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Take a look at the testimonials of our last journeys
"So thankful for this experience! Andy and Denise are prefect compliments to each other and make sure that all members feel included and in a space where true learning and healing can occur. Having gone to the lake with another leader the previous year and having a truly horrifying experience really showed me the dark side and then this time the true light and positive side of things. I appreciate so much all the attention to detail and the consideration that was given to us, by the elders, by transportation, etc. We truly never needed to buy anything extra along the way. Can't wait for Nadir cycle next October!!"
Lisa Ernest
Loren Landeros
"I cannot express into words the beauty I experienced during the Zenith Retreat with Denise and Andy. The moment I arrived I felt welcomed and at peace. Denise and Andy held space for me in every sense regardless of my emotions. I felt a rootedness about them throughout the entire time which helped me with my own grounding. To say they are gentle beautiful people is an understatement. Everything that they did from my crazy dietary restrictions to each activity was crafted with so much love and attention. I truly loved the community that was there supporting me throughout this journey it felt authentic and organic. Such extraordinary people. Everything about this life altering experience was divinely timed. There are no words to express my gratitude for Denise and Andy. With all my love and gratitude to you both. Maltiox Maltiox Maltiox !!!!"
"I had the life blessing of being able to travel this last August to Guatemala for the Zenith Retreat with Denise and Andy and would like to share my experience of this transformational trip with anyone considering going. I will say that if you found yourself looking at the trip you were already led there for a reason as that is the way the Universe works :) To step into the lands of the Maya is to step into the heart land of Guatemala. And that is what this journey is, a journey of the heart. I don’t believe I have ever met two human beings like Denise and Andy who are so humble, so patient and pure servants of our Creator here to help heal and guide others on their journey. The years of training and sacrifice they have had to make to be the Guides of Spirit that they are speak of their willingness and heart to help others. To learn of the ways the Maya saw the Universe, spoke to the stars, were blessed with the Cosmic Vision to see beyond what normal human eyes can see is a beautiful and transformational experience. To walk the paths they traveled, to stand on their temples and watch the sun rise is like watching all of creation begin. It is like stepping outside of time to witness it all. This journey will push you in ways you were meant to be pushed. You will learn that the power of a group the power of unity is more powerful than any one person. Experiencing the healing offered by true Mayan healers is a blessing you will never forget. If you let it, this journey will humble you, heal you, and open your heart to learning what it is you truly need to walk your path of destiny. Blessings to all who read this."
Danielle Long
Paula Jackson
"I consciously tried not to have expectations before this retreat but even if I did have them, what I experienced would have blown them away. I experienced so many shifts and revelations and I'm filled with gratitude for Denise, Andy and the other healers and Aj'qijab they brought on board. I felt safe and held throughout, which enabled me to move through some very deep territory. Denise and Andy are beautiful people and as a result attracted beautiful people to participate in the retreat, people who now feel like family. Denise and Andy created such a safe container. The places where we stayed were beautiful, the food was nutritious and delicious, the healing was deep, and things continue to unfold. My wish is that everyone has an opportunity to have a priceless experience such as this. If you are considering whether to attend and are wavering, I'd encourage you to take the leap; it will be more than worth it and I don't believe for a moment you would regret it."
"The Nadir Sun retreat was an amazing and unique experience. Denise and Andy curated every step of our journey to help us reconnect and heal our ancestry with love, humility and respect. We felt profoundly guided and supported by them while walking our paths and learning about the Mayan wisdom. I hope to continue this walk and reunite with them vey soon. Thank you so much for this beautiful retreat and for hosting our days in beautiful GuateMaya."
Ximena Rolfe
Maia Gibb
"I have never felt so carefully and securely held as I did by Denise and Andi during their Nadir retreat. I was challenged repeatedly and it would have been easy to shut down or close myself to the intense energies and emotions that surfaced, but the container Denise and Andi created made it possible to trust that everything arising was intended for my healing. This coupled with the truly beautiful assortment of women who came together made this journey so wonderful. I'll return again."
"A strong intuitive pull brought me to Guatemala to work with Denise and Andy. I followed a feeling and I couldn't name why exactly I was going. The retreat ended up being one of the most regenerative experiences I have ever participated in. Denise and Andy curated a very elegant and balanced energetic journey. I was amazed at how energizing the sacred fire ceremonies were and how talented the mayan wisdom keepers were at their crafts. It was a blessing to be able to connect to nature in so many diverse and healing ways. The accommodations were excellent and the calibre of food was very high. Group dynamics were fabulous. Guatemala is magic, especially when you get to see it paired with the heart of the mayan cosmovision. What a treat! My partner and I both went and we are sure we will join them again!"
