Touching the Jaguar - A Journey to the Lands of the Maya and into the Message from Pleiades

With John Perkins and Daniel Koupermann

These are times of chaos and magic, as prophesized by the ancient Mayas! Today, Mayan elders and shamans are dedicated to leading us into a new era of compassion and transformation. “Touching the Jaguar” to Mayan and Amazonian Indigenous cultures means confronting your fears and transforming them into action to change ourselves and the world. It is also the title of John’s book, Touching the Jaguar: Transforming Fear into Action to Change Your Life and the World.  Many Mayan sites were built to reflect the Seven Sister stars of Pleiades and there is a Mayan belief that they came from Pleiades and that they receive important messages from the Seven Sisters – as experienced by Jenny in John’s most recent book “Message from Pleiades.”

On this journey you will be invited to soar into the power and mystery of the ancient prophecies and messages for how to shape the future. Join John Perkins, NY Times bestselling author and leading expert on indigenous cultures and shamanism, and Daniel Koupermann, expedition guide and environmentalist, and local Mayan shamans (“Nanas” for women and “Tatas” for men) and teachers on this life-changing adventure to the mountains and rain forests of Central America. Apply “shapeshifting” approaches; elevate yourself to higher states of consciousness; touch your jaguar; and transform yourself and the world around you.

December 21, 2012 was identified by Mayan astrologers more than a millennium ago, as the Great Turning – the beginning of a time of amazing opportunity to “shapeshift” human societies away from exploitation, brutality, and materialism into cooperation, compassion, love, and spirituality. The prophecies, along with messages from Pleiades, proclaimed that the process would begin several decades earlier and continue for many to come.

We have now entered this magical, shapeshifting portal!

Now, with upheaval all around our planet, many of us are wondering what all this means for the future of the world and for us personally. Be part of this select group of travelers who will explore, study, and dialogue about this turbulent time on our planet.

You are invited to join John, Daniel, and their Mayan friends on this journey to the heart of the Mayan culture and sacred sites in the magical lands of Guatemala.

Itinerary:

— Get to know the beautiful and very special colonial city of Antigua.

— Stay in a classic Spanish luxury hotel with a view of the very active Fuego (Fire) volcano that emits fire and smoke on a regular basis.

— Shapeshift during events facilitated by John where you will have the opportunity to set your intentions and connect with the energies and spirits of the land and each other and learn the basics of Mayan cosmology and the Mayan version of the 2012 Prophecy (which is very different from the one described in most books and films).

— Visit picturesque villages at Lake Atitlan, one of the most beautiful lakes in the world and the deepest in Central America. It is surrounded by majestic volcanoes.

— Stay in the charming Hotel Bamboo on the shore of the lake.

— Visit the house of Maximòn, the local idol and venerated mixture of Catholicism and shamanisn, who is moved from house to house by his devotees. Maximòn resides in a different house each year. It is an honor to have Maximòn in one’s home. He is most visible during the annual holy week celebrations and rituals of sacrifice that are carried out to cleanse and regenerate the world. During the rest of the year, people of the communities visit Maximòn in his chosen residence, where his shrine is always attended by two or more people, called Cofrades, who serve for a full year to care for him in the Cofradia (fraternity/brotherhood) and keep the altar and sacred items in order. Shamans come daily to do rituals on behalf of their clients.

— Explore the Mayan view that their history is a microcosm of today’s world. In building their magnificent pyramids and cities, the ancient Maya drained the swamps and cut the forests. By about 900 A.D. (in our calendar) they had changed their climate and could no longer sustain themselves. Cities went to war over scarce resources. The people abandoned the cities and fled into the mountains where they continued their sacred traditions – but lived simple lives without building pyramids and grandiose temples. Now their Nanas and Tatas have committed to teaching us the lessons of the mistakes of the ancient rulers.

— Step away from our frantic life and immerse yourself in a culture that lives in harmony with the natural rhythms of the Mayan Culture. You travel through the villages of Lake Atitlan, without stress or pressures. Mayan culture is prevalent around the lake where traditions, customs, and culture, along with the traditional clothing (traje) have been retained. Each indigenous Mayan village has its own uniqueness and its own signature style of clothing that sets it apart from the others.

