very interesting and successful mines in these countries. It's amazing to see how The Ayni, the Inca rule of reciprocity, is still very much alive, especially in Peru. Here, you can find very successful mines that have a long life expectancy. In addition, the success of these mines does not only depend of their stock price, or how much money they produce for the company. Their success is based also on the benefits that they bring to the community around them, by way of jobs, education and medical care. It's a win-win situation. The story did change when we crossed the border to Bolivia. After a frustrating attempt to cross the border without visas, and a little bit of magic and "negotiating," we were allowed to enter the country. Bolivia is one of those places where Americans are not well liked. The president has enforced the "eye for an eye rule" with our country. Bolivians have to pay and meet requirements to enter the United States, and so will Americans to enter Bolivia. We learned that a little late in the process.

We continued our way to visit one of the most controversial mines in the world, Cerro Rico in Potosí. As we approach the city, the ochre-colored mountain, could be seen from miles away, it dominated the landscape in the same way it subjugates the lives of the Potosinos (inhabitants of Potosí.)

The mine of Cerro Rico in Bolivia, was one of the early discoveries by the Spaniards after the conquest. A mine rich in several minerals, especially silver, it was quickly put into production for the benefit of the Spanish Crown. The local Indians were forced to work in the mines through a forced-labor system called Mita. Using fear, the Spaniards convinced the Indians that God, Dios in Spanish, would punish them if they did not obey them. The poor Indians believed the Spaniards and conformed to live in fear. The Indians of the area spoke Quechua and because of this, they had difficulty pronouncing the word Dios. The sounds of the letters D and S are not common in their language. So, the word Dios was pronounced as Tío by the natives, which means ¨uncle¨ in Spanish. So, when the workers enter the mine, they prayed with fear to El Tío, a punishing God, the Devil itself.

As we prepared to visit the mine, we learned about this "God" who lived in the entrails of the mountains, to whom, even today, the local miners pay tribute. "We are Catholics outside the mine," they say, "but inside we worship el Tío," The Devil, "if not, El Tío can take our lives."

We learned that the mine of Cerro Rico has taken the lives of over 8 million people since the conquest, due to silicosis and mine accidents. The fears of the poor miners are not unfounded. The working conditions are so horrible, that the life expectancy of the miners is no more than 40 years. We were dumbfounded that such a mine could exist in this day and age. We had visited mines during our trip where safety was the main concern, this was not the case in Cerro Rico.

On our way to the mine we stopped at a local market to get presents for the miners, a bottle of soda, coca leaves and cigarettes. That's what our guide told us to get. He also got a present for El Tío, since it was going to be our first visit to the mine, we needed to ask its permission.

We got into our mining gear and we headed to the mine. As a psychic I was worried. I´m sensitive to energy, and I wondered if this was an appropriate visit for me. So I decided to consult my Supreme Being. During my meditation I heard that it was not a bad idea to visit the mine, but I had to follow El Tío´s rules. I don´t think I heard the message clearly because I figured if a surround myself with positive gold energy I would be okay. Well, not exactly.

We made our way to the mine, an orange-brown mountain that can be seen from anywhere in Potosí. As we got off our bus we were greeted by two little boys selling mineral specimens for 10 Bolivianos, about $1.50. These kids were no older than 10 years old. Their soiled clothing and their sad looks were a reminder of the harshness of the life outside the mine. As one of our companions pointed out, the specimens were quite toxic and he recommended the kids to wash their hands after touching them. We were told that children are allowed to work in the mine starting at the age of twelve. I just secretly and perhaps, hopelessly, prayed that these little children would never have to work in such terrible conditions.

As I approached the entrance of the mine I could feel my hands tingling, letting me know that the energy was quite different in this place, almost jittery. I wasn´t sure what that meant, but looking at the miners outside the mine stuffing their mouths full of coca leaves and lime to extract all the alkaloids of the leaves, I kind of understood. Who could work in those conditions without numbing themselves? You had to be in an altered state of mind.

