34 | Divine Intervention: Plant Medicine, Angels and Answering God’s Calling with Aluna Lua
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[00:00:00] Cynthia Gutierrez: Hi, welcome back to the Spiritually Embodied Leader podcast. I am so excited to have you here because I have one of my favorite people in the world here joining me today, Aluna Lua. She is a dear friend and mentor of mine, and someone that I wholeheartedly trust within the realm of psychedelic healing and plant medicine and ceremonial experiences.
[00:00:24] And I felt really called to bring her on today because there's just this season of my life right now where divine intervention is just very ripe and alive. And because it's something that I feel like has been part of my life, I mean, as long as I can remember, but when Aluna Lua came into my life, it came into a whole different level.
[00:00:47] It, it got so much deeper, and it really started to help heal a lot of my spirituality and also how I relate to plant medicines, how I relate to different deities from different cultures and also getting back in better relationship with the indigenous cultures. And the reason why I wanna bring in divine intervention today is because, Spirit is talking to us constantly.
[00:01:18] And some things can be like, "Oh, okay, it's 11:11 on the clock. Woo." Right? Like, there's some things that are just maybe affirmations or little reminders that we're on the right path and to remember that Spirit is always there with us. And then there's other things that come up in our life that feel a lot more significant and feel a lot more important, and maybe bringing forth something for you to take a deeper look at.
[00:01:46] And sometimes that can be confronting. Sometimes that can be a bit uncomfortable or bring up some fear within us, and it's very common for us to hesitate or, "Oh, I'll think about it later," right? Like, we will delay certain things in our life. And I just wish to have this episode to serve you, to recognize when spirit is talking to you, and maybe to realize that it is time to lean in to those divine interventions, lean in to the guidance that spirit is showing you for you to finally take action.
[00:02:24] And say yes to the next evolution of your life, or yes to healing something within your lineage, and to receive support, right? Asking for help, receiving support, and that is why I felt so inspired to bring Aluna Lua today because she has been a huge supportive person and role model in my life, and it is just such an honor to bring her here to all of you.
[00:02:49] So Aluna Lua, would you like to share anything in particular?
[00:02:54] Aluna Lua: Yes. I am so honored to be here again, Cynthia, and just full cycle from all the other two episodes that we had about your journey and the medicine. So it's so lovely to be back and to be celebrating a new chapter of our connection, our work together, and all the miracles that we get to share with our community from following our divine intervention. So my prayer today is that the Holy Spirit just bless anyone that is listening to this conversation so that they get to truly hear God's voice from the clearest and pure way.
[00:03:38] That may the Holy Spirit just guide them through, and may they feel that clearly so that we are here sharing our testimony, our evidence that following God and truly opening ourselves to a spirituality with a lot of discernment, for that to be a conversation that supports everyone in however they're at in their spiritual journey. So it is an honor to be here. Yay.
[00:04:04] Cynthia Gutierrez: Yes. So I'd love to know when you hear the words divine intervention, what does that mean to you, and how had that started showing up in your life?
[00:04:17] Aluna Lua: So I absolutely say that I was saved by God. I was completely lost in my life. I was just doing drugs, going to raves, didn't care about my family, myself, my health, and I started this path really young. With 13 years old, I started going to raves and just taking LSD and ecstasy, and it was no spiritual at all.
[00:04:40] It was literally just to kinda dance and express rage that I had through my family and my childhood. it was when I was 19 that I took a little bit more of LSD than I've ever taken, and I had a full-on divine intervention. Something completely changed that never happened before, and I was taking acid for years.
[00:05:02] I was all about the psychedelic world, but that particular journey just show me the spiritual realm. So it came out of a place of just seeing psychedelic stuff, and little monsters, and little patterns everywhere, to actual spirits, and I could see spirits of darkness and spirits of light all around me and in people as well. And I didn't even believe in God. I was all about science and to prove to everyone that God was just a way to manipulate the world. it's like, and it's unbelievable of who I am today, but I swear to God, I was completely like, "No, God is not real. People are stupid." And that day was like, "Oh, God is real."
[00:05:51] Like this, I feel a spiritual divine force. And from that moment, I remember hearing a voice that day saying, "Your life will never be the same." I'm never gonna forget. It was so powerful to receive that message that was so clear, and I had no idea what would happen in my journey from there.
[00:06:15] But that felt so right in my heart that I couldn't do anything else than follow that. Okay, what is it that I can step into and now to meet God in a way that I never thought I would before? It took me so much courage to do that, and now I'm so proud of myself. And I got myself in a lot of trouble in spirituality in general as well, which I'm excited to talk about.
[00:06:46] But it was through this knowing in my heart that I didn't put it there. Something came and just saved me, and I honor that so deeply. And that's why I think this topic is so important because like you said, yes, we do leave things for later. We tend to not celebrate the good stuff in life, and we tend to miss very important opportunities. I know I have missed a lot of opportunities in my life just because of inconvenience or just self-doubt or just avoiding it.
[00:07:23] And now I know that, so I take divine intervention as something very serious in our lives so much that here we are. We would never have met if I haven't followed that voice, and all the evidence of divine intervention in our lives, in your life, in the life of our community, it wouldn't be possible if I didn't know that that was a thing, right? I'm curious about you, too, Cynthia. What was that divine intervention for you?
[00:07:54] Cynthia Gutierrez: Well, I mean, there's two, 'cause I was thinking of the time when, you know, I met you, but also when you brought up that moment where you knew and something told you very clearly that your life was never gonna be the same. That moment for me was when I went to Egypt and the Great Pyramids of Giza, and found myself in a ceremony inside of the king's chamber of the Pyramid of Giza.
