So often this planet is such a marvelous place! Here’s where we spent Friday, May 1^st—Beltane, in the Witches’ Calendar—working with two delicious Ecuadoran shamans in Braintree, Massachusetts. Don Esteban and Don Jorge Tamayo.

Sheriden got the email from no one she’d ever met before. She forwarded it to me. I’m almost never drawn to group work but they were seeing private clients. We called and got appointments. It’s so rare for both of us to be drawn to the same thing that we were pretty intrigued when we went.

A gorgeous metaphysical center, Open Doors, hosted them. Don Esteban spoke an Indian dialect. His son, Don Jorge, translated that into Spanish. Their helper, Dolores, spoke that into English, and another helper, Su, took notes for us.

I sat in front of the two men for a long time, asking and answering questions. They picked up on my childhood pattern of sadness instantly. During that process, the sweetest thing happened.

Don Esteban picked up a childproof lighter, one that they use in their ceremonial work to light candles and tobacco. He turned the wheel over and over again but it wouldn’t stay lit. Of course not—he didn’t understand the child-proofing. I offered to show him, and lit the tobacco for him.

It was a significant moment for me. At that point, just because I could work a cheap plastic lighter, something shifted between me and Don Esteban. I was suddenly there less as a supplicant and more as a peer. At that point, he wanted to know about my work.

I spoke of counseling for 27 years, and he grinned, telling me that I was doing exactly what I ought to be doing. I’ve known that for a long time, but still, it was nice to hear it.

The ceremonies were powerful and restorative. We left there giddy and more connected than usual. When they come back next year, I’m sure we’ll see them again.

For spiritual nourishment, visit Dr. Susan Corso’s website