This morning to celebrate my first month in Banaue, I had a rapeh ceremony, during which I was reminded that years ago, the same medicine showed me visions of the very rice terraces I am surrounded with today. Rapeh is sacred tobacco snuff from the Amazon, made mostly of mapacho, a strong tobacco, as well as other medicinal herbs. It is ingested through the nostrils with the help of a pipe or self-applicator called kuripe. As soon as the medicine hit, I saw the rice fields, just like I have countless times before, since 2010. I was reminded that I was in the place that had been calling me for nearly four years. It was something to really celebrate and be present with, rather than jump to the next thing.
I then saw a shiny infinity symbol made of flames, which felt like it was harmonizing both lobes of my brain, the yin and the yang.
Originally I had planned to write a post about what I ha been up to these past weeks, but somehow I am not finding the words and feel like I wouldn’t do justice to the experience. It would be much better to keep extending the invitation to visit the Cordilleras, whether I am here or not! The sky, energy and nature speak for themselves.
Photo taken after rapeh, grounding with a heart-warming cup of Kazane’s Signature Blend cacao from Lola Tita de Cacao
Yesterday morning I arrived in the town of Banaue, in the Philippine Cordilleras, after a ten-hour bus ride from the capital city. It’s a long ride, but worth every minute, as I find myself here and instantly feel more expansive, like the Sky element that is usually so elusive is suddenly within reach.
I am not sure how long I will be here for, but I have already invited friends, family, clients and students to come for a visit as I am continuing to work while I am here. Of course, I will be conducting online sessions for Reiki sessions and classes, as well as coaching sessions and longer mentorship containers (these start at four months). But for those of you willing to make the trip, it would be amazing to practice meditation and learn energy healing while here in the mountains.
Feel free to contact me for any of the offers below and should you need support in your mental, emotional, physical and/or spiritual journey. Let’s walk together.
Coaching sessions
Energy healing sessions and classes
Mentorships
Private and group retreats
Team-building and family events
Love,
Kazane
I had the privilege of spending my fiftieth birthday with my mother and my daughter, who both flew in last month to be with me commemorating half a century’s existence.
A few days before my birthday, a dear friend asked me how I was feeling. I had to pause and then I told her that a year ago, there was a (brief) moment when I thought I would not be able to make it to this day. My physician had detected some alarming growths on my breasts which precipitated me on an emotional roller coaster, and caused me to re-think health and wellness - me, a healer by profession!
From that perspective, everyday I get to live is like a bonus, a miracle, a gift, to be enjoyed to its fullest and not wasted. So I learned to be even more supportive of my body and its functions, leaning into natural ways of nourishing and detoxing.
Spending my fiftieth birthday surrounded by loved ones was both a miracle and a dream come true. I try to remind myself of this when things get tough and the weight of existing seems unbearable. What a gift to be alive and loved - what a gift to love.
As the venerable Thich Nhat Hanh said, even if your mother is not with you physically, you can simply look at your hands, and you are looking at hers.
Friends, spend time with your loved ones and cherish every moment. We are but here on this Earth for a short visit.
Photo by Jon Unson