[00:08:20] And the thing is, back then, so that was December 2012, and you may remember, Lua, during those times there was t-talk of like the apocalypse and like the Mayan calendar was ending, and it was just December 21st, 2012 was a really big deal for a lot of... to me, it was very fear-mongering I felt like.
[00:08:42] Like there was just this doomsday that was going to come. Well, from the media that I was watching at the time. And at that time, I didn't know about Burning Man, I didn't know about indigenous cultures. I didn't know... I mean, I knew like cannabis and other more hard drugs. But I wasn't very spiritual at the time.
[00:09:01] I went to Coachella that year, and there was the Do Lab stage. And I really liked the music, so I got on their mailing list. Months later they're like, "Hey, we're going to Egypt December 21st." My birthday's on the 22nd, so I was like, "Birthday trip." I told a couple of my friends. They're like, "Yeah, we're gonna go with you."
[00:09:21] We go and we head there, and it was like a culture shock. Like, I had never heard that type of electronic music. I'd never seen the kinds of clothes. Like, it was so wild to me to see everybody together celebrating in that way. And also there were specific people holding different rituals and ceremonies throughout that whole weekend in different like parts of Egypt.
[00:09:44] And when I found myself in ceremony in the king's chamber they put down all the lights, and they started singing and I, I didn't really know what was going on. I didn't really hear about a ceremony happening. I just knew it was a private tour. But when I found myself in the dark and I felt all of the people around me and the voices, and I was crying and rocking my body 'cause of all the energy that was moving around me and I just knew in that moment, it was like, "Your life is never going to be the same."
[00:10:19] And I didn't know how that was gonna look. I knew it wasn't gonna change overnight, but I just, I just knew, and I was like, "Okay." I, I felt like I didn't really have that moment of like I had to accept it. I just knew. It was very obvious, and it's like it was already done. Yet there was this really deep sense of like feeling okay.
[00:10:41] Like I knew I was going to be okay. I didn't know what it all entailed, but I was just very, very grateful for it nonetheless. And over the years okay, so I became a mom in 2017.
[00:10:54] And gosh, when was this? So it was 2023 where There was a festival called Lucidity happening, I believe April, yeah, and a month before then, I was on the verge of breaking up with the father of my child that we had already been together, gosh, I don't know, like five or six years at that point. And it was like my very last straw, and for some reason I was like, "You know what?
[00:11:21] I'm gonna give this one last shot." So we were together for about a month until we went to Lucidity, and we were still together at Lucidity, yet I was camped right next to this tent that was hosting a lot of workshops. And there was one particular one that I just happened to be at camp every time it happened, and I love cacao, and it was a...
[00:11:43] Do you remember what it was ex- it was like a sobriety,
[00:11:46] Aluna Lua: workshop, yeah
[00:11:48] Cynthia Gutierrez: yeah. And it was over, you know, with cups of cacao, and everybody would come together and talk about it. The conditions were just right for me to be there, and I felt really called. And I went to all, all of them each three days, and after the third one, I stayed behind and was talking to some of the people that were facilitating that workshop.
[00:12:08] And they were saying like, "Oh, we're gonna have a Hape ceremony. Would you like to join?" I said, "Yeah, sure." And then suddenly Lua comes walking in, dressed so beautifully, and she's singing songs, I believe. I think, like, I don't remember if everybody was starting to sing, like, to gather the medicine, come sit together, and you came, just sit right next to me.
[00:12:31] And I, there was just something about Lua's presence that I was like, "Oh my gosh," like, "I'm so glad she's here," one, and I can't wait to meet her, two. And after we had our Hape ceremony, that was very healing. It was a very memorable experience. I knew, I was like, "She's gonna be my teacher." Like, I could tell, she's, she's my mentor.
[00:12:50] And I knew I needed to get your contact information. And lo and behold, I find myself at one of her beautiful Kambo Body Bliss retreats. And some of the participants have shared there's life before Lua and life after Lua. We all always laugh about it because it's just, yeah, it's amazing just the different- support and guidance and angels, you know, that walk in and out of our lives.
[00:13:18] And I'm just so blessed to
[00:13:20] Aluna Lua: Ooh.
[00:13:21] Cynthia Gutierrez: walk through mine. So yeah.
[00:13:23] Aluna Lua: God.
[00:13:25] Cynthia Gutierrez: And then so one thing I do wanna share is that after I got in touch with Lua and we kept in touch after, you know, I came home to the festival, maybe two or three months later I finally end my relationship for good, and I leave, I move out and find my way on my own.
[00:13:43] And eventually that's when I started to work with Lua more intimately within the retreats and beyond. So, I- that's why I felt like just you came in at the perfect time, that spirit was like, "Yeah, she's your teacher. She's gonna be helping you. Not immediately, but we're gonna stick a pin in it and we'll reconvene."
[00:14:07] Aluna Lua: Yeah, and I think from everything you're sharing, it's like, really that warrior spirit once we have a calling and you feel something, and then it's not necessarily so easy. Sometimes, all the time we have to show up in the battle. We have to face our fears. We have to take risks. We have to a little crazy, that nobody will understand, right?
[00:14:34] Like, allow other people to disagree with you or to not support whatever you're doing, and that takes a lot of courage. I think plant medicines are really the, the perfect example. We need a lot of courage, discernment, and integrity to show up for this work because it will take us to a path that we would never imagine. Like, how could we ever imagine that day that we met that we would be here years later? This was your, your third Kambo Body Bliss. Right?
[00:15:07] Cynthia Gutierrez: I've done three. Yep
[00:15:08] Aluna Lua: three cycles of deep cleansing. You met your best friends in, through this community, and you guys are so strong together. It's, like, so beautiful to see the, the evolution and every step that we have been taking and just continue to show up for God, to continue to follow God's signs and assignments.
