I just finished a Temezcal ceremony in Lake Atitlan. Before I get into it I will share my feelings of this place. Lake Atitlan is a beautiful lake surrounded by volcanoes. There are 5-7 towns on the hillside of the volcanoes situated around the beautiful lake. Yesterday Rachel and I rented a jet ski for 30 minutes and it was so fun and beautiful. Today we woke up at 3:30 AM to hike the famous Indian Nose, a sacred Mayan land hike. The views on the top for sunrise were beautiful. The town we are staying at first is San Pedro, known for its backpacking community. There are nice cafes by the lakeside and shops. After the sunrise hike I found a vegan restaurant to have breakfast at. We walked outside of town to get there. It was so hard to find and locate. We had to go through bushes off the main path and around farmland to find the cafe. While we ordered food I noticed a shirtless dreadlock man with tattoos stoking a fire and building a dome. It reminded me of the sweat lodge I participated in with the Lakota tribe in Boulder Colorado in 2021. Rachel asked him what it was and he said it was a Temezcal ceremony, similar to the Native American sweat lodge, performed by Mayans. I was super excited and I said we had to do it. What a serendipitous moment. It had to be… coincidence? I get in the pitch black dome and my heart starts racing. The sweat lodge I did 4 .5 years ago made an imprint on my life and conscience and I was nervously excited for what this would entail. I reflected how I have grown so much in 4 years, from a whippersnapper 21 year old to a more grounded 25 year old, still doing the same ancient indigenous ritual, in a beautiful volcanic lake. There were four rounds, with some locals and some tourists. They put volcanic lava rocks in the middle and called them abuelitas, grandmothers. The rocks are millions of years old and can contain healing properties and knowledge. There were four rounds and each round they added 13 abuelitas. The leader sang songs on his drum and gave speeches in Spanish. I pretty much understood everything he said which I was super happy with. As I sat there in the temezcal I reflected on my journeys and how grateful I am and for Hashem. Recently I have been reflecting on my relationship with Hashem and trying to evolve it. More on that later. The temezcal got hotter and hotter. I loved it. I tried not to compare it to my first one with the Lakota but inevitably I did. There were less people and more tourists this time and it was a little less hot. But I still got all the amazing effects. Beautiful herbs rubbed on my body and in my nose. I rubbed aloe vera in my hair body, all over. I sang and shouted and yelled. It was a beautiful experience. After the ceremony we all ran to the beatiful volcanic lake and relaxed. As I realized on my big adventure, I love adventurous experiences that integrate you with local unique cultures, and this was exactly that. Guatemala has been amazing. Nice people, clean safe, unique indigenous culture, very pretty, and lots to do. As I sit hear overlooking one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen I can only reflect how far I have come and am very grateful for all the unique experiences that make me who I am today. I wish to share them with you and to help show the beauty of travel, of people, of cultures, of life. There are so many interesting people and views, and beliefs, and ways to connect. Many people lock themselves in their own prison with the key in their pocket. Yo just have to have the courage to reach in there and open the door. Once you do that, being curious, open minded, the whole existence can flow through you. Don't wait for life to give you what you desire, go and find it and take it.
