A world in a state of permanent crisis and an increasingly charged atmosphere highlights a profound divide from oneself, each other, nature, and core values. The world is crying out for a new humanness, coupled with a desire for rest and quiet, inner and outer peace, and a search for deeper meaning and purpose.

This prompts a critical question: what will it take for us to awaken to the urgency of our collective situation and embrace a more harmonious, kind, peaceful, and thriving existence with each other and the natural world?

Ancient prophetic traditions spoke of a pivotal moment of transition where humanity stands at a crossroads of evolution. This transition marks the collapse of old forms and paradigms, and the emergence of new possibilities—a literal death and rebirth on both individual and collective levels.

Expanding to a Transformative Perspective: From Mind and Matter to Spirit and Soul

The identity crisis of humanity reflects in a world that overemphasises the outer tangible and material aspects of existence, which in turn shape internal experiences. There is a growing recognition of the importance of embracing a more expansive perspective—one that acknowledges the spiritual dimensions of Life. This shift involves moving beyond the limitations of the mind and the material world to explore the realms of spirit and soul. By recognising the spiritual aspect of our existence, we can tap into a source of psychological, emotional, creative, and spiritual power for transformation and positive change.

As renowned spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle reminds us, “Remember that your perception of the world is a reflection of your state of consciousness.” This insightful quote highlights the interconnectedness between our inner state and outer reality, emphasising the importance of cultivating a deeper awareness of our inner being. Sustainable development and human transformation goals will remain unmet without a deeper understanding that there is a Reality beyond the material world, a Universe within.

A transition is unfolding—a broader acknowledgment of the spiritual aspect of personal, planetary, and cosmic existence. Indigenous cultures have long been rich in traditions and spirituality deeply rooted in the natural world. Shamanism, humanity’s oldest spiritual tradition, not only offers a profound understanding of our relationship with nature and unseen forces that shape our reality but provides soul-nurturing and ceremonial healing practices.

Understanding how life functions when aligned with universal laws is attracting notice beyond traditional spiritual communities. This awareness is increasingly integrated into personal growth, leadership, business, and organisational development, signaling a broader openness and general shift in human consciousness across society.

Embedding the spiritual dimension into all areas of life opens us to a spirituality that is not just an elevated concept but a driving force for inspired, engaged action and positive societal change. Spirituality represents the immaterial, the living world, infinite consciousness, and an invisible inner connection beyond individual identity. It connects us with a larger purpose and a Universal Mind or Higher Power, fostering a deeper sense of meaning and fulfillment in life.

There is more to our world than meets the eye, and each of us is on a unique spiritual journey, whether we realise it or not.

“You are not a human being in search of a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being immersed in human experience.”

— Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

This awakening involves exploring the deeper dimensions of our being and rediscovering our wholeness and connection to the Sacredness of Life.

Throughout many years, I have been on a journey of spiritual awakening sparked by a personal crisis marked by cycles of death and rebirth. This ongoing process has fundamentally changed me, expanded my consciousness, and altered my perception of reality in profound ways. It marked the inception of an adventure beyond my wildest imagination, unveiling that there is so much more to us humans than I ever thought possible. Along this path, I encountered avenues for self-redefinition, embarking on a journey of reconnecting with my soul-essence and the vastness of Life.

Through studies of various spiritual paths and these lived experiences, I gained a substantial understanding of the diverse ways in which transformation unfolds. I came to recognize that the evolution of human consciousness is a deeply personal, experiential, embodied, and spiritual matter. Over time, I also learned that spiritual truths, regardless of the tradition, align in many significant ways.

The term ‘spirituality’ still so often triggers discomfort due skepticism towards spiritual concepts, to associations with organised religion, societal norms, fear of the unknown, and commercialisation. However, everything I share transcends religious dogma and speaks more to the universal Truth, expressed in different ways, that underpins various spiritual traditions around the world.

Incorporating Spiritual Intelligence into Leadership, Business and Beyond

In our quest for solutions to the pressing issues of our time, it has become increasingly clear that the problems we face are not merely external but deeply rooted in us, in our individual and our collective consciousness.

I believe that we must also integrate Spiritual Intelligence to live in larger possibility thinking. Just as we exercise our physical bodies, we must also exercise our spiritual, attitudinal muscles to nourish and grow them, becoming more resilient, courageous, creative, kind, and loving.

Many personal and global problems stem from lower levels of consciousness that control our behavior, keeping us trapped consciously and unconsciously in fear-based responses. Albert Einstein’s famous quote reminds us that we can only solve these problems from a higher level of consciousness than the one in which they were created. This necessary shift reflects a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of aligning our actions with universal principles of harmony, unity, and love. And that, is easier said than done and lived.

We are urged to look beyond the surface of our problems and actions and delve into the spiritual dimensions of our existence. The intersection of business and spirituality is a necessary partnership, much like the convergence of science and spirituality, still holding untapped potential for human evolution and sustainable development, even if the term ‘spirituality’ is not often used in this context due to the reasons mentioned earlier. It offers a new paradigm of leadership and action rooted in wisdom, heart, inner knowing, compassion, and ethical conduct.

“How ‘spiritual’ you are has nothing to do with what you believe but everything to do with your state of consciousness.”

— Eckhart Tolle

Without this transformation, even the most promising social and ecological innovations will be outstripped by a mechanistic, business-as-usual approach, fostering disconnection, health and mental health issues, competition, consumerism, social inequality, and environmental degradation.

Infusing Spiritual Intelligence into everything we do provides a common understanding and unique perspective for a shared caring vision and guidance that prioritizes the well-being and thrivability of all, nurturing a life-centered, regenerative approach.

From leadership transformation development to conscious networked leadership trainings, regenerative initiatives, and mindfulness programs in corporate organisations, there is a growing acceptance and understanding towards integrating spiritual approaches into various aspects of business and organisational development. These initiatives increasingly turn to ancient and indigenous wisdom for guidance on navigating the complexities of the modern world.

This reflects a growing recognition of the profound impact of consciousness, inner development, and personal growth on individual, professional, leadership, and societal challenges. An increasing number of initiatives integrate these elements to address personal, professional, organizational, planetary, and civilizational challenges.

Marc Benioff, the renowned CEO of Salesforce, stated in an interview with GQ Magazine in November 2023 that spirituality is at the top of his hierarchy for staying on track with everything he does.

The Inner Development Goals, a non-profit, open-source initiative, aims to scale inner development to accelerate the work towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Conscious and regenerative leadership approaches, like Leading by Nature by Giles Hutchins and Quantum Leadership by Frederick Chavalit Tsao and Chris Laszlo, address the need and show ways to transform ourselves.

The Inner MBA conscious leadership training program features neuroscience-backed inner skills taught by leading wisdom teachers, business academics, researchers, neuroscientists, and spiritually conscious CEOs. They offer teachings on increasing self-awareness, creating exceptional teams, and turning business into a force for good.

