My travel to Peru began the way several of my travels in the past began … with a breakup. A relationship ended, and we happened to share the same residence. It also happened that a work contract ended. So, there I found myself with no job, no place to live, and no love. A friend invited me to travel with her to a lodge in the Amazon jungle. As I watched in my mind’s eye the burning vardo of my life as it went up in flames, escaping to the jungle seemed like the perfect solution.
Accompanied by two guides, we took a canoe ride to the Chino village, where I met Pashquita, the Shaman who lived there. I was smiling. I seemed happy, and to my friend and the guides’ surprise, she said in an ancient Spanish tongue (this had to be translated for me), “Why are you so sad?” Because my “natural state” was one of the masked crimson tanager: a black and red independent, happy little bird who goes around singing all the time.
She said something that just stuck with me all these years later. “I’m going to raise your heart-fire, so that everyone can see it.” She did this through meditation and a short ceremony. In hindsight, what I think she meant was, “I’m going to raise your heart fire so that everyone can see it … especially you.” To this day, when I feel the need for a healthy dose of courage, I have my own “heartfire” meditation that works for me.
I believe heartfire is something we all need: courage, confidence, positive self-regard and the knowledge that we are powerful and capable of showing our light to the world.