Peru - Master Plant Dieta- Day 11
September 1, 2026
Arrived in Cusco yesterday, early in the morning, somewhere around 1am. It was a long day of travel, door to door, around 18 hours give or take. It is good to be here. Flying in here from basically sea level in one day is a real butt kicker. Cusco sits at over 11,000 feet in elevation, I woke up yesterday morning with a doozy of a headache, completely drained, but it improved as the day has worn on. Got outside, did a little walking, had a nice lunch, met up with my friends, Jess and Jorge at the Artesian market, but otherwise took it easy, including a couple of much needed naps.
Walking around Cusco is quite an adventure, the streets are very narrow in the historic part of the city, it is a busy place. Seems that everywhere you want to go is up hill, which presents some challenges when you are still acclimating to the altitude. I decided that a combination of walking and Uber was the best medicine. It is an incredibly beautiful place, with this interesting combination of Incan and Spanish influence all around. It is one of the most unique cities I have had the privilege to visit.
Today we head for Urubamba in the Sacred Valley, which will be home base for the next couple of weeks, and then the Dieta begins in earnest. Jess had told me she had a surprise for me a few days ago, well the surprise turned out to be that she brought a Taita from Colombia, this is what they call a Maestro or Shaman in Columbia. I met him and his daughter last night, and from everything I have heard their medicine is beautiful and powerful. Feeling so much gratitude for this experience that is about to unfold, we will have three amazing teachers at this Dieta, all bringing different medicines from their traditions. I wonder if that has ever been done before?
People keep checking on me, seeing how I am doing, how am I feeling, and to be honest, I am amazing! Perfect in fact! Over the past couple years I have learned so much, but one of the truths that I know to be absolute, is that whenever we go into the unknown, into something the mind knows is going to be good for it, something expansive, the mind will resist, it always resists what is best for it. It will do this by creating stories of fear or lack. I have learned to work with it, feel it, and just let go of those thoughts. Nothing says we ever have to believe what the mind is giving us to work with, the mind lies regularly.
It is just about time to check out of my hotel and meet up with my friends. So that is it for now.
I have absolutely no clue how the next two weeks are going to unfold, but I know that whatever happens will be perfect, and exactly as it is meant to be.
Joshua
