Mission

Ancestral Heart is a dedicated organization that actively supports indigenous-led preservation efforts and seeks to deepen our respectful understanding of ancient rituals and indigenous wisdom. We firmly believe in honoring and valuing cultural wisdom keepers, ancient arts, and the profound connection between humanity and nature. We recognize the vital importance of preserving orally transmitted lineages as an integral part of humanity's collective heritage.

Our platform is committed to supporting the protection of indigenous cultures, without interfering with their natural way of life, by collaborating closely with local villages and tribes. We actively engage in initiatives with organizations like Blessings of the Forest, Nativa Foundation for the Kogi of La Sierra, and Fundacion Autoctono, particularly through our support for the Comcaac Seri water project. These partnerships enable us to provide collaborative reciprocal support for the preservation of traditional knowledge systems and the overall stewardship of indigenous cultures.

At Ancestral Heart, we strive to amplify the voices of wisdom keepers and facilitate global learning that is rooted in reciprocity, sensitivity, and cultural awareness. We seek greater understanding of the complexities surrounding the impact of the psychedelic movement on indigenous cultures, particularly during this pivotal time. By fostering understanding and bridging gaps between diverse cultures and peoples, we aim to contribute to providing support for the complex issues affecting the future of these cultures.

UPCOMING EVENTS + UPDATES

The lungs of our planet span the Amazon and Equatorial Africa. These are the wings of the Ancestral Heart. That is why we are deeply focused in the support of indigenous biocultural heritage and supporting the Kogi Kaggaba and the Bwiti in Gabon enacting programs that work within these complex ecosystems and making a difference with climate change, unlike WEF and other government initiatives that are disconnected from nature and ecosystems.

Seeding Consciousness was my “homework” given to me one of my Bwiti initiations in Gabon in 2018. I was told specifically what to write about and that this needed to be shared with the world. In hindsight, I had no idea how hard it would be. I cried when I saw the cover, having that feeling of made it through an intense and long initiation. I am very excited to share that I finished my homework; Seeding Consciousness: Plant Medicine, Ancestral Wisdom, and Psychedelic Initiation published by Inner Traditions is now available for pre-order.

All author proceeds, roughly 15% of all sales (depending on ebook, print or audio), are being dedicated to nonprofit Ancestral Heart and  partner organization, The Fountain. We are dedicated to  protecting the two most sacred rainforests through Colombia and Gabon. This initiative supports vital projects including the Bwiti through Blessings of the Forest in Gabon, the Kogi Kaggaba nation, and other Wisdom Keepers dedicated to protecting and restoring nature. This is a great opportunity to give back to the medicine, Mother Earth and psychedelic movement in reciprocity.

The section of the book on Stewardship is the dearest to my heart, it is opened by Grandmother Jyoti Ma, Convener of the 13 Indigenous Grandmother Council and founder of The Fountain. I also feature a special section honoring the Wisdom Keepers that have taught me, and that I have supported and collaborated with through Ancestral Heart over the years; Atarangi Maru, Rutendo Ngara, Mindahi Bastida, Mamo Luis, Malidoma Patrice Some, and Atome Ribenga.

Pre order using this link below.

Ancestral Heart update on Kogi Kaggaba of La Sierra Nevada

Through my relationship with the Kogi Kaggaba since 2015, I've realized the Mamos follow a profound set of instructions and carry wisdom that holds the potential to restore Earth's balance with nature. The Kogi Kaggaba's ceremonial practice includes making daily offerings, called Pagamentos, to nature, symbolizing gratitude for its resources. The Kogi Kaggaba believe these offerings restore nature's equilibrium, meaning omitting them can negatively affect the land and its inhabitants.

The Mamos, the Kogi Kaggaba spiritual leaders, undergo a rigorous initiation, spending at least nine years in complete darkness to enhance their spiritual capacities. Their deep-rooted understanding of stewardship, coupled with their profound connection to nature, gives them unique insights into engaging with elemental forces and revitalizing sacred sites. Essentially, they serve as the planet's acupuncturists. While the Western world, referred to by the Kogi as 'little brother,' grapples with carbon offsets and policy-making, the Mamos conduct rituals affecting the global water cycle. Recognizing their profound wisdom, this year's G20 and COP28 are seeking guidance from the Kogi Kaggaba and other indigenous leaders to approach ecological issues in holistic and nature connected way.

