AWB World Healing Exchange Program

Transcription

1 Acupuncturists Without Borders is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization 3538 Anderson Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM NE Fremont, Portland, OR Fax: (866) Ancient Mayan pyramid at which Mayan Healer Day of the Dead Celebrations will do fire/metal element ceremony Israel Casanova May in the Yucatan World Healing Exchange Program Mayan Traditional Healing and Day of the Dead Celebrations together with the Five Elements of Chinese Medicine Yucatan, Mexico October 30 st to November 10, CEUs with a possible additional 16 CEUs pending 7.5 CEUs additional for those who take the one-day training on October 30 NOTE: Trip is limited to 11 participants (plus staff and in-country guides), so please register early to secure your spot. Your Guides and Trip Leaders: Sarah Gress, Yucatan Tour Expert and Intuitive Healer, Melanie Rubin, M.Ed., Trainer and Special Programs Stacey MacFarlane, Trainer, M.Ac., L.Ac., Five Element Instructor is thrilled to announce a World Healing Exchange Program in Yucatan, México this fall, It will combine immersion in Mayan tradition at the time of the visually and culturally dramatic Day of the Dead celebrations, with ceremonial experience of the Five Elements of Chinese Medicine. We will explore how Mayan philosophy and the Five Elements overlap in profound ways, provide trauma relief clinics for several communities, and take away deep personal and professional enrichment and nourishing.

2 2 The Yucatan peninsula in southeastern Mexico separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico and is home to the ancient Mayan people. The area is known for its tropical rainforests and jungles, underground caverns with freshwater, swimmable pools, called cenotes, and powerful ruins of ancient civilizations. It has extraordinary beaches, culture, delectable regional cuisine, birds, wildlife, and more. In November, temperatures will range from lows in the mid-60 s to highs in the low 80 s. Trip Guide Sarah Gress, a German intuitive and spiritual healer with in-depth knowledge of the Yucatan and fluency in Spanish, has taken numerous groups into the heart of the deep energetic experience of Mayan healing and spirituality a side of the Yucatan very few people see. Former Associate Director Melanie Rubin has worked closely with Sarah to craft a unique journey for Acupuncturists Without Borders, exploring the powerful overlaps and synergies between Mayan healing tradition and the Five Elements of Chinese Medicine. This program has been well designed and researched in two 2016 scouting trips and a previous WHE trip to Yucatan in This program will provide an unprecedented opportunity to work and study directly with Mayan elders and herbalists, as well as visit ancient sites and receive spiritual initiation. The destination is Yucatán, but the goal is the personal and group journey into ourselves as practitioners and healers. We will explore Mayan history, philosophy and tradition, together with the Five Elements, as a way of renewing that which is most vital in each of us personally, and in our role as healing facilitators for others. Like many Mexican states, notwithstanding its power and beauty, the Yucatan has a significant portion of its population living in poverty and extreme poverty. These people lack basic necessities and have inadequate access to health care. Those who suffer the most are the indigenous Maya, where the deepest levels of social and economic marginalization prevail. Additionally, natural disasters, in particular hurricanes, exacerbate these existing social vulnerabilities. Participants on this trip will offer community- style acupuncture within four towns and villages. As with our other introductory World Healing Exchange trips, this is an opportunity to reciprocate for all we are being given and taught, with the intention of coming back at a later time if invited to do more in-depth training. Mayan elder Don Pedro Pablo Chuc teaching traditional philosophy Mayan herbalist and midwife Donja Rafaela presenting about healing methods

