I come from Colombia, a land where stories are still alive, and you kind of have to believe in magic. On my quest to understand how stories shape cultures, I’ve travelled—with barely any money—to over 30 countries, where I’ve told countless stories… while living a few stories of my own. I’ve hitchhiked ambulances, sat with shamans in the Amazon, lost all my stories and been found by them again, all this, to reach you, and bring you a story.
I graduated in 2015 from the Vivapalabra Storytelling School in Medellín, Colombia, whose 2.5-year program makes it one of the most complete storytelling schools in the world. Since then I’ve performed at international storytelling festivals in Morocco, Greece, Germany, the UK, and of course Colombia, and have given hundreds of storytelling shows, conference keynotes, and story-healing workshops at universities, schools, language academies, spiritual retreats, artsy cafes, streetcorners, beaches, atop a pyramid... and more!
And in all these different contexts, person after person has said to me with tears in their eyes, how did you know that was exactly the story I needed to hear?
I didn’t know. But the stories did.
What does achira mean?
The achira is a South American flower that often grows wild by the side of the road. It’s been cultivated by indigenous communities for thousands of years as a food crop and for its medicinal properties, and it also removes toxins from contaminated ground. So it’s a plant that heals the earth—literally!
It’s always been my favorite flower, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I discovered the craziest part: the name “achira” comes from a Quechua root word that means… Storyteller.
Collected from all over the world, achira stories ultimately all have the same purpose: that you may go out and live your own.
Would you like to hear one?