In the midst of our ecological crisis, it's paramount that we elevate and support leadership like the Kogi Kaggaba, whose understanding of nature surpasses Western comprehension. We're currently progressing in our mission, directed by the Kogi Mamos, to establish the third sacred site land trust. The project aims to synchronize the aspirations of the Kággaba community in Santa Rosa town (Rio Ancho Basin, Guajira, Colombia) with the preservation of the Tapir, a vital indicator of rainforest health.

Supporting the Mamos' work directly aids in preserving our planet's vital ecosystems. We're seeking $165,000 for this initiative, covering land acquisition, legalities, ceremonial expenses, and village relocation costs. Your assistance is invaluable; even an initial pledge of $10,000 can set things in motion. Please consider making your pagamentos to support this important ecological initiative.

June 2023—

As you may recall, our dedicated efforts at the Ancestral Heart, Nativa, and The Foundation led to the successful acquisition of two land trusts for the Kogi people last year. One of these trusts safeguarded their inaugural village, Tungueka, which serves as the gateway to their sacred territories. Throughout the process, we meticulously adhered to the Kogi's customs, which prompted key stakeholders to participate in the establishment of the trust. Recently, the President of Colombia visited Tungueka and returned all of the Kogi's land, securing it for the Kaggaba Nation.

Our current focus is on securing land to protect the Tapir, a revered animal among the Kogi that is on the brink of extinction. We are diligently with the Kogi Kaggaba working to determine the necessary steps and protocols to accomplish this. Thank you to all of you that supported this!! What a blessing that we accomplished this milestone together.

We also need some support to get US visas to get a Kogi Kaggaba to visit the Lakota Sundance in North Dakota on June 14th, 2023. Please reach out if you are have any contacts in embassy or anyone that can help this process!

Guinea Pig Project in Miraflores

With the funds that we raised we also were able to start a program for sustainable protein for the children in the village, of which many are suffering from protein deficiency. Guinea pigs, called Cuy, were once abundant in La Sierra. After much research, genetically related species was brought from the Amazon to Mirafores for breeding. They will be brought to La Sierra as a food source for the village.

Now that the Kogi Kaggaba have their own land, they are returning back to their farming practices. They have started to grow coffee to sell, as a way to provide some income that would support specific things that they no longer get from nature.

The Kogi Kaggaba are establishing a center outside of La Sierra in Bogata. That is where they have instructed us to have them meet those who want to learn to protect their village as a sacred place. We will update you on the progress of that project. The Kogi Kaggaba request that their sacred homeland be maintained as a private space and we have help them put up a fence around the entrance of the village to create a bit more privacy from uninvited tourists.

Thank you again to all the supporter and your reciprocity to the beautiful caretakers of our sacred planet 🌎

A Call for Protecting the Tapir

Much incredible work has happened in 2022 with the consultation and ceremonies of the Kogi Kaggaba Mamas guidance from the sacred territories of La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The next piece coming through the Kogi Kaggaba mamas is intended illuminate the indicators of the health of the Earth, and to start the spiritual consultation regarding documenting specific prayers for a call to the world for resource flow on behalf of the bioregions and biocultures of La Sierra Nevada. Because the tapir is a key indicator, this will most likely be one of the first calls, and may include technology for tracking the living tapir, land trust to care for the flourishing of their species. The support that is required to complete these task is funds to continue bringing these pieces of land into the Kogi Kaggaba land trust to allow the pagamentos and sacred houses of thought to be established to continue this work and bring balance to nature. The cattle of local farmers is the biggest threat to the future of the tapir due to the battles destruction of indigenous plant species. That is why we must reclaim and protect La Sierra for its natural stewards. If you inspired to make an offering to support this project, please message me. I have included a video link so you may learn about how vital tapir are the to ecosystem of this bioregion.

Watch Tapir video Here

Kogi Mamos Milestone Reached

I wanted to make you aware of an urgent requests from the Kogi Mamos from La Sierra and Tueneka Village, as it is a great opportunity to give back to their community.

