This was a pilgrimage of RE-membering for me—we all once lived in caves, grew corn and crops, sat in circles around the fire, prayer to the Creator Spirit for guidance and wisdom. We remember, our soul remembers. I want to keep the days remaining to me simple and full of life—with room for joy and laughter, prayer and service, connection and love. My body will always remember the drumming prayer circle outside the cave after lunch with the Raramuri (Tarahumara) elders. The safety of our transport down into Copper Canyon was palpable and appreciated. The gentle easy nature of Ron, Wes, Jan and Mireya’s leadership led me to trust I was being guided to an experience my soul deeply needed and yearned for.
Anita Mcleod—Meeting Ancient Wisdom, Growing Into Elderhood participant
Meeting Ancient Wisdom, Growing Into Elderhood
A Pilgrimage to Indigenous Wisdom and the Elder Within
Since time immemorial, people have gone on pilgrimages to wild, natural places to connect with the wisdom, passion and callings of the heart. MEETING ANCIENT WISDOM, GROWING INTO ELDERHOOD is a unique opportunity to enact such a spiritual quest. These are pilgrimages for people in and approaching their senior years who are ready to take an empowering step toward claiming the gifts and responsibilities of the role of elder.
These journeys take us to the stunningly beautiful Copper Canyon complex in northern Mexico, the home of the Raramuri (also known as Tarahumara) Indians. Or to the magnificent Big Island of Hawaii where the indigenous traditions of the ancient Hawaiians remain strong. We will be guests invited to experience and benefit from the ancient living culture of a people who remain very much in touch with their indigenous soul, and thereby continue to live in harmony with nature and in alignment with their traditional wisdom, even as the modern world impinges upon them.
We will have the opportunity to spend time with and learn from elder wisdom keepers of the Raramuri or traditional Hawaiians. Indigenous people believe that the deep wisdom and spirituality of their wisdom keepers are essential to provide direction for the life of their people. We believe that the wisdom of true elders is absolutely necessary in our modern world as well, if civilization is to successfully face the momentous challenges that lie before us. On these journeys, our goal is to awaken awareness of our own indigenous wisdom to guide and empower us in becoming true elders for our people.
As we journey through the highlands of the Sierra Madre and the depths of Copper Canyon, or through the beaches, tropical forests and volcano of the Big Island, our group of pilgrims will weave together experiences with indigenous people and culture, periods of solitude, and practices such as sharing councils, drumming circles, dream work, guided imagery, ceremony and legacy work.
