I’ve been back in England for nearly 3 days, and I am still waiting for the old stressed, angry and self-conscious girl I was to return. Maybe she will, maybe she won’t, all I can say is today my life path is clear, my job here and the responsibility that it means. Who I am, at my core and what I want is clear, I live in this moment - I really do. I easily abandon the sticky thoughts of doubt or projection. I am able to concentrate on what I am doing with equal attention...; making dinner, working my job, being with friends who all tell me my energy is contagious.
I was told the only thing not to take with me on this trip were expectations. Secretly I knew that was impossible – I wanted to be a new person, freed of paranoia and fear and the things holding me back from fully engaging in life... well I didn’t get that – Ha! ...that would have been too easy and nothing worth having, including the breathtaking views of the Chapada, comes easily. I have something else though that words fail to capture, perhaps a map, of where I have been and where I am going. These things amount to a courage to face my life at last as it is, to accept exactly what I am in this moment. I have a knowing, a presence, a tranquillity. I am back exactly where I was, with exactly the same things to do, to get done and to face. The difference is I look forward to the climb now as opposed to dreading it. This is my mountain.
What I didn’t expect was to be greeted with the professionalism and personal loving care I was met with. These special people know what they are doing, they know how sacred your journey is, they know they should share this blessing with our crippled world and its suffering people and they do it with joy.
Thank you Paul ‘White falcon’ you are a beautiful patient man, Sweet sensual Suzana your smile is like a light, and welcoming mother earth Sonia... I truly love you all, thank you.
Mari Hardy (@live.co.uk)
London, England, June 2010
…I want you to know, and this is from the deepest part of my heart... I had the best time of my life!!!
All those loving people, there are no words to pay enough respect and thanks for
them. I know life in the valley isn't as easy and simple as it looks, and still,
they cared for us, spoiled us, healed us!
I really could feel the unconditional love
coming from you. You promised us one of the most eventful retreats, and it was! We
had an adventure every day. It was a pure healing experience! Even the mountains
spoke...Jaha hoo grande espirito!
…I have to say, writing this text helps me a lot with my 'coming-back-into-madness-we-call-society' depression I felt when arriving back in Europe. Somehow 'normal life' didn't seem so normal anymore, all I could see around us was madness, artificial happiness, aggression, and so on.
… I can still feel the spirit of Ayahuasca inside my molecules, now adjusting to a new situation. More and more accepting things as they are, not wanting to change them. I can still feel the wisdom I gathered in the last ceremony, which was, for me, a near death experience, maybe more than that... And I am learning to apply this wisdom in 'everyday' life, so, thank you, Paul, Suzana and to everyone at Know Thyself for giving me the opportunity to experience this!
Walk in harmony and light
Your brother Ronald - July 2010
Little did I know what an impact this magical potion would have on my life! Upon searching the web for “Ayahuasca – Bahia, Brazil” I came across “know thyself” and was blown away by the information and great energies I felt emanating from the site, and the lure of the magic herb became ever stronger, I decided straight away that everything resonated with where I was in my spiritual development and that I was indeed ready to take it to the next level, I felt that Ayahuasca could be a great teaching tool for me, and a catalyst to really understanding the questions I had been asking for so long. So the arrangements were made.
From the very beginning the love, joy and calm emitted by the lovely Suzana put me at ease. The love flowed without ceasing from each and every person involved in the activities, the beautiful places that we rested in, even the loving attention with which our nutritious and delicious organic home-grown meals were prepared for us held real meaning for me, and helped to keep the vibrational qualities surrounding our work at a high. These people not only cared about our well-being they ENJOYED creating a nurturing environment for us to grow and explore in complete safety and comfort.
Morning Yoga for me was a real treat, as one who would rather have someone else do Yoga for them, I had no idea it could be quite so exhilarating and addictive to me. As one of the first people to arrive for our morning sessions I cannot express just how wonderful it is to observe the progress one makes under the right tuition. Paul, a seemingly tireless individual with gargantuan amounts of patience, love and understanding really managed to capture for me what I can only describe as the perfect teacher archetype. What had once been a source of embarrassment and frustration for me now became a true satisfaction; I now enjoy and can quantify the benefits of daily stretching and exercise.
