:The way of The Old Ones:

Hikuri (peyote) Pilgrimage

Real de Catorce, Mexico

Dates
March 26th – 31st, 2023

Ayni | Reciprocity
$1,650 USD

This is a piece that is very special to our hearts working directly with our family and community in Mexico who live and breath this prayer. It is a very special opportunity that not many people have access to, and something we feel very honored to offer at Earth Temple Retreats

This retreat will be working directly with indigenous wisdom keepers of the Wixaritari tradition.

Each year thousands of people travel to the sacred lands of Wixikuta to leave offerings and give thanks for its medicine and what they have received over the past year. This ceremony is only open to Tewari’s with the guidance and support of a Marakame. Tewari means “neighbor” and usually refers to a non Wixárika person usually referring to Mestizo Mexicans. It is rarely offered to extranjeros (foreigners) although after talking within our communities, a common theme of collective healing emerged. If we are truly in the prophetic times that the ancestors told us about then we must unite the North and the South.

(Please note that due to the nature of this type of pilgrimage, we are unable to take people who are brand new to medicine work and ceremony.)

The Spirit of Hikuri.

The traditional knowledge carriers and protectors of the Spirit of Hikuri (Peyote) are called the Wixárika people, sometimes referred to as the Huichol. Their medicine people are called the Marakame. Marakames are chosen by their communities when they are children/coming of age and complete a series of initiations in order to be given the rights to carry the ceremony. They are some of the oldest sacred knowledge keepers on the planet and in their view, these ceremonies and practices ensure that the universe remains in balance.

We have the honour of sitting with two traditional Marakames and two traditional musicians. Each of them speak their native language and carry the way of ceremony into their everyday lives. We also have a large support team of people who live in ceremony, regularly make this pilgrimage that you are about to embark on and offer a unique cultural bridge between worlds. You will be very well taken care of.

Kayumari

Kayumari is known as the blue deer, the healing spirit that the Marakame are in deep relationship with. She is also a very joyful spirit. On this pilgrimage you will be developing a relationship with this earth guardian that can support you in your life and your path.

When Kayumari was born, she made five stops before she transformed into the spirit of Hikuri. Each one of those places where she rested along the way is a sacred site to the people. We will be visiting the last stop, the holy lands of Wixikuta. Wixikuta is a sacred site where thousands of people come each year to make their offerings and their prayers. It is a place of miracles and many blessings.

Ceremony

Ceremony takes place around the fire in the open sky underneath the stars and the ancestors to look over us. You are invited to create a small altar in front of you as well as bring items for the collective altar. Over the course of the ceremony there will be singing, dancing, healing, and a much insight and visions to be received. We refer to Hikuri as the Gran Abuelo, the Great Grandfather. You will find you experience deep heart opening and an ancient memory of collective oneness returning.

What to Expect

You will probably feel stretched out of your comfort zone. (But isn’t that why we go to ceremony) Long periods in the desert in the back of a pick up truck, sleeping in an old hotel in the middle of nowhere, Hiking to the various sacred sites, Staying up til dawn after finding your own Hikuri in the desert.

Yet as physically tired and exhausted you may be, you will feel surprisingly lighter and more energetic afterwards. Your mind will feel sharper, your heart open and as friend of mine just shared, 20 years of therapy complete. But more than our individual healing is at hand here. Each time we make a pilgrimage to these sacred sites, we charge up the grid lines. We let the spirits know that we are working. That this planet continues to need their help and that we are active members of that exchange.

Traditions

We ask that if you join us on this journey, please honour the indigenous traditions, even if you may not understand the reasons behind things. There may be things that happen that you have questions about. And yet, sometimes suspending our own values and lenses allows us to be willing to see things differently, respecting this very old way.

Dates
March 26th – 31st, 2023

Ayni | Reciprocity
$1,650 USD

Registration
If you would like to register you can send a $500 deposit to athenasprayers@gmail.com

If you have any questions and wish to reach out to discuss details of this pilgrimage, please send an email to zoeguzmanpoole@gmail.com, our liason in Mexico who can discuss the ins and outs of what to expect.

If you are new to working with us we will need you to fill out our medical form before hand
earthtempleretreats.com/medical-form/

Registration includes all ceremony. Accommodation for the 5 nights (march 26-30). Truck rides, Combi rides, homecooked meals in the desert, supplies, ceremonial support before hand.

Airport: The closest airport is San Luis Potosi.

We can help coordinate your arrival from the airport, but this will be an additional cost as its a 3 hour drive. You may also take the bus from the airport.

We will be going over the logistics to prepare for this time together before hand. Which will be a 1.5 to 2 hour zoom call with a chanupa (pipe) ceremony held by one of our ceremonial elders online.

Layout

We will all meet in Real de Catorce, which is a really sweet town with all kinds of little shops and some lovely hotels to stay at if you want to arrive early. Our journey together starts on the morning of the 26th of March, which is why we have asked everyone to meet us on the 26th of March at 10am in Rincon Magico. Rincon Magico is the hotel where we will finish our journey together. You are welcome to book the night of March 25th there ( at 10% off) or find somewhere more economical in town and meet us at 10am in the lobby on the 26th.

We will have an introduction, a talking circle, and go over details as to what our next few days will look like. We’ve got a big day ahead of us.

We will have an introduction, a talking circle, and go over details as to what our next few days will look like. We will try to end the night early so you can get to sleep. We’ve got a big day the next day.

How to Get There

The Closest Airport is San Luis Potosi. Real de Catorce is 3.5 hours from the aiport. You can arrive by private car, bus or a series of collectivos (for the seasoned traveller).

We are organizing a ride share for travellers arriving on the 25th. If you plan to arrive that day, make sure to arrive no later than 2pm.

Either way, as you book your tickets and start planning to come please let us know your travel information. Perhaps we can help coordinate your next steps. Maybe you and another traveller can share a private car on the 23rd.

Note:

Real De Catorce is a small mining town that can only be accessed through a very long tunnel. Only personal cars can enter the tunnel. If you arrive by bus/collectivo, you must get off the bus, and load yourself (and your things) into the back of a pick up truck. Rates last year were 20 pesos (1 USD) per person. If you arrive in a personal car/taxi/uber, you must pay a toll fee to pass through the tunnel and 100 pesos parking per day (5 USD) if you park. Note: Real de Catorce is a walking village. If you enter the town by car, you will most likely need to walk to your hotel as very few roads are accessible by car or have parking.

All this said, make sure that you have the ability to carry what you bring.

Review of what to Expect

• 2 nights of Hikuri (Peyote) ceremony with Marakame Medicine Men
• 2 Traditional Wixáritari musicians
• 2 MEXIKA Curanderos
• Journey to ancient temples
• Find your own Hikuri
• Integration Circles
• Temaskal
• Pipe ceremony
• Immersion in sacred songs
• A deep cultural exchange
• To see the world differently
• To shed off old layers that you don’t need anymore

Tentative Schedule

March 26 – 10am Orientation Circle – Introductions, Layout
March 26 – Hike, Travel to Wadley, Preparation, Ceremony night
March 27 – Ceremony Morning, Temaskal, Lunch, Rest
March 28 – Hike, Ceremony Night
March 29 – Ceremony Morning, Temaskal, Lunch, Rest
March 30 – 6am rise- travel to Real de Catorce, Hike, closing ceremony at the top of the mountain, dinner, soft closing
March 31 – Morning closing circle, goodbyes & Farewell