I wrote this nonfiction chronicle heeding 
FACING THE UNKNOWN: A TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY IN THE AMAZON RAINFOREST
One of the greatest paradoxes of the mystical life is this: no one can penetrate to the deepest center of himself and reach God through this center, if he is not capable of going entirely out of himself and emptying himself and giving himself to others in the purity of a selfless love.
Thomas Merton, "Seeds of Contemplation"
On Saturday morning, I was immersed in the task of organizing my class sessions for the next week. Monotony and routine filled the atmosphere of my home, when suddenly I received a call from my friend. He seemed excited and with a spark of mystery in his words. He invited me to have coffee and talk about something that, according to him, would change my perspective on the mystical and the magical. Despite my ingrained skepticism and agnosticism, my curiosity was tempted by his enthusiasm. I accepted his invitation and we agreed to meet the next day.
Sunday arrived and we drove to a small town called San Juan de Río Soritor. The drive took about an hour and immersed us in a picturesque landscape, surrounded by mountains and lush nature. When we arrived at the town, we parked the car in the center and started walking towards the mountainous areas. There, a family friend of my adventure partner was waiting for us. They welcomed us warmly and we shared a typical lunch: seco de gallina with rice and yucca.
After lunch, one of the family members informed us that the mules were ready. It was time to begin our journey into the unknown. At first, getting on the mule proved to be a more difficult task than expected. However, once settled, we began to ascend the mountain and then descend into the valley, a journey that took about an hour and a half. The afternoon was beginning to give way to night as we continued our journey.
Finally, we arrived at our destination: a secluded spot on the mountain where the shaman was waiting for us. He was an older man, of short stature and tanned skin from the sun. His words flowed softly and melodiously, and I had to get close to understand him clearly. From our position, we could see a hut atop a hill. We descended from the mules into a clearing and sat on the ground, engaging in relaxed conversation.
Then the shaman invited me to walk a little way and we approached the hut. Without hesitation, we went inside and sat on the ground. The shaman took a bottle out of his bag and poured me a small glass. He warned me that the effect of what I was about to drink could begin in a few minutes or even take half an hour to take effect. My mind was filled with questions: what effect would that be? What was in store for me?
While I still thought I was having a conversation with the shaman, something unexpected happened. Before my eyes, Dua Lipa, the famous singer, appeared, performing her hits in that remote corner. I was surprised and let out a nervous laugh, realizing that this was an extravagant vision and the fruit of my most sinful desires.
The shaman continued to talk to me about the visions and the challenges that might arise during my experience. He warned me that I could feel connected to him even when he was no longer physically present, but that the most significant would occur when I faced my own fears, alone and without his guidance.
Although my friend seemed concerned about the Shuyachaqui, an unsettling spiritual entity in the region, I, as an outsider, had no reason to fear. I let myself feel a sense of intrigue and anticipation, ready to explore the unknown.
As my mind wavered between disbelief and fascination, the ambiance of the hut became increasingly enveloping. The sounds of the jungle filtered through the cracks, creating a natural symphony of mystery and life. Shadows danced around us, creating ambiguous and enigmatic figures.
Minutes passed, and gradually I began to feel a strange alteration in my perception. Reality faded away and gave way to an amalgam of sensations and emotions. The shaman had managed to open a door in my mind that had previously remained closed.
At that moment, I was immersed in a world of introspection and self-discovery. I faced my deepest fears and explored the most hidden corners of my being. The barriers of reason and logic crumbled before the vastness of the unknown, and I found myself floating in a sea of infinite possibilities.
With each thought and each vision, my skepticism slowly faded. I experienced a connection to something greater than myself, something transcendent and powerful. It was as if I had touched the very essence of the universe and merged with its primordial essence.
The night wore on, and the hours melted away into timeless time. Finally, when clarity returned to my mind, I found myself alone in the hut, surrounded by the silence of the jungle. I had crossed a threshold and returned transformed.
As I emerged from the hut and rejoined my friend and the shaman, a sense of gratitude and awe enveloped me. I had witnessed something inexplicable, something that defied the limitations of my rational understanding.
The return trip was silent and reflective. As we drove away from that mystical corner of the jungle, words vanished into thin air and emotions were suspended in time. My mind was filled with unanswered questions, but also with a new openness to the unknown and the inexplicable.
That experience in the Amazon jungle became a significant chapter in my life, an indelible memory that challenged my ingrained beliefs and showed me the magic that lies beyond the tangible. During my encounter with the shaman, there were two episodes that left a deep imprint on my being.
The first was a moment of personal revelation. As I conversed with the shaman and delved into his ancestral teachings, a deep sense of connection with the universe came over me. I understood that there was more between heaven and earth than my rational mind could explain. The shaman's wisdom and connection to nature inspired me to question my own intellectual limitations and open my heart to new possibilities.
The second episode was a confrontation with an inner intellectual fear. As the shaman warned me about the challenges I would face during the journey, I felt an inexplicable fear take hold of me. My rational mind struggled to maintain control and reject any idea of the mystical. However, the shaman encouraged me to face that fear, to step into the unknown and trust the process.
Over time, those moments of revelation and confrontation with my inner fears became catalysts for personal transformation. I learned to question my own intellectual limitations and to allow myself to explore the dimensions of the unknown without prejudice. I discovered that the mind and spirit are more complex and surprising than I imagined, and that there is a vast universe of experiences to be discovered beyond our understanding.
Thus concludes this chronicle, in which I recount my journey to the Amazon rainforest and the experiences that challenged my beliefs and led me to explore the mystical. Through personal revelation and confrontation with my inner fears, I discovered a new perspective on life and embraced the idea that there is knowledge and experience that transcends the limits of reason. On this journey, I found the courage to expand my horizons and immerse myself in mystery, always reminding myself that wisdom and growth are within our reach if we dare to explore the unknown.