— Honor the three majestic volcanoes, Toliman, San Pedro, and Atitlan overlooking Lake Atitlan. Dotted along its shoreline are more than a dozen towns and villages, most of which have retained their Mayan character to this day.

— Guided by John, open yourself to the wisdom and power that comes from touching our personal jaguars and listening to the messages that come to us from Pleiades, and elsewhere.

— Take a private motor boat to San Juan de la Laguna Village to visit a cooperative of local Mayan women who dye and weave textiles.

— Visit a medicinal garden that is run by a local women’s cooperative.  You will have an opportunity to tour the gardens, learn about the herbs and their uses, as well as about caring for the land with love, and without harming it.

— Take a 45 minute motor boat ride to Panajachel where our van will be waiting to take us to Chichicastenango City to visit and enjoy one of the most colorful and important indigenous markets in Latin America. Among the local items sold are textiles, particularly women’s blouses. The makers of masks used by dancers in traditional dances, such as the Dance of the Conquest, have also made this city well- known for woodcarving. Another major attraction in Chichicastenango is the 400-year old church of Santo Tomas, which is in the East side and is related with life, while the Church of the Calvary is in the west side and is linked with death. A classic example of the way Catholic priests incorporated traditional Indigenous ceremonies into Church activities in order to attract converts, it was built by Spanish Conquistadors on top of a Mayan temple. Mayan shamans still use it for their rituals, burning incense and candles, alongside Catholic altars. Each of the 18 stairs that lead up to the church represents one month of the Agriculture Mayan calendar. The Tzolkin Mayan calendar has 13 months of 20 days each.

— Visit the cemetery of this picturesque village and observe some of the ceremonies and rituals the families do honoring their dead relatives. The cemeteries in Guatemala are one of the most important aspects of the Mayan culture.

— Fly to Flores – Petén. We will drive through primary jungle that is inhabited by jaguars, monkeys, coatis, and many other animals (with luck seeing a jaguar at the side of the road) and check in to the Tikal Jungle Lodge located inside the Tikal National Park (declared a World Heritage Site in 1979).

— Explore Tikal, one of the most important cities in the ancient Mayan World. At the entrance of the park, we will stop at a giant guardian Ceiba (Kapok) tree where we will join John in asking permission from the spirits of the trees, the land, animals, plants and elements for all of us to be there. We will continue our walk in silence, deeply mindful of all our senses and all our surroundings, including the monkeys, coatis, jaguars, and different bird and plant species, to the Grand Plaza. Here we can explore the magnificent palaces and structures. We will be surrounded by pyramids and temples, and have the opportunity to take shamanic journeys, meditate, and connect with this magical place.

— Spend time in the oldest part of Tikal, known as the Lost World. The largest pyramid here is where Jenny in John’s book “Message from Pleiades” first hears the message. We will have the opportunity to access the message that is intended for us.

— Be invited to explore on our own. Some of us may want to walk through the forest to Temple IV, the highest of the Tikal pyramids. From the top, we can witness a magnificent view of the entire area. Another option is to return to the hotel, rest, enjoy the lodge’s swimming pool, or explore individually places that touch our hearts and souls.

— Journey into the “Serpent’s Mouth” that is described in “Message from Pleiades” and follow the path of the Hero Twins that opens us to higher consciousness and the manifestation of our mission in this life.

— After your stay at the Jungle Lodge, you can relax and reflect at the elegant Tikal Camino Real Hotel, located on the shore of Lake Peten Itza. This gorgeous and sacred lake is set within the Maya Forest which constitutes the largest continuous expanse of tropical forest in Central America. Lake Peten Itza is about 48km long and covers an area of 98 km2. The lake is likely to have held water during arid glacial periods. You will have time to explore this beautiful hotel, swim in the lake, take a boat ride, enjoy dinner, the great views, and luxurious facilities.

This is a journey into learning about and experiencing the lessons and culture of the ancient and contemporary Maya. It is for people who want to create a better world for themselves, all life, and Mother Earth. John and Daniel look forward to joining you on this magical adventure.

Reservations: To make a reservation for the journey or for additional information, please contact Linda Leyerle at lleyerle@aol.com.