My experience to Peru began in the Amazon jungle in the Madre de Dios region.  A region known for it’s biological diversity and being hier-apparent to title of last unspoiled havens of ancient or even primal [...]]]> Peru is a country that will change any foreigner’s life with simply a breath of the Peruvian air.

My experience to Peru began in the Amazon jungle in the Madre de Dios region.  A region known for it’s biological diversity and being hier-apparent to title of last unspoiled havens of ancient or even primal human cultures.  The region lies on the border of Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil and has been the location of the discovery of previously unknown and un-contacted tribal cultures.   I arrived via a propeller powered airplane to the shanty airport at Puerto Maldonado after flying from Lima.  I enjoyed watching the peaks of the high mountains covered in snow pass above the plane as we flew through the breath taking landscape of the high Peruvian Andes.   Once over jungle the land became flat and thick green with the top of the Amazon jungle canopy.  The canopy occasionally breaking to reveal the massive tributary rivers of the Amazon river proper.

After a 30 kilometer ride on a what appeared to be a three seat, three wheel, motorcycle on a narrow dirt road we arrived a small clearing.   On the other end of the clearing a few structures appeared and soon a large compound revealed itself.   I’d arrived at Shimbre Shamanic Center.

Master Mancoluto welcomed me along with my friend and and apprentice of ‘El Miestro’ Ahmed to the compound.  I settled in one of the many accommodations within the compound.  For a few days I acclimated to the jungle.   No matter what bug spray you take, no matter what quantity you use, no matter how long your sleeves are, you will be eaten by the jungle.  Once the jungle has tasted and digested you and your blood you shall be acclimated and can then freely frolic through the jungle.  The process takes about a week.

I am now one with the jungle and the day for my ceremony has arrived.   After several days of fasting, meditating, and contemplating I descended down the jungle path to the ritual temple.  Staff in hand I came to a small group of indians and Ahmed in a circle around the shaman mixing the san pedro brew.   We danced and drank and as the sunset we completed the ceremony and the shaman led us to the edge of the jungle.

As I stepped into the jungle I felt my limbs transform into that of a jungle beast.  The sounds of the surrounding Amazon overtook the rhythm of heart and the two began resonating. A frequency began to vibrate all around me and I realized I was connected me to a higher energy that is always all around us.  Clairvoyance and telepathy began to settle in over my conscience and for the first time was able to communicate clearly telepathically.  I was able to manipulate a the flame of a candle with my bare hand with no physical feeling or damage to the flesh.  Holding the flame between my thumb and forefinger I could freely move the fire from one candle to another and to the trees.  This was my introduction to the 6th and 7th senses. Through the course of the night I became aware of a great sense of a connection with the cosmos and everything within it.

I emerged from the jungle with a new knowledge and appreciation for the cosmos and those things that it encompasses.   With my new found knowledge Ahmed and I consulted the Shaman regarding plans to extend our spiritual journey by several days.  He agreed that we were in an appropriate level that we can take his training and continue the experience.  El Maestro gave us a healthy supply of the san pedro potion and we set off on our way back to Puerto Maldonado to arrange passage to Cuzco and the Inca trail where we would continue our journey.

Arriving back in Puerto Maldonado we were able to charter a small plane to fly us to Cuzco.  As we waited in the shanty airport for our plane to leave we quickly reflected on our experience in the Amazon.

We arrived in Cuzco about mid-day and made our way to a modest inn and checked into a small room.   We rested for a while as we had yet to sleep from the night before.   After resting up a bit we headed refreshed ourselves with a mini-ceremony and went out to explore Cuzco.  We made our way to the town square and found a small restaurant situated in the square.   I was curious to try some lama meat so I order a traditional Peruvian dish with chunks of lama cooked with peppers and potatoes.  I found it quite delicious.

Is this hypnosis or reality
My compass spins endlessly
I don’t know where we are going
I don’t care
Just take me there

I fill myself
Only [...]]]> A contradiction in all
I don’t know me
But this is he
Never have I met
A living contradiction

Is this hypnosis or reality
My compass spins endlessly
I don’t know where we are going
I don’t care
Just take me there

I fill myself
Only to be empty
For us this reality
Will not do

Unaccepted and imperfect
Our perfection
is against its being
Perhaps another time
How about now

Every letter upon my eyes
First gazed upon this light
That destined summer day
When my hand first began
To write

This is me, mucho gusto
Epoch, Epiphany
Just beyond the flash, is you
Showing me, myself

You point and smile
And I gaze upon
What may never be
But already is

Nothing is clear
Because this is now
Only what has been done
Can be seen

The sunset happens
After the sun dips under
And not before
There we are, together

Will you come
On this journey
The pursuit of perfection
In a world of imperfection

I tell you it means nothing
When you really are my everything
I tell you the world is yours
When my world is in your hands

Withered is your flower
Yet ripe your fruit
Only half is right
The other wrong

Mental misery pervades
Every thought
Emotion overflows
The half empty glass

The madness continues
Like a bobbing heroin head
Up and down endlessly
Lost in the high and low

Smoke filled [...]]]> Mind-fucking the brain
Like a cheap lobotomy
In a Bangkok bathroom
Full frontal lobe attack

Mental misery pervades
Every thought
Emotion overflows
The half empty glass

The madness continues
Like a bobbing heroin head
Up and down endlessly
Lost in the high and low

Smoke filled air
Rots the lungs
As the mind falls
Deep into the fog

Blindly loosing control
Stalling into a nose dive
Tail spinning
Terminal velocity

Free falling
No parachute
No safety net
Icy wind freezes the flesh

Ice cold
Heartless
Frozen in pain
Dead to love

Mind the gap
Between the ears
Breathe deep
The ground is getting closer

We are two trunks ignited by lightning
Two flames in the midnight forest;
We are two meteors flying in the night,
The double-stinging arrow of a single fate!

We are two horses whose reins are held
By the [...]]]> Love

By Vyacheslav Ivanovich Ivanov (28 February 1866 – 16 July 1949 / Moscow)

We are two trunks ignited by lightning
Two flames in the midnight forest;
We are two meteors flying in the night,
The double-stinging arrow of a single fate!

We are two horses whose reins are held
By the same hand, – bitten by one spur;
We are two eyes of a single gaze,
Two trembling wings of one dream.

We are a pair of shadows grieving
Over the holy marble grave,
Where ancient Beauty slumbers.

The two-voiced mouth of secrets shared,
We two make a single Sphinx.
The two arms of a single cross.

—-END TRANSLATION—-

Любовь

Мы – два грозой зажженные ствола,
Два пламени полуночного бора;
Мы – два а ночи летящих метеора,
Одной судьбы двужалая стрела!

Мы – два коня, чьи держит удила
Одна рука, – одна язвит их шпора;
Два ока мы единственного взора,
Мечты одной два трепетных крыла.

Мы – двух теней скорбящая чета
Над мрамором божественного гроба,
Где древняя почиет Красота.

Единых тайн двугласные уста,
Себе самим мы – Сфинкс единый оба.
Мы – две руки единого креста.