In January of this year I stayed one week in the beautiful resort Hacienda Panilla In Costa Rica at Rythmia Life advancement center . I underwent 4 ayahuasca ceremonies, 4 breathwork classes and many other workshops. I went there with the intention to heal from a life time of painful losses that revolve around childhood sexual abuse. I myself would not have sought out plant medicine without the encouragement of my spouse. I was more fearful and skeptical of the experience than he was, Watching people go into the woods and purging violently on some video documentaries I was nervous. When we found Rythmia and started watching testimonials I began to get more interested and by the time we arrived I was fully ready to have the experience I needed to heal . The resort is very comfortable and beautiful, the staff is very supportive of all your needs and every one is friendly , even Gerard Powell the founder of the center is out in common areas and accessible
to any one who approaches him to talk. What can I say about the food here, mostly healthy plant based dishes with some chicken and fish for those of us who prefer some meat. Meg's recipes are all delightful, I enjoyed each meal. All the wait staff are great, they provide you all the fresh pineapple juice and coconut water you want, I think I can honestly say I ate half my body weight in fresh local fruits while staying there. All the staff treated you like family. You can tell that they put a lot of thought into your experiences. When your not kept busy attending classes you have a spa where you can get mudbaths , a pool to swim, and should you find time there are bikes or a shuttle to get to the beach ( I wish I had found time to visit myself) About the Ayahuaska ceremonies, from the shamans to the helpers the setting is layed out to make you feel safe . The class work sets you up to go into ceremony with intentions of what you wish to work on as well as good breathing excercises that are instrumental in helping you when you come to a rough patch in the journey. The best thing is the breath work and yoga you can take home with you to further your healthy lifestyle. The helpers at ceremony are really in tune with what your needs are, Not once when I got up to leave my mattress was I not accompanied by one angel or another. Often showing up at my elbow the moment I stood up. I attended the week Raven was there, she suggested stacking a second mattress to raise my bed so I could get up easier to meet my personal mobility needs. Even the dogs who live on the property Akayla and Galaxy are in tune with the guests and often spend time with guests to offer comfort. Its uncanny how calm these furry angels are, they run by playing and ignore the people around them until their needed or take naps in the common areas, then show up to lend comfort at the oddest moments. I certainly got more than I could have expected from my journey with Mother Aya, on the second night I reached into painful experiences I had carried for 46 years of my life, dealing with pain, shame, abandonment , fear,chronic loneliness and a closed heart. By the time the week ended I felt like I could truly release these pains in a way I had never been able to do before and open my heart to accept Love in ways I had never trusted before... I highly suggest this to anyone I know who also struggles in life due to their past painful childhoods and struggles still with ineffective coping mechanisms they developed to survive that keep them from thriving as adults.
