My sister in law and I always plan to go on an unplanned spiritual backpack trip. But this wish in our bucket list remained unticked as we never mustered enough courage to do so. And it has remained as wishful thinking. In recent years I have developed an interest in travelogues and thoroughly enjoy reading the escapades and exploits of the wanderers, especially those who are on a spiritual quest.
When I saw Dream Beyond Shadow in the new release list of the travelogue genre, I couldn't resist checking it out. And my eyes popped out when I saw the mention of the Ayahuasca ceremony. My sister in law has done vipassana and yearns to go to the Amazon jungle and is always on a lookout for more information about Ayahuasca ceremony.
Dream Beyond Shadows is a travelogue written by Kartikeyan Ladha. He leaves his job in search of real purpose in life. His inner voice takes him to the Amazon jungles, where he participates in the Ayahuasca ceremony. It proves to be the best decision of his life, and he doesn't remain the same person anymore.
The writer divides the book into three parts. In the first part, he writes about his experience in Peru and preparing himself for the Ayahuasca ceremony. The second part was about his undertaking of the Ayahuasca ceremony and his oneness with mother Ayahuasca. The third part is about his visit to one of the chakras of the earth - Lake Titicaca and his pledge to continue to pursue the path shown by Mother Ayahuasca.
In his journey before, after, and during the Ayahuasca ceremony, Kartikeyan Ladha meets innumerable people. I am so jealous of the way he made friends out of strangers. He blends and connects, effortlessly with strangers, and establishes a strong bond with them. The writer writes in detail about the friendship he forges wherever he goes.
The Ayahuasca ceremony part was particularly interesting to read. The writer tried his best to pen those intense experiences he went through during the ceremony. And I am sure many would be intrigued about the Ayahuasca ceremony and want to find out more about it.
Kartikeya analyses the socio-economic and culture of the country Peru. But his description of the country with no distinctive flavor and vibes didn't make me fall in love. He made me think when he said never to judge people of a country based on what the controllers of the world show us.
Had the readability of the book good, it would have been a great reading experience. Most of the book was slow-paced and drag. Only a couple of pages into the book and I start finding my eyes turning heavy. The first part of the book was heavily laden with philosophical insights. I like travelogue replete with thrilling and interesting anecdotes and stories, and drawing life lessons out of it. The travel memoir was mostly about him connecting with strangers and becoming great friends.
The Verdict
I wanted to enjoy reading the book but was not able to do so as expected.
However, this shouldn't deter you from reading it if you are interested in the Ayahuasca ceremony. The book appears to be honest feedback for someone who wants to know who's and what's of the ceremony. After reading the book, you will get a fair bit of idea about what it's like to do Ayahuasca, what to expect during a ceremony, and what to look for when choosing a ceremony.