The Mindfulness Initiative’s report, “Mindfulness in Westminster: Reflections from UK Politicians”, contains powerful insights from UK politicians on the personal and interpersonal benefits of their mindfulness training, drawn from over ten years of practice in Westminster.

“Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.”

— The Buddha

The Andean Mystical Tradition as a Path of Development of our Human Consciousness

Amidst all advancements, I want to shine the spotlight on a time-honored source of wisdom and ancient technology that provides an exceptionally potent antidote to the dominant global culture’s separation from Earth and soul, facilitating fundamental evolutionary shifts: the Andean Mystical Tradition. This tradition offers a rich and complex nature-based and soul-animated cosmology, providing profound insights into the nature of reality and our place within it. It fosters a deeper self-awareness of ourselves and the world around us.

The Andean Mystical Tradition, encompassing pre-Columbian and Inka traditions, is rooted in millennia-old indigenous medicine ways and shamanic wisdom teachings. These oral traditions are passed down through generations, imparting deep comprehension of our relationship with Nature, the Cosmos, ourselves, and all our relationships, including Mother Earth—known as Pachamama to millions of people in South America. They emphasise the required transformation of ourselves by opening our hearts and evolving human consciousness, thereby deepening our love for our beloved Pachamama.

Everything is alive, conscious, and living energy. In other words, everything has both physical and energetic components. The Andean Cosmovision is a vast sophisticated system guided by powerful principles of Nature and engages with reality founded on the multidimensional, living system of Nature’s Wisdom, with a profound reverence for Pachamama, our Earth Mother and all of Life. These living traditions offer direct experience with Nature, honor the beauty and mystery of the Cosmos and ourselves, and celebrate the Sacredness of Life. And it is this Sacredness that has been lost in our times.

Our perception of the world profoundly shapes our reality, reflecting our inner state or the internal map we carry. What we identify with will be mirrored to us. To change the world, we must change our perception. The wisdom teachings of the Andean Tradition are a ‘medicine’ that helps us to do exactly that.

“What you value you must want to see. No one can see a world his mind has not accorded value.”

— The Course of Miracles

Shifting our perspective from a purely materialistic, outward worldview to one that acknowledges the spiritual and animated, soulful dimensions of life often involves pragmatic practices. There are various ways to heal the past, address traumas, and work with the ancestral world, helping us re-member our inherent wholeness and retrieve our innate capabilities and place in the world.

This, in consequence, impacts our balance within ourselves, our relationships, and our environment, fostering physical, mental, emotional, and psychic health and harmony within and around us.

Through the power of focused intention, ritualistic soul-infused offerings, prayer, sacred ceremonies, energy medicine work, contemplation, subtle mindfulness and deep communion with the natural world and beyond, medicine men and women like Paqos (Andean Spiritual Priests) and curanderos (Shamanic Healers), are able to work in different ways with living energy, healing artistry and re-connect with the Sacredness of all Creation.

A Sophisticated Knowledge System

The Andean Mystical Tradition provides an understanding of various consciousness levels and offers a structured approach to spiritual and personal development through the Qanchis Pata Ñan, the Quechua words for the Path of Seven Steps, representing the seven levels of psycho-spiritual development. Each step in this framework unveils a new dimension of understanding based on energetic perception, guiding individuals towards higher levels of consciousness and self-awareness. By aligning with the forces of Nature, practitioners of this tradition undergo a lifelong transformative journey of self-discovery, healing, and reconnection with the sacred essence of existence. However, after a certain time of apprenticeship, practice and growth, it is essential that the learned is shared with family and the community.

According to anthropologist and master teacher Juan Nuñez del Prado, who possesses profound knowledge of Andean and Inka spirituality and wisdom through studying with some of the greatest revered masters of millennial lineages, the Andean Tradition aligns with many modern findings and a universal scheme for human consciousness development. Del Prado has researched Andean Traditions alongside Eastern and Western teachings and found significant parallels. For example, the hierarchy of the Path of Seven Steps mirrors Carl G. Jung’s ‘Individuation Process’. In the case of the Andean scale, the spiritual progression is explicit, as it is considered part of a spiritual career.

Today, there are still Elders of the Q’ero Nation alive, high in the Andean mountains—direct descendants of the Inkas and inheritors of an extraordinary, exquisite knowledge system based on Nature Wisdom—who are masters in the Human-Nature relationship and the world of living energy.

The ancestral wisdom of Andean Traditions and Inka Nature Wisdom offers numerous benefits for our times and a new evolved leadership paradigm. Some of them are:

• Holistic Perspective of Life: A holistic and experiential approach to Life from lineages deeply connected to Mother Earth and the Cosmos, re-educating us in a reciprocal and loving relationship with Mother Nature moving us towards genuine earth stewardship.
• Co-partnership with Nature: Working together with the primordial power of nature, bringing harmony to our physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and energetic bodies, developing direct kinship with humanity, all beings, and the natural world.
• Expanded Awareness: Conscious evolution rooted in the opening of the heart, clarity of one’s heart, mind, body, spirit, and the profound connection with fundamental forces of living energy.
• Personal Empowerment: Reconnecting to one’s natural birthright of happiness and peace, feel deeply supported, improving one’s ability to empathise, respond, and connect with others.
• Enhanced Self-Awareness: Nurturing deep systemic [self]-awareness and inner blooming to step up into a new potent evolutionary Truth of who we are.
• Embodied Practice: Visceral experiences and access to a deeper level of inner knowing of a wisdom that expands cognitive meaning-making.
• Inner Resilience and Adaptability: Fostering inner strength and a deeper understanding of oneself.
• Ethical Decision-Making: Fostering decision making that promote long-term well-being for all living beings, the Earth, and future generations.

The Andean Mystical Tradition is a living tradition and helps us create a holistic worldview that celebrates the Sacredness of Life and the interconnectedness of all things. It helps us heal and redefine ourselves by teaching us how to commune with our true nature and Nature itself. The altars are the very elements of nature: mountains, rivers, oceans, lakes, waterfalls, and caves.

“The way we see the world shapes the way we treat it. If a mountain is a deity, not a pile of ore; if a forest is a sacred grove, not timber; if other species are biological kin, not resources; if the planet is our mother, not an opportunity – then we will treat each other with greater respect. This is the challenge, to look at the world from a different perspective.”

— David Suzuki

As a practitioner and waywalker of the Andean Mystical Tradition —I have dedicated myself to apprenticing, studying, practicing, and journeying the path of my Peruvian ancestral heritage, driven by an intense inner calling. Initiated by masters and teachers steeped in the indigenous wisdom of revered unbroken lineages from the Peruvian Andean and Northern Coastal traditions, my journey has been marked by transformative experiences and ever more clarity on why I am here and what I am here to do. Since a profound, life-changing incident many years ago at one of the tallest waterfalls in the world, the enchanting Gocta waterfall in the tropical cloud forest in the upper Amazon basin in Peru, the following quote has held a deeply personal meaning for me:

“Look deep into nature, and you will understand everything better.”

