Planting Your Seeds for New Creation:
A Shamanic Writing/Healing Adventure in Peru
An experiential healing journey utilizing four levels of spiritual engagement—symbolic, metaphoric, physical, and energetic--to enter non-ordinary reality
Join The Practical Shaman, Renee Baribeau, and
Get a Book Deal® Coach Stephanie Gunning
For a magical journey to Peru in Spring 2011
For a magical journey to Peru in Spring 2011
Are you ready to plant a new garden in your life and the world? Words are seeds of its creation. Allow Peru to become your colorful journal, pages rich in history, lined with powerful energies and potential. Utilizing the powerful energies of sacred sites and mountains, you will revisit your personal medicine wheel to identify your contracts that are up for renewal and, with a four-step method for transformation that involves facilitated writing practices and ceremony, move gracefully into your creative potential. You will have opportunity for silent reflection and group sharing. This vision quest will fertilize the ground of your being so that you can move beyond your personal wounding to an inspired global vision.
Day by Day Itinerary- more details about the writing/healing adventure soon. Here are the places we will visit to engage our writing and healing process.
The Sacred Valley will be our colorful journal
Day 1 • Thursday, April 21
Pick up at Cuzco Airport. Please arrive no later than 2 pm. Transfer to hotel settle in, and drink coca tea. You will be free to tour the city, which has a myriad of museums, restaurants, shopping, and a cosmopolitan city set in a provincial Andean landscape rich in culture and history. Optional tours will be available. The Group meeting in lobby at 5 pm. Dinner and opening ceremony at Hotel. As a group we will anchor in our personal and group intentions for our week together. Overnight at Hotel Jose Antoinio, Cusco
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Day 2 • Friday, April 22 Good Friday Procession in the the Plaza de Armas 
One of the Cultural delights in Cusco is the blending of the Andean Agricultural (Shamanic) and Christian Traditions. One has not lived fully, until you have taken part in one of the religious procession in the main square of Cusco. Set against a backdrop of Spanish Architecture and mountains hundreds of natives line the streets parading in their colorful skirts, hats, and ponchos, as life-sized statues are carried about. The mix of Catholicism and pagan religions creates some of the most colorful and fervent festivals that I have ever witnessed.
This is Holy Week (Seman Santa) Since the Inca period, the religious, military and civic ceremonies were very important in the Sacred City of the Incas as they reaffirmed the magic and mythic character of their city. The celebration of Easter is related to the Lord of tremors: the defender of the city. A perfect example of how the native indians of Peru blended magic and mysticism with the church. The image of the Taytacha Tremors, as it is called in Cusco, amazes by its expression of roughness and pain. The worship dates from the colony when in 1650 a horrible earthquake practically destroyed the city and the population decided to take the Christ out in procession by the streets of the city. The opening of Holy week’s activities begins before our arrival, but we will be able to share in the weekends events.
After an early Breakfast, we will travel by private coach to Pisac. Get adjusted to the altitude with your first walk. Climb the stairways of the Incas. Pisac offers a huge mountain site with trails, temples, and timeless secrets. We will begin at the top fountains, receiving Rites, and enjoy the golden falcons living in the burial cliffs near by. Explore the buildings and walkways, until we find the perfect place to begin our first writing workshop combined with ceremony. Observing the traditions of the Inka’s we will begin our work looking at the nature of sin.
A traditional belief holds that since Christ is now dead, and not yet risen, there is no such thing as a sin. Consequently, participants in Ayacucho's holy week celebrations use this time to party and behave as they please until Sunday's resurrection ceremonies.
We will then walk in silence along the terraces to Pisac where we will have lunch on our own. After a light lunch enjoy the famous market which offers everything from stones, crystals, and carvings, to textiles, jewelry, and first hand knowing of the living market place of Peru.
Late Afternoon Check in at Wilka Tika 
Good Friday dinner in the ceremony of the native people. A different slant to the religious rituals occurs on Good Friday when abstinence is not practiced. Instead, participants feast on twelve traditional dishes, from soups, fish, potato dishes to desserts. Again on Easter Sunday, celebrating with food ends the Semana Santa observations.
Day 3 • Saturday, April 23 
Pumacara Ruins (place of the sacred puma) 2.5 mile robust hike.
The small but well-preserved Inca ruins of Pumamarca is considered to be one of the oldest Incan Sites. This rarely visited ruin was built over 500 years ago King Pachacutec. Here we will receive the seers rites by Renee and our guest Shaman. We will spend the morning in ceremony and writing.
Olliyantambo (Late Lunch on your own)
One of the most impressive architectural complexes in the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo can only be called "Fortress" due to its magnificent walls. It was actually a “tambo” or shelter, located in a strategic place in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The architectural work as well as the quality of each stone, individually carved, make Ollantaytambo one of the most peculiar and amazing works of art 
made by the Incas.
made by the Incas.Group Dinner & evening Despacho Ceremony with Local Shamans
Day 6 • Tuesday, April 25 Machu Pichu
A very early rise for our 6am train to Aguas Calientes
and the spiritual and beautiful ruins of Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is
often referred to as a city in the clouds, the lost city in the clouds.
