Archive - Walking with the Serpent

First ceremony in Sete Estrellas

Chapter 9: With just a few days left of preparation before the dieta, Luis decided it was time to give me my Yawanawá name. Most of the Yawanawá have…

Aug 18, 2023 •

Time in the Village

Chapter 8: When the house was finished, we left for Tarauacá on the boat. It felt strange to go back into the world after having just arrived in the…

Aug 3, 2023 •

July 2023

Preparing for Muká

Chapter 7: I arrived back in Amsterdam with clarity, confidence, and trust. I decided that I would move to Peru the following summer, and to play in the…

Jul 20, 2023 •

The story of Ruá, and the birth of the plants of power...

Jul 6, 2023 •

June 2023

Chapter 6: The time in Brazil ended, and I returned back to the Netherlands, to my life, to my relationship, and my job in the classical music world…

Jun 22, 2023 •

Meeting the Santo Daime

Chapter 5: Just a few weeks later, in the summer of 2012, I set off for Brazil with my girlfriend and a dear friend Jeroen. We stayed for a few days in…

Jun 8, 2023 •

May 2023

Tetepāwā Tukaini

The story of the Eagle and the Samaúma, and the Birth of the Forest... a part of the Yawanawá Creation Story

May 25, 2023 •

A Calling from Afar

Chapter 4: Just a week after we returned from Peru, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra called me, asking if I was open to come play with them for a few…

May 11, 2023 •

April 2023

The First Ceremony

Chapter 3: When I returned from Tibet, I moved to Berlin, and less than a week later I had my first bassoon lesson with my new teacher, Klaus Thunemann…

Apr 27, 2023 •

Introduction to the Yawanawá Creation Stories

Walking with the Serpent

Apr 13, 2023 •

March 2023

Breaking into Tibet

Chapter 2: Since I was young, two things have always been very present: healing and music. Music has been a presence in my life since I was born. During…

Mar 30, 2023 •

The Journey Begins

Chapter 1: The powerful echo of my heartbeat pounded in my ears. Three strange men stared at me without expression...

Mar 16, 2023 •

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