When many people think about Mexico, pine trees are not in their concept of native plants. However, believe it or not, Mexico has the highest number of native pine species globally, between 43 to 51 species.
Many of these species are used in traditional herbalism in Mexico. In fact, the resin from ocote (Pinus montezumae), called oxitl, was given to humans by Tzapotlatena, the goddess of medicine herself. According to Bernardino de Sahagún, this resin was used in remedies for fever and cracked skin. The name ocote comes from the Nahuatl ocotl. Ocotzotl, the resin or turpentine from the pine, is known as trementina. Another indigenous remedy was cuauh ocotl, a tea made from the needles for respiratory illnesses.
Trementina de ocote is prescribed for nail fungus and as an anti-lice repellent. It is also combined with alcanfor (Cinnamomum camphora) or gobernadora (Larrea tridentata) for a rheumatism liniment. Trementina is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient, and anti-parasitic.
In the state of Puebla, ocote is used to alleviate cold symptoms, and in Tlaxcala, it is prescribed as a remedy for bronchitis. It is also used in wound healing. It is considered a “hot” plant and is often used for “cold” illnesses through steam baths and infusions.
Ocote is a hard pine and is used in construction. The resin is so flammable that cut branches will burn like torches. A vanillin flavoring can be obtained from the resin and pulpwood. Like other pine species, the seeds of the Pinus montezumae are edible but small.
Té de Ocote for Congestion
1 ocote branch with needles about 6 inches long (Pinus montezumae)
Boil the branch in 1 liter of water for five minutes. Strain and sweeten with miel (honey) if desired. Drink one cup a day to help with respiration.
Things are moving along on the quest for organization and utilities in La Yacata. We had another community meeting and collected enough to pay for the avalúo catastral, the study done by the Presidencia to access taxes and property values in the upper quadrant. The next step is to pay the predial, the actual tax fee. Brick by brick, as they say….
Anyway, even though I was exceedingly clear at the meeting that I was ONLY available after 4 p.m., that has not deterred the vast majority from knocking on the door starting before 7 a.m. And what do they want? Oh, it varies.
Some “couldn’t make it” to the meeting and wanted to know what it was about, even though I had a sign posted on the door with the main points covered. Of course, to be fair, a good percentage of property owners are illiterate, so the sign doesn’t help them figure things out, so I need to go through what we covered several times a day for those folks. However, the other percentage are just too lazy to read the sign.
Then, several came to pick up their new certificates. Remember, we’re trying to determine ownership of as close to 100% of the properties as possible. That meant I compiled a list of possible owners and posted it on my door, at my sister-in-law’s tortilla shop in town, and on the mesquite by the road. I also read off the list during the meetings we’ve had and asked anyone who knows these individuals to tell them to come and see me (after 4 p.m., mind you).
Next come those who bought lots some time ago but never got around to registering their ownership. One couple brought folders and folders of papers, and I went through them paper by paper to find the original documents, only to find that none of the certificates had “cedo los derechos a” (I transfer ownership to…), and they needed to go back to the person they bought the lots from to get that written on the documents making the property transfer all nice and legal. When they came back I went through the papers again. This time, I discovered that the original certificate and contract of one of the lots were not the same as the reissued certificate. Apparently, there was some mix-up with certificates, and the originals had been lost, misplaced, or something. The transaction could go through since the most recent certificate had been verified by the current mesa directiva (board of directors), but I took possession of those other certificates since we can’t have excess property certificates floating about.
Then there were those that have everything in order but wanted to double or even triple-check. One elderly man arrived after I had set out on my walk with Cocoa and literally chased me up the hill. I put Cocoa back in the house (he can’t abide anyone) and looked at his documents, which were all in order. I had also reassured him at the last meeting that according to my records (showing him the registry), the two lots were correctly registered to his sons, and he didn’t need to do anything further at this time. Another woman came by to double check she didn’t owe anything. She didn’t. I checked my records. Her lots were registered, and she had already paid the cooperación (voluntary fee) of 250 pesos toward the lawyer’s fees, which is the only fee we’ve levied in 10 years.
