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Through his study with indigenous shamans, Daniel Stone established The Centre of the Conscious Dream in 2000. In addition to leading retreats, he is an author, musician, and international artist.
MOREJoin Daniel Stone on a transformative walking journey through the Bolivian Andes to explore the immense power of the breath as you learn to become a human channel for change.
The first part of this journey is a 10-day tour including La Paz, Lake Titikaka, Island of the Sun, and Island of the Moon. We will spend our days walking, exploring different forms of breathing, participating in seminars and ceremonies of the Inca culture, and meditating. The walks are paced gradually to acclimatize to the altitude and we will ask for the help of the indigenous culture on the way. The second part takes place on Akamani, the sacred mountain of the Kallawaya – based at an indigenous lodge in the high Andes we will further focus on our breath and participate in ceremonies and herbal medicine consultations with the indigenous Kallawaya. READ MORE
Through his study with indigenous shamans, Daniel Stone established The Centre of the Conscious Dream in 2000. In addition to leading retreats, he is an author, musician, and international artist.
MORE
Silvia Paz Soliz Ochoa is a native Aymara Bolivian who has extensively studied the historical indigenous identity of Bolivian culture, and leads seminars and ceremonies about Bolivian indigenous traditions.
MOREI had a wonderful journey – it was such an amazing combination of experiences, and each of the places we went was exceptionally pretty and spiritual.Catherine Salah, Sausalito, CA
TESTIMONIALS
Tour Description
Our intent is to show that through the simplicity of breathing and walking, the human can be a channel of change – a self-healer, planetary healer, a healer of consciousness. The human body and the planetary body find fluid movement so that both can dance.
The high altitude of the Andes presents an immediate problem – how to breathe? You can’t simply arrive and move around how you did before. You would end up panting, tired and frustrated. Even if on the first day you want to walk down a small road and walk up again, you have to learn to breathe differently, and to do this you have to think differently.
How to breathe? What energy is being taken in and what energy is going out with each breath? If we want to walk around the lake, up the hill, then we need energy. We learn how to enhance the energy that we take in with our breath through a simple opening of thought, utilising the energies that are around us, above us, and below us.
We explore different forms of breathing – the masculine breath, the feminine breath; breath of the earth and breath of the sun, breath of the lake and of the mountain. Breath of the universe. We do this in a spectacular landscape of mountains and the highest navigable lake in the world.
We will ask for the help of the indigenous culture, learning how to access the breath of the earth and of the sky through their traditional ways. Particularly on the Island of the Sun, we open to learn how to receive the mystical texture of “time”, and through managing the “breath of time” open up possibilities in our personal and planetary futures that would not have been perceived before.
There are two parts of this journey. The first part is a nine-day journey to La Paz, Tiwanaku, Lake Titikaka and the Island of the Sun. This is suitable for people with generally good health. The walks are paced gradually to acclimatise to the altitude. The second part, we are based at an indigenous lodge in the high Andes. The walks are a little more energetic, but by the time we reach here, you should be well acclimatized.
Our intent in this second part of the retreat is to remember the uninterrupted conscious breath. The majestic mountain Akamani is like a conduit of times where your soul connects with your ancestors in the sky. This dialogue between earth and sky makes transparent the soul journey through the body, and there is a possibility to experience the full breath of your soul movement through times and through spaces. We will explore the different portals around Akamani, listen to the rocks that speak the language of ancestors, and see the energies that accompany us in our soul journey.
We work also with the high spring waters. Each stream has its flavour and its energy. Water is the medium through which the new thought forms arrive. We meditate with the waters and listen to their clear messages as they pass through our bodies. Drinking seeds of change. Rich in minerals and rich in wisdom!
The high mountains are undisturbed uncluttered portals. You can hear the earth being breathed through the mountains. We will be trekking over the most stunning scenery in the Andes. The word – breath-taking – is perfect. Our breath is taken. Offered. Given. We are initiated into another level of who we really are.
We will be staying at an indigenous lodge in the Kallawaya village of Callisaya. We will open up to the teachings of the Kallawaya through ceremonies and witnessing their life style and art. From there we will be walking out into this magical landscape and will dream with the worlds within the worlds that we find.
