The lost city of the ancient Tayronas in the Sierra Nevadas of Santa Marta, Colombia has its beginnings over a thousand years ago. Stories are told of Carib peoples invading and that the Tayronas were forced to higher ground for protection. Over two hundred tribes were then in existence throughout the vast range, and it was a small group of connected tribes that constructed the hideaway society. 

Today, most of the living spaces are overgrown, and yet what remains; the steps, the walkways, the circular stone rings which once supported ceremonial thatch structures are everywhere in evidence of skilled engineering. The main site rises some three hundred yards up a narrow ridge – steep on either side – and is accessible by one trail which at one point is overlain with 1200 stone steps leading up and into the entrance.

On either side of the prominent ridge of official structures nestle clusters of dwellings and foundations which are connected by walkways of neatly placed stones giving the “city” an appearance of an aggregate of separated sets of housing. Archaeologists tell us that three or four thousand inhabited this area, and what are now at a distance, many more dwellings may well have been filled the spaces in between these little community areas.

After a several hours in Ciudad Perdida, we began our trek back down which was – I confess – not as strenuous as the hike going, though each had about as many ups as there were downs. However, with showers muddying the dirt, the going was slippery and at times hazardous… which enhanced the reward.

At the start of our outing, unaccustomed to the strain of such a hike, I made a contract with my legs. I said to them that this hike was not going to be easy, and that if they would make extra effort for the task, I would not push them hard,  and give them a rest whenever the going got too tough. The slippery down hike was slower, but also gave focus to the hike itself; the impassable mud areas, slippery rocks, mud caked boots, and a couple of nasty slips. It struck me the more that the energy I was expending was the very energy that was the beauty of these Sierra Madre mountains. The great green calm all around, the roaring at times of the river, the serene sense of being surrounded by an immensity, in all, the sacredness of nature which the indigenas all around pledged to honor and protect. Living Life itself.

I became that pledge, and not only for the mountains, but including me; the inner me that connects to the divine and the outward living-in-the-world me. I am this Life. I came away from the the Lost City hike, empowered, eager for whatever comes to the moment. I learned, once again that the action underlying the demands of every occasion, whatever they may be, must necessarily rise out of three domains:  The greater good of the Earth, the community through which I think and act, and me, to evolve out of my own unique set of givens.

peace, greg