Then, there were those who were ready and willing to pay something towards the transactions, projects, and work we were trying to organize. At the last meeting, a motion and vote carrying the motion were made to start making regular deposits towards the water, sewer, and electric projects so that there wouldn’t be a HUGE bill when it came time to start the installation. However, I don’t want all that cash in the house, so the Assocación is going to open a bank account, and people can start depositing funds there.
We haven’t done so yet because #1, we need to ratify the members of the mesa directiva again, and #2, everybody now needs an RFC (tax ID number Registro Federal de Contribuyentes) to open a bank account, and they are a pain in the tuckus to get via SAT ( Servicio de Administración Tributaria). Not only do you need an RFC number, but you need a second document, Constancia de Situación Fiscal, which requires yet another transaction. When I was working at the local elementary school, my boss, who was an accountant, registered me for an RFC. However, I didn’t have the second document. I went to visit her and asked how to get that one, and she explained what I needed to do. I was able to do it online with minimal frustration, and now I’m all good, but the remaining members of the mesa directiva still don’t have theirs.
Anyway, until the bank account is set up, I can’t accept their money. Let’s hope they remain open to contributing when that does happen.
Then there was the neighbor, by far the worst of the bunch. Or maybe it was my reaction to her. She knocked a few minutes before I was scheduled to teach a class. I answered the door. She wanted to know what the last community meeting was about. I told her. I also told her she needed to register her lots. She told me that she didn’t because La Yacata was an ejido, an area designated as common land without a deed. That’s not true. La Yacata is classified as a fraccionamiento privado irregular (a private neighborhood not meeting urbanization requirements) currently, and we’re working towards becoming fully compliant. Then she said she hadn’t registered her lots because there was no registry for La Yacata. That’s not true. I turned in the most current padrón (registry) to Desarrollo Urbano (Urban Planning department) at our last meeting. Then she said she hadn’t registered because there’s been no progress towards urbanization, which is true mostly due to property owners like her. And finally, she said that my husband knows her. That’s another true statement, but it’s irrelevant. She’s from the same little town my husband was born in, and yes, my husband knows her since we’ve tried several times to buy the lot next door from her.
Finally, I had enough. I lost my temper. I had classes to teach, after all. I asked explicitly what she wanted. She wanted to give me her phone number so I could call with updates about the community meetings. I told her she needed to register her lots first. She asked how to do that. I told her she needed to bring all her original documents to me. I’m pretty sure I was trembling with rage at this point. She said there was no reason for me to be pissed off and left. It’s very doubtful that she’ll register her lots. She’s had more than ten years to do so. She’s been told several times over the years that it’s necessary, so claiming ignorance isn’t going to cut it with me.
I told Super Prez about this last interaction, and he said we need to set a deadline for lot registration and move on to the next item. So that’s a proposal that we will bring to the next meeting. The issue that will arise for those who have not registered their lots is there will be no escrituras (individual deeds) unless and until everything is in order. Those that have everything in order will be able to pick up their escrituras with no delay when the time comes. It’s like a game of legal chicken–who’s going to cave first?
Meanwhile, they keep knocking on the front door, whistling perched on their motos in front of the house, or shouting through the front window, “¿No está la Maestra?” (Is the teacher here?), which upset Bear and Cocoa enormously. When I’m teaching a class, their frenzied barking at the intruders means I need to mute my microphone and hope they calm down soon. And if I get fired because of these constant interruptions, well, I’m not going to be happy about that.
Today, I’d like to introduce Laura LaBrie, an inspirational writer living in Mexico whom I “met” through Facebook. You can find her latest article in the October/November issue of the Edge Magazine.
I am from Vermont in the US. I live in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, MX. I came here on vacation 15 years ago and fell in love. My husband and I planned to retire here, but he passed away. So, I came by myself. This little fishing village and her lovely people helped me heal. I love the beach, the quietness, and the nearby jungles.