Mama-Huasca, this term I personally coined during one of our beautiful and nurturing ceremonies, held by our formidable yet accessible Shaman and his beautiful Goddess-wife. It was during a particular ceremony when I truly experienced the loving care that Pachamama, this great living being that we reside upon continually bestows upon us, a love without end. I have come to realize that life is exactly what you make of it and no opportunity is ever lost. It is in fact possible to relax into a new way of being and not be destroyed by the forces that would otherwise deny us our wholeness.
With vision also came a knowing, and more importantly a new understanding of how loved I was, I saw myself carried naked as a babe upon a great flower, as I lay upon the soft velvet cluster of this bloom, I was presented to each opportunity with a loving grace words would fail to describe, I saw how each probability was offered to me and how I was also offered to that moment to affect it with my very own infusion of the love vibration and thus expand both the possibility and myself. My only task at that moment was to choose what to do with the moment, no need for judgments no room for doubts, each moment was sacred. I truly believe that Ayahuasca drew me to her; she coaxed me in with the promise of a life renewed. This promise was indeed kept I feel, for I now see my part in this great dance called life, and I choose to accept each occasion as a prospect for true internal growth, peace of mind and the cultivation of joy in life, to be shared with all. I truly believe that life is the greatest teacher for us all, and if we can really take the life-affirming lessons we are given and apply those lessons 100% to our lives and our actions we would make great leaps in our conscious development, spiritual, physical and emotional.
I would like to take this moment to thank all the people involved in the February 2011 retreat, and to acknowledge each and every one of you was a beautiful mirror to me, each of us at different stages of our development brought together by forces unseen yet profound and impeccable in the choosing of souls for interaction and honouring of sacred contracts. Great gifts of strength, courage and compassion have been absorbed in my interaction with each beautiful soul, no matter how brief the encounter. Thank you.
Adedoyin Olushonde
Writer and Clothes Designer, Nigeria
13th March 2011
My experience with ayahuasca was beyond profound. I finally realised that there are so many realities here with us and how blind and ignorant we so are. Magic all around me, I have seen it with my own eyes. I felt the earth breathe and the energy bouncing back and forth deep inside the forest. I learned so much about myself in a few short hours, and left with clarity of direction, happiness, and unity. Ayahuasca gently guided me and healed parts of me that i ignored for some time. I am honoured to have been touched and accepted by the spirits of the forest. I shared a breath with mother Earth and floated in the great sky.
Thank you,
Vanja Vukelic,
January 2010
The time I spent at Know Thyself was a positive injection into my life. That's what happens when the people you meet want to make sure you get out of the journey what you need.
It opened my eyes to the important things in this world: Unconditional love, reconnecting with nature, and that we are all potential shamans and Buddhas. We are all responsible to become better humans. The problem is that we lost that truth somewhere between birth and now.
With the help of a shaman and his medicine we can realize our divinity and help spread positive energy and consciousness to people in our lives.
If you're curious about which place to go for your ayahuasca experience, as I was, you will not regret choosing Know Thyself. You will only smile and smile and smile. Viva!
Jerome Vincent Burdi – Journalist, Florida USA
May 2010
For all of my adult life, I've played with agnostic questions about life, the universe, "God" and everything. I've called myself many things, and tried to be them, from Atheist to Pagan, but never followed through with any of the convictions I sometimes felt I'd reached. Every time, new questions brought new uncertainty. Eventually, I stopped trying to be anything except somehow "spiritual", calling myself a spiritualist whenever someone asked, without really knowing what I meant. After the retreat, I've learnt this one very important thing: To stop trying to be anything, and to just be.
Instead of thinking so much about life, Jody, live life. And do so with a clear, keen, open mind, and loving, pure-intentioned heart. Remember that your corner of the world, and the corner of the human-psyche with which you experience it, is but only part of all that there is to be known and experienced. Open yourself to all possibilities, for truly, anything is possible; follow your dreams, but don't live with your head in the clouds... All the conventional wisdom :) ... Often, the simplest truths are the ones we most easily forget.
Much love and gratitude to Know Thyself, for sending me on a wonderful journey of re-self-discovery, reminding me to trust in and stay true to myself.
Namasté
Jody, South Africa, July 2010
…by the end of the first ceremony it all made such perfect sense, and I exalted in the realization that I’d found the right place! Beautiifuls icaros were sung in, around and out of our ceremony. They were not sung for our entertainment, but for our protection and guidance in the healing wheel...and for the spirits. I have never experienced such pure emotion in the expression of music.
