The Expansion of the Soul, Heart & Love: A Peru Retreat Reflection
- Fernanda Jabali
- Apr 28
- 6 min read
There are journeys that stay in memories… and there are journeys that stay within us.
This was one of them.
What we experienced in the Sacred Valley was not only something we lived… it was something we became.
From the moment we arrived, there was a feeling. A quiet sense of being held; by the land, by the mountains, by something we couldn’t fully explain, but could all feel. The gardens, the flowers, the simplicity of the space; everything invited us to slow down. To soften. To arrive not only to the place, but to ourselves.
There was something about the details. The colors, the light, the way nature expressed itself so freely. And in those small moments, we were reminded to pause. To notice. To be present with what was right in front of us.
Before anything deep began, there was connection. Simple, light, real. Sitting together, laughing, sharing, allowing ourselves to feel comfortable being exactly as we were. And without forcing anything, something began to open.
Quietly. Gently.
Through each breath, each meditation, each shared moment, the layers began to soften. And without even realizing it, our hearts expanded.
We began by bringing awareness to our thoughts.
Allowing the mind to move freely, without trying to control it, without judgment.
Just observing.
Noticing the patterns. the repetition. the stories we carry.
And through that awareness, we started to understand that many of our thoughts are not created in the present moment, they are connected to past experiences, to what we learned, to what we once felt and never fully processed.
This awareness became a bridge.
A bridge between the mind and the body.
Because as we observed our thoughts, we began to feel them.
In the body.
There was also a powerful connection through movement.
Each morning, we had an experience of yoga and gentle body awareness, an invitation to connect with the body in a conscious and present way.
These were not just physical practices.
They became a way to reconnect with ourselves.
To feel the body. To notice where energy was flowing and where it felt blocked.
Through breath and movement, we created space.
Space in the body.
Space in the mind.
Space in the heart.
And as the body began to open, so did everything else.
The movements helped release tension that had been stored, sometimes without us even realizing it. Areas that felt tight or heavy slowly softened. The breath guided the process, bringing awareness to each sensation, each emotion, each shift.
It was a gentle unfolding.
A preparation.
Because when the body opens, the mind becomes quieter, and the heart becomes more available.
Then we moved into the body more consciously, allowing emotions to surface.
Emotions that had been waiting to be seen, to be felt, to be acknowledged.
And somewhere along the way…
what once felt heavy began to transform.
Into understanding.
Into compassion.
Into love.
And as we continued this journey inward, another layer began to reveal itself.
We started to recognize that many of the emotions we were feeling were not only about the present moment.
They had roots.
In earlier experiences. In moments that shaped us. Often in our childhood.
We were gently guided to look within and ask:
Where did I first feel this?
When did I learn this emotion?
What part of me is still holding this?
And in that awareness, we met our inner child.
Not to fix. Not to change.
But to understand.
To hold that part of ourselves with
more compassion,
more presence,
more love.
There was something very powerful in this process.
Because instead of reacting from old patterns, we began to respond with awareness.
Instead of pushing emotions away, we allowed them to be seen.
And in that space, something softened.
Something reorganized within us.
We were no longer only experiencing the emotion, we were understanding it.
And through that understanding, a new relationship with ourselves began to form.
One that is more supportive, more conscious, more loving.
The space we shared held this process in a very special way. The stillness, the intention, the presence; everything invited us inward. And slowly, we began to meet ourselves more honestly, more gently, more deeply.
But this journey was not only about stillness and softness. It was also about movement, about discomfort, about stepping into the unknown.
There were moments when the body felt tired, when the altitude challenged us, when the path felt steep. Walking through the mountains, descending the trails, we were invited again and again into presence. Each step became a choice—to stay, to breathe, to trust.
And something shifted.
We were no longer just going through the experience—we were inside of it.
Nature held us in a very real way. Raw, honest, unfiltered. The waterfall cleansing was not only symbolic—it was felt. The cold water, the strength of the flow, the surrender it asked from us. There was no controlling it. Only allowing. Only trusting.
And as the water moved through us, it felt as if something was being released—not only from the body, but from deeper within.
Our connection in Machu Picchu, on Earth Day, was another moment that stayed deeply within us.
Walking through this ancient city, in presence and awareness, we were invited into something beyond words. A deep connection with the land, with history, and with something greater than ourselves.
And in that moment, we were gifted with a rainbow.
In the Andean tradition, the rainbow is seen as a bridge between worlds—a connection between Hanaq Pacha, the higher, spiritual realm, and Kay Pacha, the earthly, human world.
Standing there, witnessing it, it felt as if we were exactly in that space—between the visible and the invisible, between earth and spirit.
A moment of alignment. A moment of presence. A moment of grace.
We also experienced the Chumpi Ceremony—an ancient Inca healing ritual guided by Andean shamans.
This sacred practice works with the body’s luminous energy field, cleansing and activating the five main energy centers from the base of the body to the crown. It also brings balance to the Paña (right) and Lloque (left) energies, restoring harmony within.
Through the wisdom of the four elements—Fire, Water, Earth, and Air—this ceremony supports the release of stored tension and anxiety, gently regulating the nervous system.
But beyond the explanation, it was something we felt.
A moment of connection. A moment of balance. A moment of returning to ourselves.
One of the most powerful parts of this journey was allowing ourselves to feel. Fully. Without resistance. Without needing to fix. Just being present with what was there.
And in that presence, we discovered that emotions are not something to fear. They are something to understand. They are pathways.
Something beautiful also happens when we come together in truth. Walls soften. Masks fall. And what remains is something real. Through shared experiences, through silence, through simply being together, we felt each other. And in that space, love expanded—not only for ourselves, but for one another.
In the presence of the mountains, in the energy of the land, in the wisdom of ancient traditions, something deeper awakened. A quiet remembering of who we are beyond the mind, beyond the stories, beyond the roles we play. A connection to something greater. A connection to the soul.
In those moments—whether walking the mountains or standing under the waterfall—we were invited into something deeper. A connection with nature. A connection with life. A connection with God, in the way each one feels and understands.
There was a quiet trust that we were being held. Guided. Supported. Even in the discomfort. Even in the unknown.
And somewhere along this journey, we experienced love in a different way.
Not as something we need to receive. But as something we are.
Always present. Always available.
And when we reconnect with that, life begins to feel different. Softer. Lighter. More aligned.
This journey did not end in Peru.
It continues in the way we breathe, in the way we respond, in the way we choose to see ourselves and others. We carry this expansion within us—in our hearts, in our awareness, in our choices.
Something shifted. Not in a way that needs to be explained, but in a way that is felt. A deeper connection. A more open heart. A softer way of being.
And a quiet knowing… that we can always return to this space within us.
To each woman who shared this journey—your presence, your openness, your courage created something truly beautiful.
This was not just a retreat.
It was an expansion.
Of the soul.
Of the heart.
Of love.
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