— Albert Einstein

Through these sacred wisdom traditions, I have learned to commune deeply with the natural world, receiving profound insights into the fabric of reality itself. Along this path and through encounters with Nature, I have undergone healing and substantial personal transformation, shedding burdens that all humans carry to some extent, as understood within the teachings of the tradition.

My years of soul exploration have brought both breakdowns and breakthroughs, leading me to see my fellow human beings and the whole world from a different perspective, from the wisdom of Nature within, and a generous and widened heart.

Shifting the Way we Look at the World: An Essential Task to Transform the World

From my own journey, I have learned that the soul-infused path of the heart guides us in understanding our origins and our identity as part of the cosmic-planetary family. To echo the words of Dr. Jean Houston, scholar, philosopher and one of the principal founders of the Human Potential Movement, we are not merely encapsulated bags of skin but spirit embodied.

Expanding our understanding to realise our true human identity as beings made of living energy in a Living Universe allows us to perceive the Sacredness of a Living Earth and All of Life. It enables us to recognise the profound interconnectedness of everything that exists. Above all, this shift in perception has significant implications for our behavior and actions at all levels of society: it inspires us to protect our Mother Earth, care for the natural world and all living beings, extend our care to all people beyond our own social circle, and act on their behalf.

According to Andean and Inka Prophecy, humanity is transitioning from one level of consciousness to a higher one. As I mentioned in an earlier article titled ‘Embracing the Sacred Feminine for a New Leadership Era’ we are in a time of restoring the harmony between human society and Mother Nature referring to this era as Taripaypacha, a reversal of the world and age where humanity has the opportunity to “meet ourselves again”, an encounter and wholesomeness of humanity to a more harmonious and balanced time forging a deeper connection with the world around us by knowing who we are.

So, we must learn to commune with ourselves and Nature to re-member our inherent wholeness and reclaim our place in the world as advocates for All Our Relations and our Earth Mother.

This understanding is not just about acquiring knowledge but a deep process of self-realisation. As long as it only remains an intellectual concept, shifting towards true care for our planet, the natural world, and our fellow human beings will remain an intellectual checklist exercise with incremental results and oftentimes even ‘business as usual’.

It is time to embrace and incorporate additional ways of knowing, including expanding and trusting our inner or subjective insights and personal experiences. This, alongside other future-fit and imaginal skills and capabilities, science, and empirical evidence, is necessary to create better systems for a regenerative future. However, this ‘other way of knowing’ is not yet part of the mainstream agenda in educational, organisational, and leadership development.It’s notable that on McKinsey Talks Talent, leadership was addressed in an episode titled ‘Why so many bad bosses still rise to the top’.

One example for hope-giving, future-ready education is the The r3.0 Educational Transformation Blueprint demonstrating how ‘whole-education’ can foster transformative capacities for regeneration and thrivability, safeguarding the present and future wellbeing of life on Earth. As lead author Dr. Anneloes Smitsman states “…major inner and outer shifts are required in our perspectives, understanding, attitudes, expectations, behaviours, and actions for safeguarding the present and future wellbeing of life on earth.”  

Awakening the Leader from Within

A courageous, wise, and caring leadership is urgently needed—one rooted in deep connection with their own heart, Nature, wonder, and awe, daring to dream boldly and be the true change themselves first.

It is very important what we do; however, what truly matters is how we do it—the approach we take in our speech and actions. In other words, it is the consciousness we infuse into what we do that counts. By embracing spiritual, holistic, and regenerative values, we create a strong framework for moral, ethical, and responsible decision-making, leading to positive societal change.

Doing this requires willingness and courage to embark on a journey of personal and spiritual growth, self-discovery, and radical self-responsibility. The importance of slowing down and tuning in—in the midst of all that is going on in our lives and work—cannot be overemphasised.

Please share your thoughts. What resonated with you in this article? Did it in any way help you feel differently? What would you add? I would love to hear what you think.

Curious to learn more about the interdisciplinary approach and intersection of topics like shifting consciousness for a new age of care, transformational leadership, feminine leadership, personal growth, ancestral wisdom of the Andean Mystical Tradition, regenerative approaches or holistic sustainability?

I am passionate about exploring the relevant connections between contemporary concepts and ancient spiritual wisdom and how these interdisciplinary approaches create and evolutionary relationship with Life. I am eager to further explore how the intersection of all these areas, as touched upon in this article and beyond, can help us shape pathways toward a caring and thriving future, and systemic change. I still believe, this is what we can create.

It is urgent time to go deep. How we show up is essential to our survival, and I would like to exchange and co-share insights with others who are also committed in creating a more beautiful, conscious, kinder, compassionate, and regenerative world.

If you are interested in exploring different ways of engaging in greater possibility thinking and personal and cultural transformation—whether through future-transformative workshops, spiritual mentoring, speaking, transformational coaching, or delving deeper into the mystery of your mind-body-heart-soul—I can offer holistic advisory, nurturing evolutionary guidance, and pragmatic Earth-honoring solutions.

My intention is to share more, particularly about the Earth-based Andean Tradition and Inka Wisdom, as these principles and practices are so incredibly relevant for today’s times. As a dedicated practitioner and ongoing student of this sacred path, I feel compelled to share the teachings and insights I have received. Moreover, I must do so according to the tradition.

Please reach out and connect with me to delve deeper into these topics and join the conversation.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for your openness to delve into this writing!

With appreciation.

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Connect with Claudia Giselle:

• Website: www.sustained-impact.com
• LinkedIn: Claudia Giselle Edinger
• Instagram: @claudiagiselle151

Subscribe to Claudia’s Newsletter: Subscription Link

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About

Claudia Giselle Edinger (van’t Hullenaar) helps visionary women and leaders grow into their unique leadership and amplify their impact. She facilitates this by cultivating fresh perspectives and forging unified pathways aimed at creating a regenerative future.

As an Earth Citizen, Transformational Coach & Workshop Leader, Spiritual Mentor, Holistic Advisor, and Practitioner in Andean Mystical Traditions, Ceremonial and Shamanic Healing Arts, Claudia is dedicated to evolutionary in-depth work towards the development and transformation of consciousness as the source of your actions.

Claudia’s approach is informed by transdisciplinary holistic methodologies that blend contemporary modern knowledge and science with ancestral wisdom teachings. She integrates insights from Andean Cosmology and the natural world of living energy into her practice, drawing from her extensive experience in multi-disciplinary and cross-functional professional backgrounds.