3 3 Cenote cavern/freshwater pool Mayan Riviera Opening ceremony for the water element will be performed at a cenote, where we will literally immerse ourselves in the magic of the Yucatan experience. That evening we will experience Day of the Dead celebrations in the lovely little city of Valladolid. Our traditional Mayan teachings will continue with an internationally known Mayan elder, honoring the wood and earth elements in the Mayan jungle with the revered Ceiba Tree of Life. We will next enjoy Day of the Dead celebrations in the gemlike city of Izamal, where the buildings are painted a beautiful, corn-colored gold. Next, we will explore the connections between ancient Mayan experience and Five Element tradition related to the fire and metal elements, through ceremony and teaching at an ancient Mayan pyramid, and in a traditional, Mayan herbal sweat lodge, called a Temazcal. (The Nahuatl word temaz means either bath or rock/vapor/knowledge, Calli means house.) We will further explore the elements as we study herbal medicine with a master Mayan herbalist, and learn how to make medicines from local plants. Our travels will include: many wonderful meals prepared in homes as well as restaurants, visits to several archaeological sites, both world famous, like Chichen Itza, and less known, like Uxmal; a visit to a museum that chronicles the history of the Mayan world; and a stay at a beautiful hacienda. The journey will end on a pristine beach of the Mayan Riviera, known for its turtle hatching grounds, snorkeling, and seafood. Here we will bring the trip full circle on a Friday morning with closing ceremonies for the water element. The schedule is designed such that travelers can add a couple of days for pure vacation at the beach if they wish, and still return to the United States by the end of the weekend.

4 Our program will include contemplative practices, such as yoga, meditation, and qigong. We will have time together to discuss what we have learned from working with the indigenous healers and in the clinics. This will also be an opportunity to grow within our traveling community. From our past experience, group travel opens up expectations and relationship dynamics that can be challenging and thus give us opportunity for personal development. We will meet informally or all together as needed to share our experiences, what we are learning about ourselves, and whatever support we may wish along the way. As we all know and have personally experienced, traditional healing methods sometimes seem to be fading out of existence. One of our hopes with this trip is to support and keep alive the local Yucatecan healing practices and strengthen our own. How can traditional healers around the world compete with strong and powerful modern medicines that seem so intriguing and immediate? It is with this awareness that s World Healing Exchange Program is developing partnerships with local healers for cross-cultural exchange and training that will support indigenous practices. *Note: NCCAOM now gives 10 PDA points for volunteer service for which this trip is eligible, and we will be providing letters to this effect for all participants. OUR GUIDES IN YUCATAN Sarah Gress is a German intuitive and spiritual healer who is fluent in Spanish and has led numerous successful trips in the Yucatan. She is excellent at trip logistics and will help create an experience that is well organized and smooth. Sarah will serve as our translator for this journey and will lead many of the ceremonies. She will also be available for private sessions during free time. Melanie Rubin is former Associate Director of Acupuncturists Without Borders and was the Co-facilitator of s World Healing Exchange trip in the Yucatan in 2013 and in Oaxaca, Mexico in Melanie has had a deep love for the Mayan people and culture for decades and welcomes this opportunity to co-create a unique and powerful trip experience for this group. She is working with Sarah and Stacey to plan and coordinate all aspects of the trip. Stacey MacFarlane is a five-element acupuncturist who serves as the Clinical Foundations Division Chair of the Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Program at Maryland University of Integrative Medicine. She is also a veteran Trainer and has assisted on several World Healing Exchange trips in Mexico. Stacey will work with Melanie and Sarah on the Five Element program components of the trip, will co-lead ceremonies from the Five Element perspective, and support the group in many other ways. 4

5 Program Note: Meals that are included in the trip price are indicated with red letters. reserves the right to adjust the program as needed to give participants the most interesting and exciting trip possible if availability of specific experiences in Yucatan changes closer to the time of travel. 5 Pre-Trip 1-Day Training Tues, Oct 30 For those who have not previously taken s 2-day Level I Training, Healing Community Trauma: How to Do Acupuncture in the Field for Traumatic Events, a 1-Day version of this training is required on October 30 to prepare participants to work as part of an team. People who have previously taken the Level I training, but want to review, are welcome to take the 1-Day version for half the regular 1-Day training price. The training offers 7.5 CEUs, including 1 in safety and 1 in ethics. Training participants will arrive by Monday, October 29, and pay for their rooms for that night separately from the cost for the trip. will reserve those rooms for training participants. Training participants will be responsible for covering their lunch for the training day. See further information in trip costs on page 13. Day 1 Tuesday, October 30, 2018 Valladolid D Participants who are NOT taking the one-day training arrive in the afternoon into Cancun International Airport. The trip driver will meet you in our trip van to provide transportation to the hotel in Valladolid, approximately 2 hours away. (NOTE: We ll coordinate with you to make sure your arrival time works for shuttle to the hotel. If you choose to arrive a day early, we can still provide transportation if your arrival time is coordinated. If you arrive more than a day early, you ll need to set up transportation to the hotel.) Our host hotel in Valladolid will be Hotel Quinta Regia, We ll gather for dinner, welcome, and introductions at a local restaurant. Hotel Quinta Regia Hotel Quinta Regia

