Samadhi and Panchakarma: at the heart of the emerald island.
After the jet lag lifted and we started to feel more like ourselves, we hopped on a train to Kandy, the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. Moving far away from the city and into the mountains, we found ourselves amidst a cyclone that had just hit the island.
As we journeyed, the rain poured down, and a mist emerged from the jungle, creating an unforgettable scene. The air was rich with the woody, damp scent of the jungle.
Kandy is stunning, surrounded by breathtaking nature. The city is home to monkeys, ancient cinnamon trees, sapphires hidden in the earth, and, further into the jungle, elephants and even leopards.
I wasn’t feeling well, so our guide suggested we stop at a local Ayurvedic clinic and spice garden to try a nutmeg syrup. Nutmeg is a powerful antibacterial and dewormer. They mixed it with vanilla extract and ginger in tea—it was magical. I swear, I recovered my appetite almost immediately. Feeling rejuvenated, we joined a traditional Kandean cooking class, where we prepared ten different varieties of curries from scratch.
While waiting for the other participants, we were welcomed with Ceylon tea and coconut pancakes. These thin crepes, filled with fresh coconut meat, jaggery (coconut flower syrup), and cardamom, became an instant favorite. We’re completely obsessed with them! Our favorite dish from the class, however, was the green mango curry.
Another highlight of visiting Sri Lanka was experiencing their version of Ayurveda. While it is a traditional Indian medicine system, you can find all the medicinal plants in Sri Lanka.
We visited the Samadhi Center for a day of Ayurveda—it’s an architectural gem owned by Mr.Waruna Singh an antique dealer, who purchased this land and has made it an oasis of healing. Destiny unfolded, and the purpose of my life revealed itself so clearly, preserving, sharing, and living Ayurveda, we went on to India after this location to the heart of Kerala where Ayurveda took root yet this place made an impression on me and I knew I needed to come back and spend more time before we came back to North America, so we made the investment and booked a 7-day panchakarma the last days of our trip after spending time in the Northern Province, more on it below.
During our time in Kandy, I purchased an aquamarine gemstone to appease Saturn as I embark on my Saturn return this year. Ideally, I should have gotten a blue sapphire, but aquamarine also works when worn on the middle finger on a silver ring.
Jewelry has always played a significant role in my life. I must have been a jewelry collector in a past life. Over the years, I’ve collected unique pieces like emeralds, coral, and ambers. Jewelry is powerful, especially when gemstones or metals touch your skin—a belief confirmed during the Modern Ayurveda course I took with Martha Soffer from Surya, where she briefly mentioned Vedic jewelry and the influence stones and metals can have on our lives.
Currently wearing a tribal Tibetan antique piece with a rose made with stone with a deer carved on the silver on the back two koi styles swimming around the rose from a Kashmiri jewelry dealer and a necklace of Indian pearls to soothe me.
After spending three weeks in India and twenty days in the south of Sri Lanka, Patric and I decided to return to the jungle. We love the wilderness, so we traveled to the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, where wild elephants roam and lotus flowers bloom everywhere. In the middle of nowhere lies Galkadawalla, a five-acre restored land owned by Maulie de Sada. This sanctuary features mud houses built from recycled materials, designed with stunning simplicity that leaves you in awe—another architectural gem. Sri Lanka is an architect’s dream, and it inspired me to return to my land, build something similar, and simply be.
Maulie de Sada grew up in this region but left her home country to work as a merchant in New York City. Exhausted and deeply homesick, she eventually sought refuge in the wilderness of Sri Lanka. The surrounding area is rich with history, where ancient civilizations thrived for centuries. UNESCO heritage sites like Sigiriya, the Dambulla Caves, and Polonnaruwa are just a few of the wonders nearby. Galkadawalla is so far removed from the West that, as Maulie says, only those who truly take the time and space to visit experience the best of humanity. We met extraordinary people from diverse backgrounds, enriching our journey in ways we never expected. I felt deeply grateful to cross paths with Melanie and Phoebe.
At that time, Los Angeles was burning. It was a strange sensation, existing in two vastly different realities—one overflowing with water, the other engulfed in flames. It made me reflect deeply on how we can transcend the Anthropocene and truly become Indigenous to the land, honoring our dear Mother Earth. Beneath the canopy of ancient trees and amidst tulsi fields, I wept, knowing that she is stronger in ways I will never fully understand. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer became a balm for my heart.
During our stay, I became fascinated by the various mudras depicted in Buddhist iconography, each one carrying profound meaning. I feel called to integrate them into my life.
Attaching a great article on Panchakarma because I can't articulate it as well as I'd like—seriously, the only thing I can personally compare it to is an ayahuasca ceremony. Two weeks have passed since I completed the treatment, and I feel wonderful—empowered, clear, light. I want to make this my life.
I’ve decided to become an Ayurvedic counselor, practitioner, and eventually a doctor, integrating this path with bio-regional herbalism and traditional practices.
Right now, I’ve just landed back in North America and need a space to ground, integrate all that was lived, and eventually share details on oils, practices, foods, and more.
Figuring out how to make my larger career dream come true...
Wish me luck.
xoxo,
María