Ancestral Heart along with the Fountain and Nativa Foundation have partnered to respond to the requests the Kogi Mamos have made for support. Thank you for helping us reach a milestone of $43,000 in funds to support this project, which fulfills our needs for phases 1 and 2 of this project. We require at least $10,000 to start the food program for the children. Please reach out to me directly using the contact form to support by making a tax deductible donation.

We are also planning an Art Exhibition with some incredible works in honor of the Mamos. You can download the catolog here and please reach out if you would like to have a piece for yourself.

This year Ancestral Heart has raised $105,000 that has been put to work to plant 20,000 more iboga trees that with support 14 villages, purchase a Land Rover and equipment including beehives to keep the elephants from pulling up the young iboga plants. Blessings of the Forest works with the local villages for research, planting iboga, and to build infrastructure to support sustainable Iboga production. This is exciting as BOTF is the only sanctioned group under Nagoya Protocol to have the permission to do this work in Gabon which protects any capitalistic interests from entering into Gabon (passing the benefits to the Bwiti villages instead). Please contact us if you would like to support Blessings of the Forest.

About

The Comcáac, meaning “the people” in their native tongue—more commonly known as the Seri—are a small indigenous community living on the northwest coast of Mexico along the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortés), people the starkly beautiful and biologically rich desert of Sonora, Mexico. Their traditional territory includes the island Tahéjöc, known in Spanish as Isla Tiburón; the neighboring island Coftécöl; and the approximately 150-mile stretch of coastal mainland from Puerto Lobos to Guayamas. Punta Chueca is a Seri town located on the Gulf of California in the Mexican state of Sonora. It is located 25 kilometers north of the fishing and tourist town of Bahía de Kino. Both of these towns are part of the Municipality of Hermosillo. The current population is approximately 600 people. 

Their connection to their natural surroundings is so profound that they regard their land as their body: the mountains and rocks are their bones, the soil their skin, the sea and rivers their blood, and the wind their breath. Their relation to the sea turtles is particularly central to their culture, as Gabriel Hoeffer, a turtle conservationist, explains: “We believe there was one god, who was also the god of the Comcáac who ordered the animals to dive for some sand to use to construct the world. Many of the animals tried until they could no more, and then there was the turtle. When it was his turn to find the sand, he dove down and buried himself. He surfaced with the sand, and with that sand the world was created.” For millennia the Seri have cared for and been sustained by this land, but the rapid developments of the 20th century have brought challenges to their traditions and to the health of their environment. Reptiles of all kinds—lizards, crocodiles, snakes, and turtles—play a large role in Seri culture. And now especially, the Sonoran Desert Toad. Unfortunately, the long-term survival of the Comcáac and the future of many of these animals are uncertain. Yet it is their traditions and stewardship that have protected the environment and preserved biodiversity to this day—a fact that is now being recognized by international and conservation organizations, bringing hope that all life in the Comcáac lands will continue to thrive. 

The biggest challenge Seri have is access to drinking water, currently it has a water treatment plant by reverse osmosis of the water obtained from the sea that provides about 25% of the water that the population needs, according to the standards of the World Health Organization. 

Its main source of resources is hunting and fishing, but the pollution of the sea and the overexploitation of marine fauna by the fishing industry has diminished its capacity for autonomy and sustenance, because it is more difficult to fish with the tools with which it is used. They have and access to the commercialization of their products has decreased due to the considerable increase in the supply from other areas.

The main activity they carry out for their livelihood is fishing and hunting, currently they also sell handicrafts, clothing and tourism.

The Comcaac population has managed to preserve its language and traditions, as well as its connection to Nature. The younger generations have also adapted to the Western lifestyle without losing their identity, as we can see in social networks and musical styles such as Rock and Rap. It can be noted that in addition to being very good fishermen they have outstanding artistic abilities. They are warriors and resilient in any situation, but their compassion and love for family and others is very generous.

