Crossing Rivers, Building Bridges
A Journey Through Ceremony and Kinship
If you’ve been following my journey, you know I’ve spent much of the last decade searching—for belonging, for family, for a way to walk in right relation with the land and with others. That search has taken me from my roots in Australia to Europe, and eventually, back to the Americas. What I want to share today is a story about bridges—literal and spiritual—and the kinship that grows when we dare to cross them.
The Call to Yucatán
In 2022, I felt a powerful call to return to Mexico—to the Yucatán, where my Abuela welcomed me home. At the time, I was reading Tyson Yunkaporta’s Sand Talk, a book that weaves Indigenous Australian wisdom into a vision for healing our world. What struck me most was how much his teachings echoed what I was witnessing in the Mayan world: time as a circle, story as a bridge, and the land as a living memory.
Sitting with my Abuela in ceremony, I realized the pain I was carrying wasn’t just mine—it was the pain of land, of ancestors, of histories that needed tending. My family, like so many, had played its part in the long story of colonization and, unintentionally, in the wounding of the earth. That realization set me on a path to seek forgiveness—and to find new ways of being in relationship with place.
Ceremony on Ancestral Land
At the end of that year, I returned to Australia for ceremony. The land greeted me with abundance—rain, green hills, and a salt lake I’d never seen full before. Guided by my Abuela’s wisdom from afar, I laid a cross of salt and prayed for forgiveness, for closure, and for a new beginning for my family and the land we called home.
That night, as the wind howled and the storm skirted my camp, I felt a deep sense of belonging return. It was a turning point—a signal that it was time to leave behind old patterns and step into a new chapter.
The Sacred Solstice at Palenque
After a year and a half of searching, I returned to Mexico—drawn to the ancient city of Palenque for the winter solstice. There, among the ruins, I stumbled into a sacred ceremony led by Mayan elders. My tocayo, Benjamin, welcomed me and handed me his concha—an armadillo-shell instrument that sang with the voices of the ancestors.
I met Mama Adriana, who immediately adopted me as “Benjamin Dos.” In that circle, beneath the great trees, I witnessed a living archive of Indigenous stories and prophecies—a gathering of wisdom keepers preparing to share the origins of humanity. It felt like a convergence of worlds—a reweaving of memory. (You can read the full blog post here).
Crossing to La Ventana
The day after the solstice, I accepted an invitation to La Ventana—the land cared for by Mama Adriana and her family. To reach it, I crossed a river on foot—a threshold that felt both literal and symbolic. There, in the heart of the jungle, I joined a smaller ceremony alongside Chief Midegah, an Anishinaabe elder from Missouri, who carried with him the oldest pipe of his people.
Chief Midegah drew ancient trade routes in the earth—connecting Alaska to the Andes—and shared stories of connection that stretched far beyond what most history books tell. In that moment, I understood that our kinship is older and deeper than borders or bloodlines.
The Storm, the River, and the Lesson
After that first visit, I returned to La Ventana for a few days of solitude and reflection. Each day, I swam in the river, played music to the rhythm of the water, and let the jungle hold me. On my last night, a torrential rainstorm turned the gentle river into a raging torrent. By morning, crossing on foot was impossible.
My tocayo Benjamin woke me early—we’d have to hike upstream, through waterfalls and mud, to reach a cable bridge and my waiting taxi. Every step was a lesson in trust—in following the lead of those who know the land. Soaked and exhausted, I finally made it across—grateful for the adventure and the kinship that carried me.
Building the Bridge
During that rainy hike, Benjamin shared a dream—to build a permanent bridge at La Ventana so the land could welcome visitors in all seasons. What I didn’t know was that Chief Midegah, moved by his time there, had already begun rallying support. Within weeks, the funds were raised. As I write this, the bridge is under construction—a living symbol of what’s possible when community comes together.
Mama Adriana has shared photos and videos of the construction, and every image reminds me—this is what it means to build family. Not just by blood, but by shared responsibility, by showing up, by crossing rivers together.
