From a rock in Thailand to the heart of the Amazon

In 2014, I was sitting one morning on a big rock in front of my hut on a small island in Thailand.I loved that rock—we had a special connection. Still today I feel this warm holding energy from these rocks in my body, when I think about this place.That morning, something profound happened during my meditation. I had previously completed some Theta Healing courses and, in a very natural way, had developed my own meditation practice.

But what I experienced that day still blows my mind to this day:I saw the Peruvian jungle.And I heard a voice say:"You will work with Ayahuasca in the Peruvian jungle."Boom.

At that point, I had already been living in this simple hut—without electricity or running water—for many months. I had come to this island, and to that particular beach, to cleanse, recalibrate, and find clarity. The original plan was to stay for three months and then return to Berlin, where I had an apartment, a good job, and friends.

The only reason I was able to stay so long was because the hut I had found was rent-free—due to a few lucky circumstances. Living there turned out to be one of the most mystical and transformative experiences of my life.

There were spiders, baby cobras, and snakes from time to time.It was my first time collecting rainwater to shower and cook.My first time waking up early to gather firewood just to boil water for tea or coffee.

That hut was perched on a cliff with a wide ocean view. I lived there for one full year.It was one of the most beautiful, precious chapters of my life—and at the same time, one of the most difficult.

I had no idea where life was taking me.I only knew what I didn’t want anymore—but I had no clue what I did want.

My money was running low. My savings were almost gone.This year was one of the greatest tests of my ability to trust, to be, to listen deeply…again and again: trusting, being, listening.

Looking back, I’m honestly proud of myself.I’m not even sure I could do it again. Truly.

One of the hardest parts was knowing that my money might last only a few more weeks—or maybe months—and still not knowing what to do next. I had an emergency plan: to fly back to Germany with my last money and get a job. But that didn’t feel right in my heart and chest area.

So I prayed. I set an intention—every day I lived with this intention.“Please show me the next steps. I am open. I want to feel and listen deeply to where I am meant to go. Show me what life wants from me.”

During that time, I met incredible people—some older, some around my age. Many of them said or did something, or reflected something back to me, that offered guidance. A skill. A spark of hope. A sense of trust. A glimpse of love.

That year on the island was packed with intensity.It pulled me deeper into healing.It asked me to let go of addiction.To stay true to myself.To face pain that was buried.It broke open my world and sometimes it broke my heart.

And yet—I made it through. Thanks to myself.Thanks to the friends I met there. Thanks to life.

Coming back to that special morning on the rock—I was truly shocked.Peru had never been on my radar.Ayahuasca wasn’t something I was interested in.I had never tried it and didn’t understand why people would drink a substance that might make them purge. I just wasn’t there.

But in that moment, something opened deeply in my heart. I felt a presence. A space.And I said out loud:"Okay… if this is true, show me the way. I have no money to fly to the Peruvian jungle. I need to earn that money—and I want to do it in nature. If you make that possible, I promise to take the money and go to Peru."

That was my honest conversation with the universe, with God, on that rock in mid-2014.

Just a few days later, I met someone who offered me a job in nature.By September, I was working hard—three full months.I saved the money and booked a flight to Peru.

In January 2015, my journey with the Shipibo healers in the Peruvian Amazon began.The rest... is another story.

Now it’s May 2025. I’m sitting in my beautiful garden in Peru.Since 2016, I’ve been in an ongoing apprenticeship with a Shipibo healer lineage.In 2018, I founded True Journey here in the jungle, where we offer:

Master Plant Retreats & Preparation and Integration Support;Somatic - Psycho - Spiritual Mentorship;Facilitator Trainings;

I'm in awe of how life guided me.

One of my deepest inspirations in this work is to create spaces where people can remember who they truly are—to reconnect with their inner calling, to listen to the wisdom of nature, to deepen their trust in life, and to release what’s holding them back from living their full potential.

I’m deeply grateful for my path—and for the guidance I received. That’s why, over the years, my own work has become about opening these spaces for others who feel the call.

Life often shakes us.We experience disharmony—mentally, emotionally, physically, or spiritually.These are the moments we’re asked to slow down, listen, feel… so we can evolve.

So we can rise into deeper alignment and wholeness.

Having a guide, a friend, a mentor, or a teacher during these tender, sometimes scary moments can be a powerful support on the way to living a life in true alignment.

We need community to share. Healing only can happen in connection and reflection.

We need experience being seen, felt, heared and ackknowledged.

I feel super aligned and grateful to be part of the Rooted Expansion team. Bailey from Rooted Expansion inspired me to write some stories down about how I ended up in Peru and offering this type of work.

If you feel the call—reach out for 1:1 sessions.

Or come to one of our Master Plant Retreats in Peru.

With love,Ute