Having Paul as a guide during this experience was essential, and with him having a personal and genuine relationship with the shaman made it easier for us to feel closer to what was going on. They walk with you on this journey, not just observing from the side lines, they make you feel part of the circle and not a visitor, they helped me understand just why this is considered so very sacred. I respected it as such before, now I completely understand why. Their guidance was just as important as the tea itself. There is no amount of Dogma attached here, no hidden agenda, no judgements... All Love
With the subsequent ceremonies and on to the Rite of Passage I pushed myself more than I thought I could go, and found myself stronger in the end both physically and spiritually. I developed a stronger relationship with nature, a stronger consciousness and the tools I need to effectively use these new revelations for positive growth in my life and the lives of those around me.
“If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” - Bruce Lee
Thank you Paul and Suzana, Zezito & family, and all the smiling faces whose names I do not know... and to the valleys of Capao and Pati for their unspeakable beauty and unending inspiration.
Vibrantly Yours
Michael Joseph Burdi
Artist & Musician, NY USA – June 2010
Ayahuasca acted as more than just a sacred medicine to me- it was also a vessel. Her power came in a graceful wave, and shed a gently widening spectrum of light onto things that I didn't know I was capable of burying so deep within myself. I travelled to places far outside the dreamscape that the modern world has us living in, where the most beautiful things happened. I began to understand the everlasting responsibility of life for what it has always been, and always will be: Simple, Pure, Unwavering, Eternal Love. There's no amount of disbelief anyone can have that could ever falter such a force. I was able to realize that in closing your mind to the endless possibilities that are yours to take, you become your own worst enemy. I let myself unlock the true potential of my mind in those many moments of absolute clarity...it was the most overwhelmingly beautiful emotion I had ever felt - it stretched across the galaxies, into the heart of every atom, right on towards eternity. I'm so grateful for everything I was able to keep with me from this experience, and for every single person I was able to share it with...the tools that it's provided me with are exactly what I need to begin the next phase of my journey.
Thank you so much Paul, Suzana, Zezito and everyone else who made me feel more at peace with myself than I'd ever felt before! Viva Ayahuasca, Viva Amor!!
Sara D’Angelo, NY USA, June 2010
“…this journey has enabled me to get back to my true self! An absolute blessing! Each day I process more and more of the experience and although I have not had much opportunity to meditate, the times I have are keeping the light coming in!
Know thyself has helped me connect back to true “being”, which for me is living in the moment whether you are actually doing something or doing nothing and being one with all that is life. Just being enabled me to clear the mind, lift anxiety and give new ideas and perspective on the unexamined thoughts contributed to my emotions. A true blessing!
It was a complete joy to meet new people and to be at peace collectively as a group with nature, in the powerful Chapada Diamantina. Tons of love and gratitude to the Know Thyself Team and to the Valleys that guided us through these beautiful journeys."
Tons of love from NYC,
Marci Hom - August 2010
You could ask yourself, “why would I need to ‘get to know’ myself better in order to solve my problems?” “How could expanding consciousness contribute to my well-being? isn't that just going to confuse me? Take me away from life's goals?” Well, going on a Know-Thyself retreat is so incredibly relevant for anyone who is dealing with inner struggle or doubts about aspects of your life. We learn that (back home) we tend to live daily life with a certain tunnel vision, whether we want it or not. We identify ourselves with our thoughts, we worry too much, we think about what others think of us and we keep on blaming others for things that happen in our lives.
Ayahuasca teaches us to live in the now, to take distance from your own point of view and shape a vivid 'helicopter-view' about your life, others lives, the earth, the universe and eternity. This enables you to see the relativeness of it all, and what a relief! We CAN be whatever we want to be! We CAN live life to the fullest! The world IS a wonderful place full of beauty, even in the tiniest details! We see the truth about our spirit and our connection with the divine. It is such a joy.
I am forever thankful to Know-Thyself, especially Paul and Suzana and all the other volunteers in the Chapada Diamantina, to have offered me this experience. An experience that was exactly what I needed during that moment of my life, and is of incredible value. I felt like every day was a new gift and I can't thank everyone enough for this. I'll be back for sure!