[00:15:31] I like to call it assignments. Some things are just our assignment, and the way that that came to me was through Archangel Michael. Archangel Michael just showed up to me in a dream nine years ago, and just a complete divine intervention. Just completely told me, like, "Hey, girl, we're doing deep work on Earth, and you gotta say yes to it.
[00:15:56] Like, this is it." I'm not gonna go so long on the story 'cause this took me a year to process that. Like, who's Archangel Michael? I'm like, "What are you, what are you talking about?" To read books and to sit in ceremony with that intention, to talk to peers. I'm grateful I have the Santo Daime community in Brazil, which it was the, it's a church in Brazil that it's very psychedelic Jesus- Seekers. And this was the first tradition that I got to be connected to in Ayahuasca, which at the time was just whatever I had access. I had a friend that was going. That was the, the, the only access I had. Who would I know, how would I know that years later I will be still so, so connected to that energy of that tradition, and to find my path in Christ, and to receive an angel that tells me we're warriors and, and that we have an assignment, and that my assignment is to tell other people that they have their assignment
[00:17:00] And to be able to see people like you also feeling that and connecting to that assignment in our lives to heal our lineage, to do the work that we're here to do, to leave a better world for the future generations. It's not a lot of people that will get to these realizations. Like, I didn't get to this realization by myself. It was total divine intervention that continues to, to bring us together here.
[00:17:26] And we are here to celebrate, 'cause today is the last day of the 21 day Archangel Michael prayer. It's the celebration of the Feast of St. Michael, which is a time of the year that we celebrate the changing of seasons and the balance between dark and light, that the light already won. And we've been doing this prayer together with the community, and Cynthia, for years now, and this prayer has brought so much strength and protection to our lives, and to our communication with God.
[00:17:57] So we're currently doing this prayer with the community, and today is the final day, the 21 days that we get to complete this cycle again together. So would love to hear from you, Cynthia. How has been your journey through prayer, through the intervention of Michael, through your warrior spirit? Just so we get to share also the how. Think it's important to people to understand that how much discernment we have to have, and courage to walk the path of God that's going to be different than other people.
[00:18:29] So I think our, our stories and our testimonies are, really helpful for folks out there that are feeling that calling, right? To embrace your assignment
[00:18:39] Cynthia Gutierrez: Mm-hmm. Yeah. And the biggest thing that I see, like, when I reflect back on all the work that we've done, and how Archangel Michael has reminded me of my role as a, a warrior in my life, and especially within my lineages, 'cause I identify as the black sheep in my family. Sometimes I'll say rainbow sheep, just 'cause it's like, you know, it's, it's...
[00:19:04] I'm just all over the place at times. Yeah, I just feel like a wild card with my family. And just doing things so differently, not just within my own personal life, but as a mother as well, and how I raise my daughter, and the dreams and the visions that I have for us, and also for future generations.
[00:19:23] And the thing is, when I think about all of that or how much I want to evolve and expand my life, before all of this really deep work that we've done together, Lua, I felt like I had been riddled with self-doubt. Like, I just... It's like, okay, yeah, like I know all this is so alive and on my heart, but being scared to the point where I just...
[00:19:47] I'm like, why even try, you know? And even though I do try, it's like, it, it's, it feel like, I feel like it's been so difficult. And also learning the things that I don't like or don't wish to experience, especially when it comes to working with other people or, like, in plant medicine and things like this.
[00:20:06] I had to learn a lot about what doesn't work for me. And by the time I met you and realized, like, oh my gosh, it's got X, Y, and Z that I've been looking for, and it's got other things that I didn't even know I needed, and I feel like things are coming together in my life and through the work to help me really reestablish that sense of self-trust.
[00:20:29] And also knowing that I do have guides and I do have angels at my back supporting me, and there are ancestors in my lineages that have been praying for me. And even though, like, we hear this, especially in, like, the spiritual community and the conscious community, like we hear this, but w- within the ceremonial work that we've done, it's like I just, I feel it in my bones, and it's shown up time and time again.
[00:20:55] And it's helped me to, yes, trust myself more but also to actually be stronger, to have this sense of strength. And the more that I've allowed myself to grieve and unravel a lot of trauma, unravel bitterness or things that I've been holding onto, resentment, things like this, and allowing the sadness to be unearthed, I feel like now at this time in my life, I'm finally really- Really breaking through all of that and tapping into the joy and into that, into that like a zest for life comes to mind, but it's more than just like, like a zesty like, "Ooh, this is nice."
[00:21:37] It's like this, this, this passion. I, I feel so much more passion in my heart and in my actions when I go to do something that I know is for my future or part of my assignment, even when it's difficult, even when I'm scared. And that is such a gift within itself and- Gosh, like I, I just never, I feel like Archangel Michael just kinda showed up in my life, and I, I didn't really have to...
[00:22:06] 'Cause with like Jesus and Mother Mary, I grew up Catholic, I was exposed to that since I was born. So I was already a bit familiar with it, and I had weird experiences with religion, and I was averted. And then thankfully, you kinda helping me relearn and come back into better relationship and heal that relationship.
[00:22:27] I've also been able to expand. And so now learning about Archangel Michael and having this really beautiful moment at the first KBB retreat when Lua was facilitating. Yeah, she was putting together this prayerformance with the whole group, and she has specific groups assigned to specific angels.
[00:22:48] And you were in the middle of the group, and you said, "Okay, I need somebody to step up as a leader to be like the, you know, the front of this group." And people would like say, "Okay, me. Okay, me." And at that time I was having a really hard time because I didn't raise my hand, and I was like, "Cynthia, you're a leader. Hello. Like, you need to step up." And there was all of these conflicting thoughts and judgments that I could feel reverberating in my mind. And when it was time to receive the angel that my group was a part of, it was Archangel Michael.