With over eleven years of experience in the global corporate sector, along with additional expertise in the global business events, destination management, and tourism sector, Claudia brings a wealth of knowledge in international business, marketing, and strategic sustainability consulting.

Her multicultural upbringing as a Peruvian-Austrian raised across three continents allows her to seamlessly navigate and engage in English, Spanish, and German.

www.sustained-impact.com

Der Beitrag Embracing Ancient Wisdom as A Path of Inner Development and Conscious Evolution erschien zuerst auf Sustained Impact - Claudia G. Edinger.

After this enriching day visiting my sponsor child, the next days awaited us. We would encounter beauty and wonder filled with astounding amount of flora and fauna, and breathtaking moments in the Amazon jungle of a remote location. The Amazon covers almost 40 percent of South America.

It started with the journey over the ‘Mother of the Waters’, the Amazon River. The Amazon River is the largest river by discharge volume of water in the world, and the longest river system in the world (Source: Wikipedia).

After spending several hours in a speedboat traveling over the mighty Amazon, this incredibly large and wide river with a light brown color, passing alongside river banks and riverside communities (ribereos), where poverty is still apparent, and the speedboat avoiding trunks of seasonally flooded forests, we made a left turn into a darker brown and much more narrow river, the Tahuayo River, towards our lodge located in the upper Tahuayo River basin.

We appeared to be close to arriving at our destination, Tahuayo Lodge, a sustainable wilderness lodge for adventurous travellers, managed by Amazonia Expeditions. However, it took another extra-long hour of wandering along the river, which, and despite the engine noise, I made it a lengthy meditation and a Nature contemplation.

When I researched Amazon river lodges, I was very intentional in that I was not only wishing do a jungle expedition and experience the jungle in an authentic way, being in the natural wonder of the Amazon rainforest in the heart of the north western Amazon of Peru, but in a place that took sustainable development to heart, had a connection to the area and is a formal organisation in full compliance with all laws, regulations, and licensing with Peruvian Law.

I mention this because businesses often are not registered with authorities and only partially comply with other regulations. I knew this is where I wanted to go when I discovered about Tahuayo Lodge’s larger purpose to conserve one of the most biodiverse locations, in partnership with the local communities, in order to protect the enormous biodiversity contained inside this area.

Tahuayo Lodge is located in the upper Tahuayo River, a smaller tributary of the upper Amazon River surrounded by seasonally inundated forests and with incredible biodiversity. It has exclusive access to the very close Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve ACRCTT (Area de Conservacion Regional Communal Tamshiyacu), with the opportunity to experience an unmatched variety of wildlife. The site has more species of monkeys than any protected park or reserve in the world. Scientists have also documented the greatest diversity of species of mammals and birds of any site studied in the lowland Amazon basin (Source: The Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve – Amazonia Expeditions).

Once we arrived at this pristine location it felt being so far away of the world (which indeed it is). We were warmly greeted by the fantastic Tahuayo Lodge staff. The first thing that caught our eye was the lodge building structure of the main and adjacent rustic cabins raised above the jungle floor on stilts connected with each other by a raised boardwalk. The nice and large cabins were at the height of the trees, and wonderfully integrated into nature.

In the rainy season the stilts are all covered by meter high waters, as seasonal inundation floods the surrounding river basins and forests under 6 to 8 m every year! So the forest is vastly secondary forest in this region.

All staff was amazing, thoughtful, and caring and always watching for our well-being.

The food was excellent, high quality and with a large variety from local dishes to the fresh, local fruit juices.

Captivated by nature and wildlife

All guides are assigned to a traveler group, from one person to small groups. Our private expert guide Claudio was a real connoisseur, highly trained and always tuning in into our needs and interests.

We learned about the different ecosystems, the Amazonian várzea forests, the forest that is seasonally flooded up to 7m where we were in.

He amazed us showing and telling us about plant and tree species, wildlife, and environment in detail.

Being embraced by Mother Nature and connecting to my own deeper Nature

On our first day, we took the canoe floating slowly upwards on Tahuayo River until we suddenly sat foot on land. We hiked into the hot-humid swampy area in the jungle, deeper and deeper, and after a few moments there was no orientation anymore for us. Of course, Claudio and the second guide knew exactly where we were.

We carefully stepped towards Traves Lake, an enchanted place deeply hidden in the forest.

I was very conscious that we were indeed somewhere far from civilization in the middle of the Amazon jungle somewhere on the planet. Nature was overwhelming and this silence! It had something very magical and deeply connecting.

We spotted baby alligators and a small population of Slate Color Hawks.

Throughout all days we spotted an abundance of birdlife and wildlife like White Wing Swallow, Rusty Earth Snake, frogs and other species.

Given the very high humidity, and wearing long sleeved clothes this hiking experience left me totally knackered.

The nights were a giant musical concert of jungle sounds.

Listening and falling asleep to the soothing and at times joyful jungle symphony of the forest, its beautiful birdsongs and sense of its living beings was balm for the soul and it literally felt like being held in the arms of Mother Earth and being reassured, I am taken care of and part of something much greater.

One of the highlights for me was during a night excursion floating along the Tahuayo River by canoe. We were gazing at the stars and saw millions of our amazing star relatives. In this beautiful unpolluted and clear night sky we had a brilliant sight of our Milky Way. Our guide Claudio discovered a clear ‘C’ star letter. And shortly after he tracked a formation of stars that shaped a heart in the sky! This discovery and painting in the night sky moved me deeply.

As we floated in the peaceful darkness of the night, only broken by the constant noises of the jungle on our small canoe, I was so in tune with the cosmos and aware of these truly unique time that it allowed me to have a profound experience with ‘All That Is’. It was like to be on a different planet. This experience remains as truly unforgettable moments and is forever imprinted.

On another day hike, we explored more the native plant habitat, seeing some impressive trees in a variety of forms, foliage, dimensions, and height. The abundance here was awe-inspiring!

I integrated an additional way of intentionally relating with Nature by consciously focusing that I was walking on the living being of our Mother Earth, and genuinely feeling the gratitude for her.

Another unforgettable moment was meditating under a giant tree which unleashed the power of living energy of the tree, unlocking a deep connection and sense of oneness. This realization seemed to coincide with scientific research of the interconnectivity of all living systems through trees and the surrounding earth.

For me however, it was a very intimate experience and I was moved by being embraced this way by Mother Earth.

“Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.”

Albert Einstein

Sustainability and regenerative leadership

Later on, we also had the opportunity to visit the nearby local community village Chino and learn about how Tahuayo Lodge is involved in social sustainability.

We took a walk through the community and gained an impression of the livelihood there. We crossed the super long access bridge to the Chino school zone which was recently build particularly for flood times so children still can go to school.

We learned about the school campus project that has been and still is underway in collaboration with ‘Be The Change Volunteers’ that collaborates with the Angels of the Amazon foundation, a non-profit founded by the owner of Tahuayo Lodge.

