Oaxaca Pilgrimage: Zapotec Cultural Immersion: Natural Dye, Traditional Cooking, Cacao Ceremony, Alebrije Painting and Ethnobotany
January 9-19, 2025, 10 day Pilgrimage
I believe traveling the Earth Path and weaving soul family across cultures is a sacred act that amplifies understanding and care.
Welcome to the transformative Oaxaca Pilgrimage: Zapotec Cultural Immersion! Embark on a soul-stirring journey from January 9-19,2025, ten days of rich exploration into the heart of Zapotec culture. This immersive experience promises an enchanting blend of ancient traditions and vibrant customs, offering hands-on encounters with natural dyeing techniques, traditional cooking methods, cacao ceremonies, hiking to pyramids, making offerings, the intricate art of Alebrije painting, and the fascinating world of ethnobotany.
Join us on this unforgettable pilgrimage, where each day is an opportunity to delve deeper into the tapestry of Oaxacan heritage, forging connections with the land, its people, and centuries-old practices that continue to inspire and captivate. Prepare for an extraordinary odyssey of cultural discovery and personal enrichment in the breathtaking landscapes of Oaxaca, Mexico. Join us for an unforgettable journey where every moment offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Zapotec heritage, inviting you to become a part of its living legacy.
I’m brimming with excitement for this pilgrimage. It’s been a prayer seed long planted, since 12 years ago when I had the joy of meeting Felix and Crispina Sánchez, master Zapotec weavers of Teotitlán de Valle, Oaxaca. I was in the main Zocaló in Oaxaca City with my backpack when a man walked up to me with his weavings, saying these are naturally dyed. I was feeling a bit skeptical, already being into natural dying myself at the time, and seeing these bright rainbows of colors I started to ask him some questions. Why don’t you come to my house and see for yourself he offered and gave me the verbal directions of how to arrive at his village. Before I knew it I had set up my tent in the middle of the courtyard and was waking to the sound of Felix and Crispina weaving at 5am daily. Weaving is not a hobby here, it’s a way of life. Everyone weaves- the 10 year old boys, the Abuelas and everyone in-between. They shear the sheep, spin the wool, make the plant dyes, and each weaver has dozens of intricate patterns recorded in their being. It’s a level of artisan mastery not possible in just one life time; it’s a rich cultural top soil that feeds this level of art and expression.
I feel deeply at home in this village, it’s rhythms and pulse- like the beat of the loom, sing to my ancestral knowings. The morning markets filled with strong Abuelas, fragrant fruits, flowers and blue copal smoke, the dusty streets traveled by foot, and the original language of the land- alive and well- all seem to welcome my heart. I find myself absorbed in the daily life, toasting cacao seeds over the fire on a comal, praying up the sun, bundling corn husks for tamales, and singing to the waters. It’s in this place that I have found dear friends.
After 8 years, I returned to find out that Crispina’s husband Felix had passed, as well as the husband of her daughter Sylvia. I literally ran into Crispina on the street with a huge bouquet of flowers for her in hand, to join the family in tears of loss. The family was also struggling with the economic pressures of COVID. Together we started Weaving Rainbows which is a branch of Earth Path Education that uplifts indigenous artisans, artisans who so often are the keepers of their craft, their language, their seeds and precious ways of indigenous understanding of how to live with Earth and community in a good way.
While Weaving Rainbows shares the physical art of Indigenous artisans, in a beyond fair-trade ethic, it’s more than that. We are committed to weaving rainbow bridges of love and understanding cross-culturally, creating beneficial relationships for the future and wellness of Indigenous ways of life and art. It’s about the rainbow heart of humanity, learning to respect and support each other in beauty, abundance and peace.
The money you put towards this pilgrimage is directly uplifting the art and mastery of this weaving family and their village, as well as the alebrije craftsfolk in Arrazola, traditional farmers, ancestral cooks/chefs, and local folks who will transport us etc. Anyone can inquire for full transparency of where and how their funds are being allocated. I too will be getting paid as a guide as this work is also how I support myself and my daughter.
Oaxaca in January is super dreamy, low 80’s in the day and low 50’s at night, usually quite sunny and dry. Tropical fruits and abundance of fresh vegetables abound. The cuisine of Oaxaca is among the best in the world, and we will be enjoying traditional and ancestral foods of the area both in Oaxaca city, Arrazola and in Teotitlán de Valle. We will be eating mostly vegetarian and here is a nice article of some of the specialties of the region that we will be enjoying. https://uncorneredmarket.com/oaxaca-food/
(Here I am smelling some glorious gardenias in front of one of the many public murals in Oaxaca city.