Chelsea Dakers
Mason Bresett
"My experience on the Nadir sun inner healing retreat with Denise and Andy is hard to find language to explain how transformative it was but ill try my best. Being a beginner in exploring sacred mayan wisdom, I wasn't sure what I was going to get out of the retreat. Over the 7 days of retreat, subtly but surely I felt like my heart and spirit opened like a flower. My fellow retreat members, who were strangers at first became family as we shared sacred space and laughs on our travels throughout mayan lands. Lectures on the Cholq'ij Calendar, visiting sacred sites (like Q'umarkaj), abdominal womb healing massages, learning tools to connect with ancestors and sharing meals were some of the highlights for me. Interacting with mayan people and elders created immense joy and respect for the wisdom, humility and dedication they hold for the earth. Andy and Denise were nurturing hosts who created a retreat atmosphere that felt solid, rooted and titrated. Ancestral healing comes with a certain density that was balanced out with lots of laughter, jokes and time to connect or find solo integration time. Denise has a special way of anchoring her profound knowledge in a humble way. Andy has a gift for allowing one to embrace their authenticity. The food and lodging were also above expectations. My emotional self feels more open, and my spirit feels more at peace as I write this upon getting back into my life routines. In summary, it was one of the first retreats I've done like this, but can't imagine doing anything less integral in the future. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you."
"Attending the 2024 Nadir Sun Retreat in the Mayalands of Guatemala was a blessing beyond measure. It gave me more healing, wisdom, and inspiration than I could have hoped for. The retreat was facilitated by two loving and compassionate spiritual guides - Denise Barrios and Andy Rocca who live in Guatemala. Nine of us joined them and we meshed very well during our week together, sharing in daily teaching sessions, ceremonies, and meals. We began in the beautiful town of Antigua, and then based at gorgeously scenic Lake Atitlan. Our driver provided a comfortable van for the eleven of us during our time in the Mayalands. Each day gave us new illuminations. Each day unfolded gracefully in flow with the count of the Cholq'ij Mayan sacred calendar. We were taken deeply into this living calendar, receiving insights on how it informs everything in the Mayan world, and how it can support us personally, each and every day. It was all so practical. We participated in traditional Mayan fire ceremonies which were beautiful and profound. We connected more deeply with our own essence, with our ancestors, and with the cosmos. Denise and Andy drew deeply from Maya cosmovision as they held space for each of us on this transformative journey. The Mayan healers and guides they enlisted to support us during our week together added so much richness and depth. I so appreciated everyone's care, openness, and trust. They worked so hard for us, helping us strongly anchor the teachings and ceremonies. I came away with so much goodness from the retreat. I am so grateful and hope to join them again in the Mayalands."
James Papp
Elizabeth Redmond
"I had been reading the daily Ch'umil on Saq' Be' for the last two years and found much wisdom and love in Denise's interpretations. One day I saw a call out for a retreat. I was intrigued but a bit skeptical, as the only time I had attended ceremonies was when I was directly invited by community members. I had a zoom call with Denise and felt comfortable enough to take the next step and join the retreat. About a week before the retreat Denise read my Mayan cross and I was so impressed and inspired that any trepidation I had vanished and was now replaced with excitement. The night our group first met, we instantly became family. All the other participants were powerful women walking their path. The retreat was incredible. The rhythm and pace was impeccable! The order of the ceremonies, the energies of the day, the food we ate, the places we visited, the teachings, activities and downtime were so well curated. I went for learning and reflection and hadn't expected such healing and transformation. Denise and Andy are extremely knowledgeable, personable and humble guides. You can feel safe in their care."
“Although I have been exposed to the Cholj'ij through many fire ceremonies over the years, this retreat was a true path of initiation into receiving the living heart of the guiding energies. The location, timing, ceremonies, and group interactions wove a magical net for collective learning and bonding. Denise and Andy provided a safe and easeful container for both our group sharing, and personal pace of process. There were powerful transmissions of wisdom and insight in every teaching, ceremony, and mealtime. I am forever changed by this week-long soul adventure and know that the seeds planted and infused with this energy will come to fruition! I am so grateful that our guides have answered their Saq' Be call to publically teach and mentor us on this noble white path.”
Rebecca Rohloff
Lindsey Trevino
"Thank you very much, Denise and Andy, for providing such a unique, beautiful, and heart opening experience. I have never been on a spiritual retreat nor to Guatemala before, and I was not sure what to expect. As soon as I met you and the other members of the group, all of my anxiety and doubts melted away. This group is such an amazing, inspiring, funny, creative, and beautiful collection of souls. I feel blessed beyond words to be a part of it. The entire retreat was a perfect balance of masculine/feminine, action/rest, and manifesting/receptivity. It flowed so beautifully and every day felt magical in its own way. The energy, power, and love that came through every ancestral site, activity and healing session has been reverberating through me even after I returned home and settled back into day-to-day life. To say that this experience was transformative would be an understatement - my life will never be the same. I am so grateful to you both for providing this opportunity to learn more about and experience firsthand the beauty and healing power of Traditional Mayan Wisdom. With all my heart, thank you!"