6 6 Day 2 Wednesday, October 31, 2018 Valladolid B, L Enjoy a full hearty welcome breakfast at Hotel Quinta Regia. Afterwards the group will be transported to the Cenote Aguas Dulce approximately half an hour away. There we will have an opening ceremony, honoring the water element in both the Mayan and Five Element traditions. You can take a purifying dip in the underground freshwater of the Yucatan, rinsing away any stress from your travels. Lunch will be provided at Cenote Aguas Dulce. After lunch we will travel to the Maya town of Popola, approximately 15 minutes away to work with Don Pedro Pablo Chuc Pech, member of the Maya Council of 13 Elders. Don Pedro Pablo is a spokesman for Mother Earth and a voice of conscience. His simple ceremonies help us to open our hearts and sensitivities to attune to the spirits of nature, the guardians of the trees, animals, plants, water, and the air to awaken our cosmic memory of the sacredness of all life. Don Pedro Pablo will conduct a ceremony for us in the forest, honoring Mother Earth, and we will also discuss and honor the wood and earth elements of Five Element tradition, with a focus on the Mayan Tree of Life, the Ceiba tree. Don Pedro Pablo will give us an overview of the Mayan philosophy and healing tradition he will be teaching us the following day, as well as a presentation about how the Day of the Dead celebrations fit within the Mayan tradition. We will return to the hotel to freshen up and take a short rest. Dinner will be on your own at a restaurant in Valladolid (price not included) Day 3 Thursday, November 1, 2018 Valladolid B, L, D Breakfast at Hotel Quinta Regia. During breakfast we will have a meeting to organize clinic roles for our first clinic that afternoon. After breakfast the group will again be transported to Don Pedro Pablo s teaching location. He will present experiential exercises about Mayan philosophy and healing tradition that will allow each one of us to experience this tradition in the forest for ourselves, and share and discuss our discoveries. You will then be honored by enjoying a typical indigenous lunch for the Day of the Dead celebrations, prepared by Doña Lucia (the wife of Don Pedro Pablo). After lunch our group will offer the first clinic of the trip (CLINIC #1) to the people of the Popola community. Over dinner at a restaurant in Valladolid we will debrief the clinic. After dinner, we will enjoy a walking tour of local Day of the Dead celebrations.

7 7 Day 4 Friday, November 2, 2018 Izamal B, L, D Breakfast at Hotel Quinta Regia. After breakfast the group will pack the van to leave Valladolid and travel to Ek Balaam pyramids approximately half an hour away. Sarah will lead an exploration of the pyramids, with discussion of the power and meaning of these archaeological sites. We will also begin discussion of how the fire and metal elements are meaningful in the Mayan tradition. Lunch will be at a local person s home with traditional food. After lunch we will travel to the beautiful city of Izamal, about 2 hours away. Izamal is most likely the oldest city in the Yucatán and was and remains one of the most important pilgrimage centers for the Maya and Yucatecans. Modern Izamal is a colonial city, with cobble-stoned streets, lampposts, and calesas (horse and buggy carts) to taxi you around town. Almost every building in the historic center is painted yellow, giving the town a quaint and distinctive look. In the van we will have a discussion of what we have seen and heard so far, about how the water, earth, wood, fire, and metal elements fit with Mayan tradition and philosophy. This will be an opportunity for each person to share. Upon arrival at the green, tropical oasis of Hotel Macan Che, we will take some personal time to get settled and enjoy our lush surroundings, or take a dip in the pool. At Dinner at a restaurant in Izamal we will receive an introduction to the city. Afterwards we will take a walking tour of local Day of the Dead celebrations. Izamal Ek Balaam Archaeological Site

