Into the Jungle and the Depths Within — A Journey Through Peru
After Egypt — The Pull Toward Peru
After my initial transformative experiences in Egypt, I returned home feeling changed, yet still deeply drawn to spiritual exploration. I continued meditating daily and working with my crystals, feeling more and more attracted to the crystal skulls. These skulls carried a very pure energy. They did not absorb or hold negative energy; instead, they reflected my own consciousness back to me more clearly. Through working with them, I could see my own mind more honestly and release the negative thought patterns I had been unconsciously holding onto.
As my fascination with crystal skulls grew, I came across a person in America who was deeply focused on them. He was organizing a trip to Peru to search for a specific ancient crystal skull, known as the Blue quartz Crystal Skull. I decided to join him.
We met in Lima, Peru, and after spending a night there, we flew up to Tarapoto, a small northern village.
Arrival in Peru — Lima and Tarapoto
Landing on a grassy runway, we were met by soldiers popping out of the surrounding fields, a stark reminder that we had flown into a drug plantation area. We quickly piled into the back of a minibus, a tight squeeze for everyone, and made our way into the village. Despite the tense landing, the village itself felt safe. It was bustling, lively, and full of energy.
We checked into our hotel, and the next morning, I took a walk and discovered a small wheelbarrow stand beside the hotel selling the most delicious freshly squeezed orange juice.
Into the Jungle — Villages and First Camp
After enjoying the fresh orange juice, I went back for breakfast and began organizing our jungle trip. We set off in another minibus to the outskirts of the jungle, where we met our guides. We loaded our packs, hammocks, and supplies onto the horses and began making our way deeper into the Peruvian jungle. The air was thick with the rich scent of the forest, and every step felt like entering a world that existed both outside of time and deep within myself.
After a long, bumpy morning traveling over rustic, puddle-ridden lanes in the minivans, we came across a tiny local village, its weather-beaten houses arranged around a small school. This was our first stopping point. We had lunch there and were introduced to some of the locals. It was a very simple village with a modest way of life, and it felt grounding to witness.
After lunch, we packed up and began walking into the jungle. Our hammocks and supplies were carried by the horses as we entered denser forest with changing ecosystems. We crossed rivers using rope pulleys and navigated long, winding paths. Eventually, we reached our first camp, where we hung our hammocks with mosquito netting. Watching people try to climb into a hammock for the first time and roll straight out the other side was quietly amusing. We used the local facilities—essentially trees—to relieve ourselves, making sure to check that nothing might bite us, and then settled in to try and sleep.
The Documentary and Deeper into the Jungle
Previously, before making this journey to Peru, I had met a lady who was very specialised in making flower essences. She was going on the same trip to Peru to collect samples of flowers to produce unusual flower essences. At that stage, I didn’t know much about flower essences, as my focus was more on crystals and crystal energy. I didn’t yet understand the power of flower essences like I do now.
After a couple of months of knowing the flower essence lady, I learned that the BBC was interested in the trip and wanted to meet her. The BBC editor also invited me to join, recognising my skills in understanding and working with energy. We weren’t only going to look for crystal skulls—we were also searching for lost ancient cities. This journey was going to be documented as part of a BBC documentary.
The noise at night was incredible, filled with birds and small critters, and the stars were brighter and more numerous than I had ever seen. With no reflective light from cities, the sky felt vast and alive.
We woke early, and our only water source was a glaciated river flowing down from the mountains. This icy water was used to clean our teeth and for a brisk wash before we packed up camp and continued deeper into the jungle.
As we moved on, we came across ancient stones marked with writing and symbols. We touched them, held them, and tried to tune into their energy, sensing what these stones might represent. Our path followed the mountainside, long and demanding.
Rising Tension and Leaving the Jungle
Along the way, we encountered people carrying large backpacks filled with produce for the market. They were chewing coca leaves, carried in small pouches around their necks, and kindly shared some with us. We chewed the leaves to help cope with the altitude.
We were warned that we were getting close to cocaine plantations, which made everyone anxious. The guide contacted people via satellite phone and was told that the government was unhappy with our presence, suggesting we could be accused of robbing archaeological sites, even though this wasn’t what we were doing.
Despite the tension, we continued and made camp again. More stones were discovered partially buried along the jungle path, again marked with symbols and writing. The flower essence practitioner found rare flowers and began working with them to create mother tinctures.
That night, we camped in a clearing that turned out to be a field used by horses, who began trampling through our camp during the night. It was a sudden and lucky escape from being injured.
In the morning, we made a fire and discussed the situation. With increasing pressure from the government, the group decided to cut the trip short. Although the BBC crew had gathered some footage, it wasn’t enough.
We chose to return via a different route, crossing hazardous terrain and rivers using rope pulleys suspended above the water. It was challenging and physically demanding.
Machu Picchu and the Decision to Stay
After several days in the jungle, the thing I missed most was a toilet seat and a proper wash. Back in the village, even a simple shower—just a pipe coming out of the wall—felt luxurious compared to washing in glacial water.
We stayed a couple of nights in Tarapoto, walking around and experiencing local life. Eventually, the group flew back to Lima via the grass runway.
Rather than returning home, the BBC editor, cameraman, and I decided to visit Machu Picchu. We flew to Cusco and continued by train. At that time, it was still possible to take a Chinook helicopter directly to the site.
Landing by helicopter over Machu Picchu was loud and exhilarating. Once there, I sat near the Temple of the Sun and walked around the site, touching the stones and feeling their ancient presence. Standing near the edge of the cliffs, I felt the energy of the condor—one of the sacred shamanic animals of Peru.
After exploring Machu Picchu, we descended the mountain along a snake-like road. Local children played a game with us, running straight down the mountain and waving as our bus zigzagged back and forth along the steep track.
When we reached the village to catch the train back to Cusco, we explored the local market, where I found a crystal skull. I purchased it as a reminder of the journey. We then returned to Lima. I wasn’t ready to leave Peru.
Return to Tarapoto — The Ayahuasca Ceremony
I stayed a few more nights in Lima, enjoying the city and its food. I stayed in contact with a guide named Jugla and decided to fly back with him to Tarapoto to spend more time with the local villages where our jungle journey had begun.
Jugla suggested an ayahuasca ceremony to help me face inner demons and negative thought forms. At the time, I had no real understanding of ayahuasca, but I trusted him.
The ceremony took place in a dugout with a shaman and a small group. I sat cross-legged, trying to remain conscious and in control. The shaman could see what was happening and encouraged me to lie down. At that point, I lost control and descended into deep darkness.
Ayahuasca is known as the death vine. It takes you deep into the mind, into what has been buried or hidden, and brings you face to face with inner fears, entities, or unresolved aspects of consciousness. Because I carried a deep fear that I had to die in order to become more, I came face to face with my own inner demons and negative thought forms I had created within my consciousness.
I purged through vomiting for six or seven hours, supported by the steady, comforting presence of the shaman and Jugla. It was both terrifying and profoundly joyful.
After the ceremony, Jugla showed me around nearby villages and markets. I ate food with extremely hot chilies that left my mouth burning, eased only slightly by sugar water.
After a few days, I returned to Tarapoto, flew back to Lima, and then home. This marked the end of my first journey to Peru.
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