“It was a birthday gift to myself to attend the Zenith Sun retreat. Denise and Andy are amazing hosts, teachers and healers. I have been following the Saq' Be' - sacredroad.org calendar for years. I am all about energy, as a Massage therapist for 20 yrs and a cultural enthusiast, I have participated in Native American ceremonies, Tibetan ceremonies, Jewish traditions & was raised in the Christian culture. The spirit of Love can be felt in all, however when in the physical space where the traditions were conceived with the ancestors-wisdom carrying that love and sharing it with grace and purpose in prayers, there is really no words that can explain the blessings bestowed in those moments. I will be looking forward to the next time I can take part in these special ceremonies.
Much love and blessings to Denise and Andy for caring for me and keeping my physical body in synch with my spirit, to make the most of this wonderful blessed experience.
If your spirit is sending messages to go- listen and take the time to bless yourself through this event.
Sunshine Yellow Raven, AKA Martha Colleen”
Martha Colleen
Irma Alvarado
“From the very first time I saw the invitation on IG, I knew that I had to find a way to get to that magical land of Peten, Guatemala. I was immediately drawn – a calling if you will to reconnect to my Ancestars by way of ceremonias, most specifically the sacred fire ceremonies.The minute I arrived at the house I was greeted by Denise and the family caretakers of the land. I walked into the main gathering place of the house and was immediately greeted by the circle of women and Andy. It felt real good, introductions were made, a meal was shared, and that was the beginning of what I now consider this circle as family. Each day was a blessing, from being in ceremony with elders, sacred fire ceremony with Denise and Andy, to sunrise ceremonies, the sounds ceremony, the cacao ceremony, being on Sacred Land in Tikal, sharing meals on a daily, traveling from one area to another location it was simply magical, healing and forever in my heart for a lifetime. Denise and Andy are powerful, individually and as a couple they carry so much wisdom, knowledge of our Ancestral lineages and so much more of the universe. There are no words to express my most deepest appreciation and love to these two amazing humans on this earth – Denise and Andy for creating such a beautiful space for all of us to connect on a spiritual level and beyond. Gracias, dos y tres veces."
"This retreat was a breath for the soul, amidst a noisy world that lacks much calm. I found sisters for life, I found myself, in my most essential form. The rhythm of the retreat felt light and fluid, in tune with life and the beings that inhabit it. It awakened in me a desire to be and to make art, being inspired by the dance of the elements, life, and nature, from which we are not separated, but which asks us human beings for care and respect. Denise and Andy were beautiful, kind, humble, and respectful guides to the process that each one of us went through. I feel honored and infinitely grateful for the gift of a call that only my heart understood; as well as with the beautiful people who also felt it, to share time and space together and become interwoven as the mycelium that revitalizes this earth. Maltiox"
Fer Gutiérrez
Susan Hess Logeais
"Working with Denise Barrios and the folks from Saq' Be' has been a tremendous source of inspiration for over ten years. I was first drawn to their work through Carlos Barrios’s The Book of Destiny, and later learned enough about Mayan cosmology and astrology to see the profound wisdom it contains. When I saw that there was the chance to immerse myself in Mayan rituals and culture, I didn’t hesitate to sign up. Denise is a wonderful guide and translator. She organized a rich adventure that is still resonating, weeks after my return. I look forward to learning with her in the years to come, and for anyone interested in a grounded and mystical approach to meeting this moment of transformation, I recommend working with Saq' Be'."
“My journey to Guatemala exceeded any expectation I could have had. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed by the most loving, caring and kind people. Denise and Andy, put together an amazing itinerary. It was a mixture of inner healing, ancestral healing, adventure, and Guatemalan culture. It was a transformational journey and a vacation all wrapped up into one. Denise and her family are so knowledgeable about the Mayan culture. It was wonderful to journey to different cities and meet amazing Nana’s and Tata’s. The people we met were so caring and eager to share their homes, cultures, and gifts with us. Each day that passed, I was introduced to a new experience and perspective. The sights, sounds, colors and amazing food will remain with me forever. I have brought some of the sacred Mayan knowledge I was taught back home, and have incorporated much of what I have learned into my life. Some of the things I have learned to do is clear myself of stagnant energy and honor my ancestors. Denise is truly an amazing human being, and I feel so fortunate to have met her. She truly believes in the work she is doing and has so much love in her heart to share. I truly feel like I have found a forever friend and am counting the days to return on another journey in the future.”
Alison Rios
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Elizabeth Reed
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“I want you to know just how much this journey meant to me and how much I enjoyed this trip. When I look back on the photos, I'm reminded of just how much enjoyment I received from these 10 days in Guatemala. Every day seemed to build upon the next and it became successively more exciting and fulfilling. This trip seemed to go by so fast. I still enjoy remembering these great experiences that the entire journey brought. I do feel changed inside and know that the ancestral work that was done has had a positive effect on our ancestors, as well as my current day to day outlook.
Deep gratitude to you for making this type of journey possible. Thank you for your loving kindness and for helping to make this one of my all-time favorite trips. Hope someday that I can do this journey again."
​“Denise is a caring and thoughtful guide who knows how to keep a journey flowing in a good way. She’s humble with the immense wisdom she carries and has much to offer to anyone on the path.”
Christopher Casillas
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Contact
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@maya.ukux
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