This is the first mail I got from Sean T, who I met together with his friend Stacey in Barcelona several years ago, where we were talking about vegetarian food and yoga places in Berlin and Barcelona. Since Barcelona is a very spiritual place with all sorts of yoga, tantra, vegetarian, vegan and raw food activists, it was just normal that a German speaking American and an English and Spanish speaking German with a similar interest in those things ran into each other. However, we exchanged mails as Sean went back to the states and since then I get once or twice a year long virtual letters with all sorts of incredible and funny stories from around the world, when Sean is following his spiritual path in India or like now Guatemala and Peru. I’m glad to receive those stories, as they remind me that there is more than just the routine we sometimes tend to fall in. So I asked him to share them with you and he happily agreed!

“hola!

i spent my last moments in the states hanging out with a beautiful friend and going to yoga rather than packing… yet the bag was somehow filled and i hopped on a plane and off in guatemala city the next morning.  right outside the aeroporto waited some dude named victor from north hollywood who drove me to antigua where i immediately paid way too much and had to wait too long for my next shuttle to san marcos.  this was actually perfect as i was then able to follow a yoga mat and its owner to yoga class, decompressing my body from the overnight flight.
lake atitlan is in the mountains of guatemala, home to lots of mayans (many of whom hike around carrying ridiculous loads of cement, cinderblocks, or other heavy bags on their back all the time) and twelve towns forming a ring around the lake.  san marcos is the village known for it´s peace, tranquility, and healing arts.  one main road runs through town, dividing the three local barios (neighborhoods) on the mountain above from the quaint cobbled paths below upon which most of the town´s businesses are located.  here one finds restaurants and guesthouses, lots of healers and a few shops on the way down to the lake.  the wandering paths are covered with lush vegetation, flowers and fruit trees, giving a jungle like atmosphere to the place.
the whole ¨peace and tranquility¨ vibe of this town is definitely present, disrupted only by three things: the circus of dogs barking every night almost without cessation, the random BANGs of fireworks huge and small being set off with constant reckless abandon and echoing across the coffee-plant covered mountains (it´s going on right now), and the ridiculous, out of tune, out of pitch, and completely embarrassing singing about jesus which the catholic churches in the barios broadcast quite loudly via loudspeaker to the entire town every single night.  other than that, this place is way chilled out.
my intention for this trip is to follow the flow of the heart, feeling the perfection in every moment.  it´s so easy to forget this all the time, and luckily there are the constant reminders and tiny unfolding miracles to get me right back into remembrance.  from the start i have met just the right people at the right times and places to guide me on this amazing journey.
life is so simple here.  get up, meditate, do yoga, eat breakfast, go to spanish lessons.  take walks, talk to trees, draw, chant with the lake, hike up into the hills, visit healers.  i actually started teaching yoga for a week before deciding i would rather just learn spanish and do my own thing.  the days pass like a breeze through the trees, rippling across the water and looming from the san pedro volcano immense across the lake.
i spent a week living in a little cabin in bario dos (2) in the middle of a family´s villa, the two small children staring in wonder at my tarot cards and magnetic stones while i stared in wonder at the amazing view of the lake from my window.  after climbing a particular hill every day by instinct i came across xamanek (shamanic) where i now call home.  the owner, neri, is a brother with the same beautiful dream of community as so many of us.  gardens, family dinners, artistic inspiration, and definitely the power spot of the town, this mountain has blessed me with beautiful space to be, expand, enjoy the view, and receive divine inspiration.
there have been crazy synchronistic encounters with all sorts of people, some amazing healing work which is bringing my being into deeper alignment, and lots of time for beautiful reflection.  the healers here really are world class, offering everything from crystal healings to massage to psycho-kinesiology.  just letting my entire being relax and let go after this crazy year of madness is a powerful and amazing thing.  the lake has been rumored to be quite polluted with nasty algae and cyanobacteria from all the sewage and chemical fertilizers making their way in, but apparently it all cleared up the week or two before i got here, and i have meet the spirit of the lake firsthand through some beautiful swims.  for the small bit of time i have been here my spanish has gotten waaay better (though by no stretch of the imagination good) and i keep on studying through the beautiful school of life.
i´m going to keep on enjoying the simplicity of the day to day, so feliz navidad to all you beautiful people, and have an amazing new years!

peace, love and gratitude,

sean t”