-Tom Geraedts, Motion Film Producer, Netherlands - August 2010
From my first Ayahuasca experience alone, I had so much love inside me that I thought my heart was going to explode. I felt completely renovated, as if a wave of happiness had washed over my body and mind. The love and completeness I felt cannot be explained with words. It was something magical, unique, incredible, unreal! I understood that the answers I had been seeking were inside me and that there wasn’t anybody in the world capable of understanding me more than myself.
Understanding the self is the key to understanding your relationship with the collective. One’s conclusions and perceptions about the world has an inextricable link with the self. Therefore, the best way to improve your social relations is by learning and understanding yourself better.
The ritual was thus of paramount importance, helping me to take an inner journey to become aware of my self. This process of self-understanding was facilitated by the use of Ayahuasca and the whole ceremony seems to have been developed to provide the best possible internal experience. I felt as if I’d attained the highest degree of awareness and understanding of the inner self. Based on this understanding of self, I believe that my integration with the collective became more vivid and true.
Suzana Bresolin
Brazil, April 2009
When you understand who and what you are, your radiance projects into the universal radiance and everything around you becomes creative and full of opportunity. ~ Yogi Bhajan
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My retreat at Know Thyself was one of the most joyous experiences of my life. I was able to go beyond -- way beyond -- things I understood intellectually before and have a new and deeper connection with concepts such as presence, power and choice. I came face to face with my limitations, not mentally, but on an energetic level. I gained profound insights and creative inspiration. The third ceremony was the most blissful night of my life. It was also nice to meet people from around the world, do yoga, enjoy good food and just stop and relax -- swinging on my porch hammock -- in a beautiful setting. Thank you Paul, Suzana and everyone who made this experience possible.
Mark Yablonovich
Los Angeles, CA
Dear Paul, it has been almost a month now since my unforgettable experience in Bahia. I wanted to thank you again for organizing and hosting such a profound experience. I find it a real testament to the trip that no matter how different and various the reasons might be for embarking on such a journey everyone found what they really needed inside themselves. With painful pleasure I admit that within two hours of my departure from that sacred place, sitting on the bus I was already longing to return and deeply missing all the wonderful souls I had met.
Please continue your work. I feel the world could really use it, and please be sure to send my love and regards to Suzana. See you again in the future, as I eagerly look forward to experience how this ever expanding trip evolves.
With loving gratitude,
Travis Corcoran - Chiropractor.
April 2010
I have been very attracted to the idea of “initiation” in shamanism. The idea that as one moves through life, if you're doing it right, you come to points where you “graduate” to something new, something higher. It was here, in Brazil, that I have become a man. I was moving in this way with all the work I've done on myself, and actually, without all that work, this experience (as it has been for the others) would be even more difficult. Also more confusing. But it was here that I was “initiated” into manhood. This is not something anyone told me, there was no “ceremony”, it just happened. Manhood. Not really all that profound, and yet mind-boggingly life-changing and important.
I have learned the true goodness of what I am. I have learned that all my life, the work, the spirituality, the faith, all of it was, indeed, the journey to a major transformation in the evolution of my soul. A transformation that would not have taken place without the incredible efforts I have made. But this is not some high-faluting spirituality, this is about stepping into the Jonathan that all my life I was trying to create. I leave behind my childhood. I leave behind fear, I leave behind resentment, I leave behind anxiety, I leave behind self-doubt, and mostly, I leave behind the mis-knowledge (or forgetfulness, or denial) of who I really am.
There has been major clarity for me here, it’s actually quite subtle, and I was always on the path to get there, but now I know. I choose peace, I choose self-reliance, I choose Joy, I choose responsibility, I choose Love, I choose “yes”, I choose stability, I choose consciousness, I choose mindfulness, I choose silence when necessary, I choose self-love, I choose man-hood, and I strive for impeccability. This is what it is to be a man. The “initiation” here was not one to sagehood (that´s the last stop, but I thought I was ready for it, little did i know), it was to manhood. And I am so proud of myself that I can barely stand it.
There is, of course, always more work to be done, but it´s now new work - work for the second half of my life. The struggles of the first half are over. The confusion of the first half are over. The doubt of the first half, now complete. Adolescence ended.
How will all this look in my life when I come home? Its all very subtle, all very internal. But I will love more, I will resent less, I will not engage in anger in anything in my life that appears to have ´wronged´ me. I will be a better man, a better healer, an example of what´s possible in the humblest of ways for those that care to know, or choose to see it.
