Embracing Spirituality: How an Intense Temazcal Helped Me Let Go of Unnecessary Attachments

And sparked the interest to dive deeper into my spirituality

My days in the city have come to an end, and as sad as I am about having to leave this magical place, I am entirely grateful for the opportunity to have experienced it. I had dreamed of making my way to this land for quite some time. My interest sparked years ago when I had a pen pal who was born and raised here, and in our exchanges, she would rave about it often. My curious mind wanted to know how living in another country was, and one day, I asked her what she loved most about life in the city. To my surprise, she replied, “Everything!” She loved the culture, the architecture, the food, and the people. I could feel her excitement through the words she wrote, and I knew then that one day, I would go on a search to find and experience the same love for her hometown, too! And I did! It took some time, but I finally experienced it, and I’m extremely honored to have been graced by it.

I love all of the same things she does. The culture—getting the chance to learn more about the history, customs, and traditions of the natives of this land. Witnessing the product of greatness in the Pyramids and the talent of the local musicians as they perform ballads and compositions on the street, in front of cafes, and in the park. The architecture—appreciating the character and color of each building I danced my feet into. Admiring the avant-garde and muralism design of the Soho House and the beauty of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Food—experiencing the explosion of flavors in every bite of mole, ceviche, and taco that took place in my mouth. I will daydream about the Guava Cheesecake at Contremar for the rest of my days. The People—engulfed by the patience and loving kindness of strangers that only seemed possible in a Utopian novel. As mentioned in my previous essay, I have experienced nothing but patience and eagerness from the locals to participate as I practiced my kindergarten-level Spanish. I was humbled by each moment and grateful to have had loving guides along the way.

I am appreciative to have been able to experience the same love for Mexico City as my former pen pal, however, I formed an even deeper love for this wondrous place after a spiritual Temazcal ceremony in Xochimilco. My friend Julie, who was also on an extended stay in the city, told me about her experience when she first arrived. Although she disclosed the difficulty of the ceremony, my mind couldn't stop thinking about the spiritual benefits that came after. I persuaded her to do another session with me, and we decided to go together on Resurrection Sunday. Oblivious to the fact that the holiday had coincided with our ceremony until the day before, divine timing and perfect alignment granted us the opportunity to participate in our own rebirths on the symbolic holiday honoring new beginnings.

I woke up exceptionally early that morning, a bit hungover from the night before, which I DO NOT recommend. I gulped what felt like a gallon of water and went back to bed to later wake up at a much more reasonable hour feeling rejuvenated. I did a morning meditation and made myself a delicious breakfast before I called my Uber to our meeting spot. When Julie arrived, we chatted a bit while waiting for our Shaman. We took a walk around the area and got ourselves some frijole Tlacoyos with queso and nopales. I tried my first Cafe de Olla and became obsessed with the perfect blend of coffee and spices. Once our Shaman arrived, our group packed onto the charter boat, and we were led to the sacred land where the ceremony would take place.

The water was calm, and the ride was peaceful. It was filled with lush greenery, tranquil sounds, and active wildlife. The cool air chilled my skin—triggering me to transfer my awareness, making me present in my body. Once we arrived and unloaded the boat, we gave thanks to the land that held the space for our ceremony. We patiently waited as our guides gathered the stones and prepared the hut. We were later instructed to pick a stone and place it on the fire. As the flames began to grow, we threw tobacco into it along with our intentions for the ceremony. Before entering the hut, we cleansed our auras with smoke, then crawled our way inside one by one. 

The ceremony had 4 different phases, each representing the sun’s placement throughout the day. The first phase would be sunrise, the next would represent high noon, then sunset, and the final phase would represent the end of the day or the moon. I was warned that each session would get hotter, and as someone who grew up in the desert—dealing with the intense and blistering heat of the harsh Arizona summers—I felt like this would be a walk in the park. However, my naive thinking was met with a rude awakening once the second phase came to an end. 

The first phase felt like a traditional sauna. Once the hut was sealed, it was pure darkness. The heat began to rise as water was thrown onto the rocks, and soon, everyone began to chant and sing. I hummed along, catching the pattern of the melody, and tears of joy began to roll down my cheeks. I had prayed for moments like this, to be amongst natives and to experience their culture their way. I was overwhelmed by gratitude because I couldn’t stop thinking about how lucky I was to have been welcomed to participate in this spiritual experience with them. Soon, the second phase commenced. We welcomed in the stones, and each one was blessed. The hut was sealed again, and this time, as the heat intensified, it began to sting my skin. It got harder to breathe, and the heat unpleasantly filled my mouth and nose. My body began to produce more sweat, leaving me saturated. Towards the middle of the second phase, I decided to lie down and found temporary relief on top of the refreshing grass beneath me.

The next two phases were hell. I was angry, uncomfortable, and drenched in my own sweat that quickly mixed with the dirt and grass beneath me, causing a personal muddy slip and slide. My mind and body were in an intense battle, triggering me to entertain thoughts of defeat. After the third phase had ended, I started to get lightheaded and, at one point, wanted to leave. The encouraging words of the Shaman and the group caused me to stay. After the last round, I was exhausted. I felt that all of my energy had been stripped from me, and I could barely hold myself up. Once the entrance to the hut was opened, we crawled out one by one. When I got to the front and felt the cool air on my skin, I began to bawl. I was so thankful for the fresh air that tears filled my eyes, and gratitude took over. I had never been that grateful for air in my life, something that is essential for my existence, something that I breathe in and out every day. I had taken it for granted all this time, and in this moment of desperation, I was ecstatic when it embraced my sensitive skin. I picked myself up and walked to meet one of the guides who prayed over me and cleansed me with water. I was then led to a patch of cool grass, where I collapsed onto and continued to weep. 

I was thankful for everything in that moment. The crisp breeze that soothed my skin and that made the neighboring trees dance. The chirping birds with mellifluous melodies, the plush grass I relaxed on, and the calming sound of the river surrounding me. My senses had been reset, and I saw everything differently– I saw everything clearly. In quiet moments, when all I was focused on was my breathing, a small voice reminded me that I already had everything I needed. It was at that moment that all those unnecessary attachments I had been hoarding were released, and my soul was liberated. I had let so many things cause me discomfort, worry, and anxiety because I had been attached to the outcome and attached to the idea of how I would be perceived, how I would make ends meet, and when I’d greet success. When the truth is how others perceive me is none of my concern. Worrying about how I’d make current ends meet only prevented me from seeing the blessings that were in front of me and blocked the memory of deliverance on previous occasions. My obsession with arriving at the finish line of success left me burnt out and unmotivated and formed a dark cloud over my journey–causing me to create a pessimistic point of view. 

Letting go of that worried state of mind and trading it in for a more faith-based mindset lifted the bounding weight from my shoulders. I have been on a spiritual high ever since I left that hut, and all I want to do is continue to chase it by implementing more spiritual practices in my life. I feel reborn, lighter and freer, unbothered by things not in my control and unmoved by the timeline of others. Mexico City owes me nothing, yet I owe it everything. My time in the city has helped me form a new perceptive, new mindset and has helped me to create the solid belief that everything I desire will happen in its time.