San Francisco Peru, Yarinacocha and Beyond

A lot of time has past since I have last written a Blog. Life has been a little more busy and more like work than anything else the past several weeks. With the house construction, and going to and from Pucallpa with loads of materials, it has been a month of work which I know will pay off shortly. I am expecting to move into my new home in about 1 week. Shortly thereafter, begin my traditional shaman diet...for 40 days, eating only a little rice in the afternoons, and having no contact with the outside world or people. I have waited to begin the diet until after the house has been competed because I felt like the house was situated in the perfect place for the experience. A short 10 minute walk outside of town. Tranquil, quiet, and lots of nature to listen to.

I have traveled to a few new places near (more or less) Pucallpa. Samaria is a small Shipibo community 10 hours up river (south) surrounded on all sides by thousands of banana trees. The woman who's house I have been living in (in San Fran), owns land there and spoke very highly of the pueblo....so I thought I would go check it out. What did I find...?

I found the area to be similar to other pueblos I have traveled to. Lacking culture and dependent on: money, salt sugar and oil for cooking, gas to power boat engines, shotgun shells to hunt food (namely monkeys and parrots), and cutting down huge trees for lumber companies who sell the wood to the western world...who's biggest trees have all been cut down hundreds of years ago. Evangelicals have frequented these remote pueblos over the years and this also has contributed to loss of culture. Namely telling the Shipibos that GOD doesn't like their Ayahuasca practices, of which the use of Ayahuasca has taught them the extensive plant and medicine knowledge that has been past down for centuries. This knowledge is being forgotten, and the young aren't interested in getting the wisdom from their wise elders. They want to wear cool clothes like the missionaries. And buy cool things like what the missionaries and tourists have......It was also sad to see a lot of drunk people laying on the streets in this small pueblo of 200 people.

I see so much possibility here in Peru. Coming from the USA I have traveled back in time. The Shipibos land is being taken away, divided up and sold by the Peruvian Government(some of which, I have just found out..I purchased). Similar practices have occurred in the US with the ingenious population that once thrived there. I am gaining so much perspective that is not found by staying in the US and watching TV, and Movies....It is such a real life changing experience when I am fully immersed in an experience.

What’s next? I am back in San Fran and will be out of communication for several weeks. When the diet is finished, I will be sure to write another BLOG for ya.ll back home!! After...who knows? I am connecting to my higher self and going with the flow.....not sure exactly where it will lead as of yet. Blessings from P E R U: JRH:)