Woo-woo wellness. That is what I used to consider some “wellness” practices. To me, they were just straight-up woo-woo. I am talking about things like astrology, aura readings, crystals, numerology, and tarot cards to name a few of what I thought was even a little too far out there even by my standards. However, I recently had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with a shaman and when an experience like that crosses your path, it is your moral imperative to say “yes.”

After a recent trip to Mazatlán, Mexico with Go Mazatlán, the official place for all things Mazatlán tourism, I had a rare encounter with a shaman from Mazatlán. Whether you are somewhat of a skeptic or open to exploring other avenues of wellness, here is what I learned from my experience with a Mazatlán shaman.

My Eat, Pray, Love Moment

If you ever read the book or seen the movie Eat, Pray, Love, then you know the “love” part of the story takes place in Bali where Liz Gilbert meets a medicine man, Ketut Liyer.

In the opening scene of the movie, the narrator, Liz Gilbert herself, says, “l mean, here I am with a ninth-generation medicine man and what do I wanna ask him about? Getting closer to God? Saving the world’s starving children? Nope. l wanna discuss my relationship. This is how we are.”

Wouldn’t you know, I felt the same way, but I am getting ahead of myself. What does my encounter with a Mazatlán shaman at the Mazatlán Observatory 1873 have anything to do with you? Well, although my time spent with this shaman was very personal, there are a few universal truths that I want to share that maybe you can apply to your own life – with or without the shaman.

Lesson #1: Lean into Your Element (Water, Air, Fire, Earth)

I have always loved the water. Being near it or in it helps me feel centered and grounded. In some instances, it even cleanses me down to the depths of my soul and helps me to reset. I don’t know. Maybe it is because the adult human body is composed of up to 60% water or it is the negative ions in the air that linger near spots where water collides, but water has always brought me a sense of calm, clarity, and peace within my often busy, chaotic, and crazy life.

Living in the city of Chicago right on Lake Shore Drive, my front yard is Lake Michigan. I see it every day from my apartment and usually spend the afternoons walking along the lakefront. During the summer months, I go on long lakefront runs running right along the lakefront for miles and miles. I also swim at least one mile almost every day in Lake Michigan and whether I am simply sauntering next to the water’s edge on a lazy summer Sunday or swimming in the waves, I have always felt close to God near large bodies of water. (Call it God, the Universe, your holy guardian angel, or your higher self, whatever resonates with you when referring to the universal creative force and power within this world, use, but for me, it is God).

Looking out across the horizon and feeling the vast expansiveness of water can literally move me to tears. (This also happens when I am in the mountains, but the only mountains Chicago has are skyscrapers).

When first encountering this Mazatlán shaman, one of the very first things he said to me was that I have high feminine energy and a connection to Mother Earth through the element of water. (Yeah, it was kind of crazy because this was literally said to me in the first 30 seconds of meeting him for the very first time – ever).

Interestingly enough, Earth and water are considered feminine elements. According to TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), the most yin element is water, which represents our feminine qualities and a downward, inward energy. It is no wonder why being near large bodies of water like lakes and oceans helps us return to center and peace, providing us with a feeling of groundedness within our lives.

My point in sharing all of this is that everyone has different levels of feminine and masculine energy innately within them. Maybe you have an affinity to one specific element. Perhaps you enjoy being outdoors (air/wind element) or maybe you like to be immersed in Mother Nature on a hike or you like to dig your hands into the dirt while you plant that backyard garden (Earth element).

Heck, maybe you prefer something more powerful like a roaring bonfire in your backyard (fire element) or perhaps you are just like me and love a good lake or body of water just to be near (water element), but whatever Earth element speaks to you and makes you feel alive and sparks joy deep inside your heart and soul igniting that happiness within, lean into it, it may be there for a reason, so follow it. It could bring you closer to God, or you know, whatever you call it.

Lesson #2: Time, No Time

After my brief five-minute encounter with the Mazatlán shaman, I returned the next day for an entire afternoon session. I mean, how could I not? How often do you get to spend time with a shaman on some idle day of the week? So up the mountain and back to the shaman I went. You know, just your average, typical Thursday.

One of the activities we did together was meditation. When speaking about meditation, the shaman constantly repeated the phrase, “Time, no time.” Sounds like an oxymoron if you ask me. Time, no time? What the what?

What he meant is when you meditate, or when you are doing certain things in life, there is always more than enough time. For example, when you meditate, you may set aside five minutes, but there really is no set time if you need to take more. Okay, yes, there are extenuating circumstances because maybe you truly do only have five minutes and then you need to get on with your day, but for instance, if it is meditating at the end of the day, you have time (five minutes), but also no time (as much time as you need).

The same sentiment can be true when you are learning something new or trying to reach a goal. Yes, you may have a certain date you want to learn a new language by or reach that new gym goal, but you also always (okay usually) have more than enough time if you can have the flexibility and grace to move that time target around instead of holding (okay forcing it) to stay in place.

The next time you find yourself rushing through life, whether it be for meditation or something else, remember time, no time.

Lesson #3 Count Your Lucky Stars (Errr, Numbers)

During one of the meditation sessions I did with the Mazatlán shaman, he had me do a certain form of breathing. Also known as box breathing, this form of breathing entails that you inhale for one second, hold it for one second, exhale for one second, then hold it for one second. (“It” being your breath). That is one full set. For this particular meditation, the shaman said let’s do counts of seven, which immediately caught my attention, but I did not say anything.

After we finished three sets of box breathing using the number seven as our count, I inquisitively asked, why did you choose the number seven? He said that in all of the years he has been working with people he has always been drawn to the number three, so that is his usual go-to number, but for me, he said he felt very strongly about using the number seven, and that this was actually the first time he used it in his practice – ever.

Ironically enough, when I walk the lakefront and am having an especially difficult time with something in my life, I usually close my eyes and take seven deep breaths to reset my system. It is only after those seven breaths are complete that I open my eyes and look out over the horizon at the water before going about my day.

I have always been drawn to the number seven. (I have my reasons). Though I am often a skeptic of any numerology articles that come across my desk, you better believe if I catch that clock at 11:11, you can bet I am making a wish, so if you feel compelled or drawn to a certain number in your life, just go with it. It could be part of your destiny, if not, then maybe just your basic meditation practice.

Lesson #4 Pay Attention to the Universe

Okay, so this did not happen while working with the Mazatlán shaman, but on my way to and from my visit, I had a private driver who took me around the city including to the spot where the shaman resided – the Mazatlán Observatory 1873.

While he so kindly changed from speaking in Spanish to English so we could converse on our drive, (this girl seriously needs to get on Babbel), we covered a few topics where he dropped a couple of hidden gems that could easily be missed if I was on my phone checking on emails and not paying attention. He shared two platitudes, though cliche, they hit differently in the context of our conversations.

“Nothing is a shame, it’s all just a lesson,” and “Everything happens for a reason.” Given our topics of conversation, these two sentiments hit hard, but in a good way, and caught my attention so much, they made me take a step back and realize the Universe is always speaking to me in various ways, including other people, if I would just take the time to be present in the moment and you know, pay attention.

This is no hot take and in a sense is a cliche in and of itself, but I think we could all afford to make more of a concerted effort to put down our phones and simply be in the present moment waiting expectantly and with an open mind and heart to receive whatever messages the Universe has for us.

Lesson #5 Look for Your Signs

If you know me and are a member of my tribe, there are not many of you so consider yourself lucky, then you know that feathers are very significant to me in my life, and for good reason. (There is a whole story behind it, but that is for another article).

The long and short of it is that many years ago (seven to be exact – there it is again – the number seven), I chose feathers as my sign from God and/or the Universe to serve as a reminder to me that when I see them, I am on the right track in life and that I am exactly where I need to be in that very moment even if it does not feel like it in any capacity.

Even in those moments when the world seems to be swirling all around me and I cannot control anything or get a grasp on anything in my life – yeah, those moments, you know the ones. Even in those moments, if I found a feather, it would be like God or the Universe was telling me it is going to be alright, it is alright.

As I was departing from the shaman the very first time I met him, which was only a brief five-minute encounter, he said he wanted to give me something to take with me to always remember my experience. What did he hand me? A feather. Not just any feather though. The shaman had a large clay jar with a variety of feathers in it from a plethora of winged creatures so there were many options to choose from, but which one did he select? A beautiful, brilliant electric blue peacock feather. Needless to say, I got chills, but I took that as a sign from God and the Universe that I was exactly where I was supposed to be at that very moment in my life.

The next day when I returned for my full afternoon one-on-one session, we took some time to look at my galactic chart (similar to a birth chart in astrology – so you can only imagine my initial thoughts on this one. Yeah, that’s right. Cue the eye roll). Anyways, this chart includes various pieces of information pertaining to me including my spirit animal. Mine? A peacock. (Did anyone else just hear the music from The Twilight Zone playing in the background?) Talk about a beautiful full circle moment. And yes, I was able to successfully get my peacock feather through customs and TSA.

Lesson number five from my shamanic experience? Ask God or the Universe for a sign that resonates so deeply and strongly with you that when you see it, even if you are traveling the world and visiting another country, you will know that even though you may be thousands of miles from home (physically or maybe even mentally) you are exactly where you need to be at that very moment in space and time.

So the lessons in meeting and spending an afternoon with a Mazatlán shaman? The things you are attracted to in life, the things you are innately drawn to, whether it be the ocean, the number seven, or feathers, these things are there for a reason. The Universe is using people, places, and sometimes even special significant signs to let you know it has got your back if you just fully let go and trust. And you know, maybe try something a little woo-woo for once.