Sacred Valley, The Sun Gate, Lost City – Machu Picchu.

We all have dreams, hopes and aspirations. How do we make them become a reality? By putting them out there to the universe and re-affirming you will receive these gifts. One such dream I realised this year was visiting The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Inca’s. I had set the bar high when I asked my angels and my guides to bring this magical journey to me. I felt finally ready and somehow I just knew the time was right to embark upon this journey. I had been training all year (running) Flora Women’s Mini Marathon in June, then the Great PINK Run in September and so I felt physically fit enough for the challenging 4 day trek that will eventually lead me through The Sacred Valley, past various Inca Ruins, onto The Sun Gate to my final destination, the lost City of Machu Picchu.

I choose to hike for a number of reasons, the main one being I wanted this to be a journey of self discovery and to emerse myself in Inca culture and most importantly nature. I wanted to trek the Inca Trail, just like the Inca civilisation did many years ago. Physically I knew I could do it and mentally the time felt right, I was in the right place in my physical body at the right time to trek this marvelous trail and I felt privileged every step of the way.

Day 1 – 6am Start

We were collected at our hotel by Freddie our guide and set off to load up the van with supplies for our 4 day trek. We arrived at the beginning of the Inca Trail around 12 noon. This was the easiest day, we set off full of energy, joy and bliss passing many villages and locals. The weather was dry and warm this was merely a hill walk and I could have been walking in Glendalough on this particular day, it wasn’t challenging in the least, it was refreshing and enjoyable. This was New Years Eve and what a way to spend it trekking the Andes Mountain Range. We camped in the national park that evening after 8 hours treking, not much sleep was had that night as the locals celebrated and rang in the New Year with song and dance. Our home was a 2 man tent, perfect for myself and Philip my husband and partner in crime. Happy New Year.

Day 2 –  5.30am Start

 

WOW so this is what it’s like to see the sun rise and what a sight, the sun coming up over the Andes, snow capped mountain, beautiful… with only 2.5 hours sleep (due to last nights festivities) we had breakfast and began what is the shortest but hardest day climb. Day 2 was tough and challenged my physical and mental abilities. The only way I can describe this is doing 8hrs climbing on a Stair Master on the highest setting, it was tough and exhausting. Reaching the summit (14,000ft) lent it’s own problems for me, altitude sickness. While I did take altitude sickness tablets they seemed to have little or no effect on me. The only way I can describe how I felt was this; Imagine the worst migraine you’ve ever had and nausea,

then imagine your shoes filled with lead. Putting one foot in front of the other was a huge challenge. You can imagine my exhilaration when we reached the top. Breathtaking views of the tundra and clouds below. What goes up must come down and hiking down was just as challenging for different reasons. This trek had you all over the place, every time you thought you’d reach the top there was another bit around the corner, heading down I stopped to have a look back at the mountain and there she was “dead woman’s pass” and I sure as hell felt like a dead woman hiking that day. As we headed down the mountain we saw beautiful natural waterfalls from the mountain. On this day I couldn’t help but notice how the trek was similar to Glendalough in Wicklow. Glendalough is one of my favorite places in Ireland and I love walking around this area, you can find me here most Sunday’s when I’m home in Ireland drinking in the

scenery and atmosphere and blowing off a few cob-webs. I couldn’t help but feel this mountain was very similar, very familiar. Needless to say when we got back to camp I was so sick from the altitude and the days trek I collapsed in my tent, exhausted yet delirious with the days adventure. The worst part was over, it can only get better…

 

Day 3  – 5.30am Start

Another early start and this day is the longest day trekking out of the four days. Today we passed many Inca ruins, the trek it’s self wasn’t that hard, the footing was simple enough, it was just a long days trek. Today was magical in the sense that we trekked through many different climates. One minute it was warm, the next it was raining and the next it was warm again. I can see why you would need the “rain gear” we were constantly changing our attire, adjusting to the weather conditions. Freddie our guide built an offering on top of today’s mountain we each got to put something between the leaves and under a stone, before he built it. The offering was to the mountain for allowing us to pass safely on on journey. We got to make a wish or ask a “favor” from the mountain. I put a coin under my rock and leaves, I asked the mountain to bless my family, friends and all who visit the healing retreat with good health, peace and prosperity. I asked that their purses | wallets never be empty, hense the coin. Moving on with the trek as we climbed higher into the mountains I was really aware today of how dangerous this trek can be. The path is paved out of natural stone, it’s not an even surface and with the odd shower it could get slippy. If you tripped you could easily go over the side of the mountain. Just keep trekking and don’t look down! By the end of this day my neck had stiffened and was in agony, reason being I’d spent the last 8 hours looking at the ground watching every step I took. The muscles in my neck seized up, I couldn’t wait to

get back to my tent and administer some reiki. Reiki played a huge part in keeping me well on this trip. After the days trek I would lie in my tent and perform self healing, be it for the altitude sickness, sore muscles, aches and pains in my joints or just relaxation. Every morning I started the day with an early morning meditation, drinking in the location, beauty and thanking my angels, guides and protectors for keeping us safe on this journey. The evening ended with reiki, always, simply because it soothes away the aches and pains and relaxed me so that I had a good nights sleep in my sleeping bag in my tent. I could never have imagined a good night sleep in a tent until I embarked on this journey and reiki every evening contributed to the good nights sleep which was essential for the days trekking ahead.