Day one is in La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. Our first walk is down the road, and then up the road. On the first day, this in itself is an event. How do you breathe when you are out of breath? We become babies again. We re-learn how to breathe. The baby does not think, and this is what we have to remember. Breathing without thinking.
We enter today into the Aymara culture. Our guide is Silvia Paz, an expert in Aymara traditions and practices. Silvia will give us a seminar in which the bases of Inca culture are explained so that when it comes to the ceremonies you will understand them. She will explain the Apptaphi banquet, the Illias power objects, Akulli coca leaf ceremony, the table offerings to Pachamama and the Acachllas, permissions of the sacred mountains. We then partake in our first Aymara ceremony, which is the Apptaphi, the traditional banquet, a ceremony of giving and receiving.
(Overnight in La Paz at the Hotel Diamante Azul or similar)
Note: Please arrive on Sept 20 as the tour starts on Sept 21.
Meditation. The word meditation here is used to describe breathing consciously. The work is to listen to the breath and be aware that we are breathing whilst we are breathing. This simple act in itself will open our minds so that we are more able to receive.
We visit Tiwanaku. This is the most important sacred site around the great Lake Titikaka. In its simplest form, it is the place where the human “received the Gods.” Its sacred geometry and energetic alignments are still in place and we can experience here our relation with our own inner creative forces. Silvia will guide us through the traditional context of the site and with her indigenous curanderos we will make our first “mesa” – offerings to Pachamama.
We travel in the evening to Copacabana.
(Overnight in Copacabana at Ecolodge del Lago)
Lake Titicaka is the highest navigable lake in the world. For the Inca cultures it is sacred for giving life, on all levels. It gives water and food, and on another level the mythical landscape reminds them of their connection with their Gods. Whatever your inner beliefs are, a sense of other worldliness is palpable in this land.
In our first walk around the lake, we open to the coordination of breath and movement. The lake is an opening, and we open to the feminine breath – the breath of receptivity. We look and feel our sensitivity to pace and rhythm and how these reflect our thought patterns and feeling patterns. Deep listening. We can hear the old tapes that dominate the mind and the heart and our inner journey is to the place where we are able to create an opening for all these repeating energies to find their real homes.
(Overnight in Copacabana at Ecolodge del Lago)
In the Inca ceremony with indigenous curanderos we make our personal offerings to the land and receive personal information through the Akulli coca leaf ceremony. We also make our own personal Illias to focus our attention on our real path on this planet. All these ceremonies are like forms of entrance into a deeper understanding of how you breathe the earth and how the earth breathes you.
We walk up and around the sacred hills and rocks. We open to the masculine breath – breath of projection. Having liberated the energies held in our hearts and minds, we open to the new birth, the projection of new thought forms into our future.
We visit some of the sacred sites where ceremonies are still held on a daily basis, and witness the daily ceremonies, including their blessings for their vehicles – the contemporary Aymara culture in action, alive and vibrant.
(Overnight in Copacabana at Ecolodge del Lago)
This island in the lake is where the sun was born for the Incas. It is a stunning natural temple and it feels like one is living between worlds. There are no vehicles on this island!
On our first day here we go to the centre of the island to witness the gradual movement of the sun as it opens the different energies on the island and in our own human bodies.
(Overnight on the Island of the Sun at Palla Khasa)
Our crystalline intelligence. In this meditation on the Island of the Sun we open up the breath to the deeper crystal clarity which connects the human being to the planetary being. Through deepening our conscious breathing we open to the breath in the earth and the breath in the sun. This deep breathing opens our conscious connection with other levels of our intelligence. We are able to listen to and channel the Earth wisdom through our own breathing human bodies.
(Overnight on the Island of the Sun at Palla Khasa)
Today on the island, the sacred energetic centre of the lake, Don Roberto from Phalla Lodge will conduct a traditional ceremony, honoring the island's role as an interdimensional portal. Many different energies have been witnessed here. It is part of a triangular opening into the underwater cities in the lake which have been physically discovered through satellite photography, as well as energetically witnessed by traditional curanderos on the island. The locals take interplanetary and intergalactic communication as just part of the facts of life, and this is due to the fact that they experience these energies on a regular basis.
We also visit the Labyrinth. This is the traditional ancient indigenous school where the male curanderos were attuned to the regular tools of their trade – time travel, lucid dreaming, clairvoyance, utilising their double, telepathy, seeing spirits, developing their sixth sense.