We entered the mine, crouching as we walked to avoid hitting our heads with the low hanging beams. I realized the battery of my headlamp was low, allowing me to see virtually nothing. I decided to stay very close to the person in front of me so I could take advantage of their light, but it was difficult, the ground was muddy, almost liquid at parts and uneven. My rubber boots paired up with my lack of visual input made it hard to keep my balance. The tunnel was narrow, adorned with live electrical wires and a short ceiling held up by randomly laid out low beams. It was like walking into the burrow of a human size rat.

We got to a bifurcation of the tunnel, where our guide announced that we had arrived to the lair of El Tío. As soon as I saw him I understood this was a man eating being, this was a mountain that takes lives. Somehow the workers had come to an agreement with this dark being: "we´ll appease you with gifts and you let us take the minerals." However, a being like this can never be trusted, he is like an abused dog that when you least expect it turns around and attacks you, in this case taking your life. El Tío was a red wooden statue with horns and an oversized penis. He was covered with coca leaves. Our guide approached him respectfully, and replaced a lit up cigarette that had been placed in its open mouth by an earlier visitor. He said a prayer for us and ask for permission to continue on our journey inside the mine.

During this whole process I tried to remain humble, not to think anything bad about El Tio, but as soon as I was back in the tunnel I thought: "heck, I can go back to a higher vibration now, I'm not in his presence anymore." Well as soon as I thought that, El Tío whacked me. The tunnel had gotten lower and lower and I didn´t see a beam protruding off the ceiling. I hit my head so hard it sent a shock down into my neck. I was wearing a hard hat, so my head was fine but my neck was in pain. Then I thought: "okay Tío, you're right, your home, your rules." That being was so real I could have a conversation with him.

We continued exploring the mine. The guide offered us to go up ladders and ropes, but our group had enough of this mine, so we turned around and left. As soon as we were out, we sighed with relief; with no ventilation in the tunnels the mine felt like a death trap.

The pain in my neck lasted for a few days and it reminded me of my experience inside the Cerro Rico mine. So I decided to write this blog. The experience with El Tío along with other issues I faced in Bolivia, reminded me of something very important. I had grown accustomed to say my point of view no matter the consequences, I live in a place where that´s allowed. There are situations in life where you have to be very careful about challenging the status quo. Sometimes you have to go along with evil to stay safe. That is by definition, being in a survival space. Sometimes, we have to go along with rules that we don't agree with or fear. Nobody will blame us for trying to keep ourselves safe. I thought about so many kidnapped victims that try to fight their abductors and get killed in the process, the many children that live in abusive homes, and the lack of freedom of expression in communist countries. Sometimes you just have to go along with evil until a window of opportunity presents itself and you can literally "run out of the mine." But does that make our actions wrong while we are in a bad situation? I don't think so. You are trying to keep yourself safe, and that is a human right. Sometimes you just have to experience bad situations to really understand how good things can be. You have to experience darkness to understand that it's just the absence of light. Places like Potosí, Bolivia, are in a survival space, where workers worship the devil and die by the age of forty because there is no choice. Who are we to judge their lives? The amazing thing is that even in that space of survival, lessons can be learned, and I believe every soul would have to face experiences like that in one life or another. If we don't go through experiences like that, we cannot change things, we cannot strive for a better life.

I hope and pray that someday the cooperatives of Potosi that organize the miners, see a different alternative that frees them from the abusive relationship with El Tío. Something I've noticed about places like these, is that a misled desire for equality for all created a system that backfired; a Hell on Earth situation.

I have learned by this experience that mining is necessary for humanity and in most cases is done responsibly, with care for the environment and the community as we saw in several mines in Peru and the mine of San Cristobal in Bolivia. It is places like Cerro Rico that give mining its bad reputation. I believe that people are misinformed about the mining industry. I considered my duty to talk about this because I've seen how it is done the right way and the wrong way. I had to see evil to recognized goodness. I know that some people will disagree with me, but I know for sure that as long as we depend on cell phones, cars, planes, solar panels and medical devices, we need to continue mining otherwise we wouldn't have any of these things.

