A. Sacred Valley
Now we are coming together. Those who are trying to learn; those who have understood and accepted that we must continue learning without pause; those who share with love; those who love; those who are learning to love…
Of course this is a story of unity, but we especially love our first circle: our community here in the Sacred Valley. Having healing as our shared subject—and our shared work—keeps the community lively, attentive, and strong. It is not hard to say that those who are not from here, yet have lived here for a long time, have gone through serious processes. And on top of that, trying to learn and practice something like healing deepens everything many times over—deepening it, and at the same time making it more complex. This is not a place where you can live well without effort—much like life itself, really.
When we decided to live here in 2013, the number of migrants living in the Sacred Valley was very small. Over time, many people moved into the valley. A large majority, after staying for a while, left again. Because while the decision to live here brings beauty, it also brings great inner and outer responsibilities.
Along the 60-kilometer stretch of the valley, around and along the river, we now estimate that about 10,000 people live here. Beyond this group, there is another large wave of people who come every 1–3 years and stay for 2–3 months. Most who come arrive to heal, to learn even more about offering healing, and to strengthen their connections here. And there are also many who are here—at least once—for a period of six months to a year, to live this chapter of their lives here. There are tourists, travellers, and groups who wander around without knowing what to do and end up partying a bit—but we will keep them slightly separate, of course.
Everyone holds one end of the work. Some of us make bread, cakes, toys, herbal remedies; some build furniture, offer massage, practice organic farming. Some offer services like midwifery or doula support, women’s circles, ceremonies, and more. We are a beautiful community made up of beautiful people.