We will begin our journey in Oaxaca City which will also be where most folks will choose to fly in and out. Flight is not included in your registration.
In Oaxaca City we will enjoy:
Ethnobotanical Garden
Markets
World Class Shopping
World Class Restaurants/ Cuisine
Arrazola: (Alebrije village) Alebrijes are brightly colored folk art sculptures of mythical creatures carved out of copal wood. Arrazola is brimming with mythic rainbow creatures and their makers. We will come here to paint our own alebrijes and learn about this amazingly vibrant art form.
Santa Maria de Tule: home of the widest tree in the world the Tule tree or Ahuehuete (meaning "old man of the water" in Nahuatl.) This tree is over 3,000 years old, and we will be visiting this elder to make offerings.
Hierve el Aqua: A natural wonder of caves, turquoise fresh water springs overlooking an oak valley, a power spot. I once did a 4 day vision fast in a cave here…a story best shared around the fire.
Teotitlán de Valle: A weaving village with strong local Zapotec Culture and farming system.
Flow of our Journey (subject to change if needed)
Day 1: Jan. 9, 2025
Arrive in Oaxaca by 5pm
Dinner at a local artfully crafted restaurant in an antique green cantera stone building- Origin.
(This place is my favorite)
(Here’s Rodolfo at Hierve el Agua one of the beautiful places we will be visiting.) “Guelaguetza" means to share or give away in Zapotec. It is a value that is present at every moment in our culture and is not something that is part of the past, but today is lived in different ways, in traditional and contemporary environments, as in this restaurant where visitors are our priority.” Rodolfo Castellanos (el Chef of Origin)
We will be staying in the heart of the historic city on one of the quietest streets due to being next to a thick stone convent. Everyone will have the option of having their own beds. Some rooms are shared some are private. If you require your own room please let me know beforehand (there may be a slight upcharge to ensure this along the way.)
Day 2, January 10:
Morning Mediation and Yoga
Trip to the world renowned Ethnobotanical Gardens: We will enjoy a guided tour (in English) to meet some of the plant friends we will be getting to know on this pilgrimage as well as learning their ancestral and current roles in the culture of these lands.
After the Ethnobotanical Tour we will experience an Atole Tasting at an Atolería (a place that specializes in ancestral recipes of a hot corn drink native to the region) and Historical Walking Tour of the City.
We will share dinner at one of Oaxaca’s best Ancestral Kitchens Levadura de Olla which translates to “Clay pot yeast”
Day 3: January 11th
Morning Meditation and Yoga on the roof
Breakfast and hot beverages at our place in the courtyard
Free Day to Explore Oaxaca City
Day 4: January 12th
Early Morning: Travel to the Ahuehuete (meaning "old man of the water" in Nahuatl. This tree is over 3,000 years old and we will be visiting this elder to make offerings. )
Head to Tlacolula de Matamoros for the regions most renowned Sunday market. Getting a feel for the food and artist open air markets is one of the beautiful wonders of Oaxaca’s rich cultural and culinary textures.
Travel to Teotitlán de Valle, settle into Crispina’s home. We are staying in a home. If you are desiring a luxury hotel this is not the experience for you. It is clean and it is a home set up for family and not the western traveler its a traditional and yet modern Zapotec home, where Crispina cooks over both fire and clay and gas with a refrigerator next door, it’s a home both inside rooms and an outside courtyard which becomes the natural dye studio, and our fire place where we dance and sing. There are 4 bedrooms in the house so those traveling together will be invited to share a bed during this homestay. Crispina’s daughter lives nearby (a short walk) so depending on how many folks come we will also stay there. This is a Zapotec cultural immersion where we will be cooking together, gathering plants, naturally dying, making tortillas, singing, braiding hair, and participating in the village and four generations of family life.