[00:23:24] And it, it was something just flooded my body, it felt like he was like, "No, I had you wait because it was my time to like claim you. Like, no, you stay here and you wait because this, this is like my time to fully connect with you and know that like my presence is here in your life." Like he stepped into my life rather than me trying to initiate because if I would've stepped up, I might have been in a different group at that time just with the configuration.
[00:23:57] So I was like, whoa, it was just really wild. And ever since then it's really beautiful and powerful, and I'm just so grateful for his presence in my life. And thank you so much for just sharing so much of his messages.
[00:24:13] Aluna Lua: Yes. Yeah, for the person that's listening, maybe you've never heard about Archangel Michael before, but just to also name that the warrior spirit is present in every tradition in some other name. warrior of God, the part of God that protects, that provides, that aligns. So however way that energy is reflected, that energy can be reflected in however way.
[00:24:43] And for me, like, angels have truly came to me. Like, I didn't ask for this. I, I didn't, you know, I didn't, I didn't want that or, or request it or anything. It's just like, "Oh, okay, angels. Okay, angel's talking to me. Okay, you're Archangel Michael. Okay." And then how do we even understand that?
[00:25:01] How do we even have the discernment of that? 'Cause it's something I've learned through my path as well, 'cause I got to heal a lot of Christianity trauma and religious trauma in the Santo Daime tradition, and I think that's helpful for folks to hear that that's real. This, this, the religious trauma is real. And learning a lot from Brazilian culture, I really like how all the, the spirituality want to be united. They all get to respect each other. There's no, "Oh, if you like Jesus you can't sit with plant medicine." It doesn't work like that. It's such a mixed culture that is so raw that everything just kind of- respect and dance with one another.
[00:25:45] I love going to indigenous rituals, ceremonies in Brazil that have Daimestas in the, in the circle, and they learn from each other. It's just pure magic. So I'm just sharing this for those that, not for everybody, but those that, yeah, feel a call to, to really open themselves for angels, for Christ, for this energies, that we get to heal these things together. Yeah, there's a reason why these things are so deep on us, so that we're not feeling God in his highest form, which is a personal experience.
[00:26:17] God is really a personal relationship that we each of us have, and religions are helpful, are tools for us to learn how to navigate, but by the end of the day, it's, it's you and in your heart. And what I've learned through my path by learning from Archangel Michael and learning that he's bringing these messages of courage, of integrity, and of purpose for us to receive that from God as our provider, that has shown me a lot of adjustments I had to do in my life, and that's really what this prayer is all about.
[00:26:54] Like, the truly, the understanding that in this game of life, in this place of duality that we live, we can go to these psychedelic altered states and truly find the oneness of, like... sometimes you come back from a ceremony, you're like, "Oh my God, these problems of this world are so silly." It's like God is so much bigger.
[00:27:16] Like, what are we doing? And then it comes with the sense of like, okay, we're definitely here for a big reason because this game is deep, and there's a lot of pain happening. We have to be fully present. This is no joke. And how do we protect ourselves? How do we play this game of duality in a safe way? And Archangel Michael really taught me, like, you have to pick a side. You can't play in the gray area. You have to truly follow the path of righteousness, and that's gonna require a lot of humility. So that really shaped my spirituality before coming from a place of like, oh, everything spiritual is awesome.
[00:27:58] Like, everybody that knows some cool spiritual thing, like, I wanna hear it. I was very interested in before. And here, read my hand or tell me about my future. Or, yeah, let's sit in plant medicine ceremonies together. Or, cool, let's do a tantra workshop. Let's see what's all that about. All that exploration phase got to a point that I became a lot more discerned of who I wanna sit with, who I wanna receive energy or prayers.
[00:28:30] What I really care about in regards to sitting with people or to have a mentor or a facilitator or a leader. And it all comes back to the light of God. Like, to truly be vessels. To follow a path that you're not here for your own pride. You're here because you receive the divine blessings in your life, and you just want more of that for yourself and other people. And then we get to follow the signs and the breadcrumbs from a place of protection, of discernment, of true intuition.
[00:29:07] And we have been through a lot of that work together, right, Sintia? Like refining our community, refining people that we wanna build long-term relationships with, understanding the value of that, the importance of that when we are growing in our spiritual path, is to really have the right people that carry the same values, that want the same things, that we feel safe with each other, that we get to hold each other's heart and build real relationships. And then it just gets better. So I feel like
[00:29:41] Cynthia Gutierrez: Mm-hmm.
[00:29:41] Aluna Lua: This, this part of Archangel Michael is, is truly a blessing, and that's gonna come when we embrace the warrior spirit. It doesn't mean that life gets easier, 'cause life is hard, in all traditions say that. All religions say that. Life, life is hard. But it also gets to be blessed through the hardship
[00:30:03] Cynthia Gutierrez: Mm-hmm.
[00:30:04] Aluna Lua: Instead of us falling down to the lies of the darkness, the lies of the thoughts that, that takes so much out of our life force, and the amount of people in the world that's just lost in their minds. And they get into medication and get into diagnosis and, it's a crisis that we're watching happening, and that's an internal spiritual battle that I just learned through sitting with indigenous people that I care about, that I've seen with my eyes the integrity and the power that they carry in their prayers, and that have performed miracles in me, that have been vessels of miracles for me.
[00:30:44] And Yeah, to be able to carry that with ourselves, that we are here in this battle and we get to be the warriors of God to fight these battles so that we get to follow the path of light and to be a path for that in others. So that's what this prayer is all about, and may this be blessing whoever is listening to this conversation that we get to be the one.
[00:31:10] You get to be the one that holds your hand and says, "I'm not passing this down my lineage. I'm not passing this down for the future generations." Like, I'm not afraid because there's nothing to be afraid when we are with the true power of God Yay! Viva San Miguel.