8 8 Day 5 Saturday, November 3, 2018 Izamal B, L Before breakfast we will walk to Kinich pyramid in Izamal for a Sunrise Ceremony with a local Mayan healer who will lead us in a practice for honoring the Mayan ancestry of this place and, with Stacey, learn more about the fire and metal elements we began to explore at Ek Balaam. This ceremony will be followed by breakfast at Hotel Macan Ché, at which we will plan for our evening clinic, and then have some personal time to decompress and digest. In the late morning the group will travel within Izamal to participate in a Mayan Temazcal cleansing ceremony, similar to a Native American sweat lodge, but typically not as hot. We will honor the fire, earth, and metal elements. After the Temazcal the group will enjoy a light lunch of fruits and coconut milk. Upon return to the hotel, you will have some personal time - to rest or shop in Izamal or catch up on correspondence or visit the local Izamal herbalist or have a private session with Sarah or Star Moser, a healer next door to Hotel Macan Che. Dinner is on your own, at Macan Che, or in Izamal (price not included). The group will re-gather for an evening clinic (CLINIC #2) at Macan Che. Day 6 Sunday, November 4, 2018 Izamal B, L, D Breakfast at Hotel Macan Ché, including debriefing the clinic from the night before, and organizing the afternoon clinic for today. After breakfast the group will travel to a nearby town to work with master herbalist and midwife Donja Rafaela, who will instruct the group in the preparation and use of local plants, some of which can also be grown/used in the U.S. Donja Rafaela has great expertise in massage and other treatments for women s health and childbirth issues. She may provide bodywork instruction depending on the group s interests. Lunch will be prepared by Donja Rafaela s family. In the afternoon the group will offer a clinic (CLINIC #3) for Donja Rafaela s community. Dinner will be provided back at the Hotel Macan che, including debriefing the afternoon clinic, followed by some down time after dinner to organize for departure the next day.

9 9 Day 7 Monday, November 5, 2018 Santa Elena B, D Breakfast at Hotel Macan Ché. After breakfast the group will be transported to the beautiful capital city of the Yucatán, Merida, also known as the White City, about an hour from Izamal. There we will have a tour and instruction about the history of the Mayan people in the acclaimed Museo del Mundo Maya (Museum of the Mayan World). Lunch will be on your own at a restaurant in Merida (price not included) After lunch there will be time for shopping in Merida for souvenirs and crafts to take home, or simply exploring a part of this colonial city. In the late afternoon we will travel to the Hotel Nueva Altia in the town of Santa Elena, about an hour and a half away. See In the van we will have an introduction to the history and meaning of the Uxmal pyramids. Dinner will be at the Nueva Altia hotel or a nearby restaurant. Day 8 Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Santa Elena B, L, D Breakfast at Hotel Nueva Altia, including organizing for the afternoon clinic. After breakfast, we will travel to the close by Uxmal pyramid site. Sarah will lead meditation or a guided visualization at the pyramids and we will explore the site. Lunch will be at beautiful, Hacienda Ochil, half an hour from Uxmal. After lunch we will take some time for a walk around the lovely grounds, in what was originally a working plantation. In the late afternoon we will return to Santa Elena to conduct a clinic for the local community (CLINIC #4). Dinner will be at the Lodge Uxmal, followed by the Uxmal light show. Yucatan Clinic With Mayan Children

10 10 Day 9 Wednesday, November 7, 2018 Hacienda Sotuta de Peon near the town of Lepan, Yucatan B, L, D Breakfast will be at Nueva Altia. In the morning we will travel to Hacienda Sotuta de Peon, about an hour away. We will debrief the clinic from the previous day in the van. At the Hacienda we will have a tour of a working henequen plantation, growing and preparing fibers for rope and other uses. We will discuss the history of the Yucatan economy and the impact of this evolution on the Mayan people, as well as the current economic situation for Mayan communities in Yucatan. For those who wish, there is an opportunity to swim in the large cenote on the property during the tour. Lunch will be at Hacienda Sotuta de Peon, serving traditional Yucatecan food. The afternoon will be free to explore the hacienda, relax, or take an optional horseback ride on the property (price not included approximately $15). Dinner will also be provided at Hacienda Sotuta de Peon. After dinner we will gather as a group and discuss what we have been learning/integrating from the trip in terms of Mayan philosophy, culture, and healing tradition, and the 5 elements. Hacienda Ochil Hacienda Sotuta de Peon