Reflections on Family and Kinship
A few months later, Chief Midegah invited me to the Yucatán for the spring equinox—where 200 elders, artists, and spiritual leaders gathered for days of ceremony. There, I saw the prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor coming alive—North and South, mind and heart, meeting in ceremony and in action.
What I keep returning to is this—family is not just about bloodlines. It’s about the willingness to build bridges—between generations, between the sacred and the everyday, between ancient wisdom and emerging futures. We are, all of us, coming back together as one people—meeting at the tree of life, held by Mother Earth (this one also has an entire, detailed blog post you can read here).
Honoring the Bridge Builders
This journey would not be possible without the extraordinary dedication of groups and individuals working for cultural immersion, land preservation, and bioregional renewal.
La Ventana – Centro Educativo para la Vida Sostenible
La Ventana is more than a place—it’s a living circle of guardians, educators, and visionaries based in Palenque, Chiapas. Founded by Adriana Álvarez and supported by a diverse team including Grandmother Isela Martínez, Benjamin Alvarez, Jasmine Arriaga, Nancy, Alina Carmona, Chan Kin, Bhakti Lup, and the Juanitas, La Ventana is dedicated to conscious education, protection of flora and fauna, microeconomic projects, and spiritual tourism. Their work includes eco-tourism cabins, a ceremonial medicine house, organic honey production, and permaculture training—all with the vision of restoring the bioregion for the Mayan community and beyond.
Learn more and support:
Maya Bioregion Initiatives
The Maya Bioregion stands as a sacred expanse of lush rainforests, ancient temples, and vibrant cultures—stretching across Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Guided by the wisdom of Maya Grandmothers and rooted in the Maya cosmovision, this region is a living sanctuary where biodiversity and cultural heritage exist in profound harmony.
The Maya Bioregion Foundation is dedicated to restoring nature to more than 50% of historic levels as soon as possible. Their vision calls for a paradigm shift in consciousness—one that honors the interconnectedness of all life and nurtures a renewed relationship between humanity and Mother Earth. By embracing the concept of “bioregion,” they recognize that natural systems transcend political borders, weaving together forests, rivers, and communities in a delicate tapestry.
Their work includes the protection of vital ecosystems such as the Mayan Forest, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, and the region’s essential freshwater reservoirs. Through education, advocacy, and collaborative stewardship, the Maya Bioregion Foundation seeks to ensure that this vital heart of the planet continues to thrive—nourishing all who call it home and safeguarding a legacy for generations to come.
Learn more, sign the proclamation, and join their efforts to restore balance and honor the spirit of “Ixim”—corn, the symbol of life and sustenance:
Earth Angels Philanthropy Network
Earth Angels is a global network of conscious leaders committed to supporting projects that address the root causes of our planetary crisis. Their approach is holistic—offering not just financial capital, but also social, spiritual, and experiential support. La Ventana is their first flagship project, and the network includes visionaries such as Adriana Alvarez, Dr. Carmen Delia Ortiz, Nancy Siqueiros, Sommer Joy Ramer, Susan Stark Christianson, Heather Elizabeth, Victoria Rosen, and Mitzy Clementina Bautista. Earth Angels champions a unitive narrative and long-term partnerships for bioregional healing and cultural renewal.
Learn more and connect:
Call to Action – Join Us in Building Bridges
If this story stirs something in you—if you feel called to cross a river, to build a bridge, or to support those who do—I invite you to connect. Whether you’re called to support La Ventana’s ongoing projects, join the Earth Angels Philanthropy Network, or simply share your story of kinship and connection, know that you are not alone.
Visit La Ventana’s website to learn more about their vision, ongoing needs, and how to get involved.
Explore Earth Angels Philanthropy Network to discover how you can contribute to bioregional transformation.
Reach out to me directly if you’d like to collaborate, share your own bridge-building journey, or learn more about these remarkable circles of kinship.
Together, we are remembering what it means to be family—across rivers, across cultures, across time.
Thank you for walking this path with me.
—Benjamin
What bridges are you building in your life? I’d love to hear your story—reply below or reach out directly. 🌿