Merry Christmas from Brazil where we’ve just completed the most astonishing 11 hour overnight Velada ceremony in a beautiful church in Rio Branco. Fascinating to be submerged in a religious setting that uses Santo Daime- Ayahuasca - as their sacrament and merges major tenants of Christianity (like Jesus Christ & Mother Mary) with a profound mysticism and reliance on mediums and shamanic practitioners. These ceremonies are wildly liberating & yet rigorous too: men and women divided into different halves of the church pews, the locals wearing white ship steward uniforms, all 60 of us sitting in plastic chairs and meditating for 5 hours straight without moving, touching or talking, around these decadent altars while the hall filled with the hypnotic voices of the live trance musicians. Later, we danced in a ritualistic circle on the outside courtyard with the parish- many of them family members descended from the Madrina Chica Barquinha- a formidable wise elder who runs the proceedings. Tomorrow we jump on our little boats and travel three days down the Amazon river to finally reach the Huni Kuin tribe in the jungle. The power of Gaia is on full force here- last night’s journey wasnt about “the psychedelic experience” but rather my own empowerment as self healer and self teacher. it is remarkable and humbling to be here with such impeccable stewards of the land, sharing in their traditions. I came on this trip blindly- not knowing anyone and arriving yesterday with no luggage. Everyone lent me something (check out the outfit😂) and By now we are long lost soul family members- feeling very grateful!!️❤️🙏🏻