So, let's do it the right way, by benefiting our communities, creating jobs in remote areas where there is no hope, by bringing education to children and medical care to families. Mining can be a fantastic vehicle for progress in places that would not be developed otherwise. But mines like Cerro Rico are just a type of disguised slavery. This is a slavery of the mind, body and soul. There is no worst kind. Open pit mining is not an option because Cerro Rico is considered a holy mountain and a UNESCO heritage site. Potosí will always be a mining town, but I hope that someday the Potosinos break their spiritual agreement with El Tío and free themselves from its influence. I wish that eventually government officials won't turn a blind eye to such a horrible situation. Could somehow their hearts, not their pocketbook, lead their decisions? I've seen evil and I've seen light in the mining industry and I just felt it was my duty to share this with you.

The magnificent fortress of Sacsayhuaman is built overlooking the city of Cuzco to the southeast. It is an impressive fortress made of stones, each one of them built to fit each other without mortar. Perhaps, this is one of my favorite places to visit in the world, I can't avoid being impressed by its unique construction. We arrived there midmorning. Our wonderful guide Julian leads us through a meditation. He pulls out a bag of coca leaves and makes us pick up four. "Put them, into a quintu (“kin-too")”, a group of four overlapped leaves, he says "and blow your intentions into it. Pay attention to what this place tells you." I blow my intention into the sacred leaves and I start chewing them. I closed my eyes in meditation and I'm surprised immensely by the vision I get.

In the middle of a huge open field, a man dressed in dark red robes holding a golden staff comes towards me. He wears a golden headpiece and jewelry on his wrists. He is determined on his step. I share this vision with my companions, and they smile at me, they also see him in their minds. My ego gets in my way, of all the years as an intuitive psychic, I've never seen an image like this, I guess it was too obvious. I ask Julian if people usually see this character, and he says yes. "Who is it?" I ask, he says "it's the Inca Pachacutec" ("Pach-ah-kootek"). I know immediately he's right. This man that appears to us is powerful, I can tell. Pachacutec is known as the "earth shaker" Inca. He transformed his dominion to a vast empire, he was a powerful ruler, no wonder he is still here watching over his kingdom. I decide to close my eyes and listen to what he has to share. He isn't happy. If I can use one word to describe how he feels it would be disappointed. He is disappointed with the condition of his empire, and by extension, he is disappointed with the condition of the world. He says, "This is not how things should be done, so many mistakes and so many repercussions on Pachamama", Mother Earth.

I keep listening and again my ego gets in the way. I tell him, "why are you telling me this, I'm just a simple woman, who hasn't lived in this land for over twenty years, I'm barely returning. I have no power. I'm not Inca Pachacutec, who is going to listen to me? He presses on, “be a catalyst for change." I feel him saying.

I go back to the hotel and think about what he said. The last thing I'd imagine was that an old ruler was going to complain to me about his environmental agenda and his anti-corruption campaign. Here comes my ego again. But it's true, I can't help to agree with him, I've seen it, and he's right.

I think of all the places I visited around the world, I think of the country I live in, the United States. A great powerful, almost immaculate clean country in comparison to the rest of the world. I think of how so many good-hearted politicians have fought to keep the country free of pollution. "Not in my backyard" I heard them saying, but I now know It's not enough. "Out of sight, out of mind" doesn't work anymore. Because we haven't changed our ways, because even though we are not polluting in our backyard we are actually sending our products to be made somewhere else, across the sea, where we have no power over how it's made, where we have no influence over environmental laws and regulations.

The seasoned traveler knows what I'm talking about. If you make your way by plane from India or China and fly west, you probably will fly through a layer of pollution that is miles wide, and miles deep, you can't see the end, and it's just getting bigger and deeper.

If you have visited the North Pole or Alaska over the years you would've seen glaciers disappear, to never come back and that's a fact, I have the photographs to prove it.

If you live in Florida, are you prepared for the next Hurricane, or for your back patio to sink into the sea? Let's not forget the terrible fires in California we had recently and the incredible pain and loss of lives.

I know that Inca Pachacutec wasn't talking about China or India, or Florida that morning. He was talking about the pain of Mother Earth, he was talking about the polluted rivers of South America that are poisoning our population, the change in weather patterns, the disasters we are experiencing more and more often. He was talking about greed, and ambition, he knows them well. He would've never built a vast empire if he didn't have some, but there is the wrong way and then there is the right way to go about it. We can be successful and thrive and bring our community along with us, just like Inca Pachacutec did.

