What Working with the Mamos & Zagas Has Taught Me: Remembering Our Sacred Connection to All Life
Personal reflections on the teachings, sacred practices, and profound wisdom of the Mamos and Zagas of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
There are experiences in life that change the way we see the world. Not because we have learned something intellectually new, but because something deeper within us begins to awaken. We start to see, feel, and understand life differently. Our relationship with ourselves, the Earth, and the greater web of life begins to transform.
For me, working with the Mamos and Zagas of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta has been one of these experiences.
Through the teachings, practices, and sacred ceremonies they have shared with us, I have come to experience a much deeper awareness of our connection to all things. My relationship with the Earth has changed in ways that are difficult to fully put into words. There is a deeper love and reverence for the natural world, an appreciation for the intelligence within all of life, and a growing awareness that we are not separate from the world around us. We are part of it, participating in a vast and intricate web of relationships that extends far beyond what we can see.
This understanding is no longer simply an idea. It is becoming something I experience in my everyday life.
A Deeper Love and Reverence for the Earth
I have always understood the importance of caring for the Earth, but this work has opened something much deeper within me. The Mamos invite us to experience the Earth not simply as the place where we live or as a resource that sustains us, but as part of a living relationship in which we have both a place and a responsibility.
The air we breathe, the water that nourishes us, the plants and animals, the mountains, and the rivers are all part of this greater whole. We are in relationship with these elements of life, whether or not we are consciously aware of it.
As I have participated in this work, I have felt my reverence for the Earth deepen. I find myself thinking differently about the gifts we receive every day and the responsibility we carry to give back. There is a humility in recognizing how much we receive and how little we may have considered our role in maintaining balance.
For me, this has become much more than an understanding. It is a feeling of love and connection that continues to grow.
The Purification of Thought
One of the central teachings we have been exploring with the Mamos and Zagas is the purification of the mind.
We often think of our thoughts as private experiences that affect only ourselves. The Mamos invite us to consider something much larger: how our thoughts, fears, trauma, and unresolved emotions influence the way we live and participate in the world.
Through the practices and assignments they provide, we are given ways to work with these inner experiences, not simply by analyzing them or trying to change them through the thinking mind, but by engaging in a deeper process of awareness and purification.
Something that has been especially meaningful to me is the calmness I have begun to experience in my own mind and nervous system. There is a growing sense of peace in knowing that there is more to life than what we can see or understand intellectually. We are connected to a greater web of life, and we can consciously participate in that relationship.
This does not mean that life suddenly becomes free of challenges. Rather, there is a different foundation from which to meet them. I feel more connected to something greater than myself, and that awareness brings a sense of calm and perspective that is difficult to describe until you begin to experience it.
Pagamentos: A Sacred Practice of Reciprocity
One of the most profound aspects of this work has been learning and participating in the practice of pagamentos — sacred offerings made in reciprocity with the Earth and the spiritual dimensions of life.
The Mamos provide detailed instructions for these ceremonies, guiding us in how to prepare our offerings, connect with the natural world, and approach the practice with care, intention, and respect.
We learn to bring our awareness to the elements, the animal and plant kingdoms, and the nature spirits with whom we share this world. We make our offerings with gratitude, acknowledging the gifts we receive and our responsibility to contribute to balance.
There is something remarkably simple about this practice, yet it is incredibly profound.
We are not just talking about our connection to the Earth. We are actively engaging in it. We take time to become present, follow the guidance we have received, make our offerings, and participate in a sacred relationship with the world around us.
Through these ceremonies, I have experienced a deeper sense of connection and a greater awareness of how our own inner work is intertwined with the balance of the planet.
The teachings become something we live rather than something we simply hear. And there is a particular kind of healing that comes from making this commitment and returning to the practice.
Remembering the Greater Web of Life
As I continue this journey, I find myself becoming more aware of how interconnected everything truly is.
The elements, the animal kingdom, the plants, the waters, and the land are all part of a greater whole. Our thoughts, our emotional experiences, and the ways we relate to one another also have a place within this web of life.
This has expanded my understanding of healing. Our personal healing matters, not only because it changes how we feel, but because it influences how we show up in our relationships and how we participate in the world.
The Mamos' teachings invite us to look beyond our individual experience and remember that we are part of something much greater. We may not fully understand all these connections, but we can become more conscious of the thoughts we carry, the choices we make, and the relationships we nurture.
For me, this awareness brings both humility and a sense of possibility. We do not have to understand everything to begin living differently. We can start by taking responsibility for our own thoughts, cultivating gratitude, and developing a deeper relationship with the natural world.
Simple Practices, Profound Change
What continues to touch me most about this work is its simplicity.
We live in a world that often encourages us to seek more information, more answers, and increasingly complicated solutions. The teachings of the Mamos bring us back to something fundamental: our thoughts, our relationship with the Earth, and our responsibility to the greater web of life.
We receive guidance and assignments, participate in sacred ceremonies, and bring these practices into our own lives. Through this process, we have an opportunity to experience the teachings for ourselves.
For me, the changes have been deeply personal. I feel a greater love and reverence for the Earth, a deeper awareness of my connection to all life, and a calmness within myself that comes from recognizing I am part of something much larger than my individual experience.
I am still learning, and I know this is a journey that unfolds over time. But I feel deeply grateful for what has already opened within me and for the opportunity to continue learning from the Mamos and Zagas.
It is one of the reasons I feel so strongly about sharing this work with others.
An Invitation to Join Us
Throughout our programs with the Mamos and Zagas, our community has had the opportunity to explore these teachings together, ask questions, receive direct guidance, and participate in practices that bring the wisdom into our own lives.
Our next gathering, Purifying the Mind — Sacred Practice from the Kogi, Aluna Zhiguashi, takes place online on October 25, 2026, from 9 AM to 4 PM Eastern Time.
This will be our final program with the Mamos for 2026 and a rare opportunity to spend an intimate day with them. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, receive direct guidance, and learn practices for purifying the mind and restoring balance in their relationship with the Earth and the greater web of life.
Each participant will receive a recording of the program, so you can return to the teachings even if you are unable to attend live.
If you feel drawn to explore these sacred practices, deepen your relationship with the Earth, or experience the wisdom the Mamos have preserved through their ancestral traditions, we warmly invite you to join us.
With Gratitude
I feel deeply grateful to the Mamos and Zagas for sharing their wisdom and for the opportunity to participate in this work.
What I continue to take away from these teachings is a renewed sense of connection and responsibility. We are part of a living world that gives us so much, and we have the opportunity to meet that gift with greater awareness, gratitude, and care.
For me, this is the beauty of the work. It is deeply spiritual, yet profoundly practical. It invites us to remember our sacred relationship with the Earth and all life, and to bring that awareness into the way we live each day.
Sometimes the simplest practices open the door to the most profound changes.
With gratitude to the Mamos and Zagas, and to everyone who joins us on this journey.
Denise
The Global Awareness Charitable Trust
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