Just when we arrived at Tahuayo Lodge a group of volunteers finalized their week of aid for the construction of the foundational structure of a new elementary school classroom next to the current high school campus.

I was impressed by the vision and regenerative leadership of Dolly Beaver, founder of Tahuayo Lodge, who we had the pleasure to meet and have many conversations with. Sustainability is lived here and an integral part of how the lodge is led and managed. Care for the empoyees and community are at the core. And, ultimately all of this showed into a high quality experience for guests, as we can attest. Ratings of this lodge are consistently very high.

As an example, during the pandemic time, rather than letting employees go, she invested in providing personal and professional development, and help for lodge maintenance. In addition, she has been the driving force for the empowerment of women, expanding local school buildings, the regional through the Angels of the Amazon foundation, that she founded. By supporting local women of the villages in creating traditional arts and crafts, the organisation helps them find a voice in their communities uplifting their self-esteem and self-worth in their villages and in their homes.

The sustainable purchasing and procurement policy hangs visibly for everyone in the large dining room. The following image is showing a family from nearby bringing dried palm leaves to the lodge, as palm thatched roofs had to be exchanged.

A welcome board reminds visitors: “Please remember this isn’t a hotel but our home.” And some of the ground rules also visibly there: “Remember where you are, we are all part of this ecosystem,” and “Keep negative vibes out – nature will reward you.”

Rather than transactional sustainability, sustainability here is a source of empowerment, service to people, nature, and guests. It is demonstrated here by lived values not by transactional ‘must do’s’. A great window into how it works are the employees. The culture of the organization is a direct mirror of a conscious regenerative leadership.

Tahuayo Lodge is a true sustainability champion – in a very challenging environment – and lives a conscious sustainability leadership paradigm, and is a great leadership example for other tourism organisations in the country and elsewhere.

I left with a sense that genuine authentic and sustainable travel is possible in Peru and that tourism has a huge potential to be a driver for preservation and thrivability of its vast cultural and natural diversity, and that is of benefit to all the Peruvians.

In my final next blog you’ll find out about how it all comes together in my inward and outward transformative journey.

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Connect with Claudia Giselle:

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Continue reading the Series: Embarking on a Journey of Inner and Outer Exploration    

Next post blog #5: ‘The gifts of a transformational journey’ (5 of 5)

Review the last post blog #3: ‘Return to the past and entering into other realities‘ (3 of 5)

Written by Claudia Giselle Edinger
Photo Credit: All photos by Claudia Giselle Edinger if not separately mentioned

Acknowledgement and Gratitude

Sincere thanks and appreciation for Karen Aud and Scott Wurtzbacher for your support and valuable feedback on this article. And thank you dear reader for taking the time to read this blog.  

Der Beitrag Embarking on a Journey of Inner and Outer Exploration (Part 4)  erschien zuerst auf Sustained Impact - Claudia G. Edinger.

From Lima and the coastal desert area over partly snowcapped Andean mountains, we were now heading to the high- and lowland rainforests of the Amazon basin.

Following the journey in the high Andes, the second part of our inland journey would lead us into a completely different geographical area in Peru.

After decades, I finally returned to the place where my grandparents used to live, a place I have a plentitude of memories of as I visited and spent periods of time there over the years in my childhood and adolescence.

It is a city in the jungle called Yurimaguas, located in the department of Loreto, Peru’s largest state and located in the area of the vast Amazon Rainforest region.

You can only get to Yurimaguas by car or boat. From Lima, a one-hour flight took us over the Andes to Tarapoto, known as the “City of Palm Trees” that sits on the edge of the vast jungle towards the eastern Amazon jungle of Peru.

From there it was a 3-hour drive along the only roadway leading over a winding road past the Cordillera Escalera.

It led through tropical mountain cloud forests with waterfalls into the low jungle to Yurimaguas also known as the “Pearl of Huallaga”.

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We were met by my cousin I hadn’t seen for decades. I was happy to see her after such a long time and she introduced us to her family.

In tropical jungle manner, they showed us around on motorbikes and moto-taxis which are the main means of transportation, and we did some sightseeing to explore the place and surroundings.

The view over the Huallaga River is beautiful.

It appeared like not much had changed in Yurimaguas.

The plaza and the church were exactly as I had it in my memories when I was a young ring bearer for my uncle’s wedding in this same church.

During our strolls around the plaza day and night, it was very apparent is how many young mothers were there with their little children.

We visited various lively markets that had all sorts of food offerings from vegetables, fruits to chicken, dried fish, merchandising and more.

It is very common to find buckets with little living worms called Suri.

These juice grilled worms are one of the typical foods, representative of this area and the Peruvian jungle. It is eaten raw, fried, roasted, or grilled. The worms are extracted from the aguaje palm tree and from other similar palm trees.

As I was able to meet the past in the present, and being in gratitude for the beautiful times and memories, I could now let go of my held ‘imaginations’ of the past, simply be thankful and I had a sense of peace.

Heading further to Peru’s northern Amazon

After returning to Tarapoto back over the same mountain range, we embarked on a flight to Iquitos, capital of the department Loreto. Loreto is home to one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth.

On the flight to Iquitos, I was in wonder about the endless vast green tapestry of the rainforest that brought memories of these same images in my childhood years as I flew over the Amazon.

To give some perspective, the Amazon is one of the most sparsely populated regions.

Iquitos is like an island in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest and can only be reached by air or river, there is no road.

Iquitos, a city full opposite sides, has a rich local culture, is lively, colorful and a little crazy. It has a rich history, and shadow sides.

Due to natives being civilised by missionaries, enslaved, westernised over the many years, the city is a fusion of different cultures of mixed ancestry of indigenous, colonial, European descent and thus with some unique customs and traditions.

During my stay in Iquitos I quickly learned about the many diverse, interesting, and also problematic faces of Iquitos.

Iquitos experienced wealth during the late 19th century rubber boom, which also attracted businesspeople and landowners from all over the world who wanted to make money by utilizing rubber in the forest. The price was great since thousands of native people died and were displaced.

All of these developments resulted in an own urban and cultural identity of the city. Today, illegal logging and struggles with environmental issues are serious problems. Also, tourism plays a significant role today in Iquitos which is known as the gateway to the jungle and as a millennial shamanistic culture. However, this brings another series of challenges. At the same time it brings opportunities for more responsible and sustainable tourism.

A felt and experienced sense of disorder, chaotic city, garbage thrown on the streets throughout Iquitos, and in particular the noise pollution made by the noisiest type of vehicle in the city, the moto-taxi, is a cause for trouble besides that is a serious environmental problem.

Visiting my sponsor child

During our stay in Iquitos, I took the opportunity to visit my sponsor child Jesús that I am supporting through Plan International Germany and learn about his family, the community and the work of Plan International Peru‘s Loreto Program Unit.