The Land and Its People

The Seri live where the extremely hot, rugged Sonora desert meets the Gulf of California—a region both harsh and biologically rich. Its waters host 34 marine mammal species, including blue and fin whales and one of the world’s most endangered cetaceans, the Vaquita porpoise. Loggerhead, hawksbill, leatherback, olive ridley and green sea turtles thrive in the warm gulf waters as well. Its islands provide important nesting sites for migratory birds and breeding grounds for sea lions. The desert hills are home to the world’s two largest species of cacti—the Sahuaro and the Cardon—which reach as high as 45 feet. Dozens of species of reptiles and numerous mammals, including jaguars, roam the land.

To survive in this harsh desert environment, the Seri became experts in the ecology and biology of their land, making use of the vegetation, game and abundant sea life and incorporating this knowledge into their stories, songs and religion. Today, the community continues to rely on food, especially the sea grasses upon which both the turtles and the Seri depend, from the surrounding marine and land environment. They developed their own biological classification system, naming more than 400 plant species, including some 100 used for medicinal purposes. They also amassed a large body of knowledge regarding the biology and behavior of sea turtles. One traditional four-day ritual was a welcome for the annual arrival of the leatherback turtle, a creature the Seri believe was present at the time of the creation of humans.

The traditional Seri religion is based on shamanism and vision quest. Strictly speaking, the Seri culture regards only sites associated with transcendental rituals as sacred, and the community closely guards its knowledge of these places. Many other sites, however, have deep spiritual and cultural value; their protection is just as important, and the community refers to them as “sacred” to impart to outsiders the magnitude of their value. These sites include places where great battles took place or where ancestors found shelter, and locations harboring species that have sustained the Seri people. Tahéjöc has particular importance because in this place Seri ancestors shed their blood in defense of the people and their culture. According to one of the creation stories, Tahéjöc is where the first Seri were formed, and its natural features embody the Seri cosmovision. Today the Seri’s sacred beliefs are an integration of ancient legend and their more recent survival story.

Inclilius Alvarius

The Incliius Alvarius toad secretes venom referred to as Bufotoxin that contains 5-MeO-DMT, a psychoactive tryptamine. This substance must be extracted by squeezing the glands of the toad.

Popularity of this substance from the toads native to the Sonoran desert has become prevalent over the last decade. Although, there is iconography prevalent in ancient Mesoamerica temples and artifacts that potentially allude to prior sacramental use. The Seri have been one of the leading tribes to introduce the sacramental use of the toad or what they call “Sapo” to the West.

Over the last 2 years, Incilius Alvarius, toad medicine, has flooded mainstream by news outlets and by celebrities and influencers such as Mike Tyson, Hunter Biden and Hamilton Morris. Sadly, most of what the media is portraying doesn’t actually illustrate the intensity, preparation, and integration required for this potent medicine but rather creates an unhealthy demand for the Bufotoxin that puts pressure on the ecosystem of the Sonoran Desert. Its wide range in popularity drives increased outsiders to the toad’s habitat, ultimately causing more harm than good. Vice created billboards in the New York city subways with photos of the Sonora Desert Toad to promote the first season of Hamilton Morris’s Pharmacopeia to millions of people and the CNN interviews of Mike Tyson have reached millions. The side effect of creating a massive interest and subsequent demand in millions of individuals is a trajectory towards destruction an entire ecosystem, as these small region is not meant to support the levels of psychedelic tourism that have been created through the demand of the toad venom. 

Tribes such as the Seri, Tohono O'odham, and Yaki found in the Sonoran desert work with this sacred medicine on their ancestral home land have been most negatively impacted by the boom of toad. It’s time to explore at ways to prevent damage to their natural environment due to psychedelic tourism and the Mexican drug cartels growing interest in this substance continues to soar. When people are driving around in 4x4s in the Desert search of the nocturnal toads, they’re breaking up the deserts fragile biofilm.  The damage to the ecosystem could take decades to recover from. We implement systems to protect the habit of the Sonoran Desert Toad. Many herpetologist and 5 MeO-DMT researchers say, “Leave the toads alone.” Don’t go to the desert. Don’t harvest medicine on your own. The herpetologist recommend letting the local tribes that live in the Sonoran desert should do this harvesting, if any, and those that build relationships with them could potentially access the medicine in a humble and supportive way.  For thrill seekers the wisest option is to use synthetic 5-MeO-DMT, which is the primary psychoactive molecule that is in the toad venom or bufotoxin. In order for the Seri and other tribes of the desert to continue to protect their homelands, we must support them in reciprocity with their most basic needs such as water.