Without any political agenda and with an immense love for Mother Earth, a humble woman is sharing this with you because you can also be that catalyst for change. It is not the politicians that are going to save us, it is us, that with every decision we make, with every example we give our children, we can make a difference. I'm not telling which way to do it, or how to do it. I just would like you to be aware and do whatever you can, according to your own beliefs to make a change for the better.

However, there are some fundamental beliefs that can help us make that change. We can choose to put conscience over greed, reason over pride, community over self. Because whatever our backgrounds are, or whatever our political views are, we all want to take care of our planet. We all want our children to inherit a better land and to be safe, and that is what can make us all, catalysts for change.

It is almost the end of the month of September and I'm sitting in my bed, writing, from a remote little town cradled in the heart of the Andes mountains; Pisac. As I cuddle up in bed under my covers, the frozen keys in my laptop, remind me of how cold the air gets when night falls in these parts of the world. There are no central heat systems or air conditioners, it's a simple life, where the drive that keeps you moving forward isn't money or success but something deeper, much, much deeper. My heart’s urge to put on paper the events of the last few days woke me up early. I’ve learned so much about myself and the Andean way, I have to share it with someone. I've been preparing for this trip for over a year now. I knew it was to be a spiritual trip because our leader had set it up that way. It has been several years since I have returned to this part of my native country, but I'm experiencing it in a much different way. Perhaps because the last time I was here my psychic abilities were set at survival, now they are set at wonder and appreciation for what is. As we drove into town, the narrow streets, the red tile roofs, and the adobe buildings remind me of a simple beauty I've seen in other places of the world, like Bhutan or even Tibet. This part of the world has something in common with those remote places in the Himalayas. That is that even in the way the houses are built, you are reminded that you are deeply connected to the environment around you, to mother Earth, to the soil and to the mercy of father Weather. It's strange how this place makes me think of the weather as a father, irrational at times, but gives you exactly what you need at the right moment. We are driven around town by a happy go lucky driver named Juan Carlos, I've been told he never gets upset. As soon as this statement is made, chance puts it to the test. The streets are so narrow, a big passenger bus hits our van's side mirror. Juan Carlos is visibly surprised by what just had happened but addresses the culprit in a way that reminds me that things are done differently in this part of the world. Cual es el asunto, compañero? what is the issue, compañero? Compañero translates into partner, peer, companion. And that is what makes the Quechua people different from us. Even when they address each other under undesirable circumstances, they know that we are all together on this journey called life, might as well be partners while we are at it. The "asunto" is quickly resolved as we navigate through traffic. An exchange of ten soles, less than three dollars, a thank you and later, some glue, settle the situation. I could have never resolved an issue like this back at home for less than $400 and an insurance claim. Even then, Juan Carlos did not get mad, his reputation as a happy guy is undeniable.

The next day we meet with a Shaman woman, Vilma. She belongs to a family that has practiced spiritual healing the Andean way for several generations. As her husband watches her rambunctious little girl, in a beautiful yard facing the imposing Pisac mountains, she leads us into a Despacho ceremony. Despacho is basically an offertory to mother Earth so we can ask her to help us fulfill our intentions. This is the Andean way, it’s called “Ayni”, a form of reciprocity in Andean communities. We can’t ask if we are not willing to give back. A strange concept in this day and age were the world is divided into givers and takers. That’s a lesson in itself, balance. As we prepare to give a present to mother Earth, she makes us pick twelve coca leaves, and think about the true intentions of our hearts. At first, my true desire was blurry in my mind, but I as keep looking deeper, my true intention is revealed. It wasn't what I thought. My belief was that writing was my next and only step. Lately, I've been rearranging my life around that desire. My heart showed something much bigger than that, something I hadn’t consciously addressed, something that is going to require a lot of personal growth, but mostly letting go, and allowing my path to guide me, without resistance.