As I mention in my travel report of my recent sponsor child visit in Loreto, I have been sponsoring a child for over a decade with Plan International, a development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. It outlines more about Plan International’s work in in Peru about early child development, education, empowerment of children, young people, women and communities.

I have cherished memories of two earlier visits to my first sponsored child in the human settlements of Lima and the insight of one of these visits and how Plan works with the members of the community and local authorities can be accessed here.

As of my visit in Iquitos and to see first hand, I pointed out in my travel report: “It is an invaluable way of expanding our own horizons. It reminds us that there is a whole other world where and how our fellow human brothers and sisters live and relate. It deepens our understanding on the realities and concerns beyond our own in the western world.”

You can read more about the encouraging gathering with my sponsor child and community visit here.

In the next blog episode, you will hear about the amazing deep immersion into the Amazon Rainforest.

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Continue reading the Series: Embarking on a Journey of Inner and Outer Exploration     

Next post blog #4: ‘A deep nature immersion into the Earth’s largest rainforest’ (4 of 5)

Review the last post blog #2: ‘Following the call to adventure and coming into right relationship with Mother Earth‘ (2 of 5)

Written by Claudia Giselle Edinger
Photo Credit: All photos by Claudia Giselle Edinger not separately mentioned

Acknowledgement and Gratitude

Sincere thanks and appreciation for Karen Aud and Scott Wurtzbacher for your support and valuable feedback on this article. And thank you dear reader for taking the time to read this blog.

Der Beitrag Embarking on a Journey of Inner and Outer Exploration (Part 3)  erschien zuerst auf Sustained Impact - Claudia G. Edinger.

Cusco is nestled in the Andes mountain range located at 3500m and is known as Peru’s Inca Imperial city. There is a lot to see, the architecture and its monuments are beautiful, rich in culture, archeology and history. The city has vibrant colorful markets, a large range of diverse restaurants and innovative food scene, and many things to discover. The best way to experience Cusco is by foot.

As we arrived in Cusco, I took the recommended two days to acclimate to the altitude. Coming out of breath quicker is common. Unfortunately, in the middle of the first night I experienced high altitude symptoms like headache, shortness of breath with a sensation of not receiving enough breath and a tension around my chest. It really felt constricting and very uncomfortable, however altitude sickness (or Acute Mountain Sickness) is not uncommon. I decided to sit-up and meditate centering myself focusing on breathing and called for a ‘Té de Coca’ (Coca tea). With the combination of the two measures, I could finally sleep again. Drinking lots of water and Coca tea is the best one can do in high altitude, henceforth this is what I did a lot more.

Following the call into the Mystical Wisdom tradition of the Q’eros

The highlight of our journey in the Andes would be the visit of one of the very remote places in the Peruvian Andes, an indigenous community of the Q’ero nation which is located at an altitude of between 4200m and 4800m. Since I began walking and practicing the path of Andean Mystical tradition and cosmovision, I have profound reverence and appreciation for the Q’ero Nature Wisdom teachings, spiritual and cultural heritage. It was my desire to go and be in this untouched very special place.

The journey into this remote region of one of the areas in the Andes took approximately 6 hours. Just a few years ago this place could only be reached by foot or by horse in an approximately 2 days long journey.

The drive of our group of four including my son Enmanuel, our awesome driver-guide Darwin and joyful host Don Francisco started along the populated valley of Cusco moving southeast, then turning towards a little town called Paucartambo, a hub for either going downwards into the Amazon jungle or further up the Andes mountain range. Here we made a small stop to buy some errands for our time in the high and remote Andes.

From here we had to turn into a non-paved road leading us up into the far away area we were heading to.

The landscape at first was very diversified, beautiful, and quite green with the typical vegetation. The higher we came, the more sparse and spacious the landscape became.

The views were stunning the more we moved into the higher mountains.

A river was gushing on one side in the depth, as the scenic and breathtaking views of peaks and ranges laid in the distance.

And soon we were accompanied by the wonderful alpacas. They were everywhere.

In awe of so much beauty and wide space along several mountain ranges, at some point we arrived at the highest Andean mountain pass on our route at approximate 4600m.

From here it went alternating downwards and upwards again with steep wide and colorful terrain. At times I felt like I am on one of the planets as seen in the Star Wars movies.

We finally arrived to the native village of Don Francisco, a respected Q’ero paqo. Paqos are Andean spiritual priests. At approximately 4200m, we would be at ‘home’ for the next 3 days. The village exists of a few humble houses made of clay and natural stone with roofs of hard grass except some new roof installations, and is home to approximately 30 families. When we arrived, we were surrounded by countless free walking Alpacas!

Though we had beautiful sunny days that day, I could only imagine how inhospitable it must be in the extreme temperatures in this altitude over 4000m with fog, rain, and snow in other seasons. I was happy that we were able to put up our tents inside Don Francisco’s house, the only ‘bigger’ house.

We made a delicious dinner in the most simple way and prepared for an early night. Because of the cold, I wrapped myself up like a Michellin (Wo)man doll. And yes, it was still very cold.

The next day awaited us with beautiful sunshine and a blue sky, which invited me for my morning meditation to be outside taking an inverted bucket as a sitting opportunity.

I sensed a deep connection with Mother Earth, and with the beauty of being embraced by the warm sun rays, it was such an exquisite way to start the day.

Reaching new heights and participation in sacred ceremony

Today’s plan was to hike up to the foot of Apu Huamanlipa, sacred mountain of the Q’eros, guardian and and protector for the Q’ero nation, and to perform a Despacho, a sacred offering of gratitude and giving back to Pachamama and the Apus (Mother Earth and sacred mountain spirits), and coming into Ayni, which is the Quechua word for “Sacred Reciprocity”.

I was out-of-shape, and I had a lot of respect for the difficulty of the hikes in Q’ero. Knowing this, led me to mentally prepare during my planning time with a strong intention to be guided, a strong will for the hike in this altitude, ‘to make it’, and a genuine desire for being ‘up there deep in the mountain’ participating in the Despacho offering.

So we began the ascent, and very soon I noticed, how my heart pumped. The hardest part was the breathing walking steeply upwards. The jaw-dropping sight along the way made up for all these at times painful efforts.
I only had imagined the natural beauty, yet standing in midst of this breathtaking nature and sheer solitude of the landscape was spectacular and hard to grasp.

My companions, who were all in good shape, with Don Francisco seemingly ‘flying’ up the mountain. Living here and being used to this height, I could see that it was simply normal for him. I decided to go on my own pace with what felt right for my body, as I was much slower than them. Everyone in our small group was supportive, they regularly waited for me no matter how long it took. Always in front of us the majestic Apu Huamanlipa framed by a deep blue sky.

