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A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of the Balkans   We recently took part in an adventure through the lands of the former Yugoslavia – a transformative journey that connected us with the land, our ancestors, and ourselves. Zagreb – The First Steps of the Spiritual Adventure Our journey through the Balkans began in Zagreb, where we welcomed our dear friend Fernando, a young curandero and spiritual guide who had traveled all the way from the distant Andes of Peru. Before heading towards Bosnia, Visoko, and the Valley of the Pyramids, we spent two days in Zagreb. Fernando wished to visit churches – both Catholic and Orthodox. Sitting in their silent spaces, we meditated, tuning into the vibrations of the temples and remembering all those who once came there seeking faith, strength, and comfort. It was a moment of connection with the prayers and devoted lives of those before us. Bosnia – The Gentleness of Nature and People From Zagreb, we set out for Bosnia, passing through Republika Srpska to Travnik and Vitez. There we were warmly welcomed by dear friends with whom we had traveled through Peru earlier this year. We visited the birthplace of Ivo Andrić, enjoyed the delicacies of Bosnian cuisine, and marveled at Mount Vlašić and the softness of the landscape. What touched us most deeply was the gentleness of the people, reflecting the tenderness of the land itself. Visoko – The Allin Kawsay Retreat Arriving in Visoko, on the slopes in front of the Pyramid of the Sun, our hosts welcomed us like royalty. It was here that our eight-day journey began – “Allin Kawsay,” which in the language of the Inca means “Living Well.” We were a group of about twenty participants from Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Macedonia, guided by Fernando from Peru. Bosnia received us like a mother. Have you ever experienced that feeling of being welcomed by the land itself? Through lectures and ceremonies, we explored what it means to “live well” – to descend from the mind into the heart, to serve life from that place within where everything is one, to navigate by feeling rather than through endless filtering of thoughts. The Condor, the largest bird of South America, symbolizes the spiritual and celestial world in Andean culture. Its medicine teaches devotion, service to life, and living from the heart. It was a great honor to receive such ancient wisdom as Allin Kawsay here in the Balkans, the land where we were born. These philosophies remind us that wisdom does not only come from outside but awakens what has always been within us. Forgotten and Remembered Traditions Centuries of exposure to empires and religious dogmas alienated the Balkans from its origins. Although stories, customs, and fragments were preserved, the essence was often lost – why something is practiced or spoken, and what its true purpose is. The philosophies and wisdom of the Andes helped us remember our own roots and listen more finely to nature and our ancestors – who are here, waiting for us to awaken, supporting us and cheering us on to return to them. Durmitor – Rest in the Silence of the Mountain After the retreat in Visoko, we traveled to Sarajevo – for coffee, baklava, ćevapi, pies, and other delicious treats, once again connecting with the spirit of our ancestors. We then continued our journey towards Montenegro. The road led us across hills and untouched nature to the majestic mountain Durmitor. There could not have been a better place to rest – for in Montenegro, rest is woven into the culture itself. Conclusion – Awakening the Consciousness of the Balkans Mountains, rivers, lakes, the sea, trees, animals, stones, and our ancestors – everything is alive, everything has its own consciousness and story. The title “Awakening the Balkans”  refers precisely to this living presence: the mighty mountains, sacred rivers, and the thousands of stećci – those stone witnesses of life and time. The spirits never slept; they are here, waiting for us to awaken. Humanity has drifted away from itself, collectively and individually, yet we live in a time of rapid and profound change. The soil is fertile for the growth of consciousness. In a world full of chaos and wars, the greatest contribution we can make is to find our life’s mission and strive to become a better version of ourselves each day. As one great Indian saint reminded us: “Be the change you wish to see in the world. If you feel called by adventure and wish to experience it yourself, join us on our next journey. 🌍

