Shared stories by past participants and their experience at AYA Retreat

The retreat and ceremony at Ayahuasca Retreat Guacamayo was such a unique, powerful and beautiful experience for me! Therefore, I want to share with you the experience I had:


For a long time already, I had hoped to become a mother, which wouldn’t work out for me and my boyfriend, due to three heavy miscarriages and years of waiting and hoping without getting pregnant. By the time I visited the retreat, I nearly had given up hope and was struggling with deep sadness, frustration, and a quest to find reasons, other goals in my life, while giving up this strong urge within myself.


At the retreat, I felt warmly welcomed, everything felt cozy and right, nicely prepared and guided by Oliver and Sergio. At the beginning of the night I formulated a question around this topic of motherhood and then, just let go and accept what was, at that moment, at this beautiful place.  Very late in the night, I had a vision that came to me with sudden intensity; realistic, loving, truthful. There was an old lady, looking at me knowingly, smiling wisely, looking deep insight me, my mind, my heart. She gave me her hand and led me through the garden, climbing down some rocks and arriving at some small but beautiful river. 



There was a small pool forming underneath a little waterfall. The water looked so clear and fresh, sparkling in the light. The women then pointed toward that little pool. Without words, she let me know that I had to bathe in this water, for my questions to be answered. While I walked into the water, the woman suddenly disappeared.



During this “mental bath” of mine, my monkey mind found its way back to the here and now, probably because I had to go to the bathroom or something like that. Only when the sun came up, I actually walked through Oliver's garden in the physical world. I heard a stream of water going, followed it and found the exact spot that I had seen in my vision!! In the first place, I couldn’t believe my eyes.  Later that day, when I had slept a couple of hours, I went back to the water and as the woman had advised, bathed myself in it. I will never forget the feeling of clarity and happiness that came to me while being in the water, while still, a part of me was doubtful, sad, and wouldn’t believe that this experience would have any effect on me whatsoever.
 

When I came home, I felt quite normal, definitely more happy, and one strong experience wiser. But only when I didn’t start menstruating 3 weeks later, I slowly started to oversee the expanse of this experience… I really was pregnant!


And even then, I was still afraid that I would lose another pregnancy. Now, one year later, I am writing these lines, holding my beautiful baby boy in my arms and still, I often cannot believe my luck, cannot express the deep bliss and happiness I feel for this little person that came into my life. I am unable to express the gratitude for this night, this vision, and this beautiful place that brought me exactly the one thing that I was longing for so much.
 

While this so special and life changing experience was a very personal and individual one, I am still very convinced that the beautiful guidance at the retreat, the atmosphere, the warmth and safe environment- all together made my experience possible. And I will never forget that, always be thankful, my friends Oliver, Sergio and Vannessa!