When I lived in the US, I was a music teacher while raising my children. When they all graduated, I decided to reinvent myself and got more into writing, which I had always loved. I published my first two books before I came to Mexico. When I got here, everything really changed. I was single, my children were grown, and I had the opportunity to move into things I had dreamed of.
I began researching the ways of the Maya people and became very interested in the modern Maya, their handed-down wisdom and magic. I built relationships with local people, especially a lovely shaman/healer named Don Francisco and his family. I began uncovering stories about very real modern magic, the incredible intuition of the Maya, connection to spirit and other dimensions, jungle spirits and guardians, and just a mind-blowing array of “other world” things here in the small pueblos on the Yucatan Peninsula.
I started documenting these things and started a blog to share them with others (Maya Harmony: Ancient Path to Wellness).That was when people started asking if they could come with me and see the deeply spiritual and life-changing ways of the Maya. So, I started bringing small groups of people on excursions to connect them with powerful experiences. I also began working to give back to the communities we go to, and I now have a non-profit called Poverty Project International. I now bring small groups on 4-day trips to experience the magic and wisdom of the Maya. This benefits everyone because my guests have intense cultural and healing experiences, and it helps support further research and also helps support the non-profit so I can do more to help people in need in these small communities.
I was a devout Christian for many years. I have always been very curious about the way the Universe works, and my questions were not well received by the church. Coming to Mexico and connecting to the Maya people really put my beliefs on the fast track to change. I began to see powerful things unfolding right in front of me. Many of these things are really out there, and many people in first-world countries have forgotten them.
A BIG part of what I do now is to document the “supernatural” things I encounter and the stories I hear from local indigenous people. This includes things like remote viewing and intuitive knowing, seeing energies through a shaman stone called a sestun, clay dolls called aluxes (duendes in other parts of Mexico and Central America) made by a shaman and brought to life in order to guard a person’s home or farm, the rain god Chaac, the Maya do a ceremony during drought, and they continue the ceremony until it rains!, shape-changing, and so many other similar things. It is mind-bending and super exciting! My mind is so open now to learning more about the subtle world and how it works. I love this journey I am on!
I am much more relaxed and happier. My worldview has changed dramatically. I could write a whole book on that! In fact, my book “How to Happify Our Life” talks a lot about the happiness I have found while living a very simple life. I am doing what I love, and it brings me to places where I feel my heart is so full. I meet people from all over the world and get to share my passion with them. I don’t feel stuck anymore, and every day, I feel grateful that I get to live here in beautiful Puerto Morelos and do what I am doing.
The biggest challenge I faced was overcoming grief from losing my husband of 27 years. After that, I had to learn to trust myself. I also overcame feelings of low self-esteem. Living in the US, it can be hard to feel good about yourself. Mexico is so different. I feel wonderful. I know who I am, and I love myself. This is something I wish I could help more people feel. Feeling good about yourself is so empowering, and it brings you to a place where you can really give your gifts to the world to make it a better place.
On the other hand, living in Mexico has its challenges. Life is slow…and so is the bank, the car repair shop, and the guy who is coming to fix the air conditioner! It is hard to get things done here. People here are not focused on goals. They are focused on relationships. That is a wonderful thing when you are hanging out, meeting people, and having fun. But it can really cause problems when you need to get things done. I have been out of the USA for almost 13 years now, and I am pretty used to it. You have to learn to plan for a lot of time and expect things to have hiccups. Having lower expectations means you feel good when it only takes three days to be able to pay your water bill!
I have great friends here and an amazing partner who help me persevere. I also have the full support of my family. Having close relationships feels good and helps me stay balanced. I also love my work of connecting with local people, learning from them, and bringing expats into amazing places. In addition, I spend a lot of time in nature and exploring. This fuels my excitement and keeps my love bucket full!
I am proudest of raising three wonderful children. I have also published 12 books, run a fabulous non-profit, learned to live in a foreign country, and learned a new language (Spanish). I am even learning Mayan! But raising three amazing children is the best thing I have ever done!