I had the best, most rewarding time of my life. I am actually still kind of settling in and processing what exactly happened to me in Brazil. I am so grateful for my experience with you. There is no part of the retreat, even the terrifying parts (of which there were some for me) that I don’t totally cherish.
I was very sad to leave and missed the group so much. So glad to hear that Marco got better and better. It was amazing to see him grow and heal.
Suzana is one of the finest, most intuitive and conscious people any of us are ever likely to come across. There is much to be said for spending time with just a naturally beautiful light-filled person like her. I learned as much from her as anyone.
For me, the ayahuasca was just a way to see your ideal, your best self. The trick is to remember when the ceremony is over. And to do something about it.
With Love
Jonathan Hammond - Actor, Interfaith Minister, Reiki Healer, NYC
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A purely wonderful experience, the ‘full moon retreat’ followed by the Rite of Passage. A timeless and unforgettable sequence of moments…like two delicious courses in a stupendous meal :)
Meditating, breathing, massage, the inipi and taking part in some very special ayahuasca ceremonies. I have never been on a retreat before (5 star or boot camp!) so this was a great opportunity to renew mind body and spirit amongst the joy of nature in two beautiful valleys. The Know Thyself team are an amazing combination who offer a peaceful environment, working specifically with each individual and the group. A star team that ooze warmth, fun, love, purpose and serious endeavour. This is a spiritual, low key and back to basics retreat, which is joyful, full of learning, good laughs and a lot more - where you commune with nature, spirits and people in a magnificent setting. Absolutely fabulous!!! For a couple of the days (on the Rite of Passage) the hiking is no easy picnic but well worth every minute, and ounce of sweat! And there are some incredibly special places to visit amongst the sounds of the eagles and the parrots. I have a string of wonderful memories, learnt lots about my spirit and body energy in its purest form and met some very special folks in the process :)
Lucy Hatchell, UK, - August 2010
Ooooh..... Waaaaaahhh... Phhheewwww...
Was it Ayahuasca or Eye-A-Woaw-Sky? Was I Santo Daime or Sent-To-Thy-Me?! Can't really tell... My veins, my joints, my meniscus, knees and ankles feel so grateful. This was a healing journey. I was a rock, I got no clock, I was the vine, I was divine, I saw the Light, the Big White Light, I was a human, being, feeling, breathing, I was the wind, the river and the cliff. The Friendly Tea made me sit still for hours which, for a High Vata person like me, is quite a challenge. Thanks Paul for putting together this deeply transformative and highly recommended program. My cells remember.
I'll spread the word, with Metta!
Yves Delatte,
Actor, Musician & Therapist , August 2010
I met Paul like in a dream. I was travelling in Brazil and at the end of the trip I left every decision and control. Travelling to the center of the Chapada Diamantina, I had heard about Paul and ayahuasca.
A few days after I was participating in a ritual in a natural temple of the holy
medicine. My experience has been brightened, I learned to work with the vision and
drive my lucid dreams. But I knew I could ask for more from life, from the dream.
And we had a shamanic ayahuasca ritual in the wild, on the Rite of Passage. It was
incredible, we did the ritual in an island in the middle of a river with the full
moon and a mystical landscape. The whole experience changed the way I see the world
and myself. It's been a therapeutic and constructive journey. The vision still inside
me and I continue to work on the experience I've received. Thank you to Paul and
his mission, Suzana and the rest of the Know Thyself family, the nature and her soul.
I hope to come back soon. Thanks
Francesco Zagreo - Art Director, January 2010
Before my first ayahuasca ceremony I was both excited and apprehensive. Once I relaxed and surrendered to the experience it was like the universe was untying the restrictions, thought patterns and limitations I had been living with. Each vision felt as if I was being guided through different limitations and at every one a voice was asking "can you let go of this feeling". When I did I felt waves of peace and love within myself and in everything and everyone. Gratitude for all that life had brought replaced my judgements and uber critical thoughts. This has stayed with me!
The retreat and program has a good balance and the ceremonies and beautiful music were just perfect for me. Meeting Zezito, staying at his place and taking part in an Inipi Ceremony was another highlight.
I loved the whole experience. A big thank-you to Paul and everyone involved for creating and giving me this opportunity to Know Myself better!