(Overnight on the Island of the Sun at Palla Khasa)
The Island of the Moon is home to the traditional schools of the female curanderos. This beautiful little island has a completely different energy to the Island of the Sun. We open to experience this change of energy from the masculine to the feminine, and we visit the ancient temples where the curanderos were trained, learning about the particular tools of the trade for the female curanderos, which apart from the list above, would include the magic of weaving, offerings, sacred childbirth, and the development of intuitive depth.
Breathing in Oneness. We take this day to deepen into this new sense of reality where time opens possibilities and impossibilities. Giving ourselves permission to fly, even for short moments free of our conditioning, we glimpse a deeper connection with what you may call God, Great Spirit, Dharmakaya, Goddess, The Divine, Unity Consciousness, or any other words that express your sense of your highest intelligence.
(Overnight on the Island of the Sun at Palla Khasa)
We take a boat journey to return to the mainland and visit the village of Santiago. Here the group divides in order to stay in the houses of the Aymara, being received in the traditional way, eating the traditional food, deepening in the knowledge of their traditions and seeing from the inside the way that the Aymaras live here and now.
(Overnight in Santiago in indigenous houses)
For those leaving us after the first part of this journey, we make a bridge between the experiences we have had in Bolivia and our daily lives, before returning to La Paz for onward flights home. What is useful? What can be taken home? Was this just a holiday or did real change take place? How does the movement affect the life that you lead?
For those continuing with us on the second part of this journey we travel together to Callisaya.
(Overnight in Callisaya at an Indigenous Lodge or similar)
This day is left open to the mystery of the mountains and the unfolding journey. Be prepared for surprises that align with the energy of the group and the land.
(Overnight in Callisaya at an Indigenous Lodge or similar)
We trek to the Charazani hot springs today, where we can relax and integrate the energies of the week. The healing waters provide a soothing conclusion to our time in the mountains.
(Overnight in Callisaya at an Indigenous Lodge or similar)
On this final day, we journey back to La Paz, carrying with us the transformative gifts of Akamani and the profound teachings of the Kallawaya people. The wisdom, healing, and insights gained during our time in these sacred lands will continue to unfold and guide us long after the retreat.
La Paz marks the conclusion of this sacred pilgrimage for some, offering time to reflect and integrate before embarking on return flights. For others, it may serve as a gateway to continued exploration, whether within Bolivia or further afield. The vibrant energy of La Paz, with its unique blend of culture, history, and modernity, provides the perfect transition back to the world beyond the Andes.
Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.
Today, we begin with a visit to the Valley of Crystals, where extraordinary stones surround the mountain spring waters. Like beings from parallel worlds, these stones speak of our deep connection with other civilizations. Here, we will tune in to the crystalline energies and open ourselves to the wisdom they hold.
(Overnight in Callisaya at an Indigenous Lodge or similar)
On this day, we encounter the magical turquoise waters, renowned for their extraordinary healing properties. Flowing from the melting snow, these waters pass through rocks and minerals, transforming into vivid colors that paint ever-shifting worlds before our eyes. We will meditate with the waters, allowing their energy to cleanse and inspire us.
(Overnight in Callisaya at an Indigenous Lodge or similar)
Today we journey to Curva, the capital village of the Kallawaya, where we visit a unique hospital blending Western and Kallawaya medicine. Here, we witness the harmony of these healing traditions and receive ceremonial blessings through an ancient Kallawaya ritual, deepening our connection to this sacred lineage.
(Overnight in Callisaya at an Indigenous Lodge or similar)
Today we visit a natural Kallawaya vortex, a sacred site that reveals how death serves as a doorway into other worlds. Here, we contemplate the soul's journey beyond the physical and explore the profound transformation that comes through embracing this cycle.
(Overnight in Callisaya at an Indigenous Lodge or similar)
On this day, we undertake a walking vision quest to Akamani, the most sacred mountain of the Kallawaya, known simply as Padre (Father). As we ascend to the high pass, we receive profound lessons on how to listen to the great ancestral wisdom that flows from this revered mountain spirit. This trek is a sacred initiation into the heart of the Andes.
(Overnight in Callisaya at an Indigenous Lodge or similar)