Traditional Zapotec Cooking Class and Dinner
Opening Fire with the Family
Day 5, January 13th
Sing up the Sun with Tobacco Offerings and Prayers
Yoga and meditation
Visit the Mercado Teotitlán de Valle which is a short walk from Crispina’s
Breakfast
Ethnobotany Hike and Harvesting Plants for Natural Dye
Starting Dye baths
Tlayudas Cooking Class and Lunch
Natural Dye Continues
Dinner and Fire
Day 6, January 14th
Sing up the Sun with Tobacco Offerings and Prayers
Yoga and meditation
Breakfast- as fresh as it gets.
Natural Dye Party
Lunch and Hike
Traditional Mole Cooking Class with Crispina’s Mom Maria
Making of Chocolate and Cacao Ceremony
Mole Feast and Song Circle with the Fire
Day 7 January 15th
Sing up the Sun with Tobacco Offerings and Prayers
Yoga and meditation
Breakfast- Mangoes will be in SEASON!
Natural Dye wrapping up all the colors and projects
Atole and Sopa de Guías de Calabaza Cooking Class and Lunch
Visit Doña Viviana Alávez is the matriarch who tends to the making of elaborate, ceremonial beeswax candles, an elder and guardian of this artisanal tradition whose origins lie in an ancient Zapotec wedding ritual.
Clay Offerings to Local Power Spot, Dinner and Fire at Nearby Natural Caves and Offering Place
Day 8 January 16th
Early Head to Hierve el Aqua
Swim, Hike and Relax
Head to Arrazola to Sleep
We will be staying at an amazing family farm with Cabins. If you like bright colors, mythic beings and painting this is the place for you!
Day 9: 17th and Day 10: 18th
Dawn Hike to the Pyramids of Monte Alban (we will have the ruins to ourselves as we are hiking in the back forested way long before the tourist buses arrive.)
Participate in a traditional Zapotec offering to the Spirits of the Land.
Paint your Own Alebrije (Copal Wood carving of a Nahual or Mythical and Magical Animal) when you register for the trip you will be asked what animal or mix of animals or mythical creature you would like to paint. Our friends in Arrazola will carve that animal for you out of copal wood and then you will get to paint it!
We will eat in the art studio and the land is a beautiful place to relax, nourish yourself and paint.
Day 11, January 19th
Goodbyes and Shuttles to the airport or on to your next Oaxaca adventure.
(This village Arrazola is sure to pollinate your heart in rainbows of beauty)
(Sunset over Teotitlán de Valle)
(Some of the colors we will be working with)
A morning stroll through Teotitlán de Valle
With my open sunshine heart I welcome you to join this special pilgrimage to meet people and places that will fill you with warmth and hope, to create with your hands, and to celebrate the vibrancy of the human family, art, culture and Earth.
What to Bring:
I also encourage you to bring offerings from your homeland for the lands and people we will be visiting, honey, pollen, tobacco, cedar, herbal medicines, stones, things you’ve made. I always like to travel as a gift and with gifts to share. I also suggest bringing cash for purchasing art (if that’s something you are in to) this is one of the most artistically rich regions in the world for pottery, carvings, weavings, paintings and more. Travel light as light as you can. Bring Blissware a lightweight bowl and fork/spoon, water bottle and mug. Bring 2-3 sets of clothing and a warm jacket (low 50’s is the average for Jan.) I usually bring less clothes because I like to get some clothes in Oaxaca. And bring what you feel comfortable in/with. There will be chance to hand wash clothes in Teotitlán de Valle. Instruments and Songs, Passports and a debit card, we will exchange for pesos once in Oaxaca. Toothbrush, floss, self care items, needed medicines etc. Journal and pen and/or art supplies, Phone (you can take pictures and please be conscious of not over-documenting as it can affect the energy of the group. If you are not taking a picture we request phones are put away if you need to text or make calls we ask that you leave the group to do so. We intend for our time to be as unplugged as possible.)
The trip covers everything except personal purchases, and a couple of meals in Oaxaca at the two restaurants listed as well as where you eat and shop during your free time in Oaxaca.
The trip covers all transportation as long as you are with the group, including your trip to and from the Oaxaca airport as long as you arrive by 5pm on January 11th and leave on January 20th.
The trip cost does not include your airfare. You will need to secure that from wherever you are coming from and going home to.
Total trip cost for the 10 days is $4,000 and includes all of your classes, lodging, transportation to and from the airport and all of your food with the exception of our time in Oaxaca City.
For further details and to register please text to schedule a call with Lena Eastes at 828-775-7174.
*partial scholarships available
*group discounts available
Muchas Gracias