Sacred valley adventures in peru

1 year ago

Hello my friends, remember me..

Long time no see. It was a hectic summer to say the least running retreats, hosting guests in my Wild Meadow, hosting ceremonies allover the place and working on spreading awareness about our magical Ceremonial Cacao from Wild Cacao Collective.

On top of that I am studying a very interesting program in self sustainability which is my dream- to become self sustainable, growing my own food, being surrounded by animals and living according to the seasons of the year..A long journey there but one baby step at a time.

I needed a break from it all and what better way to celebrate my 40th birthday than in ceremony, in Peru. One of my absolute favorite countries.

I went on a retreat with my forest family which I first got to know when I took my first sound healing training at a place in Guatemala called The Yoga Forest. So some of the people were the same, some were new friends but it was instant connection and we all felt like a warm, loving family.

We sang, hiked some challenging hikes in the Andes, we sat in ceremonies almost every night with different plant medicines, we learned more about Peruvian instruments like the drum and flutes and we got to make our own drums and rattles which was so much fun.

So much healing happened in these beautiful but sometimes extremely challenging ceremonies and I feel like I came home with a new perspective, very humbled, so much trust to my path that I have chose and with such an open heart that is just bursting with love- my challenge now is to integrate everything that happened and to stay in this vibration which is really hard coming back to reality.

So much happened that I have yet to put words so until then, here is some highlights.

Oh and I was trying to source some Peruvian cacao to offer in our Wild Cacao Shop but seriously the Peruvian cacao is not nearly as good as the Guatemalan in my opinion and I really tried a lot of it. BUT what I did found that is truly amazing is 100% pure cacao essential oil which is completely life changing. It smells so divine and I use it on my wrists, I add it to coconut oil and use as moisturiser and massage oil and I have tried it in my diffuser- all great options. Email me if you want to try it for yourself, its not up on the website just yet. 1 bottle is 395 sek and its the best investment for your mood and overall wellbeing..a complete aphrodisiac!

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Our MAGICAL group on the last night. So grateful that I got to be a part of this and to get inspired again and again how I want to live my life more in a ceremonial way, in nature, singing, dancing, praying to the elements and being with like hearted souls. THANK YOU Hayley and Jaya for creating this space that allows for so much transformation! And if you feel like studying with them I highly recommend their sound ceremony training in Guatemala which to me was life changing.

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

We had so many fire ceremonies and this one was led by Taita IntiWari- a magical medicine man who took us on some deep journeys.

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Drumming and singing around the fire is really my happy place.

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Found a soul sister..how funny that we have the same tattoo on the same place..

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Blending into Pisac

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

One out of many beautiful and magical altars

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Growing up in Stockholm in the 80’s these flutes were played at the train stations allover town.Where did those guys go? I loved them! I don’t think I ever played one before, so much fun but HARD.

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Preparing for one of our magical ceremonies

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

The dance before meeting my dark knight of the soul in one of the most intense plant medicine ceremonies I’ve ever experienced.

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

With one of my soul sisters Isis who is such a goddess and inspiration to me

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Angelina working on her rattle- this crafting day was so much fun and I really had no idea how much work goes into making just one rattle

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Some people chose to make drums. I was close to making one as well but it was a lot more work and I was exhausted at this point. Plus I have a custom made shamanic drum with weaved in cacao handmade by my dear friend Johanna here in Sweden- super excited to see the result in a few weeks. And check out her work, she does the most beautiful handmade crystal jewellery.

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

The beginning of my rattle..looks like a 5 year old cut it..But I am very happy with the result..I dont have any picture of it but if you are curious to see the result check out my  reel about it on instagram

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

And someone elses beginning of a drum

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Here they are hanging to dry in the sun packed with sand to mold the shape.

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Ok Peru is such a heaven when it comes to shopping for me- textiles, drums, rattles, feathers, ceramics, ponchos, hats..its out of this world

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Another fire ceremony with Wachuma which is a sacred Cactus. We drank it and hiked a  challenging hike. I felt like I was going to dye and wanted to give up so many times but everyone else just kept going so I just kept singing and walking, singing and walking

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

An old priestess palace

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

The pictures doesn’t do this magical place justice. We rested by a magical waterfall which didn’t get caught on this picture

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

This is going downhill so I am smiling again.

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Making our own Wachuma tea was so special and sacred. I just love medicine making.

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

This is the sacred cactus with so many healing benefits

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

And happy place, Kirtan night. We joined forces with the 300 hour yoga teacher training for a magical night singing and dancing together.

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

More dancing before another ceremony

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

This is Maria and she is an important part of our Wild Cacao Collective- she has been our point of contact and helping us craft our adaptogenic blends, source all ingredients and train the ladies in Guatemala to make the blends for us. Might seem like an easy task but we have become very humble to the fact that Guatemala works in Guatemala pace..

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

My little altar that I brought with me to the ceremonies

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

And here is another one. I really encourage you to create your own altar to meditate, manifest or pray to. Super powerful.

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

One of my new found soul sisters Joanie.

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Ah this waterfall!

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

On another Wachuma hike and this one I really enjoyed. Not as high altitude and my body felt stronger. Beautiful day singing, hiking, praying to the mountains

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Preparing for our Temazcal- a sweat lodge that is kind of like a dying and rebirthing ceremony.

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

The Sweat Lodge is a purification ceremony and the preparations for this ceremony is conducted in a sacred manner, from cleaning and caring for the grounds, to building and tending the fire to heat the stones, to dressing the lodge in blankets.

During the ceremony, heated stones are placed in the centre of the temazcal, while our guide Leticia guided us in prayers, songs and smudged the stones with sacred herbs in the pitch black and very hot lodge.

The Temazcal represents the womb of Mother Earth, and it is a sacred space to ask for healing, forgiveness, hope, vision, to give thanks.

 

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru
Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

The last night a local band came to play the drums and the flute.

Sacred Valley Adventures in Peru

Planting some more Wachuma, to be harvested next year.

Nina Medicina

Nina Medicina

I am a Modern medicine woman and spiritual guide working mainly with Ceremonial Cacao, plants, breathwork and sound.

Here I am writing about my life that is divided between Lake Atitlan in Guatemala and the forest in Skåne. Topics I am passionate about are Cacao, holistic health, healing, spirituality, ceremonies, rituals and my dog Elda of course❣︎

Instagram: @ninamedicina

https://www.ninamedicina.com
Mail: [email protected]

The Ceremonial Cacao I am writing about that has upgraded my life on all levels can be found at:
Www.wildcacaocollective.com
@wildcacaocollective