A very fine Cuban cigar got me thinking…
… all that ancient wisdom about “Chi” or “Shakti” is obviously true on some level. I’m not a big cigar smoker, though I am a lifelong nicotine addict. Nicotine addiction has had me since I was forming in the womb — back then, women didn’t know that smoking while pregnant was le bad. I’m not sure it is, frankly. Both my brother and I turned out pretty well, and we were both born as nicotine addicts. He kicked it, but I’ve leaned into it.
Tobacco is a sacred gift of the Great Spirit in my opinion, along with coffee, chocolate, many herbs and even hallucinogenic substances like magic mushrooms. Of course all of these things can be abused, but they can also be used to great benefit. That is a topic for another post, however.
Currently, my mind traverses the subject of quality, not merely the fact that this marvelous world offers such gifts.
What is it that makes New York grow such crisp, juicy, wonderful apples while apples grown in Ohio or California are just… apples? What is it that makes Cuban cigars so incredibly superior to all other cigars? I’m no aficionado, but I have smoked more cigars than usual in the past couple months. Nicaragua comes in a close second from what I can tell, but Cubans are a cut far above.
You could try to make the argument that it’s just le science — Cuban soil has a mineral composition that (blah blah blah). Cubans take great pride in their cigars and cure and roll them with more skill than people in other countries. Yadda yadda — tell me you’re a dumb, compliant, materialistic, “science”-worshipping, non-doubting NPC without stating it in those words.
It would be an interesting experiment testing purely empirical science itself to take Cuban soil, Cuban water, Cuban seeds, Cuban farmers and tobacconists to another country at the same latitude, grow tobacco, and see if we get the same result in terms of cigar quality.
I’d be willing to bet that we would not.
Why? Chi. Shakti. Energy. Travel enough, and you will begin to appreciate how the energy of the realm, flowing between the earth and sky, affects its fruits. If you’ve ever crossed the Pyrenees from Spain to France, you’ve experienced it. Even crossing the Rockies in Colorado demonstrates it — the Western Slope and Front Range have distinctly different feels.
Latin America’s vibrant earth energy presents itself boldly; Mexico alone is full of different vibes reflecting its many microclimates. Colombia is a whole new experience for me, energetically. It’s like a more intense version of Mexico. The sexual energy here is next-level; everywhere you go you see couples elegantly and passionately doing the dance leading up to “the nasty.” Percentage-wise, there are more beautiful women here than I’ve ever seen anywhere.
It is definitely somehow related to the fertility and abundance and beauty of the land. I’ve noticed the same phenomenon in other places — parts of California, specific regions of Korea and Japan, the south of France, La Paz — but here it’s a whole. notha. level. like Cuban cigars.
Soon I’ll be moving on to Peru, right next door, and I’m sure that the energy there will be something different. Several trusted sources have reported that Peruvian cuisine is among the best in the world. Of course I’ve eaten in Peruvian restaurants in New York and even here in Medellín, but it’s like Thai food or Mexican food — it just doesn’t hit the same outside of those countries where the fresh local ingredients make it pop. It will be something like smoking a real Cuban to eat real Peruvian food, I think.
I’m also looking forward to experiencing those massive mountains and will make a point of getting to the Amazonian side which is off the beaten path and apparently quite magical.
For now, though, I’m here in Colombia, and I’m liking it. I have a couple more Cubans to enjoy. 😊
Wherever you are, take a moment to breathe and tap into the energy that Gaia gives freely. Trust me on this.
You might also consider subscribing to my podcast. Soon an episode will drop like Colombian rain. Next episode relates to energy and how it delineates natural from artificial intelligence. Don’t miss it!
Peace,
Chuck
