18/09/2024
So today was the first day my brain and body have both actually arrived in South America.
Thanks first of all to Terry Cumes from Willka T'ika who invited me to join in a sound healing being offered as part of his wellness program and he is also a big part of why I'm about to have the chance to go to visit the Qero in two days time high up in thw Andees
Then today has unfolded beautifully
Exciting bit no 1
A lovely yoga session from Terry Cumes followed by an announcement at breakfast that he has been teaching yoga for 35+ years but isn't certified.
Exciting bit no 2
A wonderful chat with Paddy Pan about both visiting him in Colombia and also an invitation from him to co-create a retreatish kinda thing (more to come on that later) but it a real privilege to receive such an invite. Part of why it warms my heart is that Paddy is someone I did a bit of support work with over the last few years and it's exciting to see him feeling ready to do this kind of work for others. One of my goals for doing support work is to create a non hierarchical relationship - so it's really exciting to see him graduate into himself and for me to be humbled by his intlvitation. It may take time to develop this idea but I get a really good vibe from the idea of me and Paddy working together to support others.
Question - what's the first thing that comes to mind about what you would want in a retreatish context from two humans who would usually be identified as male.
Exciting bit no 3
I got to have an extended chat with the one and only Carol Cumes today. Carol is the founder of Willka Tika - and has been almost deified by women all over the world who have attended her retreats (I believe she has always called them magical journeys) Carol is profoundly unpretentious - she share tales with me of how she feel in love with Peru and started this place and how her relationship with Don Benito was formed. We spoke for over two hours and Carol was not only willing to share but also deeply excited to here stories of my life too. What I love most about Carol is that she too isn't a "qualified sharman" or a qualified anything else she is just Carol and I believe big part of why she has been able to help so many is exactly that.
It's also a magnificent reminder of why I'm so keen to lead a tour to Peru next year with Lils Sab
Also again there is no way I'd be about to go meet the Qero or Don Benito if it hadn't been for Carol.
Next exciting bit
A really lovely hang with my good mate Emma Shields. This was mostly just lovely because she is a super good mate and our catch ups are always a treat. But also on the theme of doing healing, retreating, supporting growing work with others - Last year Emma and I created a 2-4 week emotional support model and have decided somewhere down the track to publish this so that others, trained or not, qualified or not can make use of it. Now Emma is a qualified somatic therapist and I don't hold it against her because what I see in her is that she relies far more on her intuitive knowledge or herself and life in the work she does with clients than she relies on a book. BTW if you are seeking a damn good QUALIFIED somatic therapist I would recommend her very highly.
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I think for me the theme here is not DONT get a qualification or DONT trust people who have them. The theme is that some of the most inspiring people I can imagine learning life from or considering healing work with don't have those bits of paper. The proof of their work is themselves - what they have lived through and expirienced and are willing to share and how they connect when they are empowered by others to take on the beautiful job of supporting others.
When you meet a healer, a guide and spirit worker or what some might call a sharman you just know and pieces of paper or no you will know if they are right for you.
Also no amount of qualifications can guarantee that someone is the right person to show up for you
While doing some thank yous - I'd also like to extend a thank you to
Ankur Gupta for embracong the light in others
Prianca Shharma - for our connection changing each others lives at least twice now and asking me at some point to come run consent workshops in Goa
Karly Mee-Mackow for coming on board to co-create a tour in Bali - Lombok and Gili Air in 2025
To Celeste Novion for showing me Punta Arenas last year and for whatever we will discover when I meet her soon on Brazil (and for being open to becoming a guide with Adland Tours )
To Jessica Hackett the first great woman other than my mum to become and Adland guide and with whom I'm excited to run a tour in just over a month to the Galapagos
And to Michele Adler my mum for being an inspiring woman and teaching me to see women as leaders
And last but not least to this cat - who connected with me at lunch yesterday - yeah sure she was hungry but she was also bloody lovely
And here is a tiny video of Don Benito the amazing human I hope to meet in 2 days time (video shot by Terry from Willka T'ika.)
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/J5jD8etE8anbMFGd/?mibextid=oFDknk
This post is by James Nicholas Leslie Adler
