Doors open at 6:30PM. There will be guayusa tea lounge and music. See parking info at bottom!
6:30pm Doors Open, drink tea, connect with friends
7pm - 9pm "Sacred Traditions of the Yawanawá"
9-9:30pm Hanging out, more connections
9:30-10pm Closed & Out
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IAMLIFE & The Aware Project Present,
In Collaboration with Floresta Association,
CONNECTIONS: "Sacred Traditions of the Yawanawá"
Come and join us for this super special evening of cultural sharing of the Yawanawá tribe, who live deep in the Amazon of Brazil. We are very excited to invite you to this rare gathering of not only Matsini, the chief and paje of Mutum, but also his wife and two of his 14 children.
Matsini, the Casique of Aldeia Mutum, grew up in Mutum, studying with his teacher Tata from childhood til a few years ago when Tata passed away.
He became a Pajé around the age of 18 and has been deepening his studies ever since, constantly doing diets to strengthen his connection with the Uni and the Yawanawa prayers and traditions.
His sisters are the first female Pajé’s of the Yawanawa tribe, Hushahu, Putany, & Waxy, and also study in Mutum. All his children study with him deeply and carry the Yawanawa prayers with them in the most beautiful ways.
His son Kuru is 16 and will become a Pajé soon, and continue in his father's path in Mutum with their family.
Matsini works year round with groups dieting in Mutum, sharing his prayers and traditions with a few close students, and is focused on NGO work with Floresta Association, a non-profit for Matsini and the village of Mutum, which aims to create sustainability in Mutum and the Amazon now and for many future generations.
The Yawanawa live in Brazil, in the state of Acre, in the western Brazilian Amazon. There are over 900 Yawanawá, living in 8 tribal villages. The name Yawanawá translates as ‘The People of the Wild Boar’.
We western people would say they live in paradise: There are many hills, lakes, rivers and streams surrounding the villages. The climate is hot and humid; depending on which time of the year you go there the average temperature during the day is 25’C but it can be surprisingly cold at night. There are two seasons – the wet and dry.
The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world –a giant river basin covering 1.7 billion acres and including thousands of rivers. It spans nine countries in total, although around 60% is in Brazil.
The Yawanawa have lived on their land for centuries and their way of life is developed from their ancestors. Community and the connection to nature is what they need in order to be happy and thrive. A connection we are so urgently seeking today.
The spiritual leaders of the Yawanawá follow a long lineage of elders who’ve studied the medicines of the rainforest since the beginning of time. They know the powers of the medicinal herbs and plants from the forest. From tree bark to frog secretion, they hold the answers for cures and poisons alike. The forest is a very magical place and there's a lot for us to learn.
The Yawanawá have a lot of respect for the land, and take over the responsibility to look after it. They are very joyful and open people. For them the balance is what's important in life, to find your equilibrium. Joyful and happy, never afraid to look at the hidden aspects of our being as well.
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***Floresta Association (www.florestaassociation.org)
We are a non profit organisation and our main intention is to protect and conserve the Amazon rain forest and to preserve the culture of the indigenous tribes who live there and their habitat.
We will ensure that humanity thrives in co-creation and harmony, by supporting each other with the best western sustainable technologies as well as the ancient wisdom these cultures are sharing with the world.
We are different. This non profit is run by both Yawanawá elders as well as western people so that together we can create the change we want to see in the world.
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***IAMLIFE (www.iamlifeproject.org)
We create interactive, celebratory, & community-building events to connect people with the world and with each other.
Our CONNECTIONS events foster and nurture a sense of value and respect for the importance of “native wisdom” in the modern world. These events bring people face-to-face with indigenous cultures to learn, share, and collaborate.
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***The Aware Project (http://awareproject.org/)
We are an independently-run, Southern California-based psychedelic society, part a of a global community, that is passionate about recovering the use of psychedelics and entheogens as culturally acceptable tools for healing, growth, celebration, spiritual connection, and personal and collective exploration.
We gather in community, as individuals from all walks of life, to learn, grow, and share.
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***IAMLIFE Guayusa Tea Lounge fueled/sponsored by Warmi: https://www.warmi.co/
Guayusa is super leaf native to Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest. Guayusa contains almost the same levels of caffeine found in coffee but with many added health benefits. It’s high levels of caffeine in synergy with the amino acid L-Theanine, energizes the body all while relaxing the nervous system. Second only to raw cacao, its antioxidant levels are extraordinary, boosting immunity and preventing premature aging.
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***PARKING: Street parking can be tight here so we suggest arriving early, carpooling, or, better yet, use Uber or Lift!
THE VENUE is located at 5481 Santa Monica Blvd 90029.
There is an underground parking garage located at 1110 N. Western Ave. Once you park - you can walk around the corner to the Santa Monica entrance - we are on the second floor. There is elevator access. There is also some street parking in the area, but it can be tricky. Generally speaking, as with everywhere in Hollywood, ride-sharing and carpooling are always encouraged.
Parking varies depending on the time of day and unfortunately the venue is at the mercy of it's parking attendant. During the day, 7am - 5pm, the parking is $1.50 for the first two hours and $1.00 for each additional hour. At 5pm - he usually does $5 after 5pm. Unlimited parking after 5pm for $5. Sometimes he gets tired and leaves at 6:30pm - then parking would be free once he is gone. He doesn't have a regular schedule - so it is hard to say when it would be free or $5 for unlimited parking. All parking is cash only. There is an ATM nearby.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This group is being designed as a secure space. It is not a place to seek, encourage, or participate in the procurement of controlled substances. Do not bring, buy, sell, transfer, or arrive on any illegal substances, or swap information on how to buy them. Members who violate these basic house rules will be removed from the group and will not be allowed to attend future events.