Built in the 1450 it is an architectural wonder. It was overlooked
during the Spanish Inquisition therefore left intact as a cultural
relic, which was rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham/ As we arrive
earlier than most others we have more opportunity to enjoy our guided tour
through the ruins, and then the opportunity to explore, and hike one of
the several mountains. Lunch on your own. With the rest of the
afternoon free in Machu Picchu to take photographs, to sit, to enjoy
the spectacular view of the Andes falling into the jungle. Lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge.
Late Afternoon check in at our Hotel in Aqua Caliente. We will meet as
a group to discuss the vision quest for the next day. Experience a
Shamanic Journey to your lifetime as an Incan Indian. You will have
options for the next day. Return to the monument to find your place to
write and meditate on your new vision. Hike Putucusi. Putucusi the
mountain on the opposite side of the Vilcanota River to Machu Picchu.
The views of Machu Picchu from the top are spectacular but it's the
trail up that you'll remember most. It's an Inca Trail that has only
recently been discovered and cleared and involves ascending some pretty
hair-raising vertical ladders along the way. Late afternoon gathering
at hotel.
Overnight at Hatuchay Tower Hotel, Aguas Calientes. Optional visit to local hot springs.
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Day 7 • Wenesday, April 27 Personal Vision Quest
at Machu Pichu
We will spend the week preparing you for this day, both individually
and in a group setting. This is your day to be alone with yourself and
your journal. Each quest will be planned so you have a very
personalized experience. Options for your time in solitude include - 1.
Return to Machu Picchu to climb one of the magical trails, or find a
quiet fortress to be. or 2. Hike Putucusi which is directly across from
the monument with challenging trails and spectacular views from the top.
As some people may choose to fast this day, unch and dinner will be on your own.
We will meet at 4pm for a light snack and check in, before catching
the 5:30 PM train back to Cusco Overnight at Hotel Jose Antoinio, Cusco.
Day 8 • Thursday, April 28 
At breakfast fill up for a full day of sightseeing. In the morning
we will enjoy a city tour of Cusco to immerse ourselves in the smiles
and laughter of the local people and stop at various Incan Sacred Sites
for ceremonies. We will also have a moment to visit the markets to shop
for some local handicrafts. Later we visit Coricancha, one of the most
revered temples, dedicated to the Sun God, whose walls and floors were
once covered in sheets of solid gold. Wander the courtyard which was
once filled with golden statues and view the ancient relics, mummies
and textiles in the nearby underground Archaeological Museum. At
Sacsayhuamán, we will marvel at this architectural wonder and learn the
mystery and legends of how this stone-walled complex was constructed.
We continue on to Tambomachay, a favourite resting place of the Incas,
commonly referred to as the “Baños del Inca” or “Baños de la Ñusta“,
(Baths of the Incas or Baths of the Princess). This site, once used for
ritual bathing, is believed to be a temple dedicated to the worship of
water. As we listen to the crystalline water springs flow over the
magnificently carved stones, we will connect with the element of
water.Tour of Cusco including Temple of the Heart, Kusilluchayoc,
Sacsayhuaman, Tambomachay, and Textile Museum. Lunch on your own
Late Afternoon - we will make individual despachos to anchor in our new vision. the Despachos will be taken to the 
Sacred
Fire Global Vigil occuring April 29- May 1. This is an optional
extension that would really complete your vision and journey.
Sacred
Fire Global Vigil occuring April 29- May 1. This is an optional
extension that would really complete your vision and journey.Overnight at Hotel Jose Antoinio, Cusco
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Day 8 • Friday, April 29
Group's final Breakfast
Sacred Fire's Global Fire Vigil begins the afternoon of April 29, in the Sacred Valley. Join us and others Shamans from around the globe for a three day fire ceremony. Additional cost: $450. includes room and board.
Tour Costs: $3475. double occupancy - Single suppliment add $895.
Costs include: all ground transportation in private coach, 4 star
hotels, and most meals as outlined in itinerary. Register by 12/31 to
recieve a $200. discount on your trip. $25 of each registration will be
donated to a local children's charity.
About Your Trip Guides
In addition to Stephanie Gunning and Renee Baribeau, we will have a local shaman with us for the entire journey.
Renee Baribeau
Know as The Practical Shaman, Renee has hiked several peaks in Peru
including Salkantay, Ausungate, Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. She has
integrated the rites of passage given to her by the local Quero Indians
into practical everyday tools for living. Her authentic love and
familiarity for these mountains and people will help you acclimate and
immerse yourself easily into the flow of this heart-warming community
and culture. Along the way, she will be working with the group to open
your vision and your hearts. She will encourage you to integrate this
experience into your every day life through journaling, and other
creative tools to expand your consciousness. You will leave Peru with a
new vision and an awakened heart.
Stephanie Gunning
Stephanie Gunning is a bestselling author, editor, and publishing
consultant specializing primarily in books on the topics of health,
spirituality, personal growth, and new thought. Her creative endeavors
are dedicated to individual empowerment and the conscious evolution of
humankind. “Working with visionary thinkers gives me an advanced
education in human potential,” Stephanie says. “Each day they inspire
me to contribute my own talents and message to the world, as best as I
am able.”