Paul Evans
Song Writer, UK, February 2011
My life in NYC is very intense. I work as a hair designer for celebrities and also in the fast paced world of the fashion industry. I am also a single mother of three amazing children. Balancing this type of career and my family life was basically impossible. I became very overwhelmed and my body began to shut down. I stopped everything and desperately looked to find help. I've always wanted to visit Brazil. I found Know Thyself after many days of searching online and I knew straight away that this was the place that I would begin to heal my soul.
Ayahuasca has helped me to understand why I was hurting. I never understood how much pain I had inside of me. Living in a fast paced environment rarely allows us to hear the inner voice that speaks to us all and guides us. I came to this retreat not even knowing what Ayahuasca was but I was willing to go that far and take this ancient medicine and trust the guides that led me here. My life would never be the same.
The Know Thyself family gave me love that I have never felt before. It was a different kind of love, I felt that these were my spiritual parents. Now I can say that I'm very very happy in my spirit. I have learned so much and am thankful for my blessing and I've even learned to be thankful for the hardships and I understand that they are both equal sides of the sun. Thank you for teaching me this. I am humbled accepting things as they are. My outlook on life is more positive, my creativity is through the roof with no mental blocks. The ability to love unconditionally and to forgive means everything to me. I am learning to balance life even here in the big city. Spending time alone is like heaven to me now that I know the value of connecting to the soul. I have learned to push through even when it gets hard to go into my mind and find the strength. The hiking and day trips up mountains and long walks have taught me to never quit.
Most of all I am learning to forgive myself..as I am just a child.
Paul and the healing centre, thank you for your open hearts and being an example for us all.
I now call Bahia home and plan to return several times a year to this magical land and to take Ayahuasca to guide me through my life's journey.
Hadiiya Barbel
Hair Stylist
I had not heard of Ayahuasca before a young man I met a few years previously in London emailed me a connection to his website (Know Thyself) which he claims he named following one of our correspondences. He asked me on a number of occasions to join one of his spiritual retreats but I demurred owing to my age (64) and unwillingness to associate with mind altering drugs: I am however used to 'going on retreat' which I do annually with my practical philosophy group in London. Its not that I object to hallucinogens but my very brief acquaintance had not convinced me of their lasting value. I had done some research on the internet and had an ambivalent feeling about ayahuasca as some of the sources spoke of difficulties associated with it. Finally, with the carrot of an 'old man's retreat', I gave in to Paul's invitation to the 'Full Moon' retreat this April.
The first Ayahuasca ceremony took place on day 3 in the daylight, the second and third were night time exercises. I am very pleased to report that I found Ayahuasca not only not particularly hallucinogenic but also very benign. I have had more than a month to reflect upon this experience and I am happy to say that for me (and it is different for each person) the effect of drinking ayahuasca was to open the heart, to beneficially rebalance the mind/heart relationship, to appreciate the interconnectedness of creation and the unity of life. There was a real appreciation of freedom and a joining of observer and observation. There was a full flowing of joyous love with the group.
In summary, was I glad I attended the retreat? - you can bet your life I was!! Not only did I meet some of the most wonderful people I have ever met in my longish life but I also realised a spiritual aim of shifting my spiritual search from over-intellectualisation to a greater balance between head and heart. I can happily recommend one of Paul's ayahuasca retreats most heartily; he runs the retreat with the greatest care and you'll get a peace inducing full body massage from the wondrous Suzana. If you are sincere in your search for enlightenment then do yourself the favour of attending one of Paul and Suzana's ayahuasca healing retreats, you won't regret it.
With love,
Stephen
Retired architect and long-term seeker after truth.
London May 2011
I think I’ve never been happier. I just feel so blessed to be here, seeing and enjoying, celebrating life.
What I lived in the Chapada has stayed with me and I’ve been pretty busy and dedicated to keeping the flame alive, and am really looking forward to my next trip to that enchanted land and meeting with you guys again... and well, thanks a million for allowing all this to happen.
The work is personal and internal - most definitely - and you sure are doing a good thing by opening it up to people like me, so kudos to know thyself!
Rodrigo Aquirre, Chile
My name is Susan and I am an artist and yoga instructor in the USA. I am very interested in holistic healing modalities and have travelled to many retreats around the globe which include yoga, meditation, nutrition, exploring the sites, and various forms of healing methods. The "Know Thyself" experience was exceptional on every level.
Paul is a very knowledgeable and responsible group leader as well as a great yoga instructor and spiritual guide. He has a great sense of humor, is very open-minded, and accommodates any special needs of the individuals in the group. The retreat is beautiful and where the ceremonies are held can best be described as a "Magical Forest."
