Sierra Norte

I have heard it said that God took a piece of paper, crumpled it up and made that the blueprint for the mountains in the state of Oaxaca. After driving for hours today through the Sierra Norte to visit two pueblos of new auricular acupuncture practitioners, I agree.


Bonifacio and Margarita organized a clinic for our visit. They made a meeting of a women's group. Attendance was called and when all answered "present", the clinic began. We were in a small building that is used for healthcare. They had no idea what this would be. Laurencio and Boni did a great job of explaining it to them and no one left. There were a number of women who were there with babies on their backs or very young children with them. We explained that they would need to get seeds, not needles. The babies could reach to the shiny things in their ears and swipe them away or worst case, take one and put it in their mouth. The young children could be a distraction, to the mother or to other's around. When I left and returned, Boni was giving needles to one woman with a baby on her lap even though we had told the group and I had already spoken with this woman individually about it. He said that she really wanted the session and told him it would be o-k. I had to tell him absolutely not - then the others would want it too. Same thing happened with another woman afterwards, I came back and he was putting needles in her ears. We went through it all again and it was decided that they would have another clinic tomorrow so these mothers could make arrangements and come back. She was upset but all of the other mothers seemed to accept it and were happy to receive pressure seeds.

Once this was settled and the treatment really got going the magic came in. I had some doubts at the beginning, wondering what I was doing introducing this very foreign concept to them. During the session the sense of calm peacefulness filled the rooms and I was so glad and honored to be there. After the treatments almost all of them signed up to come back to the next one.

25 received acupuncture treatments and 5 received ear seeds.
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It was similar at Rosario's pueblo. 16 people were there. The energy was a little different at this clinic, there was more talking and they didn't settle into it as much. Many still received benefit and there were some details that Rosario got to learn for her next time. Lauro practiced at both clinics which was heplful in so many ways. The issue of setting time boundaries came up here when a couple of people arrived an hour and half late. Rosario checked in with us and it was decided that they could receive pressure seeds but the acupuncture treatments are done in groups.

Due to time I didn't get a limpia, energy work with her since we wanted to do most of the drive before it got dark. The roads are very narrow on cliffs. It was an intense ride there and back. Tuesday's trip to another part of the Sierra Norte will be even longer.

The issue of keeping them supplied is a big one. These were their first big clinics today and word will spread about the benefits. They could go through these needles very quickly. I have some more needles coming down and I need to find a good regular system for getting them to Oaxaca for Laurencio to distribute.

Tomorrow is a school day for me and a day to get my stomach back after those roads. We will go to another pueblo in the Sierra Norte on Tuesday to support the two young women. This pueblo is further away. Today was so special to be in these pueblos. I thought a lot about the many Oaxaqueños who now live in Oregon and different places in the States. What it might be like for them to leave these very remote places, cross the border with all of it's challenges, and then live in the US culture. At the end of Rosario's clinic I met a woman who lived in the states for a couple of years. She asked to write letters online so she can practice her english. I didn't have a lot of time with her so I am looking forward to hearing more of her story, how it was to go and also how it is to be back in the small pueblo as a single mother.

What affected me the most today was how much laughter there was. These women, while talking a blend of Zapoteco and Spanish, were constantly laughing and giggling. Isn't that the best medicine?!