The Land That Welcomed Us

~ by Judy Hoaglund, member of Sipapu Committee, donor, and PMT Teacher

On July 23, 2011, eight THOTH members visited Sipapu on an overnight trip accompanied by Boris, our builder, and our guide, Nadir.  We traveled by motor canoe up the Tambopata River from Puerto Maldonado to our land at La Torre.  There we found our newly built lodge ready for our stay.  We had all purchased blankets at the market to leave at Sipapu.  There are 6 beds with bedding in the main lodge.  Boris loaned us another bed plus we bought two extra mattresses, and bedding.  One lucky person got to sleep on the floor.  

We had a wonderful visit to the land.  I could feel how happy the land was to have us come for our visit.  We slept and ate meals in our new lodge, and used the new toilet, shower and sink.  Meals were prepared, by Boris and our cook, in the newly built (and not quite finished) kitchen.  We walked much of the land with our guide, Nadir, who was a wealth of information about many of the things we encountered.   We saw a 2 ½ meter Bushmaster snake, which was a first for all of us, including our guide!  The land is wonderful rainforest on successive benches that rise above the river.  There are many large Brazil nut trees on the land scattered through the old growth areas.  Our night hike was one of the highlights.

The eight of us made a beautiful despacho and then had ceremony to bury it on the land, feeding all the unseen beings.  The land made it clear that she wants to be peopled, used and fed.  I felt her sadness as we were leaving, after only a short stay.  I told her that more people will be coming soon.  

There are many opportunities awaiting us at Sipapu.  If you are feeling called to this magical place, please consider joining the Sipapu  Committee.  Or you can submit your ideas, visions, projects, and programs. to the committee.

~ by Judy Hoaglund, member of Sipapu Committee, donor, and PMT Teacher