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	ear Friends, Amazon Visits Three trips to the Amazon Rainforest have been an incredible life changing experience. Being involved with the Pachamama Alliance has been an enormous addition to my life. Pachamama, a word from the native Quechua language of South America, combining Pacha, meaning earth or nature, and Mama, the nurturing Goddess of Wisdom and Spirit. (Learn about the November 8–18, 2003 trip to the rainforest.)
	The grass roots organization is an Alliance between people from the modern world and leaders of remote indigenous groups in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. I have made a commitment to be "Carbon Neutral" and to support the work of Pachamama and to the preservation of the Natural World. Please consider joining and become a global citizen. I have traveled to the Amazon with Lynn and Bill Twist the founders of the Pachamama Alliance two times. We traveled in small groups with indigenous Shamans deep in the rainforest as well as in the Andes. We had the heart opening experience of being guided by a wonderful indigenous guide in the rainforest. He introduced us to some of the thousands of plants, birds, insects and animals there. I was captivated by the beauty and inter-connection of everything there. Being a plant person I felt at home—being familiar with many plant families. All the uses I found fascinating and took copious notes. We were invited into homes and had opportunities to ask a lot of questions. We learned of the Achuar’s warrior stand to preserve their rainforest—as sustainable for them as the lungs of the earth and to completely resist all roads, oil companies and foresters. They are leading an unprecedented fight to save their forests and way of life. Their alliance with Pachamama.org (highlight to click) has given them many of the tools to be successful. In return they have opened up their way of life and deep profound intimacy of their land and their spiritual connection to us who are able to visit. I am returning November 8-18 to lead a small group back to Ecuador to visit the rainforest and have some time in the Andes with other Shamans. If you are interested, please contact: Pachamama Alliance or send me an email! Tri-lingual Children’s book—“Auju and Nantu” I have been working on an exciting project in collaboration with Alejandro Taish Mayaprua, an Achuar man who learned this story from his grandmother and two Ecuadorian naturalists, Cuqui and Marisa, who guide and teach in the rainforest and Tom Burt a fellow American also dedicated to supporting the Achuar. We are making a tri-lingual book. It is a traditional myth which the elders have given us permission to publish. It will be the first book in the Achuar language. Achuar has only been a written language for less than a decade. It will also be in Spanish and English. Nantu and Angu: How the Moon and the Great Potoo Bird Came To Be is a creation myth. It takes place in the rainforest when the earth and heavens were still connected by the Monkey Ladder Vine—and due to greed and deceit they came apart. It has good guidance for us today. We have also included a list of cultural terms to help expand awareness and appreciation for this rich culture. The book is stunning with spectacular water color illustrations painted by the Achuar children. It was the first time they had painted! I went down for my third visit last February with 60 pounds of art materials. With the wonderful teamwork of Cuqui and Marisa as translators and assistants we taught the children how to paint. The results are amazing! They have such pure ability. They are so deeply familiar with their natural world. They have never seen television, computers and all the distractions of the modern world, that they were surprisingly quick to pick up the skills. We began with simple primary color washes and soon went into drawing in oil pastels, then watercolor pencils and watercolor paints. The entire experience was exhilarating! It was hot, we put in long exhausting days, there was no running water so kids would bring containers up from the river—but the results completely touched me. Our last day we held an art show in the little school. All the children came and it was a first time experience to see all of this artwork they had created about their myth. With paintings of their own homes, forest, people. We were all so amazed and delighted and proud! I had a lump in my throat I was so deeply touched by what they had created and their sweet humble pride. Tom has funded and raised the money to create and publish this phenomenal book. We will donate 1,000 copies to the Achuar for use in the schools and to the tribes. Some will be sold at the Kawpaui Lodge (link to their site) where visitors who come to the Achuar territory stay. The remaining copies will be sold in the United States. Funds will be used to promote more educational projects for the Achuar. I am hoping this book will be a great bridge tool between cultures, and that it will be used in schools and libraries in the U.S. and Ecuador. You can order through my site if interested. Books will be available by November 2003. I am hoping my group will carry the first copies down to present them to the school. Nantu and Auju: How the Moon and The Great Potoo Bird Came to Be. My Red House “Hearts Bloom” has continued to be a delight and a challenge. Last Spring my contractor Marty Newman led his crew to shore up the living room ceiling—John Fox fabricated 9,000 pounds of custom made steel beams. With a crane, lifts, concrete, welding, hard work and ingenuity, they succeeded in saving the house form collapsing! This Spring the three fire places were restored by Pat Mahoney and Son. Thanks to historic grants, hard work and magic, this wonderful old house is stronger than ever! Read Margot Petit Nichols wonderful article from the Carmel Pine Cone. I have had the delight to host many spousal corporate groups here to awaken to the creative process of Painterly Photography. This has been a highlight to see each person create their own beautiful painted photo to take home frames in one mornings work! I am amazed and proud of all my students. We all have a great time! I have also hosted intimate retreats for restoration, inspiration and re-connection to Life Purpose. With Many Blessings,

 

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