I miss good cheddar cheese. LOL. Vermont has some of the best cheddar in the world, and I used to use it in most of my cooking! I love Mexican and Maya food and have had a blast learning new recipes, but I miss that tart cheese! Really, there isn’t much else I miss. I am still very close to my family even though they are all over the world, and I have adjusted very well to life here. We have Amazon now, too, which is amazing. I used to miss good quality sheets, but now I can order them online.
Stuff is no longer important to me. I used to live in a huge 4-bedroom house filled with lots of beautiful things. When I left the US, I gave away almost everything. I no longer have even a storage space in the US, and I am very happy living a much simpler life here. Life is about experiences, relationships, breathing fresh air, and swimming in the sea. I love that I can close up my little condo and go on an adventure anytime I want. There is less work to do, and really, I feel much freer.
The death of my husband was the defining moment in my life. It changed everything. We had been high school sweethearts and then were married for 27 years. I didn’t know anything else. We did everything together, and, in many ways, I made my life revolve around him. That felt good at the time, but now I know it was super restricting. When he passed away, it was devastating. But I quickly moved to Mexico, where I found solace and comfort. Soon, I began to re-evaluate my life, and I started following my bliss. I am doing things now I never would have done if we were still together. I am grateful for the time we had together and the children I have from that union. But I am on such an amazing path now. It took time to make the transition, but I am so much happier now and fulfilled now. I feel like I am doing what I came here to this incarnation to do.
I spend a lot of my free time at the beach and hanging out with friends. It’s my happy place. I also love boats. I sail and just love being on or in the water. I love yoga and qigong, breathwork, and meditation. I collect crystals and silver handmade jewelry, and I love working with my tarot cards and the Maya Majiks Oracle Cards I created. I play with several pendulums and burn way more incense than anyone should. In addition, I spend a lot of time exploring. I meet new local people and listen to their amazing stories of magic in the jungles. I check out sacred places and experiment with energies there. There are remote Maya ruins around here and beautiful cave pools called cenotes. I love finding ones that no one goes to. Some say that Adventure is my middle name. Going on a crazy spiritual adventure is my favorite thing to do!
I offer 4-day spiritual retreats in addition to private smaller excursions. Of course, I also have books and e-courses available online. I also do Maya birth chart readings to help you see what energy you are currently in and what advice you can follow to create your best life. And I created a set of oracle cards called Maya Majiks that are based on Maya life and magic. I use those to do readings, too. The main thing, though, is the retreats. When you come on a retreat with me, you not only help yourself, you help fund research so I can learn more about the magic and wisdom of the Maya, and you help fund the non-profit work I am doing, too.
I have an upcoming retreat November 16-20, 2023, and then there will be retreats in January, February, March, and April 2024 too. The retreats include: A private healing session with our shaman, Maya ceremony and ritual, Cacao ceremony, Cenote (cave pool) cleansing and letting go experience, Maya ruin connection, breathwork and meditation, foods to heal and reactivate your third eye, your Maya birth sign and energies, connection with local people and of course so much more!
If you are in the area and want a private experience, I can do that too. These are often overnight experiences where I take you to see our shaman and then include other things like exploring Maya ruins, doing a traditional Maya pottery class with a master potter whose family still works in the old ways, having a breathtaking healing soak in a cenote, enjoying local Maya food, meeting Maya families, and hearing lots of stories about very real and powerful Maya magic.
I am currently working on an E-Course to teach you how to do an amazing Cacao Ceremony and lead it so others can benefit. The ceremony is deeply connected to Maya culture, history, and magic, and its purpose is to take you through a death and re-birth experience. It is beautiful. The E-Course will have written teaching, photos, and videos to help bring everything to life.
When I get into a project, I usually work very quickly because I get super focused on it. I allow things to gel in my mind until I know exactly what I want to write, and then I plunge in. This project is about halfway finished as of this writing, and I hope to finish it within a month or so.
Surviving Mexico 
