Michael Boyer, USA
Hi Francesco, I would like to thank you again for all your help and patience with arranging yet another unforgettable experience for my brother and I. For us it was truly an adventure that we greatly enjoyed! Once again I simply cannot say enough good things about all the people involved at Ashi Meraya. The Garcia family is so warm and friendly, making us feel truly welcome and at home. We were also greatly honored to have experienced several Ayahuasca ceremonies with Heberto as shaman. I really believe he has the ability to make an outstanding shaman, being gifted not only with visions but also with compassion and understanding as well as an infectious passion for his culture. Also, being privileged to work with Maestra Ercilia felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. She is such a kind and gentle soul, and my brother and I both agreed how calming it is just to be in her presence and hear her beautiful icaros during ceremony.
Alfredo Chavez also did an outstanding job stepping in as translator and guide. His love of shamanism and the jungle was clear every day, and one cannot help but feel his enthusiasm as he shares his vast knowledge of the Amazon. He went well beyond the call of duty to always be pointing out different wildlife, showing us different animals and different plants and their uses, showing us how to spot satellites moving across the sky at night, and even sweeping out our bungalows. He has a great sense of humor and is always cheerful to be around, and we learned so much about the jungle during our 2 weeks with him. I would highly recommend him to anyone in the future. And of course I cannot forget to mention Ninfa and her always delicious cuisine!
As I’m sure you’ve heard and felt many times, for a Westerner there is something indescribable, something magical, about spending time in the jungle away from the madness of the ‘modern world’. Maybe it is the energies of nature, maybe it is simply the time and peace to reflect on one’s life, maybe it is the simple beauty of the people who have so little by Western standards but who radiate such joy and generosity. As soon as I left this time I already felt sadness for having to leave that world behind, but life goes on.
I hope through these words I have been able to express what a fulfilling experience we had on this trip. With the help of Alfredo and Heberto we were also able to experience much more than we even expected, like spending time in Iquitos and boating on the Amazon river. We were also able to learn so much more about the plants and animals and also about shamanism. The great respect I already had for this culture has only been further expanded by those two weeks, and for that I am extremely grateful. As I’m sure you heard, my brother also had a fantastic, unforgettable time, and it was uplifting to see how enthusiastically he embraced every minute and every turn of the journey. Either of us would return in a heartbeat if ever life provides that opportunity again. We are filled with happy memories from every moment we spent there. What you and Heberto and everyone at Ashi Meraya are doing to preserve the traditions of shamanism and the indigenous cultures of the Amazon is such a beautiful work. I cannot thank you enough for doing what you’re doing and providing Westerners like my brother and I the chance to experience the magic of this vanishing way of life. I would very much like to keep in touch for any continuing developments and news from El Mundo Magico. My brother and I will continue sharing our experience with so many people back home here, and perhaps someday we can gather a group to organize another trip and introduce others to the same wonderful experiences we were able to have. Thank you so much to you and everyone at Ashi Meraya. Thank you for everything!
Michael Boyer, USA