Challenges and Preservation Efforts

According to the Seri Council of Elders, the loss of traditional knowledge is the main threat facing the community. To address this challenge, in 1999 they founded a “traditional school” to teach Seri history, traditional practices and protection of local lands and resources. The effort includes compiling written documentation of Seri culture and producing videos to record traditional songs, dances and folk stories. In June 2007 Antonio Robles Torres, president of the Council of Elders, received Mexico’s National Prize of Ecological Merit for his work.

In 2002 Seri elders began working with the global conservation organization WWF to locate and map sites of Seri cultural significance on Tahéjöc and the mainland. For each site that is identified, an elder shares traditional stories associated with it, especially those stories that relate to the management of the site’s natural resources. This work, published by the Instituto Nacional de Ecologia in 2006, identified and mapped 118 sacred sites, divided into three types of sites: those in honor of heroes, those where revelations occurred and those where rituals are performed. The results are being incorporated into land-use plans for Seri territory and included in the curricula for the traditional school.

Through official ownership of their lands and the rights to manage land and fishing, the Seri are able to exercise a certain degree of autonomy. For example, Seri traditional guards oversee the sustainable use of natural resources, and they are recognized by Mexican law enforcement agencies. They are also able to generate income from their territory through ecotourism; fishing; craft work, such as basket weaving, derived from natural resources; and the sale of licenses—which go for $50,000 or more—to hunt bighorn sheep, introduced to Tahéjöc decades ago. Still, they must work within the framework of national laws that are typically created without the consultation of Seri leaders and are often at odds with the needs of the people. Researchers and community leaders cite the need for a long-term, sustainable community economic development plan, one that would ensure complete self-management of cultural and natural resources. Seri elders also note the need to provide youth education that prepares them to tackle the socioeconomic challenges of the future.

Please support by sharing in your networks, holding a fundraiser or donating here. https://donorbox.org/ancestralheart

Sources

https://sacredland.org/category/sacred-site-reports/mexico/

Blystone, Peter, Laura Monti, Erica Molina and the Grupo Tortuguero Comcáac. Canciones de Sobrevivencia: Los indios seri y su protección a la caguama en el Mar de Cortés, video.

Felger, Richard Stephen and Mary Beck Moser. People of the Desert and Sea: Ethnobotany of the Seri Indians. University of Arizona Press, 1985.

Grupo Tortuguero Comcáac. Grupo Tortuguero Comcáac.

Johnston, Bernice. The Seri Indians of Sonora, Mexico. University of Arizona Press, 1980.

LaDuke, Winona. “Saving the Seri Sea Turtles.” AlterNet, Nov. 7, 2005.

Luque, Diana and Mercedes Otegui. “Tahéjöc: The Comcáac Sacred Space.” Paper presented at the fifth IUCN World Parks Congress, Durban, South Africa, Sept. 8-17, 2003.

Luque, Diana and Antonio Robles Torres. Naturalezas, Saberes y Territorios Comcáac (Seri). Instituto Nacional de Ecología, 2006.

Monti, Laura and Bea Jacobs. The Seri Comcaac Indians.

Moser, Edward W. “The Seris.” Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, 1976 (updated 1996).

Nabhan, Gary Paul. Singing the Turtles to Sea. University of California Press, 2003.

Nauman, Talli. “Seri Indian turtle protectionists act in ocean’s best interest.” The Herald Mexico, June 13, 2006.

Spano, Susan. “Untamed, but for how much longer?” Los Angeles Times, Jan. 8, 2006.

ART BASEL

I’m really excited about sharing a special project that will support Seri, Wirixica, and Bwiti. I was invited to create a collection of NFT for art Basel. I had created to first, cosmic dance, which is dedicated to the Sonoran desert toad for which proceeds will go to build a well in the community. Then I also created rebirth which is dedicated to Iboga which proceeds will go to plant iboga in Gabon through Blessing of the Forest. 