11 11 Day 10 Thursday, November 8, 2018 Akumal Beach B, L, D Breakfast at Hacienda Sotuta de Peon. After an early breakfast we will travel to the world famous Chichen Itza archaeological site, about 2 hours away. In the van we will discuss what is similar or different about this site, in relationship to the other sites we have already seen. We will also discuss the role this site plays in the local economy. As well, Sarah will offer some tips for purchasing crafts at Chichen Itza from local artisans. At Chichen Itza we will have a tour of the site, and then some free time to explore and purchase crafts and souvenirs. Lunch will be at a restaurant in the nearby town of Piste. After lunch we will travel to Akumal Beach on the Mayan Riviera, about 2 ½ hours away. In the van we will talk about the meaning to the Maya of the ocean, and how this connects, once again, with the water element. Arriving, we will get settled in our suites at Las Villas Akumal (where most people will be in double rooms within an ocean-view, 3-bedroom suite including 3 bathrooms, living area, kitchen, lounge and ocean-front terrace). After time for a walk or refreshing swim at the beach or a dip in the pool, we will gather for dinner at a local seafood restaurant. Day 11 Friday, November 9, 2018 Akumal Beach B, D We will meet for breakfast at Las Villas Akumal s restaurant. After breakfast we will go to the beach together and do a final ceremony and practice, honoring the water, from which all life comes and the meaning of the ocean, and of water, in Mayan tradition, and the Five Element tradition. There will be opportunity for each person to share their experience. Lunch will be on your own at the hotel (price not included) There will be an opportunity for snorkeling, swimming, and beach lounging after lunch. Those who wish to do so can take a snorkeling trip from a boat provided by the hotel, or snorkel from the beach. Gear is available from the hotel. This area is famous for its turtles! Dinner will be at a well-known, beach-side restaurant in Akumal Village recognized for its magnificent seafood. At dinner, we will do our closing ceremony for the trip. If appropriate, we will visit the turtle hatching grounds area after dinner.

12 12 Day 12 Saturday, November 10, 2018 B We will share breakfast at the hotel s restaurant. The shuttle to the airport will leave from the hotel after breakfast and is included in the trip price. For those who are staying on, information will be provided about other shuttle options, and some assistance in coordinating amongst members of the group who may wish to share a ride to the airport on Saturday or Sunday. Hotel Macan Che in Izamal Architecture in Izamal Chichen Itza Pyramid Typical Yucatan Dish

13 13 Trip Fees Trip Dates: October 30 November 10, 2018 One-Day Training, October 30 As referenced in the above schedule, there will be a one-day, clinical training, required for those who have not previously attended an Level I Training and optional for those who want to review, offered on Monday, October 30 at the hotel in Valladolid. Participants attending this training will need to leave the U.S. in time to arrive by the night of October CEUs will be offered, and the course fee is $ or $75.00 for returning trainees (recommended, even if you have already done a training). Hotel stay for additional nights for the training are not included in the fee. Cost is 60/night single occupancy or 65/night double occupancy at the rates. We will book those rooms for you to take advantage of our group discount, and then you will pay for the extra night or nights. We will be sending you a registration form and will need to know if you need additional nights. CEUs/ PDAs: - The one-day training offers 7.5 CEUs - 4 CEUs will be offered in addition to the training for instruction during the trip. - An additional 10 PDAs (recognized by the NCCAOM only) will be given in the form of a letter from, for service work provided on the trip. - We are applying for 16 additional CEUs for the 5-Element and Mayan Healing Philosophy instruction that will be provided on the trip. These CEUs are pending. So if you take the one-day training, you will definitely receive 21.5 CEUs in total, and are likely to receive as many as 37.5 CEUs. If you do not take the one-day training, you will definitely receive 14 CEUs in total, and are likely to receive as many as 30 CEUs. TRIP FEES (NOTE: Paying by check does NOT incur the 3% merchant account processing fee) Deposit: $1750 is required to hold your spot. Early Bird: Complete payment is due by August 15, 2018 $ (cash or check price)/ Member/Double Occupancy (add 3% for credit card payment) $ (cash or check price/ Non-member/Double Occupancy (add 3% for credit card payment)

