There are times at Sachaqa when magic really happens. Sachaqa is much more than just an artist residency. We, of course, offer some really amazing programs in painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics etc. There is a transformative side to our residency that I would like to talk about in this article.
Get ready for a real Amazon experience
If you are going to sign up to do a residency in the Amazon rainforest, you are a special kind of person. Not everyone is brave enough to go so far out of their comfort zone. This is not some fake holiday camp, Sachaqa is the real deal.
The Smartest Giant In Town
There is a children’s storybook called ‘The Smartest Giant in Town’ which I read to my son, about a giant, who buys a nice new suit. The kind giant finds himself giving away all his new cloths to various desperate animals he encounters along his way home, until he is almost naked and cold. He eventually goes back to the suit shop to look for his old sandals and gown, as he realises his old clothes are all he ever truly needed.
A poem from the book,
My tie is a scarf for a cold giraffe,
My shirt’s on a boat as a sail for a goat,
My shoe is a house for a little white mouse,
One my your socks is a bed for a fox,
My belt helped a dog who was crossing a bog,
But look me up and down I’m the smartest giant in town.
Illustrator: Axel Scheffler
We rely on the generosity of nature to provide for us, just like the animals rely on the smart giant in the story. Sometimes we take nature for granted and take far more than we really need. Indigenous people live simply and are thankful for what the land and nature provides.
At Sachaqa we can shed our layers, relax from our busy lives, take off the load until we are like children, naked in the forest. We can share gifts with the children and communities who have very little in terms of toys, art materials, books and tools.
Living in a biological community
My home is a living ecosystem and over the years I have learned to accept it and enjoy living in harmony with the creature, bird and animal community. You can not come to the jungle and try to karate kick the mosquitoes into shape. You can not go to the fumigators because of a small wasp or bee. Living creatures are part of this experience. If you are scared it’s quite possible you invite the scary, some invite the butterflies and occasionally those going through a transformation have seen a snake. Our vibration and thoughts are communicating and constantly influencing our reality and through observation of nature we can see ourselves through different lenses.
The Blue Morpho butterfly is dancing
So luminously blue, positioned next to the jungle green. A butterfly that jumps out of the canvas, in a way that makes you think, am I dreaming? There are geckos living in the roof, such a treat, they hide behind paintings and sometimes fight with their lover in the middle of the night. They eat the mosquitos and insects, a great housemate.
All these creatures are your greatest teacher, your greatest healer. Mysterious like the stars, the moon shines with crazy colours ‘Mama Killa,’ another master teacher. The dragonfly circulates the room and the hummingbird hovers above your third eye. We have only seen a rainbow serpent a couple of times. The creation story within myths and legends speak of this animal, sacred and divine (boa restrictors are not dangerous to humans).
Explore with us in the Amazonian conservation area
Be apart of our biological community, you will feel connected to the universe, invited in by the divine. You will learn to play by nature’s rules, which respects and loves and peels away the layers of your onion. Healing at its deepest, where we can breathe, be ourselves and feel free.
Healing contemplation
There are some who come to Sachaqa and they just put their feet up and accept it all. Those people are in such a cocoon of healing contemplation, that the world of woes are filed away in an orderly way, not acted upon in a pain way. Where all that is and around is your friend. Time stops, the rain pours loudly, the leaves begin dancing. Raindrops reflect the light as though a little girl has just thrown her glitter in the garden.
Kechwa Lamista masters of living in unity
The kechwa Lamista community of the District San Roque De Cumbaza, still live like they were a perfect player in the ecosystem and are masters of this jungle teaching. Masters of harmony, masters of living in unity.
To visit the communities – Roots Of The Amazon
Art-icles with Sachaqa 