[00:31:28] Cynthia Gutierrez: haha, Viva. And s- I'm curious, like, do you feel like you've gotten into the, like, after side of your divine intervention? I feel like it, maybe it's like this, like, long experience of, like, life before, life during, but do you feel like you're finally getting into that place of life after that divine intervention?
[00:31:53] Aluna Lua: I feel like it's a constant progress. It's a constant relationship that will forever exist. What I can see from my life after 15 years of working with plant medicines, nine years truly devoting my heart to Christ and Archangel Michael, I can see that the difference now for me is that I truly trust God And then sometimes I get scared, sometimes I get confused, sometimes I want clarity. Sometimes like, "Okay, I- how is this gonna work out?" Like, I want some clarity. I'm feeling a bit lost. Like, what's the thing? What's happening next?
[00:32:35] And that's normal. I feel like that's just part of our relationship with God. It's just human. But even in these moments, there's always a friend, or a mentor, or a divine intervention in other ways, miraculous lights and experiences or synchronicities that always remind me to trust. Just keep your faith. Just keep the trust. And I feel like I've done so much of that, that happens so many times that now it feels like it's anchored. when I get these reminders, I don't just go so much in the deep hole anymore. It's like, "Cool. Thanks for the reminder. Thanks, God. This person showed up in exactly this day at this time to share this message with me.
[00:33:24] I heard it, and I'm gonna get back to that trust. I, I was afraid. Sorry. Sorry I got lost in my anxiety or my fears. Thank you for the reminder that you are with me the whole time, and that you are guiding me." And I can't even tell you, Cynthia, the amount of miracles, like opportunities, just one just to bring this to like a tangible example. Just a few days ago, I was doing a whole mission from LA to San Diego, and then I had a friend telling me, "You have to come to this science conference that's happening." And I'm like, "Bro, I can't. I'm too busy. I, I, I'm, I... It's impossible." He's like, "No, you have to." It was Brigham from our, from our community.
[00:34:09] Cynthia Gutierrez: Ah,
[00:34:09] Aluna Lua: "Lua,
[00:34:10] Cynthia Gutierrez: ah.
[00:34:10] Aluna Lua: have to be here." And I'm like, "Ugh, so annoying." But I felt it. I felt like, you know what? I feel like Brigham is being a vessel of God for me right now. I don't know what, but this invitation that he's doing is just feeling like I have to follow. No expectations, whatever happens, but I feel like I have to go.
[00:34:31] So I completely pushed myself to go to this. I just showed up in the after party. Everything was already over. I'm exhausted. I'm like, "Oh, why am I here? I can't even socialize." And then I get my guitar, sit in the corner, and I'm like, I'm just gonna play a song. You know, just kind of feel, feel with myself and see what happens. This girl comes to me, listens to the song, and it was an Ayahuasca song from the Yawanawa tribe that I love dearly. The Yawanawa that's so part of our, of our prayers.
[00:35:02] This woman listens to this song and comes to me and says, "Hey, I'm hosting this retreat for all these scientists, and I want someone like you to bring the spirit of this important mission. And this is very important." And then Brigham shows up, "Hey," and just gives her a little Archangel Michael little toy that he gives to everybody out of the blue. So he's like, "Hey, do you want an Archangel Michael?" And then, and then she takes the Archangel Michael, and she's like, "Yes, that's exactly what I need.
[00:35:36] We need protection. We need this energy to the retreat, and I just feel deeply in my heart that you're the person that, that I need to bring it to this." I'm like, "Okay." I'm like,
[00:35:51] Cynthia Gutierrez: Well done, Spirit.
[00:35:53] Aluna Lua: I'm like, "I trust 100%." I can't, I can't make this up. I can't make up. She didn't even know me. So I literally showed up to the event, and I saw myself speaking prayers for scientists from all over the world.
[00:36:08] Some of them have never sat in ceremony before. And I sought myself, like, what am I even doing here? And I didn't even know what they were talking about, literally. But after she, like, channels me what's happening, gives me the whole vision, I'm like, whoa, this is an important event.
[00:36:26] These people are doing big work here for the world, and good work. And they wanna bring the good, the good spirit. Holy moly, it's an honor for me to, to show up here. But this is total Archangel Michael doing its work. And that's just one of the examples of the opportunities that have come to my life just trusting that, trusting the divine intervention, the beautiful people I've met, and the beautiful people that came to tell me after how much they felt the goodness.
[00:36:56] Like, "I'm so glad that you made a prayer for us. I'm so glad that we got to sit in intentions. I feel a lot more aligned with why I'm here, and so much conversation came through from this experience." Isn't it crazy? Archangel Michael is very inconvenient. That's why I say, sometimes interventions are very inconvenient, and you have to push yourself to show up because you trust. So I would say that huge trust and faith are my biggest celebrations from this path. I would love to hear what comes through for you, Cynthia.
[00:37:30] Cynthia Gutierrez: Well, I was thinking about the, the trust and passion that I'm like just really, a-allowing to it be expressed in my everyday life. 'Cause before, you know, I have a really long 20 years of dance training that started when I was a little girl at a performing arts elementary school, and when I would dance, I would feel that passion, but it was only when I danced, and then I'd go into my daily life, and it just felt so heavy and so dark and a lot of the time so lonely. Yet even though nowadays I'm not dancing as much, yet with all of the healing work and also knowing that I have all this angelic support, like, it just... it's like the passion is just here.
[00:38:21] It's just, it's in my heart, it's in my body, and I can feel it without having to dance, right? Even though last night I went to a Curawaka concert, and that was a really big help as well with getting that passion back into my life in a, in a more embodied way because before that, I felt really shut down.