On our way we passed a huge high plain that was soft to walk. After passing this otherworldly terrain I really started struggling to say at least. My breaths and steps got heavier and heavier and I had to look for a way to better handle this situation. At last, I found my own strategy to deal with the effort, and aside meditating my way upwards and asking a higher power for help, I was taking slow 3 to 4 steps, and pause taking 3-4 slow breaths breathing in deeply through the nose and out through the mouth. That worked for a while, until the next exhaustion came over me, which caused me make pauses of 30 – 60 seconds. I didn’t dare to stop to really rest. My mind was really occupied in how do I make it while my body was screaming. I decided to make this hike upwards in this height a long slow meditation and try to keep going in and with the flow.

I kept the same slow hiking pace not matter if the terrain was steep or flat. After arriving on one of the many hills, thinking of everyone hill hopefully being the last one, I only found out there was another one, and another one, it seemed to never end!

I burst 3 times into tears by the time I arrived to the last hill of countless hills before the plateau. This was out of exhaustion and fighting my instincts trying to tell me “I can’t do this anymore”.

When I arrived to the ceremonial place in about 4600m, everyone clapped and welcomed me in joy!

I guess all in all, they waited for me over an hour along the way up. I made it, and I was so incredibly delighted to be there on the foot of the sacred mountain.

This hike was the hardest effort for me, and overcoming the challenge as much psychological as physical, was a rewarding journey of aspiration, perseverance and success.

For me it was a huge achievement, and I felt a immense sense of accomplishment through this huge personal stretch, and a knowing that I was guided all along.

I cannot express how proud I felt of myself for not giving up as I was pushed to my limits. And, I also experienced how a burning genuine desire can be the fuel to bring dreams into being.

“Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.”

Joseph Campbell

Don Francisco led a heartfelt Ayni Despacho ceremony. These Despacho offerings are about giving thanks to Pachamama (Mother Earth), the Apus and nature spirits. They are a reminder of our sacred bond with Nature and an act of love. Living in Ayni, to be in harmony and sacred reciprocity with Pachamama and Nature, and the natural living energy of the universe, is central to the earth-based Andean mystical path.

This precious offering looked like a beautiful mandala with meticulously placed  coca leaves with flower petals and diverse items into a marvelous form that was filled with our intentions, prayers, wishes, gratitude, and blessings, including for our planet and humanity. The Despacho was accompanied by our mesas, our personal altars used for connection, ceremonies and healing.

Temptation and more challenges

After descending much faster, yet arriving later than we thought, we came home quite exhausted and we made a quick light meal.

We mused over if we should do the originally planned second hike up to a sacred mountain lagoon on the foot of a neighbor glacier mountain for another type of offering in the afternoon. At first, we laughed about our thinking, and yet, shortly after we found ourselves on the way to our second adventure! On that same day!

The hike started at a higher place and had a completely different surface covered with millions of stones and boulders. There we stood and looked upwards, oh wow I thought, took a very deep breath, tuned my mind, and up it went.

Again, I was the last one, and my little group always patiently waiting for me until I caught up. However, Don Francisco was way ahead again flying up the mountain.

And here again, I was faced with the same challenge as earlier the day, however I noticed, something had changed. I felt stronger and mentally more at ease even though my body was exhausted. The terrain here required even more concentration because of the tiny, small, medium and big boulders.

I was amazed about myself as many hills later, I finally made it again! The view to the glacier and the lagoon was breathtaking. Here we did another special invocation and blessing ceremony. And I was also so glad to sit on the ground on a little cloth.

Because of the advanced time of the day, it was getting dark fast, we needed to make a decent quickly.

Being the weakest of our group in hiking, Don Francisco took me firmly by his hand, and with his guidance and help, I now almost ‘slid’ downhill in this rocky terrain stepping between the loose stones and the firmer ones.

In a highly concentrated state of awareness, I was always carefully watching the surface and every single step. It was truly a very remarkable experience in the dusk in the Andes.

We quickly lost sight of my son and Darwin, our guide. They simply took the other side downwards.

However, Don Francisco and I arrived first where we took off.  We waited for the two, and waited, and nothing. Don Francisco decided to go up again where they were supposed to come down.

I noticed how my mind wanted to go down the route of worry and fear. However, I could remain calm at first, which then alternated between trusting that all will be good, and becoming nervous and fearing that something happened.

First Darwin appeared, then Don Francisco, and finally Enmanuel appeared almost running down from the mountain covered in darkness. He fell into a natural hidden pit and luckily nothing happened aside that his clothes were wet and he was covered in mud up to the waist, and scare.

Finally rejoined, we could return home in the dark.This nervous-racking adventure of loosing each other in the mountain, its potential danger and leaving us a bit scared, was the talk of the night. It was truly a very remarkable adventuresome experience in the dusk in these imposing part of the Andes.

We climbed two mountain ranges on this day, two times between 4600 and almost 4800m. I do not know how I did the second hike, yet I did it!

These conscious walks and explorations in majestic nature were arduous and at the same time beautiful and awesome, and they were such a bonding experience like no other to connect deeply with nature,  Pachamama and the living energy world.

This special day certainly is one of my top two of most memorable and intense adventures I am fortunate to have had experienced. At the same time was filled with so much connection, joy, beauty, challenge, adrenaline, and deep gratitude.

Part of the Q’ero community still lives in in extreme poverty under harsh, simplest and poorest conditions, mostly in one-room houses made of natural stone and clay with roofs made of hard grass. Some of the improvements they received last years are toilets and solar panels for shower water, among other.

There is a lot to do to improve the living conditions, in particular of those of the children and mothers in the region. The adoption of health care measures is only one the improvements for them. On our first trip we brought coloring books, pencils and felt-tip pens, and gummy bear for the children in this village.

After having been in Q’ero, I witnessed the importance of improving the quality of life and preserving this unique indigenous and cultural heritage. This visit touched my heart, and a seed has been sown that I will explore how I could support here.

On the way back to Cusco we passed by schools of some of the little villages. Our friend Darwin helped to find out the situation of children in the various communities so that our friend Rocio and friends could organise a charitable initiative for the end of the year.

Exploring Incan Mythology and visiting social projects

Aside our 3 days up in the far away Andes, we spent time exploring several archaeological and sacred powerful places. We also visited social and environmental initiatives.

We went to the Sacred Valley of the Incas with its striking landscapes and very peaceful places along the valley. At several spots we passed by, I took the opportunity for meditation and connection with the land.

In one of the archaeological sites, we did another Despacho offering for Pachamama.

In most of the places, we had to hike, and in one of them we had to climb up past a series of terraces, like the ones found at many other important Inca archaeological sites.

In the realm in Inca cosmology these sacred and spiritual sites are endowed with significance and energy. I can witness to this because I was receptive to receiving the strong living energy experience in one of these locations at a carved entryway into the rock after hiking uphill through stone terraces.