Vilma makes us chew the leaves, which I do reluctantly because they taste bitter to me. Other finds them sweet. Vilma explains to me later than the coca leaves taste the same way you feel inside. She points out to me in a private conversation, that perhaps I'm still holding on to some old resentments I need to let go of, she is right on. Little by little, we all think of our intentions and we create “quintus”, groups of four coca leaves, some llama fat and carnations petals, which we make part of our offertory to mother Earth. Emotions arise, somehow this little ceremony reaches deep into my soul and brings emotions forward. I feel the bitterness in my heart releasing while tears roll down my cheeks. For those familiar with psychic work they’ll understand that I’m actually not crying, just releasing some deep energy within me that was no longer valid in the present. Tearing up is a very effective way to release and a consequence of deep energy release within one’s body, there is no sadness attached. Vilma, adds all kinds of goodies to the gift, salt, sugar, glitter, food, etc. and wraps it up tightly in a package that will, later on, be burned.

After lunch, a few of us, decide to have a reading with Vilma. She spreads the coca leaves on a small table and she immediately starts describing me as a person, the good and the bad, there is no hiding from it. Everything she says is incredibly accurate, and crystal clear, as if she is reading it out of a book. As a psychic reader I’ve learned from my clients that if you don't ask, you don't get. So, I keep asking her questions, this time, I’m the client, searching for those answers I can’t reach on my own. She describes the people in my life with incredible accuracy. What makes them tick, what are their hearts desires, their handicaps, their traumas; even life experiences, they have gone through, and she gets all this information out of a simple spread of coca leaves.

To be continued!

Back in the 1990's, I was in college getting my bachelor's degree in Biology. One day, I met an interesting group of people, who were into collecting plankton from alpine lakes. I know, scientists can be a little kooky, to say the least, all in the name of science. They always talked about this incredible place up in the highlands and how they were conditioning themselves for a demanding hike. I was fascinated by their stories, so I decided to go with them. I didn't realize that was going to be my first trip of many to this remote area of the country.

Marcahuasi is a remote plateau at 13,780 feet above sea level just a few hours outside of Lima, the capital city of Peru. After a treacherous ride by bus, we arrived to San Pedro the Casta, a little tiny town in the Hurochiri province located at 12,500 feet above sea level. We arrived mid-afternoon, and decided to start the hike right away. We couldn't afford to pay for a hostel that night or the extra time to get used to the altitude. The climb is incredible challenging for limeños like me that are used to living at sea level. It can last anywhere from 3 hours to 6 hours depending on which route you take. The easy route was the longest; the hard one was the shortest. This is the place that taught me how true this famous proverb is: "when in Rome do as the Romans do." The natives can climb in one hour because they are born at high altitude. Secondly, they chew coca leaves all the way up. Trust me, I've never used stimulants of any kind, but I will never attempt that climb again without some coca leaves. After an exhausting hike, with a few stops fighting altitude sickness, we arrived to the desolate plateau.

Even though the trek was difficult, we all felt incredibly blessed to be in such a unique place once we arrived. It was interesting to see how people were captivated by this magical place. The granite rocks have very unique formations. People's imaginations ran wild and believed some of these rocks had been carved purposely by some kind of foreign entity. I was just fascinated to see how erosion in nature acts as a creative force. There was something mystic about this incredible plateau; that was undeniable. The solitude of the place, the scarce vegetation along with the unique fauna, made it captivating. Being there alone with my thoughts sitting up atop a huge boulder is one of the experiences I will always treasure.

Every time we returned to Lima form this place we were a little different, perhaps because we realized how small we were compare to the wonders of nature. For my friends these were very rewarding trips, they even found a new species of plankton and wrote a few publications about it.

Higher places have the ability to heal you in some unimaginable ways. Perhaps it is the lack of oxygen that makes you feel so out of your body and giddy, or perhaps the loneliness and the ability to look down onto the world and create a separation that helps you examine who you are deep inside. As one of the characters said in the movie "Everest" when asked why he wanted to climb such an imposing mountain: "... because I can, because to be able to climb that high and see that kind of beauty that nobody ever sees, it'd be a crime not to."

I'd like to think that without knowing, when people decide to climb to remote places they are looking for a connection with a universal force, a force that makes them feel invincible, stimulated and capable of accomplishing great things. I remember in one of our trips the guys were joking about one of the members of our group that wasn't particularly fit, he had plans to place her up on one of the higher rocks and charge up over night, God knows she needed it, but that would've been cruel. Jokes aside, that incredible force is real and quite powerful. There is another name for that force; that is "cosmic energy."

