For a long time I felt that I needed to find myself. I didn’t know exactly how, something in me asked for a break, a space to take a deep breath and return to my center. A very dear friend recommended me to walk through nature, allow myself simply to be, without demands… and that’s how I arrived at the Forest of the Arrayanes, in the Montúfar canton, in northern Ecuador.
As soon as I set foot in that forest, I knew it was in the right place. The air was different, the light filtered between the branches had something magical. Every step he took was like a sigh of the soul. I did the meditative walk with intention: to find peace and calm to move forward to find new paths and horizons.
A forest that keeps memories and secrets
While walking the trails, I was guided by Alicia Cerón, a woman with a serene wisdom and a deep connection with the forest. She is part of the Association Salvemos al Bosque de los Arrayanes, which takes care of this sacred space with love. If you ever want to live this experience, you can contact her at 099 134 9154.
Alicia told me that most of us know this forest for the beauty and grandeur of its trees, but few know that, according to our elders, many years ago rituals were performed in the center of the forest. People offered offerings to Mother Earth, asked permission to sow, to live in balance. In other nearby places, they even buried pots, chests, vases with spiritual meaning.
This place was and still is deeply sacred. They say that the shamans talked to the trees, and that the trees also responded. At that moment, I was silent… and with my heart open. I don’t know if I imagined it, but I felt that the trees also spoke to me.
A moment of reconnection and inner tenderness
In the midst of this connection with the forest, I allowed myself to perform a very special meditation. I sat among the trees, closed my eyes, took a deep breath and took my attention to my inner girl. I imagined that she was there, walking with me hand in hand, curious, sweet, trusting. I asked the forest to fill us with its energy, to embrace us with its wisdom.
And he did it.
That experience of reconnecting with my inner girl, in that environment so full of life and tenderness, was one of the most beautiful moments I have ever lived. I felt that something in me was unblocking, that I found myself again. It was the best thing that has happened to me in a long time.
The Cathedral and the night among breathing trees
Alicia took me to the heart of the forest, where there is a circular space called the Cathedral. There, the treetops come together to form a kind of natural dome. Looking up, I felt that I was inside an ancient temple, alive, that spoke to me in whispers.
I decided to stay camping. Sleeping in the forest was an almost mystical experience. The fresh air, the soft sounds of the night, the crunches of wildlife… and me, there, breathing, thanking, listening. The sensations were unique, as if I was inside a dream from which I did not want to wake up.
Life that sprouts everywhere
The forest is full of wonders. Wild orchids that are born between the roots, and if you take the time to observe, you can see possums, armadillos and birds moving freely. Everything vibrates with a special energy. It’s impossible not to feel part of the earth when you’re there.
An experience that transformed me
I came back different.
The Arrayanes Forest was not just a visit. It was a reunion with me, with my story, with my tenderness. I felt that the forest took care of me, taught me to be silent, to look with different eyes, to remember who I am.
And although I can’t fully explain it, I know that the trees spoke to me, and I listened to them. And maybe, just maybe, they also listened to me.
Article written by Lia – Holistic Coaching | Instagram: @lia_hec | WhatsApp: +593 979881234 | Photos: personal file
Article written by Lia – Holistic Coaching | Instagram: @lia_hec | WhatsApp: +593 979881234 | Photos: personal file