Day 4  4am Start

Picture this, national park, pitch black, 4am time to get up, pack up your things (in the dark) with a flash light on your head and start the days trek. Nice and early to reach the Sun Gate. We had our last checkpoint to go through before we descended into Machu Picchu and the checkpoint didn’t open until 5.30am so we had to wait in line, in the dark for an hour with our flash lights on our head.  It’s amazing how you look back at photo’s, day 1 you are fresh as a daisy, day 4 the trek has taken it toll, you are exhausted. The final leg, this is it, today is the day we arrive in Machu Picchu and off we set again. We reached The Sun Gate for 7am, it was amazing sitting there on those rocks looking down at Macchu Picchu. I took a moment to meditate, to take it all in and to thank those who made it possible for me to finish this journey and to do it safely. If you told me this time last year would I be sitting here at the Sun Gate Meditating and giving thanks for this magical experience I would have said you were mad, bonkers. I knew someday I would visit this place I just didn’t know it would be so soon. It took 4 months to plan, book and pay for the trip and last August I didn’t have the money for this trip. I remember meditating and seeing myself on this mountain and laughing to myself. I really thought they (angels) were pulling my leg, the financial aspect alone was a huge milestone, to get the money together never mind the logistics of childcare. As the months went by from August to December the money came and my mother offered to mind the children, it was happening weather I liked it or not. At the Sun Gate I took a moment to thank the angels for sending the money and my mother to assist with getting me here and I also thanked them for the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon and The Great Pink Run  which I took part in this year. Without that training I would surely have been in more pain as you really need a moderate level of fitness to do this trek. With my gratitude expressed we started our last few kilometers into the Sacred City and what a City. The Inca people were incredibly intelligent or really stupid to build a city of this magnitude on this mountain. It took my breath away walking through the various temples. After walking around the ruins we got a bus back to Aguas Calientes where we had a hotel booked to spend the night before heading back to Cusco the following day. I couldn’t wait to get clean clothes a hot shower and sleep in a bed. When we checked into our hotel we had a little nap in a luxury queen bed before heading to The Hot Springs in Aguas Calientes. Not the cleanest, these natural springs were just what my muscles needed after 4 days of trekking “The Andes Mountain Range”. I sat back and let the hot springs work my tired muscles and joints before heading back to the hotel for dinner and a much needed sleep in a bed.

Day 5 10am Start

Oh the luxury, 10am wake-up, a hot shower and clean clothes – Blissimo! Today we are heading back up to Machu Picchu on the bus to climb our final mountain Huayna Picchu (Wayna Picchu), adjacent to Machu Picchu and the best views of the sacred city. I can’t help but think we are gluttons for punishment. After saying goodbye to Freddie and the rest of our group yesterday this is one myself and Philip have to do alone. To get to the entrance of this mountain you have to go in through the city of Machu Picchu. I stopped at the “Temple Of The Condor” and lit a candle which I brought from Ireland. Again I wished for good health, happiness, peace and prosperity for all my family, friends and those who visit the healing retreat. I sat in the Temple and expressed my gratitude for all that I had and for being able to make this journey today. Our final climb and boy was it hairy in places. it took us a little over an hour to get up and down the mountain, by this stage we were pro’s. When we reached the summit we sat there and drank in the view of Machu Picchu and the surrounding areas. You have to pre-book this trip it is not part of the entrance fee in Machu Picchu and I am glad we did it as once again I got to sit on top of a mountain and dare to dream and that is my biggest wish for anyone reading this blog – Because you never know what might become of those dreams, here is one person who never in her wildest dreams thought she would accomplish something as adventurous and spiritual as this. Set the intention, put it out into the universe and “trust” that in divine time all the pieces will fall into place just like they did here. My fitness level, the money, my mother offering to take the children. The whole of 2012 I was preparing for this journey and I never knew it. They knew it and they made it possible, they made it happen, each and every bit of it at every step of the way I felt I was been guided, protected and loved. Time to get the train back to Cusco for an overnight stay, flight to Lima and then onto Paracas for some beach time before we head back to Ireland to start 2013 (check out the photo below). Who knows what they have in store for me this year. One things for sure, it can only be an adventure!

Tips  For Manifesting Your Hearts Desire

1. Be clear with your intention. If you would like a car, state year, type, color.
2. Trust if it’s for your higher good, well being it will be given.
3. Set a realistic time frame e.g don’t ask for a car or job tomorrow.
4. Be prepared to do some ground work yourself. In my case I had to run two 10 KM’s races and improve my fitness level to take on the trek to Macchu Picchu.
5.  Don’t forget to say “Thank You” and express gratitude.

It does not matter what you want to manifest, a new car, job promotion, partner etc. etc. the angels and the universe will always conspire to give you everything your heart desires providing you assist them and it’s for your “higher self”.  Happy Manifesting…

If you would like some more assistance with manifesting then perhaps consider doing one of our “Manifesting With The Angel Courses”

 

 

 

 

Useful Links:

Latin America for Less: http://www.latinamericaforless.com/

Wayki Trek: http://www.waykitrek.net/

El MaPi Hotel: http://www.elmapihotel.com/

Double Tree Paracas: http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/peru/doubletree-resort-by-hilton-hotel-paracas-peru-PIOPEDT/index.html?WT.srch=1

Tara Wilson-Black

Reiki Master

Seichem Master

Angel Energy Lightworker