[00:38:44] I was definitely in, like, a freeze state, and my mind was just felt really ill-infiltrated with a lot of dark thoughts, a lot of judgments, especially about myself, mostly all about myself. And I just felt, like, debilitated. It, it just... I could hardly do much of anything other than do the bare necessities of functioning, you know, as a mom and homeschooler and business owner.
[00:39:09] And there was the opportunity to go to the show, and even though my brain was just like, all of the reasons not to, right? And especially when it comes to, like, finances or, you know, it's a school night for my daughter, and, oh, but I have work in the morning, and, like, all these things. And usually I would turn to my body being like, "Oh, is this, like, a full body yes or a no?"
[00:39:32] Right? But I was just numb. I couldn't feel anything, and sometimes I'll do the practice of, okay, what if I did go? What if I did do it? How does my body feel then, right? And I would have something to get some data for. But even trying to do that, my body just was not communicating at all.
[00:39:51] And sitting with Hapecito, I got a really clear message of like, "If you can get childcare, buy your ticket and go. Don't worry about anything else. Just buy the ticket and show up." And fortunately, everything worked out, and I got there, and I cried, and I laughed, and I shook my body, and I was jumping up and down and screaming and, "So alegría!"
[00:40:15] You know? I just, I really needed to get all of the stagnation out of my muscles, all of the, the tears, you know, that's been ... I felt like has been choked up and held inside and trying to repress. Like, I just ... Sometimes in the regulation practices, it may be overdoing it. It may actually be suppressing, right?
[00:40:38] Even though, yes, there are certain times where I know it's time to do regulatory practices that are very beneficial and grounding, and then there are other times where I'm actually suppressing the emotions that need to come out. And so That was just a really big practice of releasing it.
[00:40:59] It's like I'm so grateful for having that exposure to dance at a really young age, and learning now about indigenous cultures and how much song and dance is such a pivotal thing in their culture. I'm like, wow, it's no wonder why it's helped me through some of the darker years of my life.
[00:41:21] That's something I feel like I can actually celebrate. Like, I can enjoy dance for the life of it, rather than trying to survive life, trying as a, as a survival mechanism, to now just being enlivened by it and celebrating life through it. And I just ... Yeah, that was a really powerful experience last night for me, and that's something that I'm celebrating.
[00:41:45] Aluna Lua: I would love for you to also share, Cynthia, just so people can also know the power of community. I- it just inspires me so much to see how you and some of the girls from our group just continue to pray, continue to support each other, and just build such a strong relationship in prayer, and that means the world to me.
[00:42:08] It truly... It's just like, wow, what happens when we truly find our people? And I think a lot of people out there, they want to have a s- a more spiritual path. They want to cast out their demons. They want to go through their healing. They don't wanna numb. They don't wanna avoid. They're ready to release, and they feel that they want to show up for themselves, but they might not have the right people around or people that understand or people to go for.
[00:42:41] And, and that's when harm really happens. It's when we don't know. So many people are just Googling ayahuasca retreat or plant medicine psychedelic therapist in Google, and that's just gonna s- get stronger as the psychedelic movement grows. And yes, and people just blindly trusting because they don't have a community and a, a place to truly go. So I feel like our story is so inspiring. It's truly my favorite thing in the world, is the community and the relationships we build, and to be able to celebrate every step of the way, to be able to
[00:43:21] Cynthia Gutierrez: Mhm.
[00:43:21] Aluna Lua: Come here again and like, whoa, Cynthia, how far have you come in your path as a mother, as a business owner, as a community leader, as a healer, and all the tools and all the, the power and, that you have built through this time, so that everyone can know that sometimes we feel like the black sheep of our family.
[00:43:44] I know that too, that I'm the same, but it's because we are in such a rare path obviously our parents would never understand. Like, now that I look back, I'm like, obviously my family will be getting crazy trying to figure out who I was. Like, obviously. I've, I had no idea I will become a, such a spiritual person that I am now, and, and I would have no idea I would be following God and talking about Jesus and medicines.
[00:44:15] Like, I would never imagine that. How my family would ever will. So to find people that are on the path, on the same path with the same values is very rare, and I love that
[00:44:27] Cynthia Gutierrez: Mm.
[00:44:27] Aluna Lua: we found our, our little special group that is the most precious thing we have in life.
[00:44:33] Cynthia Gutierrez: Yeah, it's, gosh, it's everything. It really is, you know, to feel that sense of belonging and to feel understood. That was probably the biggest, most touching for me coming into your community and being in ceremony with people, learning various things. You know, especially when you weave in harm reduction, that was a huge value of mine.
[00:44:58] And of course, weaving in these other deities as well, and then tying it into leadership and also helping us learn how to be guardians, not just in plant ceremonies, but just in life, in our relationships, you know? And I always think about it also when I'm with my daughter. And it's just so beautiful to see these types of values be...
[00:45:23] It's like, I just feel like it's like a garden that we're all cultivating, you know? It's like we're adding certain seeds that we want to see grow and flourish and spread, be pollinated all around the Earth. And finally coming to a community that I feel like are in alignment with my same values, and also bringing things that I'm like, "Oh, I didn't see it that way," or, "I didn't think about it that way."
[00:45:48] And, or having somebody else's stories and experience for me to witness and be like, "Oh, they have a completely different cultural background that I am a completely oblivious to." Like, I don't, I don't really know what life is like for this person and, and people like them, right?
[00:46:02] And it's just been so beautiful to stay connected with these people that are in different parts of their lives, of different age groups as well, in different parts of the world. And it's so nice to feel like I don't know, it makes me think of, like I've ... Right now I'm picturing a star constellation, you know?
