Zoila

Ever since I first saw Zoila
The chief and the matriarch of the Muruy tribe
I wanted to speak to her
Her presence is magnetic
Radiating strength, wisdom and beauty
One morning after a powerful ceremony
I was writing my journal
And I saw her tending the garden in the Sanctuary
As she usually does
She told me:
“Ayahuasca is a Mystery
And to deal with the Mystery
You’ve got to have Faith
Faith in the Medicine
Faith in the maestros
Faith in yoursеlf
And faith in the omniscient, omnipresеnt and omnipotent
God
Who always takes care of us in all situations
Nurturing us in the palm of His hand”
Or as she originally said it in Spanish:
“...el Dios Omnisciente, Omnipresente, Omnipotente...”
Then she repeated those three words
More slowly
With a pause after each one
Omnisciente…
Omnipresente…
Omnipotente…
As if she wanted to engrave them in my memory
They will stay with me forever
Until we meet again, Zoila