I partnered up with artist Diana Garcia and Marakame Modesto Rivera with a vision to translate his traditional art and stories to the digital space. This special collaboration piece will be unveiled before the auction and proceeds will go to build a well to support 200 people in Nayarit on Modesto’s ancestral lands.

Auction will take place at Palapa on December 2, 2021 to end at 11 PM EST.  Online bidding will be available through OpenSea. 

The event at Art Basel will host 250 people and will have ceremony, live music and a display of other NFT is related to ecological causes that have been created by Far Away Project.

https://nfts_for_ngos.eventbrite.com

INFORMATION ON THE 2 NFT…

I am announcing my first NFT  artwork celebrating the sacred earth medicines with two original pieces that I created, inspired by Sonoran Desert Toad and Bwiti.

*Proceeds benefiting Blessings of the Forest, Modesto Rivera, and Seri of Chueca Point

https://opensea.io/collection/ancestral-heart

Cosmic Dance

Acrylic on canvas, and digital collage

The Incilius Alvaruis, Alva, meaning of the womb, hibernates in underground 9 months of year coming out during the rainy season to mate and eat. The Summer months in the Sonoran Desert, its native land, become a place of celebration for all life. This piece symbolizes the death and rebirth cycles which many experience on 5MeO-DMT, which the toad imbues in its venom. The toad teaches us the wisdom of the cycles nature to allow us to embrace change.

Resurrection 

Ink on sketchpad and digital collage

This piece brings in the essence of the ancestral and elemental healing that takes place in connect to the Bwiti, the tradition in Equatorial Africa working with the sacrament iboga. Much of iboga used present day was planted in the fresh soil where deceased ancestors were buried. As the holy wood sinks it roots into the soil, it is imbued with the essence of the dead, upon maturity to be taken in ceremonial ritual. The ancestors resurrected through the partaking of this sacred medicine. 

PAST EVENTS

Psychedelic Leadership and Ancestral Heart: Psychedelic Wisdom Elders Panel on CLUBHOUSE

April 14th, 2021 9:30-11:00 pst 

As the psychedelic movement rapidly bolts forward, we look to the elders for guidance to maintain respect, reciprocity and bridge understanding of the traditions connected to these plant medicines into western culture. Join us for a conversation with Otomi-Toltec wisdom keeper Mindahi Bastida,  Loretta Afraid of Bear Cook of Oglala Sioux Nation, and Joyti Ma of the Fountain and convener of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers to answer important questions to help guide our steps forward with in alignment with the original principles. Laura Dawn of Psychedelic Leadership Podcast, Tricia Eastman, of Ancestral Heart and Sophia Rohklin, Amazon Emergency Fund will be speaking and moderating as bridges for the psychedelic community to facilitate a meaningful exchange.

Listen to the recording here:

https://livefreelaurad.com/ep-30-elders-offer-wise-advice-for-the-younger-generation-of-the-psychedelic-movement/

BURNING MAN

The Ancestral heart stage at Remote Burn at the Multiverse September 4-7, 2020. We will bring together traditions of South Africa, ancient Egypt, and modern wisdom keepers in workshops, panels, and ancestral healing. We will share in a collective conversation to engage considerate action in respect to nature, individual and planetary healing, ongoing cultural exchange, reconnect to ancestral wisdom and honoring the wisdom keepers that have been preserving these traditions for millennia.  More information here

Building a Relationship with the Neteru: the Ancient Egyptian Dieties

Friday September 4th, 2020 3pm-4:30pm 

Hosted by Isis Indriya

Founder of Oracle Arts

www.oraclearts.org

Ancestral Circle

Sunday September 6th, 2020 12pm-1:30pm 

Hosted by:

Michelange Quay

Ancestral Hypnosis

https://thisistheblackbox.wixsite.com/website/ 

Tricia Eastman

Founder of Ancestral Heart 

Founder of Ancestral Journeys

Ancestraljourneys.com

Wisdom from the White Lion Heartlands: Unified Approaches to restoring balance and harmony of sacred sites, wildlife, and natural resources 

Monday, September 7th 11am-12:30pm PST

Panelists:

Linda Tucker

Global White Lions Protection Trust

Founding member, ASSEGAIA 

Whitelions.org

Rutendo Ngara Chairperson, Credo Mutwa Foundation

Sangoma traditional healer, South Africa

Founding member, ASSEGAIA

Credomutwafoundation.org.za

Pooven Moodley, Executive Director of Natural Justice

Founding member, ASSEGAIA

Naturaljustice.org

Susanna Choe 

Executive Director of The Unification Fund, ICV Group

Icvgroup.org

Moderated by Rachael Kearl 

Executive Director of the White Lion Peace Fund, ICV

Founding member, ASSEGAIA

Icvgroup.org

Tickets are gifted at: https://www.remoteburn.org

—

Join us in the digital dust for The Ancestral heart stage at RemoteBurn May 15th-17th, 2020. We will bring together traditions of Bwiti from Gabon, Zulu from South Africa, ancient Egypt, and modern wisdom keepers in performance,  workshops, panels, embodiment practices, ancestral healing, and a film premier of “The Twelve”.  We will share in a collective conversation to engage considerate action in respect to nature, individual and planetary healing, ongoing cultural exchange, reconnect to ancestral wisdom and honoring the wisdom keepers that have been preserving these traditions for millennia.

Mbeng N’Tam Performance

Friday, May 15th 9am-10am PST

Join us for a glimpse into the world of Bwiti, an ancient traditional religion indigenous to the forest areas of equatorial West Africa. For the first time this ancestral wisdom passed down orally over many generations will be shared on the digital playa with a  performance with Mbeng N’Tam live from Gabon.

Ancestral Movement with Rutendo Ngara

Friday, May 15th 10am-11am PST

Rutendo Ngara will lead a shamanic embodiment practice exploring patterns of our ancestral lineage. 

Panel: Protecting Natural Sacred Sites 

Friday, May 15th 11am-12pm PST

Join our panelists for an in-depth conversation about the importance of sacred sites and the paradigm shift underway for their protection.  

Speakers:

Mindahi Crescencio Bastida Muñoz,  Director of the Original Caretakers Program, Center for Earth Ethics

Rutendo Ngara, Chairperson of Credo Mutwa Foundation

Jennifer Houston, Cofounder of One Ancient Future

Olivier Girard, Cofounder of Le Ciel Foundation

Moderated by Tricia Eastman, founder of Ancestral Heart

Ancestral Circle with Michelange Quay 

Friday, May 15th 12pm-1:30pm PST

We invite you join in ceremony to connect with your ancestors, invoking the furthest and deepest roots of the invisible world to bring healing in these troubled times.

Zulu Dance Ceremony

Saturday, May  16th 10am-11am PST

Zulu Drummers of South Africa; Onke, Tsepang Tsotetsi, Makhosomzi Cacambile, Welile Situpa, Akhona Mpoza, and Mzwanee Gwagwaza will perform live and teach us some traditional dance moves.

Panel: Healing the Whole 

Saturday, May  16th 11am-12pm PST

Exploring the role of reciprocity, equality and plant medicine for personal and planetary healing.

Panelists:

Atarangi Muru, Aotearoa Maori Healer

Joyti Ma, Founder of The Fountain and Center for Sacred Studies

Sophia Rokhlin, Anthropologist and coauthor of “When Plants Dream”

Sophie Monpeyssen, Cofounder of Le Ciel Foundation

Moderated by Tricia Eastman, founder of Ancestral Heart

Film: The Twelve Film with Live Q + A

Saturday, May  16th 12pm-2pm PST

“The Twelve” tells the story of twelve spiritual Elders from around the globe who gather at the United Nations in New York to create a unique ritual for Humankind and planet Earth. 90 min film and live Q + A with filmmakers to follow.

In September 2019 Ancestral Heart comes Burning Man. We shared ancient ritual and performance, and stories of the Zulu tribe on the playa. Wisdom keepers from the Zulu tribe from South Africa performed at events at IDEATE, Burners Without Borders, Heart Tribe and on the Abraxas Art Car. Our programming on the IDEATE stage included a premier of the film “The Twelve” with a live Q + A by the filmmakers, The Le Ciel Foundation.