Throughout my life, I have found that whenever I faced my fears directly, no matter how difficult the situation may have seemed, I realized that there is little that we can’t get through with a little perseverance and faith. When we refuse to face our fears or move past them, we become stuck as often there is a life lesson waiting for us when we get over our hurdles. Facing our fears makes us stronger and provides us with the inner strength to continue growing throughout our lifetime.

Many years ago, I remember being drawn to and wanting to connect with Peru but never had the opportunity to go there - perhaps I had more growing to do. I was randomly surfing the web one night when I I read the description of the ‘Following the Path of Amazon Priestess Goddess’ sacred journey. This journey was beckoning me and I knew that I had to go there with these women – despite the anticipated difficulties of taking off two weeks from my work (my assistant quit the week before my journey and I am a now a manager who runs the library and make ssure queries are handled and the mountains of mail and books are processed daily), wondering if my family would be able to survive without me, the cost of the trip, and all the other things we women put before giving to ourselves! Somewhere deep down inside though, I knew I had to go to Peru on this spiritual journey and walk the Inca trail. There would no compromising, no questions about it. And there wasn’t!

From the moment I stepped off the plane, I knew all this was unfolding as planned by the universe. I was completely free of any anxiety and felt like I was home at every turn, like I was supposed to be wherever I was, and completely comfortable. Not to mention, I felt like I knew these fellow Goddesses despite having only met them in the airport. Had I dreamt about them before the trip? I cannot explain the connection but it was powerful - where did I know these women from? The energy of the group was amazing and so diverse. We were a force to be reckoned with! Women of all ages, from all backgrounds and statuses, with an abundance of gifts, talents and qualities, and all willing to share them and support one another with whatever was needed in that moment.

Being the Goddesses that we are, you can imagine our shock when we learnt that we had to cut our luggage down to all of 6lbs for the trail. Remarkably everyone set to the task of what is referred to as ‘getting rid of our shit’ – all aware of our irrational connection to our ‘things’ and with some strategic planning all were ready for the trail.  I had enough dry socks and underwear, my rainsuit, one full set of clothing, really nice toilet paper, toothbrush and camp gear. I am ashamed to say that my best hiking boots have been in my closet unused for several years, even before I set foot on the trail the soles had begun to deteriorate rapidly due to some sort of rot. Despite a few worrying comments from the guides and the goddesses I was sure my boots would last as long as they needed to get me through the journey.

The first day of the trail was challenging but I sensed that this is what the group was longing for faced to path ahead with courage and a bit of unrelenting spirit. It was easy to feel one with the mountain and as though we were at the centre of the universe. We knew the second day would be the most challenging, we would hike to Dead Women’s Pass, the highest point of our journey a grueling seven hour hike on what seemed like a steady 45 degree angle. My roommate had been ill most of the night before and in my own way I tried to help her get through the illness perhaps taking some of it on myself. I spent much of the morning walking in silence not feeling quite myself. I thought the altitude was getting to me and chewed on the coca leaf, drank my water. Half way through the day I was walking with a fellow goddess and received word that my roommate had decided to turn back due to her illness. Almost immediately I could feel the blood drain from my face and when I turned to start back on the trail I had become violently ill myself. I too had thought at that moment that I would have to turn back. By then I was tired and the nausea was still reeling around inside.  I took a moment to compose myself and another angel happened upon us who provided chewy electrolytes which helped settle my stomach, they gave me what I needed to continue on the journey. I recovered quickly and knew that I had to keep going and get to camp. I left the women and by the time I made it to camp I was ready to collapse. I was sleep deprived, weak, and scared. The further I kept going up the further I would have to go if I needed to turn back became the new rational. I was given oxygen at camp and laid down on a makeshift bed. Once rested, I was given tea and all the support required to get back on the trail.

The second half of this part of the trail was even more challenging. This is where I learned to call on the mountain for strength. Every little step was a struggle and I tried to only complete sets of ten if I was going to take a break. It seemed like every ten steps I was sitting on a rock, taking in the surroundings, photo ops, snack time, shedding apparel, anything to take a rest in order to catch my breath. I cried, I prayed, I chanted, I sang, I breathed the thin air. The re was always someone around to sit with or support, to connect with. We could see the other people on the trail far off in front of us and far behind us and wondered if we would actually make it. It rained off and on for most of the day but the moisture kept us hydrated and cool. I still believe that the rain was a blessing despite the mud! Eventually we made it to the top of the pass and spent a few minutes congratulating fellow hikers that had made it and took some pictures. Now that I look back, I am reminded of the saying “Life's a journey, not a destination” as the work I did climbing that mountain was much more important than reaching the pass. Soon we were on a two to three hour hike down the rocky path to our third campground and I felt like I could do anything! I was empowered by the mountain and the special group of women.

It was amazing how much everyone supported one another with graciousness and selflessness. I felt that I had experience true abundance and had learnt a lesson in gratitude. I had everything I could possibly want or need at all times and more to share. Even now, I feel that sense of wholeness and oneness that I achieved on those sacred mountains. There was always someone offering something and making sure we were all okay. Even my boots held up until the last day when I switched them to a simple pair of street shoes!

Our guides had arranged several stops to the ruins throughout the trail where we conducted special ceremonies and made offerings to Pachamama. We connected to our Mother Earth and the Apus the way the Incas and the Andean people connect to their land through their way of life and the traditional Andean ways. I feel that I left something on the mountain but gained in much more in many other ways. A trip to this magical land and learning about the Andean people’s spirituality will change you forever and has the potential to change the world as we know it. The energy of the land is amazing and magical and it will call you back!