14 14 Regular Rate: Complete payment is due by September 15, 2018 $ (cash or check price)/ Member/Double Occupancy (add 3% for credit card payment) $ (cash or check price)/non-member/double Occupancy (add 3% for credit card payment) Single Room Supplement: $ (please add to total payment) For those who would prefer a single rather than a double room, please add $400 to your trip fee. Included in price: - All overnight stays in hotels, hacienda, and villas; - Shuttle to and from the airport at the arranged times; - In-country transportation; - Meals (B,L,D) as listed in the program above; - In-country guide service in English; - Preparation materials; - Excursions and entrance fees as mentioned in the program; - All ceremonies with the group; - Clinic supplies; and - Snorkeling at Villas Akumal. Not Included: Airfare; airport departure taxes; shuttle fees if you decide to arrive earlier or leave later than the scheduled times/days for the trip; travel and medical insurance; items of a personal nature; food and travel for any additional days before or after the trip; hotel stay on the 29th before training; dinner on the evening of November 3; and horseback riding. If you should get sick and need a change of accommodation or travel plans while in México, you will need to cover any additional costs outside of the regular trip plan. Trip ends the morning of the 10th. *Complete Itinerary above.

15 15 Payments: By Check: Payment by check can be mailed to: 4605 NE Fremont Suite 2014B Portland, OR By Credit Card: Call if you want to pay by credit card or go to the link below and MAKE SURE to note that this is a deposit for the Yucatan trip: Full Payment and Cancellations: The deposit is non-refundable unless your spot is filled. This would happen if the trip is fully enrolled. In that case, we would refund your deposit minus a 15% administration fee. Full payment at the regular rate is required by September 15, If you cancel prior to September 15, 2018, you will be refunded 50% of the trip fees paid, not including the deposit. If you cancel after September 15, 2018 no refund is due. However, if we can fill your spot, we will refund your trip fees and deposit, minus a 15% administration fee for both. Again, this would happen if the trip is fully enrolled. IMPORTANT: TRAVEL INSURANCE We require that you purchase travel insurance that includes medical evacuation. This is just a smart thing to do for overseas travel, and if there is a medical emergency, particularly an evacuation required, you will need to have this coverage. This is the page s insurance company has set up to make it easy for travelers to purchase insurance: Note that the Trip Protector Plus option is the only one that offers coverage for trip cancellation for any reason. does NOT receive compensation when you purchase this insurance, and you are more than welcome to purchase some other type of travel insurance provided it includes medical evacuation coverage. Note that although will make all attempts to uphold your safety and well-being in every way, is not liable if you become sick or injured on a World Healing Exchange trip, or as a result of costs incurred as a result of unforeseeable trip changes.

16 16 Suggested Reading: Articles (NOTE: Please read these three articles before the trip) Article about Maya Philosophy of Healing and the Maya Five Elements: Classical Five Element Acupuncture: The Teachings of J.R. Worsley Constitutional Five Element Acupuncture Books (Optional) Sastun: My Apprenticeship with a Mayan Healer Rosita Arvigo Curandero: A Life in Mexican Folk Healing Eliseo Cheo Torres and Timothy Sawyer Curandero Conversations Antonio Zavaleta and Alberto Salinas Woman Who Glows in the Dark Elena Avila Mexico Unconquered John Gibler Here is a link to books about the Yucatan (with descriptions of books): Safety in Mexico (NOTE: We will send detailed safety and health information for trip participants.) From Frommer s guide book: Mexico is one of the world's great travel destinations and millions of visitors travel safely here each year. Yet drug-related violence and widespread media coverage of Mexico's insecurity have severely impacted its tourism industry. Mexican drug-trafficking organizations have been engaged in brutal fights against each other for control of trafficking routes and with the Mexican government, which has deployed military troops and federal police across the country. The region covered by this guide, Cancún and the Yucatán, has generally not experienced the violence or insecurity affecting many other parts of the country. The Mexican government is working hard to protect visitors to all major tourist destinations, which do not experience anything like the levels of violence and crime reported in the border region and along major drug trafficking routes, mainly in the north. Read more: