Impact of Sacred Sites

I never thought of Patricia as being a noble name until the day I met a Millennial Tree called Patricia. You see, each time I have an encounter with a Sacred Site, I ask for their name—which is different from the one the public knows them by. When I heard Patricia, I took a double take. Really, Patricia? I thought. I must've heard wrong or made that up. But it came through very fast and clear, so I decided to look up the meaning of the name. Patricia = Noble. Ah yes, that's it. Noble indeed.

Let me take you on my journey to meet Patricia. I woke up at 3:45 am, though my alarm was set for 5:00. Wide awake at such an early hour, I boiled some water and made a warm cup of black tea. Leisurely, I began packing and preparing for my trip to visit the Cloud Forest. Before I knew it, my friend Roger arrived at 6:35 am—ten minutes early, which is uncommon for a Costa Rican. Here in Costa Rica there's something called Tico Time, where it isn't unusual for Ticos (nickname for Costa Ricans) to show up 20-30 minutes or more late. Not Roger, though. He was just as excited as I was to visit this sacred site.

Roger works for the electric company and has two daughters. He's a kind man, very patient and hardworking. I met him on another hike in Guanacaste, and he lives in a nearby town called Naranjo, not far from me. He loves to explore this amazing country just as much as I do. He's hiked all over Costa Rica, and surprisingly, he hadn't heard of this special place we were visiting today. The place we were hiking is called Iyok Ami, which means Mother Earth in BriBri, a local indigenous language.

We set off to pick up another woman named Cynthia, who was joining us on our adventure. Cynthia had recently bought some cacao plants from me, though I hadn't met her in person—we'd only chatted via WhatsApp. She's Canadian-Costa Rican with a voice that sounds like a nurse or librarian, or at least that's how I pictured her in my mind.

When we arrived at Cynthia's place, I honked, and out came a woman with wild dark curly hair, flowered tights, a yellow shirt, large crystal rings on almost every finger, crazy big earrings, and a nose ring—the kind that clips in the front on the columella, the part of the nose that separates the nostrils. I had to look that up, by the way; never knew what that was called. I took a double take. Is this Cynthia the nurse? Turns out she's a translator and energy practitioner with a strong background in shamanism. Cool!

Here we go—Robin, Roger, and Cynthia—all set off to meet our new friend, the Millennial Tree who we would later come to know as Patricia.

We began our trek to Cerro de la Muerte (Death's Peak), which is the name of the mountain region where Patricia lives. It's called Death's Peak because it's in the Cloud Forest, and when you drive on the curvy road with steep inclines completely surrounded by clouds—well, you get the picture. It's a bit intimidating. Two other friends from a nearby community, Yam and Zach, were meeting us there. We all arrived and began our hike around 10:00 am. The clouds were already setting in, but we didn't hesitate to hit the trails.

After a two-and-a-half-hour drive, it generally takes some time to settle in and feel grounded. Not here at Iyok Ami. Immediately you're present to the sounds, sights, and scents of this magical place. Fifty meters in and you're fully immersed in what feels like another world. Tall trees that seemingly have no end are covered by bromeliads, ferns, and orchids growing on every branch. All of life wants to be part of this sacred ecosystem—wherever there's a chance for something to grow, you better believe it seizes the opportunity. Moss and lichens descend from high among the treetops, creating quite the vibe.

One hundred meters into our hike and everyone falls silent, allowing the land to calm our nervous systems and bring us back to ourselves. The trail isn't paved—it's a simple clearing that weaves its way through the forest. Hand-painted signs highlight Quetzal viewing stations, identify the names of plants or different tree species, and guide the way.

About 500 meters into our hike, I could sense we were getting close to the Millennial Tree. Large branches peered through the sea of green, and I wondered if that was her. I had a feeling—I could sense her presence. Something strong and undeniable happens within you when you get close to such a majestic being. Surprisingly, there was no sign introducing Patricia, but now that I think about it, she doesn't need an introduction. There she was, towering in the middle of the forest, undeniably the largest tree around. Hummingbirds and Yigüirros (robin birds, which happen to be the national bird of Costa Rica) dive in and out between her branches. So much life bursts from every branch that you get lost trying to take her all in.

Cynthia was on the other side of Patricia. I could see her bright yellow shirt and some of her black curls through one of the holes between Patricia's roots sticking out of the ground. Roger stood in the distance, admiring her from afar. She was a universe all of her own.

My eyes, overwhelmed by all there was to take in, I decided to close them and simply feel her. I thanked Patricia for being here, available for us to witness and experience. My mind didn't even know what was happening energetically, but it was profound. I buried my Blue Kyanite crystal in the ground next to Patricia with gratitude and reverence, my heart opening. Suddenly, I began to cry uncontrollably. What was this? Where did this come from? I didn't expect it, but right after I made my offering, a wave of emotion poured through me. It didn't matter what or where that was—afterwards, I felt such relief. My entire being shifted, and I became peace. I wasn't peaceful, I wasn't at peace—I was peace. No story, just me as Peace with my new friends and Patricia.

I can't tell you entirely what happened within me—words cannot describe it. I felt restored and whole. That evening, as I slept in the humble room at Iyok Ami, I felt the land working on my DNA. I knew we were connected and working together, even after I would leave. 

Patricia taught me something that every Sacred Site in Costa Rica has whispered: that true healing happens when we stop trying to figure everything out and simply allow ourselves to be held by something greater. Just as Patricia's nobility transcended my idea of what that name should mean, and Cynthia's essence couldn't be contained by my mental picture, Costa Rica itself refuses to be just a vacation destination. There's something far more profound happening here.

This is just one of the many transformative, healing and profound experiences I've had at Sacred Sites here in Costa Rica. Every time without fail I am gifted with clarity and understanding around current themes in my life. A deeper sense of embodiment and feelings of trust and peace in the larger unfolding of my life. Walking through the forest and in my daily life respectively, I cannot always see the big picture. But while in Nature, immersed in a pristine field of loving presence, one cannot leave untransformed.

Nature reflects back to us our true power, the divinity within. Unexplainable, nonsensical and inevitably genius! An entire ecosystem working together, continually sustaining balance and harmony. In her presence our stories don't stand a chance, and we are left with a greater knowing of who we truly are. Remembering our place as part of this greater whole. We are not separate from but a part of this vast interconnected web of consciousness.

I didn't have to say anything to Patricia—she knew, and as I opened my heart to her, she gave me exactly what I needed. This is the healing, transformation and shifts this sacred land of Costa Rica, our brothers and sisters, the Earth Ancestors are here to gift us with.

This is why intentional co-creative retreat work in Costa Rica is essential right now. When we create sacred space to commune deeply with this land, we're not just planning activities—we're opening doorways for the kind of transformation that Patricia gifted me. Costa Rica is the key that unlocks the door for us to return home to the Self. There is a reason the world is flocking to Costa Rica at this time, and many on retreat. You may think you are coming for a vacation or on a retreat, but there is so much more happening behind the scenes.

At Elevate Joy Retreats we empower you to consciously co-create with this magnificent power to create new realities and birth the New Earth. We cannot do it without her, and she is ready and willing to support those open hearts who answer the call.