[00:46:23] And it's like there's, there's a particular constellation that may stick out to me or that I feel like I have a home with, that I feel at home with. And within the Ascension Arts community, like that's how I feel, and to me that's like its own constellation. And so when I'm out and about, there was somebody else that saw me at the show last night.
[00:46:43] I didn't recognize her, but she immediately asked, "Oh, is Lua here? Is she coming?" And I was like, "Oh," I'm like, "I don't think so. I don't believe so." And I forgot her name. Like, she looked a little familiar, but I didn't remember exactly. We didn't get to talk very much. But knowing that there's people within this community that share the same values and practice similar things in this type of way, like, it just makes me feel like I can see the stars, and it gives me hope.
[00:47:10] It gives me that sense of like it is possible, you know, for my values and the healing that I wish to experience myself and share with others, and to see more of in the world that it's, it's actually happening and it's out there.
[00:47:24] Aluna Lua: Hmm.
[00:47:25] Cynthia Gutierrez: And the beautiful little souls of these star constellations are, are there, and it just, I'm so grateful. And there's some people that I keep connected with more on a daily basis, and there's some people that, you know, I see mostly in ceremony or sometimes randomly at some of these events. And yeah, it just makes me very happy. Like,
[00:47:49] Aluna Lua: Yes, so
[00:47:50] Cynthia Gutierrez: oh!
[00:47:50] Aluna Lua: You're listening to this and you're feeling alone in your path, just know that your people are out there. And I think it's part of the path to, yeah, let go of the past and the things we, and the people, and the places. And it has like a phase of loneliness for us to create a community that it's in more, more in the same alignment that, that you are.
[00:48:14] So don't, don't lose your faith. And if you vibe with us and you wanna connect with us, I wanna welcome everyone that's listening to this conversation as well to, to come join us. Come check out one of our calls or get to know about our spaces and retreats, I'm so looking forward to it.
[00:48:35] Cynthia Gutierrez: Yeah, and I also wanna encourage, especially 'cause also this came up and I thought it was very interesting to hear in one of your community... It was a ceremony call, I think the last one that just happened, where there was a fellow that was, been part of the plant medicine community in the past and have done different trainings and such, and I think he had a, a really negative, harmful experience, and he just in a way, like retreated from that path.
[00:49:02] And now it's like he's starting to get a little curious again and reconnect and come back around. And I also had my own experience of being introduced to these medicine circles for the first time and sitting with Ayahuasca for the first time, and there was certainly, while there were beautiful moments, the times that were really shocking and, and very, very uncomfortable were just too uncomfortable for me.
[00:49:28] And I was just like, "You know, I don't feel like this is it." And even though that particular community may not have been it, I knew that I had a place somewhere, and so I always kept that alive. And so I feel like being open to that possibility and just being like, "God, like if, if there's a group of people that are really meant for me at this time, like please connect me."
[00:49:52] You know, being open to the possibility for God to help you to get connected. And yeah, so I just wanna encourage those of you who are listening that if you may have found yourself retreating or avoiding or, you know, maybe a little bit hesitant to reconnect, or even if you are just starting out on your journey and you've got some questions, like, I would just invite you to connect with us and talk with us and ask questions, especially with the facilitator.
[00:50:22] You know, I think it's, it's so important to get to know your teachers, to know your mentors. Ask about their history, ask about, their practices and where it came from and all of that. Being able to make informed decisions is super important, and so I just highly encourage it.
[00:50:38] And thank you, Lua, for always being very transparent in that kind of a way, and being the type of leader and facilitator that also helps others to be on the lookout, to look for things that may not be in integrity and in alignment. You know, 'cause that, that has been super helpful for me as well, and I feel like it doesn't get talked about as much.
[00:51:01] It is a bit more, it's just especially coming from someone that has worked so closely with the indigenous communities, I just yeah. I really love and appreciate it, so
[00:51:11] Aluna Lua: Thank you.
[00:51:12] Cynthia Gutierrez: yeah.
[00:51:13] Aluna Lua: my
[00:51:14] Cynthia Gutierrez: Of course.
[00:51:14] Aluna Lua: I- my spaces are really meant to get connected to the ancient wisdom and the practices and the traditions, and I have the honor to know indigenous leaders from many tribes in Brazil and other places in South America that I get to consult and support. But also with the understanding that our lifestyle in the modern world, in the West, in the US, is so different.
[00:51:39] Like Santo Daime, for example, some people really feel interested in going, but it's so cultural. If you don't know Portuguese and you have the experience to be on that setting, it can be quite challenging for someone wanting to sit with medicines for the first time. And so I really do my best to be a bridge of all of these traditions in a way that we get to integrate everything, to get educated, to talk about it.
[00:52:09] I didn't have much of that when I was starting my path with medicines. There's not a person to have a Q&A or to, to process whatever happened in my experience. And that's what I feel like it's the, was the most valuable part on, on our spaces, to be able to have both worlds merging together and being open to, open the heart for God and break through religious trauma in a way that we get to, to receive healing, not beautiful experiences, but to also carry these lessons to our lives as leaders, as medicine carriers, and as warriors of God
[00:52:52] Cynthia Gutierrez: Yes. And can you share when your next retreat is coming up? 'Cause I know there's one in the fall
[00:53:00] Aluna Lua: I wanna celebrate that this, the ending of our 21-day prayer for the Feast of St. Michael, and to also open this, to share this prayer with the listeners that we have a San Miguel retreat coming up in November 19 to the 23rd. That's one week before Thanksgiving, and this is a full initiation in honor to Archangel Michael. And we will get to, to fully do this work together in person, and I'm so happy to be hosting in San Diego for the first time. This is a prayer that I facilitate with my friend from Colombia, and we get to bring our studies with the medicines together.
