The Red Thread is an invitation to explore the depths of who we are, guided by the voice of nature, ancestral wisdom, and indigenous traditions. It is an ongoing journey and series of experiences that begins this year in Northern Colombia.
artwork by Stéphanie Lafranque
At the beginning there was nothing. Sé. There was only darkness. There was only the mother alum, a pure thought without form. She started thinking, and she designed the world in the dark. She conceived us as ideas. As if we were thinking of a house before building it. She turned the thread. Making us turn in history. Creating us in thought. Then came the light. And the world was real.
- Excerpt from Aluna, the film.
This year, Alma experiences is taking young people with their guardian of choice to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range in Northern Colombia. There we will meet, learn from and exchange with local leaders and members of the Arhuaco, Kogi and Wiwa indigenous communities who have graciously agreed to sit with us; and receive knowledge and rituals that have been passed down generations when it comes to one of the most important thresholds in one’s life: the crossing from childhood to early adulthood. A liminal space celebrated by many cultures; a rite of passage often forgotten by more modern societies.
June 8th to the 13th
June 15th to the 20th
Listen to the songs and stories that originated from a territory they know intimately as the Heart of the World
Remember who we are, where we are coming from, and our responsibilities as children of the Earth
Learn from indigenous ancestral ways of living in harmony and reciprocity with nature
Give back by participating in communal tasks and supporting indigenous craft
Connect to the land and the ones that care for it; reconnect to nature, ourselves & each other
Participate in rituals that belong to the transition from childhood to adulthood
Discuss a time of global transition - indigenous and non-indigenous young women and men in the 21st century, and more specifically 2025
Sit in ceremony and celebrate metamorphosis and the new cycle to begin
And of course give ourselves plenty of time for play and creativity.
Together we will:
This experience provides a unique opportunity for both family members to celebrate and honor one of the most fundamental rites of passage in one’s life with indigenous communities steeped in history, culture, and tradition. It is for you if you speak English and/or Spanish.
Day 1
Arrive at Salvia Madre. Settle, relax and get ready to meet the rest of the group for dinner that night.
6:30pm Dinner at Salvia Madre
Day 2
Breakfast at Salvia Madre
Visit the Sé reserve only a small hike away. Meet with Mamo Ruperto and learn about Arhuacos ways of life, their environmental knowledge, La Sierra, and the fundamental principle of living in harmony and reciprocity with nature.
Lunch
Work around the land according to indigenous principles. Practice ways to give back to the land. Learn how to make a fire. Swim in the Guachaca river, sacred to the indigenous peoples living in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. A place of rituals and offerings.
Dinner at Salvia Madre
Day 3
Breakfast at Salvia Madre
Meet with 2 Kogi actors performing in the play "Shikwakala, The Roar of Mother Earth” and learn about the Kogi environmental knowledge.
Lunch
Together with the actors and actresses, reenact parts of Shikwakala and remember with all of your being how to care about water and our ecosystems.
Dinner at Salvia Madre
Day 4
Breakfast, lunch and dinner at Salvia Madre
Consecrate The Rite of Passage and end our day with a traditional dance.
Day 5
Breakfast and lunch at Salvia Madre
Open dialogue and intercultural exchange between indigenous, local and non-local young women and men on what it means to live in the 21st century. Organized by the Costeño Social Foundation.
4pm Closing
We will stay and eat at the beautiful Salvia Madre, a 12-hectare regenerative farm on the Guachaca River. There you will be nourished delicious healthy nutritious food harvested locally and prepared with love from Salvia Madre’s kitchen. Please share with us any dietary restrictions, if any.
Closest airport: Simón Bolívar International Airport (SMR), 1.5 hrs away from Salvia Madre.
PRICE PER PERSON: 1,400 US dollars
5 nights in a private room at Salvia Madre regenerative farm
Dinner Sunday evening
3 nourishing homemade meals Monday - Thursday
Breakfast and lunch on Friday
All of the planned activities and any associated transportation
Guides and translator.
What is included in the price:
Airfare
Transport to and from Salvia Madre (airport shuttle can be arranged with Salvia Madre)
Travel insurance to be purchased before departure (required). We usually use World Nomads
Cashier tip and extra purchases made on site, supporting indigenous craft.
What is not included:
60+ days - 95% refund
Between 60 & 30 days - 50%
Less than 30 days - no refund
We suggest you find a replacement in the unfortunate event you had to cancel.
Cancellations Overview:
If you believe this experience might interest your friends and family, we kindly request that you extend this invitation to them. We genuinely appreciate your efforts in spreading the word to those in your circle!