Guatemala Day 9

Today we visited a traditional healer, Sebastiana. She showed us some of the traditional herbs that she uses and told us about her experiences working with the community + her time in El Salvador(?). Just from listening to her, it is very evident that she is a very passionate and compassionate person. Someone asked her if she's had a patient interaction that was really poignant or memorable or life-changing. As she was telling the story, she started tearing up and even though it was so long ago, that moment meant so much to her. I really don't know how to describe it, but you could just feel how much she cared about everyone.

Doña Sebastiana 

Doña Sebastiana and Dr. Quinn. She went around and told us which herb she would prescribe us if we were her patient.

Some of her herbs, which she picks and prepares herself.

Doña Sebastiana also gave us our nawales (Mayan horoscopes). Unlike Western or Chinese zodiac signs, you get multiple signs. I'm not 100% sure what she said about mine but this is what I gathered:

Cib (owl) is the guardian of ancient wisdom. This is the day I was born into. She didn't tell me much else, but she said that I have to make sure that I take care of my inner turmoil or else I won't be able to become the great leader I'm supposed to be. This was interesting because before giving us our signs, she pulled me aside and told me that I had to forgive someone, either a woman that I'm close to or a man in my family. I honestly had no idea who that could be, but I was pretty concerned about it because she said it was essential to my health o.o

E is kind of like Mother Earth, from what I gathered. She said that I only have one planet (I guess people normally have multiple or have to rely on others to complement them) because I am self-sufficient and very powerful.

Q'anil (rabbit) is the guardian of life and is my past sign (influences childhood, but continues to support you as you grow into your day sign). She said this is probably what has led me to the medical field.

K'at (spider) is the web of life - the complications, the networks, etc. This is my destiny sign. She said specifically for me, given all my other signs, it's very important that I rely on my network of friends for support. I will often think that I can do things on my own, which may be true, but that doesn't mean I have to or that I should.

***

Afterwards, we went to Chichicastenango for lunch and shopping.

We ate at a AYCE restaurant inside a hotel, but that was not the highlight. There were colorful birds throughout the courtyard and this one even said "¡Hola!" to us!

I ended up only buying one thing, but it was my biggest purchase yet: 325Q (~$43) for this beeeaauuuuutiful backpack! It's blue and hand-embroidered with real leather. I wanted it but couldn't bring myself to buy it for myself, so I bought it for my sister (a souvenir/graduation gift/birthday present). A 3-in-1 gift for less than $50? Worth it.

I didn't take very many pictures because I was browsing and I didn't feel very comfortable flashing my camera around, so this one will have to do....

One of the many walkways in the Chichicastenango market. It's the biggest outdoor market in Central America.