The ceremonies are exquisite, including music and sacred chants in a nurturing, beautiful, natural setting. I approached taking ayahuasca for the first time with certain beliefs and expectations due to the research I had done over the years. Paul prepared us all by explaining that we should try hard not to have preconceived notions or expectations beforehand and that the ayahuasca experience is different for each individual. He was absolutely correct! Each person in the group had a very profound and individual experience that was both uplifting and insightful in very different ways. All three ceremonies were incredibly healing, heart-opening and transformative. It is very hard to describe with words no matter how descriptive I might be. The wonderful effects are still being felt as I write this testimonial from my home in the USA and I plan to do another retreat with Know Thyself next summer with several of my friends and family members as well. I even just ordered the Rosetta Stone language learning system to learn Portuguese by then :)
I can't say enough good things about my experience and would very highly recommend doing ayahusaca with Know Thyself to anyone wishing to "Know thyself" better :)
Susan
Teacher, USA - August 2011
Hi all,
It's now a year after I went to visit Brazil to experience the Know Thyself retreat.
And what year it was! Yes, I can honestly say, reflecting back on 2011, that it was one of the best years I’ve had in a long time. At the end of 2010 I was a hopeless mess without ambitions, without dreams, lost in realms of negativity. Living a day-by-day life, full of anger, doubts and under the impression that love was an illusion. Couldn't find what I needed, psycho therapy didn't do it for me, tried a view medicines for a month or two, but really they felt like something that didn't belong in my body. I had great times, wonderful friends and beautiful experiences in these years but my overall feeling was one of a depressed state. It was slowly killing me.
Than in Dec. I met somebody who experienced the Know Thyself retreat in Nov. 2010. After his enthusiastic stories I began to do some research on the web.
Within 10 days I was convinced that this was something that had to experience for myself.
And here I am still living day by day and now I am loving it!! I promised Paul to write a testimonial but took my time to reflect on something so basically life changing. While the others in the Feb. 2011 retreat wrote theirs months ago.
I was so lucky to be in this group of beautiful and understanding people. They really supported me from their heart during my very difficult moments at the retreat. Especially during my first 4 ceremonies, it was very difficult mentally, the wars in my head came to a climax in a fierce battle with me and my ego. Total confusion made me wonder if it was a good decision to enter the realm of Ayahuasca. But somehow there was this really strong feeling that I was on the right track. I am a fighter with a curiosity that's way stronger than my fears, and this is one of the things that I learned afterwards. Use your human curiosity to conquer all your fears. It will take you to places you won't easily forget. The Ayahuasca became my teacher, who I didn't like at first but who I grew to love. It's hard to put in words that which you experience while the magic tea is working with you. At times it is like a roller-coaster going from one emotion to the other. At times it feels like a warm blanket of absolute unconditional love. The singing of the hymns took me to wonderful places that I could never have imagined, seeing colours I've never ever seen before. Feelings of being so small and yet feeling so connected with mother earth and all of its natural wonders.
Doing yoga sessions in the morning was wonderful, way better than I expected because I was never much of a morning person. With the patient, calm instructions by Paul I managed to work my way in positions I never did before. The meditation afterwards was really helping
to accept all that I needed to. A few times we sang mantras, at first I thought “what is this good for?”, but after singing the same mantra for more than 30 minutes it became clear to me. It did give a feeling of clearance in my whole being.
Entering the Inipi ceremony was a 10 year old wish coming true. And I was able to handle it way better than I expected because the last years I couldn't even handle a sauna. It was hot, very hot and when Zezitio said it was time to go out of the Inipi, I wanted to stay longer. Outside of the Inipi I covered my sweaty body with dirt to protect myself against the mosquito and layed myself down, just to process and to thank the elements for what I've just experienced. While I was laying there, looking up to the stars something magical happened.
It felt like mother earth was stretching her arms out to give we a warm and firm hug. And I didn't drink Ayahuasca that day, so I knew this was real and it made me humble and realize that love definitely is not an illusion.
Great full thanks for the wonderful massages, tasty food, the hospitality, the warm welcome, the wonderful guidance and friendship to everyone who was part of this life changing experience. One love!
Ps. I miss you all and I will come back to experience nature at it's fullest!
Michael L.B.
Retreat Feb 2011
(Written Jan 2012)