[00:53:44] And that's a small group, intimate space. That's something very important to, to me as well. So we, we have couple s- seats left, and I feel honored to be able to celebrate Archangel Michael by sharing this journey. So if you're listening to this, feel called to know more, wanna join us in person, I'm available. We'll drop the application link for you to apply, and I'm available to, to connect directly too. Viva San Miguel!
[00:54:13] Cynthia Gutierrez: Yeah. And there's also, if you wanna hear more about Aluna Lua and like the last interview that we had, as well as my own personal experience at KBB the first time that I went, you can listen to my personal experience on episode 17, and to hear the first interview that I had with Aluna Lua is episode 18.
[00:54:37] And we are going to share, yeah, the links for the retreat, as long as other ways to stay in touch with Aluna Lua in the show notes. And I'm trying to think if there's anything else, but I think that covered it. Yeah.
[00:54:52] Aluna Lua: it. Yay
[00:54:54] Cynthia Gutierrez: Awesome. Well, thank you so much. Is there anything you wanna share that-
[00:54:58] Aluna Lua: I would love to ask you, Cynthia, why now, right? Why do you feel like now is the time for us together through another initiation? Especially 'cause I love that you talk about cycles and how to embrace our cycles as women in our business, and we've been on this cycle of sitting together for years and giving space and integrating.
[00:55:20] So I would love to hear from you, like, why do you feel now is really the time? 'Cause this, this retreat specifically has been so much a divine intervention. It's been three years of me saying, "No, God, let's just do later. Let's just do later." He was like, "No, no, no, we're doing it now." Okay. We're doing it now.
[00:55:47] Cynthia Gutierrez: Huh. That's such a good question, I think, because I, I, mm, my goodness Well, well, the first thing that came to my mind is that it is the year 2026, and in numerology, if you were to add two, zero, two, six together, it comes to a 10. And at times people also add one and zero to then equal a one, but I wanna focus in more on the 10 because the one is about initiation.
[00:56:24] It's about new beginnings. It's, it kinda has that Aries initiator, like, just start and go get it and take action. And when we have the zero there, that to me is, like, the zero point of God consciousness. That's, like, the ultimate magnifier of the one. So not only are you taking leadership and ownership of your life and the path that you feel like, "You know what?
[00:56:50] This is what I'm meant for, and this is what I'm gonna dedicate my time to," there is that spiritual aspect of God leading the way for you to be guided on your soul's mission. So this isn't just about what you want, but also about, like, what is this in service to the collective. And I think it's just so beautiful that this São Miguel Retreat is coming in now because, I mean, if you can share quickly about São Miguel, I mean, you know, I always think of the sword.
[00:57:24] That's, like, the first thing coming to my mind, and how when we feel the calling to do something, It could be so easy to hesitate and hold ourselves back because of the fears or worries or doubts, and I feel like São Miguel has been the archetype in my life that has just helped to clear all of that away.
[00:57:45] And,
[00:57:46] Aluna Lua: that's what all
[00:57:47] Cynthia Gutierrez: mm-hmm
[00:57:48] Aluna Lua: is all about. i- I have this 21-day prayer that I'm, that, we're celebrating. For those that wanna receive it, you can join the community. You have access to the audio. You has access to the, the written prayer as well to, to be connected to this energy. And I've been hearing a lot about those that are coming, how they don't wanna wait anymore. It's like, "This is it. Let's, let's, let's do the work that we're here to do. Let's not avoid. Let's not escape. Let's show up with love, and community, and safety, and full devotion and integrity with these medicines that are also divine interventions."
[00:58:29] That's the work of these medicines. That's what they're doing in the world right now. They're being spread in ways to really wake people up, and we have to be very mindful with that because they're so powerful. And when there's power in the game, and then there's ego in the game, so we have to be very aware with the people that are carrying these medicines.
[00:58:50] But in the core of the medicine, they are here to wake us up, and that is a very strong divine intervention that a lot of us are having right now, this year. Like, let's, let's go. Let's take the momentum. Let's, let's do the inconvenient thing and, and truly show up as vessels with no expectation, just to... the full courage to know what's on the other side, which is unshakable strength and the light of God in our hearts. So I'm really looking forward to this prayer.
[00:59:22] I'm really looking forward to Archangel to bless us and to make us new, and give us a new mind that is filled with joy and, and community, and love, and celebration. And thank you so much Cynthia,
[00:59:39] Cynthia Gutierrez: Yeah.
[00:59:39] Aluna Lua: For having me here. It's truly an honor. I am in awe of your journey, and I just love you every day more. And every moment that we share together is also always so precious to me, and I know this is just the beginning. I can't wait to see more magic that we get to, to live, to experience, and to celebrate together. And my intention is that this conversation serves the Holy Spirit, that great spirit gives that divine intervention.
[01:00:07] I know that this conversation is a divine intervention for someone that is listening us out there, to be able to truly receive the divine assignment and to follow God in the way that God's talking to them. So it's a pleasure. Haux haux.
[01:00:22] Cynthia Gutierrez: Yeah. Haux haux. Awesome. Thank you so much for tuning in, and all of the links that we had spoken about will be below. And of course, if you happen to get connected with Aluna Lua through this episode, let her know that you listened to this episode. You can refer me to her. And yeah, if you would like to share this episode, you're welcome to screenshot it and tag me at cynthiagutierrez.coach on Instagram.
[01:00:51] You're also welcome to tag Lua, I believe, @alunalua.angel.
[01:00:56] Aluna Lua: Yes
[01:00:56] Cynthia Gutierrez: And yeah.
[01:00:59] Aluna Lua: Yes,
[01:00:59] Cynthia Gutierrez: Thank you so much.
[01:01:00] Aluna Lua: Please let us know you were here. I can't wait to, to hear what comes through for you
[01:01:06] Cynthia Gutierrez: Yay. Thank you so much. Bye