Cosmic energy is readily available, and it comes from the Universe. When used during your meditation practice, you can blend it with earth's e energy. These two forces have the ability to clean, purify and rebalance your body and your energetic space.

If you want to learn about cosmic energy and how to use it during your meditation practice please refer to the book "Sam and The Giant Tree" and let me know how you liked it.

After we had dropped off our luggage at the hotel, we decided to go for a guided tour around the city. Everywhere we looked there was a unique building, and, as a general rule, functionality over décor had been the main focus of the architectural design. We must have walked several miles by the time we arrived to the Temppeliaukio Lutheran Church, also known as the "Rock Church," which was perhaps the most visited site in the city of Helsinki. This "rock" church was carved inside a granite outcrop in the center of the city. A few proposals were rejected to design this very unique church over several decades. Finally, in 1961, a set of plans was approved and in 1969, the most controversial and unique building in the city of Helsinki became a reality. This venue is not only used for religious worship but it is also used as a concert hall because the almost unworked surfaces of the rock walls provide incredible acoustics.

Every time I visit a new sacred place in a new city, I like to feel the vibration and energy of the people and the location, since there is a reason why these places are considered sacred. As soon as I walked into this incredible building, I noticed something very unique: The strength of the Earth energy that was so magnetic and grounding that I felt almost "glued" to the ground.

According to Meijenfeldt in his book "Below Ground level: Creating New Spaces for Contemporary Architecture," many sacred places are designed underground with the intention of being in touch with the origins of life, and with the protection of mother earth herself. Meijenfeldt talks about how the enclosed quality of these buildings, provide a great opportunity for introspection through meditation and reflection because it invites you to retreat inside yourself. My experience inside this sacred rock building cannot be more supporting of his statements. I felt first hand, the healing power and the peace that comes from being deep inside mother earth's womb.

The most extraordinary thing is that, you don't have to travel to Helsinki or India or any remote cave to be in contact with the earth's energy. It is readily available anywhere and it is one of the great tools you can use during your meditation practice. Just from the comfort of your favorite chair, you have the ability to draw this very grounding and purifying energy. Earth's energy is one of the tools I use during my meditation practice and something I invite you to experience.

About 8 months ago, when I was crafting the Chapter on Chakras of "Sam and the Giant Tree," I hit the infamous "writer's block." Yes, you know what I'm talking about, that feeling of being stuck, having a lot to say without knowing how. Then, one morning during my meditation, I heard my Spirit Guides telling me to go for a hike. This may sound a little crazy to you, but to me it's actually quite normal. Since I was a child I've been fortunate to hear messages from up above. Good ones thank God! So I knew my Spirit Guides were trying to show me something. Luckily, I live just outside a forest, and within minutes I was deep in the woods. And just like it happened to Sam, the forest started talking to me. I recognized the magnificence of nature and how similar we are to it. As I was walking through the forest I came across a chatty creek with a very peculiar voice. We were in a drought and the pools in the creek were starting to dry up and stagnate. All of a sudden, I realized how similar this creek was to the flow in a person's body and I understood that nature had an important message for me: "no healthy body of water can stay fresh without proper circulation. No healthy human body can live a healthy life without a clear flow of spiritual communication." I rushed home and started writing. As soon as I picked up the kids from school, I asked my daughter to go with me for a photo shoot by the creek. I had found the perfect spot. After choosing the clothing and make up, we started creating the first illustration for the chapter on chakras.

Why are chakras so important? For us living in a western society, these concepts are somewhat new, so let me explain. Chakras are centers of communication between our body and spirit. When they are blocked we do not hear our own information. It's like having a lot of money in the bank, but our accounts are frozen. Not a good feeling, right? Without our information we cannot succeed, we cannot create, we cannot grow as a person. Instead of using our own information we cling onto whatever is offered to us out there, by friends, family, politicians, gurus, etc., because we are not good at listening to our own voice. We turn into beggars for answers to our most important decisions in life.

Every one of the chakras has important spiritual information unique to us, and us alone. So if your spiritual bank accounts are frozen, I think its essential to do something about it if you want to get out of your "creative block."

If you want to learn about how to clear up that channel of communication please refer to the chapter "Taru Teaches Sam About the Chakras" in the book "Sam and the Giant Tree."