One of the social projects we visited was Casa Munay that my friend Rocio helps to manage. Here underage girls are cared for, many of whom were themselves victims of sexual violence when they were still children.

I have been supporting this initiative with donations, which are used for programs to strengthen their skills, so that they fully can exercise their rights, empower them, value themselves, dare to dream.

We also passed by went to see the Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary, a privately owned rescue of animals that have been injured, have been used for cruel entertainment purposes or come from the illicit traffic of Wildlife. Rehabilitation centers such as this sanctuary are important to fighting species endangerment. The most impressive moments for me were the ones close to the Andean Condor.

Here in the sanctuary, they are held in a huge spacious cage where they have space to spread their tremendous wings and fly.

In an earlier trip to Peru four years ago, I was fortunate to see them soaring in one of their natural habitats in the Colca Canyon leaving me in awe. Condors are powerful spirit animals.

Now in the sanctuary, as they flew so closley over me, that I could hear the flap of their wings, which gave me an even deeper connection with them.

Finally, we visited Tiaparo ACP, a private conservation area close to Ollantaytambo that Rocio also supports and drives. Tiaparo is dedicated to conservation, protection and restoration, especially those that are in danger of extinction. Other pillars of work are improvement of the the quality of life of the inhabitants of the area, research and ecotourism.

“In Andean communities of Peru, one of the principles that define the way of life is Ayni (reciprocity). Ayni in its broader definition is be the exchange of energy between humans, nature and the universe. We work for the whole, for the community. We work being aware that all humans are brothers and sisters. Our Pachamama (Mother Earth) grows in love and doesn’t get tired of loving, of illuminating, and she doesn’t get tired of giving.”, my fiend Rocío states.

After such impactful, rich, profound and revealing ten days full of magic and mysticism, I left with a knowing that I will come back, support, and do work here.

Back to Lima

What followed this unforgetabbe time in the Andes is a stay in Lima for a week, digesting the trip, spending time with family members and friends, and preparing for the next journey into the Amazon.

Come and join me in the continuing exploration adventure in the jungle.

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Connect with Claudia Giselle:

• LinkedIn 
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• Facebook
• www.sustained-impact.com

Subscribe to Claudia’s Newsletter: Subscription Link

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Continue reading the Series: Embarking on a Journey of Inner and Outer Exploration     

Next post blog #3: ‘Return to the past and entering into other realities’ (3 of 5)

Review the last post blog #1: ‘Setting the sails for the path of discovery‘ (1 of 5)

Written by Claudia Giselle Edinger, Founder Sustained Impact
Photo Credit: All photos by Claudia Giselle Edinger if not separately mentioned. Hero image by Shutterstock.

Acknowledgement and Gratitude

Sincere thanks and appreciation for Karen Aud and Scott Wurtzbacher for your support and valuable feedback on this article. And thank you dear reader for taking the time to read this blog.  

Der Beitrag Embarking on a Journey of Inner and Outer Exploration (Part 2)  erschien zuerst auf Sustained Impact - Claudia G. Edinger.

Since I have been quietly on a deep personal and spiritual transformation for almost ten years, I was following my inner compass when I took this long overdue trip to Peru to help me explore what wanted to be discovered inwardly and outwardly. This time, aside visiting family, it would be a trip that included participation in ancestral traditions and mystical experiences, adventure and wilderness travel in isolated areas of the country, and some remote work. I was curious

I had originally planned to travel to Peru with my son in the northern hemisphere summer of 2020. I last visited Peru at the beginning of March just before the globe went into lockdown in 2020. It should take 2,5 years to be able to return last July and August.

Why Peru? Not only is Peru a stunning destination in many ways, it is a country I have strong ties with. I am half Peruvian, it is the place where my mother and son were born, I have family there, and it is the place where my soul is at home. I have been to Peru regularly since my childhood, and I try to combine the visits with remote inland travel to explore and get to know more this amazing country, its people, its cultures, its history, and natural wonders.

Yet, this time something was very different for me. As an initiate and apprentice on the shamanic path originating in the indigenous wisdom of the Peruvian Andes and Amazonas traditions for a couple of years, I traveled with a different consciousness and knowledge.

The power of intention

The intentions that I set up for this visit in Peru were of several nature.

Firstly, I wanted to spend a couple of weeks in Peru to deepen my understanding on how this place and my life journey connect.

I wanted to purposefully step into unknown and known places with an expanded heart and mind, integrate learnings and insights, connect with ancient wisdom traditions and earth-based rituals, visit archaeological, mystical, and special energy sites, make meaning, hike and be drawn into awe and wonder of nature and experience her, connect to Mother Earth and the cosmos, and visit local community and environmental projects.

Secondly, it was my desire to show my son more of the country he was born in, and experience it with a new awareness since his last visit 4 years ago and then teenager, and of course, see and spend time with family members, relatives, and friends. I wanted this trip to create positive impact for me, my son, the people, and the places we visited.

I was envisioning to visit various parts of the country like the Peruvian Amazon region, its cities, its people, its social realities, its beautiful high and low jungle, its majestic rivers, its unique and vast nature, and biodiversity.

And I was dreaming that I would see and enjoy magnificent scenery in the high Peruvian Andes, experience living energies and the magic cosmos, and I would be having the opportunity to visit and see first hand social and environmental sustainability development programs related to children and conservation.

This time, I would also get to see new areas of the capital Lima, which is one of the largest capital cities in South America and the second largest desert metropolis in the world, and situated at the coast of the Pacific Ocean.

Alone the organisation of the trip was filled with so much joy and excitement that I came to appreciate this as part of the whole discovery and as planning from the future.

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”

Martin Buber

Arriving in Peru, considered to be one of the most diverse countries in the world, is always like coming home as soon as I set my foot on the ground. After a week ‘homecoming’ and enjoying family members in Lima, cooking and just being together, our first inland trip took us to Cusco located in the Peruvian Andes.

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Connect with Claudia Giselle:

• LinkedIn 
• Instagram
• Facebook
• www.sustained-impact.com

Subscribe to Claudia’s Newsletter: Subscription Link

————

Continue reading the Series: Embarking on a Journey of Inner and Outer Exploration
Next post blog #2: Following the call to adventure and coming into right relationship with Mother Earth (2 of 5)

Written by: Claudia Giselle Edinger, Founder Sustained Impact
Photo Credit: All photos by Claudia Giselle Edinger if not separately mentioned. Hero image by Shutterstock.

Acknowledgement and Gratitude

Sincere thanks appreciation for Karen Aud and Scott Wurtzbacher for your support and valuable feedback on this article. And thank you dear reader for taking the time to read this blog.

Der Beitrag Embarking on a Journey of Inner and Outer Exploration (Part 1) erschien zuerst auf Sustained Impact - Claudia G. Edinger.