The Power of the Andes Why we go there and what it does to us There is an area in the world where the mountains speak and the nature talks back, where the wind prays beside you and the earth breathes under your feet – the Andes. This great mountain range is not only the longest on planet Earth; it is a living organism, a teacher, an ancient temple above the earth. Every one of our visits to the Andes is far beyond a physical travel. It’s a calling, this rapture of the deep inner knowing that tells us who we are. In a world that constantly bombards us with its speed, information and expectations, many of us feel called to slow down and re-attune with nature, ourselves and something divine. It is a calling that often emanates from deep within the human soul, and it often takes us to the Andes. The Andes are calling us; for there the spirit still is alive and there we also walked and lived with these mountains in some other lives and forms. The Andes are alive, not as an abstract idea but in the everyday, in the soil, in water, in people. The old knowledge, the wisdom of our Inca ancestors is still kept there that which has not been forgotten, but rather lives in the everyday: rituals and ceremonies, the relationship with Pachamama and the Apus, Mother Earth and the Mountain spirits. Traditional and healing medicine Our travels to Peru, Bolivia and other Andean locales are not a tourist jaunt, they are life changing. These are the paths where we are graced by the guardians of the tradition – the Andean priests, healers who, generation after generation, transmit wisdom that is not generated from books, but from the heart of the Earth and the heavens. Esoteric herbs like Ayahuasca, San Pedro, and Mama Coca have their place in the world and they are taken in a ceremonial way as sacraments – with reverence and under the guidance of experience curanderas and maestros. These are not plants that are there to “heal something” that occurs outside of us, they are there as spiritual teachers. Each of them has a spirit and a message and the way of working. Ayahuasca – Wine of the soul Ayahuasca, the “liana of the soul,” is a sacred medicine from the Amazon. Ayahuasca offers access to the shadow as well as the light of our world, and in capable shamanic hands, a door can be opened to an inner world in ceremonies. It walks us through purification, confrontation, healing and returning to the source. It is not always an easy road – but it is a very real one. Ayahuasca shows us how to go beyond illusion, beyond ego-tissue, to touch something that feels deeper in our being.   San Pedro – City at the Heart of the Andes San Pedro or Huachuma is a gentle but very deep medicine of the cactus variety. Its spirit is vigorous, solar, intelligence of the mountains and the light of the peaks. San Pedro takes us into love, into Mother Earth, into communion with all that lives. With it tends to come an increased sense of awareness, compassion and gratitude. In the Andes, the ceremonies with San Pedro takes place in sacred spots – by rivers, stone altars and at the foot of mountain spirits. Mama Coca – An Ancient Ally Mama Coca may not be a “visionary” plant of the order of Ayahuasca or San Pedro, but no less sacred is its power. The coca leaf in the Andes is a sacred plant, an everyday life-companion, and one of the core elements of Andean civilization. It is a tool for ritual, and for work, and for pilgrimage. It offers strength, connectedness, clarity and wisdom. We learn from the rituals of “qintu” (in which three coca leaves are dedicated and presented to Pachamama and Apu) the essence of giving and receiving with respect. Mama Coca is teaching us how to have a reciprocal relationship with all that surrounds us. What goes on in us as we walk these hallowed paths? Something is changing – that which should no longer be. And something new is born: a memory of what we have always been. People regularly tell me that “something shifted” after returning from the Andes. They no longer forget to say thank you for the small things, they do not flee from their personal space as much and are stronger to face life’s challenges, they have a different perspective and everything is seen with a greater happiness, curiosity and eagerness. The Andes teach us modesty. They teach us how to listen. How to be. And how to serve – not just ourselves but Life. With Flor del INTI, we bring groups to the journey of life through Peru, Bolivia, Himalayas and other parts of the world where the spirit of tradition continues to flourish. Every Journey is meticulously designed to ensure safety, depth, and true interaction with local teachers, power places, and one's own being. These trips are probably not for everyone. They are for those who are called — and who have the courage to answer. For those who seek to live from the heart. For anyone who understands that there is no straight path to healing, only a spiral. If you’re reading, and something has touched you … Perhaps the time has come for you to take a step. The road is calling you. Are you ready?