Mayan Adventures in Mexico and Guatemala

Mayan Adventures in Mexico and Guatemala 

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Memories of Terrence McKenna who Taught Me to think Outside the Box

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Some things I won't share, or maybe I will.

In 1994 it seemed like a good idea to go to Chiapas during a political uprising to see Terrence McKenna, Jonathon Ott, and Paul Stammets, at the Mayan ruins of Palenque. At this time Terence was the psychedelic luminary of the times. 

Terence became a good friend and gave me the best advice of my life. Sadly he passed away in 2000. He lives more than ever on Youtube videos.

Terrence then sent my English friend and I to find a rare Ayahuasca vine he had collected the previous year, near the ruins of Tikal in Guatemala, out in the jungle in the middle of nowhere, basically our company was coral snakes and howler monkeys. Because of the snakes, which are around tree falls, because that is where you more easily find the vine, it is impossible to see a vine looking up in the jungle canopy.

Needless to say no vine was found. A wonderful adventure, but the only thing we found was a tick on my friend's buttock.

Highlight was paying the guards off to sleep on top of a Mayan temple, just looking up in awe at the most star filled sky I have ever witnessed.

After Tikal I set off through Guatemala. Many people will say the locals are more dangerous, but it is actually other travelers that one must be careful of most in my experience, though surely there are exceptions. But this was my experience, and this is the only time traveling where I was robbed.

The first time was my passport and plane ticket, I don't know where the travelers were from, but when I woke up they were gone. I basically had been drugged, then robbed.

Then I set off for Guatemala City to get a new Passport. The picture below was my passport picture.

Because it would take a week I set off for lake Atitlan. Bam. Robbed again by travelers. Now totally broke, somehow made it back to Guatemala city, then out of the country to Texas where I recovered in Austin, where my dear friends Marc Yeadon, Guy Beveridge Yeadon, and Bob Rosenberger nursed me back to life.

While I was in Austin Kurt Cobain killed himself. Why this matters I don't know.

For all practical purposes this brought my Shamanic path to an end. I found no true refuge, no true love and compassion with equanimity towards all.

This is not to speak against any spiritual tradition. Everyone needs something different and this is OK, but it is good to explore spiritual paths even if in the end they may not provide the answers or peace one is looking for. This experimental approach based on one's experience, what else do we really have to guide us but our inner awareness?

Well I am as lost as ever, but this post had a point.

Don't look for vines in the jungle filled with coral snakes unless you really know what you're doing, otherwise you could get killed easily.

Second point when traveling, avoid other travelers like the plague, go your own way alone. This is a real adventure where you don't know where you will end up or who you will meet. This is freedom, at least for me, an educational experience that changes your life. You will never get this from a book or in a university.

Final point, this is the most pathetic picture of me I have. I am posting it to have a laugh at my youth, how idealistic I was about changing the world, now if I can be more kind it is a good day. No need for peak experiences, just love, kindness and compassion, trying to keep life simple.

Am I being kind or not kind at the moment, that is the question I try to ask. 

This can be humbling and painful, it is easy to lose mindfulness and in a moment fall to aggression or anger. Story of my life really, slow learner. 

But this is one foolish picture, what is up with the glasses, actually not sure this is even me, must be a double, because I always behave myself, this person looks like trouble.

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David Arndt 2022.