Before we venture into Ecuador, I want to recount how Laura and I met. Our journey started in Toronto, where I prepared for my trip back to Peru via a center I helped create in the jungle. Unfortunately, I knew I was advancing towards a fight with a Shaman, for which I had unfinished business, he was taking advantage of a friend's fortune, and his ego was starting to vibrate off the charts. Also, there was a good chance I would not return from the jungles; I grasped deep inside that I would die. Regardless of the warnings, I said goodbye to Toronto friends and Family. So, I was swamped planning my trip to Peru and finishing my work with outpatients from a women's shelter and a psychiatric hospital. Then, low and behold, Laura showed up; we met at a workshop I was co-hosting with a good friend. Our meeting was quick, and again I was busy, making it challenging to give Laura thought. But one day, a woman came to see me from the Biahi church in Toronto; her name was Joy; I had known her for several years. Joy explained that Laura wanted to meet and tell me something vital; I said yes. Laura is exceptionally talented and attractive, and the last thing I was thinking about was her interest in me. I assumed she had questions about the workshop and wanted to introduce me to the Biahi faith. Nevertheless, we met, and were very excited; we walked through the church, a private tour with Joy, who accompanied us. After the tour, we walked outside; next, Laura informed me that the angel Michael visited her and advised me that I should not go to Peru. Interestingly, I ignored Michael for several months, so he went to Laura to get my attention. Next, I responded that it was my mission; I knew something terrible would happen, but I needed to go. But, Laura replied, I have a new purpose, and it was to investigate her. I thought about this overnight, exploring Laura or my potential death in the jungles. Finally, I agreed to stay in Toronto and have another relationship. Besides, there was something in the air, a cosmic return that I wanted to discover, and I knew she had a key to unlock some of the best work I have produced thus far. As for Peru, I told everyone I would not return and take the next journey into the Chavin culture and its ancient ruins. In the end, a year passed, the Centre in Peru fell apart, the Shaman went to jail for murder, and a young man from America died.
So, back in Toronto, our relationship was a success; we experienced profound connections and served the community together. At one point, Laura and I rented a large cottage for the weekend to celebrate our work and the relationship. It was not a marriage with legal papers and church; it was recognition of life, Union and friendships. During our weekend celebration, we agreed to take a vacation. I am well-travelled and had safety concerns for Laura; I asked her to switch the beautiful blond to black; she met me halfway and tinted her hair darker. Also, I suggested dressing down, wearing no designer clothing and begged her not to bring the expensive camera. Laura loves photography very much, and in no way was she going to leave it behind. Besides, I have never travelled with cameras or phones and did my best to blend in with the locals, as many places I visited were impoverished. Consequently, this trip was my first and last as a tourist. We arrived in Manabí, Ecuador; the stretches of beach were breathtaking with quaint little fishing villages, national parks, Palo Santo Forests and ancient Agua Blanca. Laura picked the perfect place to stay on the beach, Hosteria Mandala, in Puerto Lopez. Maja (Swiss) and Aurelio (Italian) built the space themselves. It was indeed a work of art with geometry evolved into architecture, breathtaking gardens, beachfront property and whales singing at night. In addition, Laura and I stayed in Manabí for a long time and became friends with the hotel owners; we sat up at night and talked about geometry, and I offered therapeutic treatments to guests and friends in the village. One morning, we planned a trip off the coast (La Isla de la Plata), home to many species in the Galapagos Islands. Next, we ventured to Machalilla National Park, exploring numerous flora, fauna and jungle animals. However, I was excited for the next trip to research the Agua Blanca commune and the remains of South America's oldest archaeological sites and settlements. Temples and artifacts such as skulls and houses of the Manteño culture are displayed, dating to 1500 BC. Finally, we swam in a natural sulphur lagoon located on-site with mineral waters and mud; the lagoon was rejuvenating and healing. Then, we returned to the hotel, and the owner asked if I had heard of Palo Santo. I explained I did not. Aurelio instructed me to a man in the forest; he lives in the hills, a guardian and spiritual adviser of the Palo Santo trees. As usual, I was excited, always seeking plant medicines and engaging with people native to the lands.
With much anticipation, I woke early, climbed the coconut trees, and drank coconut water by the seaside to cleanse my body. However, a few days later, my back became sore, and my Urine turned milky white. I accidentally discovered that young green coconut water rids kidney stones by reducing crystal and stone formation, thus revealing my back and urine pain was the elimination of stones. Now I was ready to meet the Palo Santo shaman. Up in the hills, off the coast of the Pacific, Dante built a small village where he devoted time working the lands. Dante was excited to meet me; he spoke about his first encounter with Palo Santo Oil and was instantly inspired to administer the healing Oil to everyone. First, Dante took me into his gardens, and the aroma from the Palo Santo trees was in the air, mixed with the smell of seawater. Next, he introduced me to the distillery and the oil extraction process, which included images and written knowledge of the lunar cycles.
Furthermore, Dante explained the Oil's healing properties and showed me the Quartz crystals he fixed in the ground encompassing the Palo Santo trees and seedlings to enhance the vibration. Finally, I asked Dante If I could consume the oils, and he advised me not to because there was no research on the consumption of Palo Santo. So instead, I asked for a bottle of fresh Oil to draw conclusions. The first day into consumption, I endured an immediate purge with regular trips to the bathroom. My body released a build of extra bile, small stones from the liver and intestinal worms. On the second day, I observed a connection to the spirit of Palo Santo and its history of medicine. The finest and purest oils are from the coastal region of Puerto Lopez. In Ecuador, the Palo Santo is only harvested when tree branches fall due to natural causes (the government protects them). After which, the whole tree is recycled (roots, trunk, bark, everything!), and new Palo Santo trees are planted. Also, Palo Santo means 'holy wood or sacred wood,' a purification oil applied in many ways. First, the Oil is placed on the body, rubbed into the hands, and inhaled for a good sense of grounding and vitality. Unfortunately, I can't disclose all its secrets and use, but the application process combined with quartz crystal is a higher healing vibration.
Laura desired to meet Dante and report my conclusions regarding the Oil, so we took a trip back up to the hills. I was surprised when I arrived because Dante asked for a healing treatment with the Palo Santo; he needed to observe what I learned. The village kids heard what was happening; they were excited and gathered around to watch. First, I applied the oils on his feet, precisely the spine location (in reflexology). 2nd, I dripped the Palo Santo oil in my palm and placed the terminated quartz tip into the Oil. 3rd. I administered the ends of the quartz to specific pressure points very lightly with (minimal contact) on his body.
To conclude, I burned a small Palo Santo stick, inhaled amounts of the smoke in my lungs, and exhaled across this crown, reciting a mantra. After the treatment, we sat and drank tea; he shared his experience and was extremely grateful. Finally, Laura and I said goodbye to Dante; he asked where we were going, and I replied, Vilcabamba. He became concerned and revealed the village we live in now has lots of food, fish and fruits; we should stay here where no one goes hungry. We thanked Dante for his wisdom and continued back to the hotel. However, on the way down, Laura tripped and fell on her back, specifically her Coccyx; she was in great pain and required several treatments to loosen her back and move on to the next adventure.
Vilcabamba is an Andean village in southern Ecuador known as the Valley of Longevity. Over time, it became one of the hottest destinations for various healers, soul-searchers, Yogis, and superfood cultivators (The Spanish Goa). The Village promises productive soils, long life and everything from affordable living, agriculture, shamanism and hallucinogens. Upon arrival, I discovered that some scientists researched the people living in the valley; the legend of long life and rejuvenation was just a myth for unstable and dangerous tourism. Unfortunately, Laura and I were unaware of its dark past of murders, robberies, kidnappings and rape.
Nevertheless, we checked into the hotel Izhcayluma with a perfect view of the Cerro Mandango Mountain that sits 6,000ft above Vilcabamba. Mandango is known as the sleeping god; the mountain resembles the shape of an Inca face, and great Inca kings from all over South America travelled to the valley for a retreat. Also, the local people speak of a legend in 1534 after the conquistadors killed the Inca king Atahualpa of Peru; his troops that survived in battle hid all of the king's gold in a Huaca (cave) Mandingo's side. So, Laura relaxed from the balcony of Hotel Izhcayluma daily; she talked about the mountain and expressed her need to climb it. Next, Laura and I spoke to domestic/foreign tourists who hung out at a popular juice bar in the village's centre. Many people expressed that the mountain was closed because the trail was unstable. Then, we spoke with the hotel owners, who bestowed similar information as in the village but added robberies over the years, and the terrain can be steep. Days came and went as Laura stared at the mountain from our terrace while she lay in her hammock. But, this dangerous information about the hill prompted me to get a little nervous.
Although I have been in many difficult situations over the years during my travels, I was alone, so it was okay. One morning I awoke and joined a man at the hotel planning to visit a shawomen who served the San Pedro cactus in the village for many years. Laura communicated that she did not want to participate in the ceremony and advised me to go independently. So, I left with a small group of 10 people during the full moon. It was intense; the group and I were up all night vomiting with various emotional releases. The following day I arrived back at the hotel, a mess full of mud from rolling around the ground all night. Laura laughed sweetly, gave me some fresh fruit, and I went back to bed for the day to rest.
The next day we climbed the mountain, I was still a little sick from the San Pedro ceremony the night before and did not want to go, but she was eager. Also, I was agitated and rushed to walk up the hillside; she slowed my pace with hugs, kisses, holding hands and enjoying the scenery. Next, we stopped at an exceptional area; she put her hand on my heart and touched my cheek as butterflies and hummingbirds flew about; Laura asked me to breathe and enjoy the moment with her. Unfortunately, I was still agitated and replied, Laura, you want to climb this mountain, so let's climb it. So, we continued our walk up a steep trail; a broken sign said danger, the path had fallen apart, and it was difficult to get across. I asked Laura, are you sure you want to keep going? She said yes, so we ventured on the narrow path high on the side of the mountain. I stopped and asked Laura again, are you sure we can turn around and go back? Again Laura replied I need to walk this; it's a vision quest for me.
Eventually, we arrived close to the top, and I asked one more time, please, let's go back; at this point, my body was trembling with fear and anger. Finally, Laura stops, looks at me, and says I will fight them if three guys are up here to rob us. Now I was pissed because why did she mention precisely 3 men? I will articulate something about Laura; she is gifted with visions and strong intuition. So, At this point, I knew she was holding out on me.
But low and behold, we made it to the top of the mountain, and three armed men wearing kerchiefs (face masks) also arrived. I ran to fight the men, one hit me across the chest with the blunt end of his machete, and the other man pressed the point of his blade into my chest. I said to Laura, "I am going to fight; there are only 3 of them. Besides, I have boxing and taekwondo training, so it should not be a problem; also, I demonstrated martial arts skills back home in Canada with Laura, just in case. But, all of a sudden, Laura yells, runs towards me, and asks me to stop; please don't. Next, I noticed a Gun coming out of the third guy's pocket, I submitted, and the three men shuffled us to the edge of the mountain. They spoke Spanish only, so Laura and I had to translate what they were planning; whenever I turned around to listen, a man punched me in the back; they were very intoxicated. This was no robbery; they would kill me and then Laura.
One of the men put a gun to the back of my head; I saw a tattoo on his arm, the yin-yang symbol, close to his wrist. Next, Laura started to cry and was told to keep looking straight; she asked me, Stephen, is that a gun to your head? I instructed it was not. Then, I noticed that Laura was very close to the edge of the mountain, and I remembered there was a plateau that was not too far down; next, I asked Laura to push her over. She said, no, don't push me; I will jump if needed. I looked away from Laura and into the eyes of the man holding the Gun; they were black, filled with fear, but I observed a dull light burning still; there was some hope. Next, the attackers had a drink with Agua de Florida and spat the alcohol onto our bodies. Agua de Florida is a Shamanic cleansing Spirit alcohol; I recognized the smell as I have used it several times. But all of a sudden, the game-changer, the hotel keys, fell out of my pocket.
The attacker pulled the trigger back, put the Gun away, and demanded money from the hotel. I called him a coward; he got angry and yelled to look forward; deep inside, I wanted him to shoot me; unfortunately, that was not in the cards. Laura and I assumed they were asking for three thousand dollars, but the translation was difficult; then, I asked the men to send Laura down to the hotel and keep me hostage. The attackers said no, and no police or they would kill her. Finally, one man took my shoes, gave me his and told me I had two hours; his boots were too small ripped and full of holes, so I had to run down the mountain barefoot. As I ran, I knew I would not make this trip in two hours and needed to run faster. I was moving so quickly that my feet were bloody, and one of my toes was broken, then I stopped to throw up.
Eventually, I pushed through the pain and continued, making it down below, yelling for help; someone put me in their truck and took me to the hotel. When I arrived, I explained to the hotel owners I required 3 thousand dollars, and Laura was being held hostage; the owners wanted to call the police. I replied, please do not call the police; the attackers will kill her, give me the money. Suddenly, a woman came before me and told me to change it. I said, excuse me; she said, you are compelling, replace your reality and save Laura. At that moment, I remembered how to do this. I calmed down and took a deep breath with Laura in my mind. I spoke to her and explained the police were coming, the attackers would see this from the mountain, and she needed to jump.
The Police and I arrived below the mountain; I knew she had jumped, and the Angels were with her; Laura was found on the path below, battered and broken. Next, I involved every Spirit guide I knew; I Prayed and began placing my hands on her stomach and head, sending healing energy. Laura took notice and asked me who I was; I told her, it's me, Stephen; please rest and don't die; I am by your side.
Then, I heard someone's phone ringing; a police officer handed me the phone and said it was the President of Ecuador. The President said he was sorry; I replied, why are you calling as I hold Laura's broken body? This is not the time for an apology. I am angry with you; Mr. President and Ecuador get ready for big trouble; he told me to stay calm. The police were great; they carried Laura to safety, took her to a local hospital, and transferred her to Quito. It was a horrible ambulance ride; she was screaming in pain, Laura asked me to hold her hips in place because they were moving, and it hurt. Finally, we arrived at the hospital; it was a filthy mess with no staff; she cried all night and announced it felt like her hips were broken. The hospital staff could do nothing but give her medication; basically, I slept on the floor in filth with my bloody feet and witnessed the anger spread in me.
The pain in Laura's body did not go away, and all I could do was pray for help asking to get us out of the hospital. Finally, a group of men walked in; Juan, who spoke English, had security and said he was getting us out of there. Juan conveyed the hospital was holding us hostage for ransom; the warden did not want us to leave, even though the President of Ecuador ordered our removal. Eventually, we were transferred to a private clinic where the staff scanned her body and found she had fractures in her neck and a broken pelvis. Then, the doctors drilled steel into her hips, and the pain stopped because the bones were in place.
Eventually, Laura's parents flew in to help; they were very present for their daughter, I appreciated the extra morale, and now I could address Laura's healing. I explained to the family that it was time for Laura to leave the bed and sit on the toilet; regulating her body with seated bowel and urine movements is essential. Lying in bed slows recovery; of course, it would hurt to move, but most rehab fails if the individual can move but chooses not to; this situation applies to Laura. Ultimately, I needed to leave for two days, and when I got back, I expected her to be on the toilet. While away, I prepared to move her into a luxury hotel with extra security. To my surprise, when I returned from my trip, Laura was sitting on the toilet, making bowel movements with a big smile.
One day a police officer arrived at the hotel and informed us they had caught one of the attackers, and I needed to identify him for the prosecutor. However, I aspired to focus on healing and not be tied up in courts for the rest of our trip. So, I asked Laura if it was okay to let him go; she agreed and said yes but was not happy about it. Also, the security team, church leaders and the police informed me the attacker would be killed in jail to set an example, and the other two attackers involved in our assault would also be exterminated. Correspondingly, one of the security guards advised the man they apprehended was a fake, put in place for the original assailant already eliminated. Finally, I learned that these crimes affect the tourist economy, and in most cases, the robberies are engineered to fight back against the system and stop foreigners from purchasing land. I understood Ecuadorian's concerns about foreigners because I met with many local personalities who complained that they could not cross property owned by American investors to occupy their homes and became homeless. Foreigners were purchasing acreages of beach property and parcelling it off to other investors building small suburbia. So again, the local people lost beach access, and Ecuador's whole real estate system was a mess and needed to be corrected.
Eventually, the Minister of Tourism invited me to give a speech to City officials representing tourism. The opportunity presented itself, so I agreed and was escorted to the headquarters by the security team. Minister Freddy Ehlers was there to meet me; he was excited for two reasons: apologizing for Laura's loss and being fond of esoteric information; Freddy was part of a community involved in metaphysics. Next, the Minister walked me into the room where everyone was seated and told me they all spoke English, so please say what was needed. Over the years, I learned to focus on solutions when talking to influential people. So, I introduced myself and shared my observations about the tourism industry, I can't disclose all the meeting details, but I will articulate the final closing of our discussion.
Your country calls itself Pachamama, the world's centre (in 1978, UNESCO designated Quito as its first Cultural Heritage Site). So give your people access to their lands. Stop letting foreigners buy your properties in mass quantity. Instead, place restrictions on newcomers who can purchase land and tax them on resale; then, you will be the centre of the world. Freddy escorted me out of the room; he laughed and asked if I was a prophet. I responded by stating I am a realist.
I returned to the hotel; Laura was relaxing with much-needed family time, but still in pain. I had to carry her to the washroom and back to her bed at night; I needed to be extra cautious with her baths; she was fragile, like a porcelain doll. The rage grew in me through her care, especially when Laura was hurting; I thought of revenge and sending this man to his death in jail. The next day, Juan showed up at the hotel to meet; the first topic was preparations for visiting the prison to engage the attacker and 2nd he explained that TV stations wanted to interview me. Everybody was calling him was the story, and Juan was the person in charge, he is a good man and arranged safety for Laura and me; I said yes but only Lived TV.
The following day we arrived at the jail, a vast open space with many inmates screaming and yelling. Next, the accuser entered the room; I first desired to take the police officer's gun standing next to me and shoot him. Then, the assaulter showed me his arms, which were full of tattoos. I was unsure because I did not see the yin-yang tattoo, but his voice and eyes were familiar, and his life was in my hands. So finally, I stated it was not him; you had the wrong guy; the prosecutor was angry, and they needed to jail someone to calm the political situation. Further, the assault occurred on International Women's Day, and Canada had a huge contract building their airports.
The next day, we travelled to the TV station, and Juan asked about Laura's assault on the mountain; we were on live TV. I spoke the truth; I replied that the foreign investors had arrived in Ecuador to purchase your land, and the people of Ecuador were losing property, their homes and money. In addition, I emphasized laws need to be declared that will not allow foreigners to purchase and parcel the property to other foreign investors. At this point, the cameras were off, and the show was quickly over; I was rushed out of the studio and back to the hotel. Security then explained I was no longer allowed to leave the hotel because everybody was seeking me, TV stations, papers and even local freedom fighters for the country. Political unrest escalated in Quito at approximately the same time I was on TV. So, the Security moved us to a safer hotel up in the hills.
The new Hotel was perfect, Laura felt at ease, and I was at her side 24/7; our room had large windows and all the food required. First, I asked Laura's mother and father to return home, and her parents obliged. 2nd, I began to flood Laura's body with large amounts of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). It's a sulphur-containing compound found in plants and humans. MSM relieves joint pain, reduces inflammation and helps with the overall rehabilitation process. Next, I added Spirulina powder for its copper properties; plant-based sources are the best. Copper helps maintain healthy bones, blood vessels, and nerves playing an active role in iron absorption. Spirulina provides Protein: 4 grams, Vitamin B1 (thiamine): 11% of the RDA, Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 15% of the RDA, Vitamin B3 (niacin): 4% of the RDA, Copper: 21% of the RDA, Iron: 11% of the RDA. In addition, I added a woman's multivitamin, mixed the drinks of Sulpher/Spirulina, and drank 3 to 4 times a day. Also, I placed the crystals on her body with the Palo Santo oil. But, one day, Laura asked to take the Quartz off her body; she articulated that the oils and crystals were too much, and she was done with drinking the medicine.
I agreed when Laura asked to stop the treatments; she was young, so her immune system was sufficient to handle the healing process independently. Now, Laura was ready for the wheelchair; I pushed her through the gardens to breathe the fresh air and admire the flowers and butterflies. Finally, a month into our stay, the tranquil setting and all-you-can-eat Buffett Laura healed quickly; she started using a walker. Then, we started with new treatments, light tissue work applying the Palo Santo oils to her body, and the doctors removed the steel mechanism from her pelvis.
At one point, the government informed us that our time in Ecuador was at an end because Laura was well enough for the airplane, so we said thank you and returned home to Canada. Next, Laura's Doctor scheduled an appointment at the hospital for MRI, X-rays and Ultrasounds; he wanted to ensure everything was healed. When we arrived at the Doctor several days later for the results, he was mystified; his exact words (Mystified). According to the hospital scans, there was no sign that Laura fell 30 stories, fractured her neck, broke her pelvis and had a steel mechanism to hold her bones in place; it never happened. Next, the Doctor explained it's been a short time since the accident, and the body typically does not heal quickly. Therefore, he wanted to send her to a special x-ray to inject a die into her bones to double-check, Laura declined, and we went on our way.
Global TV did do a documentary on the subject. Unfortunately, it was full of dramas, and a lot of the show was misleading. In addition, the only reason why the documentary happened was that Laura's Aunt is well-known in the media world. Of course, mainstream media wanted to portray their version and cut at least 60 percent of the story. The Husband and wife team from Ecuador who rescued us in the hospital flew to Toronto for the interview. Unfortunately, 16x9 did not show enough respect to share their story. Also, I told the producers we were not on a honeymoon; Ecuador was the origin of our travels to several parts of the world. Besides,16x9 did not want to portray my involvement with the rehabilitation or healing of Laura's journey. Ultimately, I felt uncomfortable with the high drama scene; I was not 100 percent ready and rushed. Also, during the documentary's recording, I found out 16x9 was in financial trouble, so this story would give the producers fresh hope. One hand washes the other.