Journeys with Tina & Leo

Dear friends and fellow travelers,

This year at the Magma Festival we had the opportunity to meet a family from Cusco (Peru), who carry the altars of their tradition and who came to us (Europeans) to pass on ancient knowledge and customs, but also a call to awakening. They shared with us that humanity is in a great crisis (which we all see ourselves) because we, as people, have forgotten that everything is interconnected. We have forgotten the principle of reciprocity – which they call AYNI – and that one must give before receiving. We have forgotten that it is Mother Earth to whom we owe gratitude for our lives. We have forgotten to give thanks for all the blessings we receive.

We only take, we give nothing in return.

And that is why everything is out of balance, why empathy is fading, why peace is lacking, and why Mother is unhappy – which she shows us…

Before we went to the festival, we had planned a gathering that, along with a mindful walk in nature and a Temazcal (ritual sauna), also includes offering gifts to Mother Earth. Our intention was to give thanks for this land (by the Korana River) and the people on it, whom we recently met and with whom we began a collaboration.

When we asked our friends from Peru if this was AYNI – they were delighted and said: “Yes – exactly that! This is what we need to do. And it is not just a native custom – it is a principle of all people, of all living and non-living beings, of Earth and the Universe. Thank you for doing this, and in such a beautiful way!”

They were overjoyed that here too, in little Croatia, someone was consciously practicing it. With their blessings, we will continue – in the ways we know and are able, as we have learned from many wonderful shamans of various traditions – to give our contribution so that we may all remember what it truly means to be Human on this beautiful Planet Earth.

And so, we invite you to join us at the first of many AYNI rituals, where together we will express gratitude for everything around us.

Ayni is an ancient Andean principle that means reciprocity, mutuality, balance, and the sacredness of exchange. It is not merely a custom, but a way of life and a worldview.

In Ayni, everything we do is a dialogue with nature, the community, and the cosmos:

🌱 Give and receive – nothing exists only for itself; life is sustained through the circulation of gifts.

🌞 Harmony – when we return what we receive, we maintain balance between humanity and nature.

🌎 Togetherness – Ayni reminds us that we are part of a greater family: the earth, the waters, the mountains, the people, and the stars.

✨ Sacred relationship – every gift, whether a grain of corn, a song, or a prayer, is an act of gratitude to Pachamama and the cosmos.

At its core, Ayni teaches us that life is not possession, but a gift to be shared.

✨ Program of the Ayni Gathering ✨

📅 Saturday, September 27th

🌿 We gather in a circle of community and begin building the Temazcal – a place of cleansing and rebirth.

🔥 In the evening, we sing and celebrate together by the fire.

⛺️ We spend the night in tents, by the river.

📅 Sunday, September 28th

🌅 At dawn we set off on a power walk, accompanied by sacred Andean medicine – walking silently and mindfully to the place where we will offer our gifts to Mother Earth.

🔥 Upon return, we enter the Temazcal, immersing ourselves in heat, steam, and song, leaving behind what no longer serves us and opening space for the new.

🥗 Afterward, we share a feast of gratitude, gifting one another with food, song, and presence.

🌍 In the spirit of Ayni – of giving and receiving – we dedicate this day to balance, gratitude, and the sacred relationship with Mother Earth.

👟 What to Bring: Comfortable walking shoes, water, your offering to Mother Earth, a towel/change of clothes for the Sweat Lodge, food to share, and an open heart

This is more than an event — it is a journey of movement, offering, purification, and community, held in one of the most beautiful natural settings imaginable. Come as you are, leave renewed. 🌊💚

Temazcal /Sweatlodge

Sweatlodge is one of the oldest rituals of native peoples around the planet and until today it’s been a part of the ceremonial practice of indigenous tribes of North and South America.

In a small hut made of wicker and blankets, heated with the help of stones from the fire and fresh water, drumming and singing with intention and prayer, we go through our own internal process of remembering the time in our mother's womb and our arrival to this world. It is a guided space for seeking the support of spirits, for cleansing and healing.

Within Temazcal high temperature activates a process known as mitohormesis, where the body, when facing controlled thermal stress, stimulates its cellular regeneration mechanisms. This improves mitochondrial function, balances the immune system and activates hormones like endorphin and dopamine, promoting deep states of emotional and mental wellbeing.

Other benefits of this ritual:

·       Physical - detoxification, improvement of circulation, reduction of muscle tension, skin regeneration...

·       Mind and emotions - quieting the "noise" of thoughts, clarity, overcoming fears, pushing one's own limits...

·       Spiritual - connecting with inner guidance, Mother Earth, elements and ancestors...

In a safe and supportive space, the effects are immediate and the energy of this ceremony lasts for weeks.

here you can check our video about Temazcal.