Rich Awn's ceremonial performance at Ontopo's Tulum retreat explored the sacred Mesoamerican beverage made from the balché tree, known for its religious and cultural significance among the ancient Yucatec Maya. Inspired by this tradition, Awn recreated an indigenous fermentation process using local honey and balché bark, adding a Kombucha culture to connect ancient practices. Participants were served the sacred brew just before dawn, followed by full-body bio wraps using the culture regenerations. The ceremony culminated in participants receiving a piece of the starter culture to continue this tradition at home.

In the accompanying image, Awn is captured deeply immersed in the ceremonial ritual, carefully tending to the brewing process, surrounded by the vibrant foliage of Tulum. The smoke from the vessel, juxtaposed with the poolside setting, reinforces the connection between the traditional, the ritualistic, and the contemporary, highlighting the convergence of cultural memory and modern practice.

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