Ep. 100 - Awakened by the Forest: Cristiano Colla on Healing, Presence, and Wholeness

From professional football in Italy to the depths of the Amazon rainforest, Cristiano Colla’s extraordinary journey reveals what it means to heal, awaken, and live as a whole human being. In this moving Hearts Rise Up conversation, Cristiano shares his evolution from an externally driven life to one guided by presence, compassion, and authenticity. Through Ayahuasca ceremonies, inner-child work, and the union of masculine and feminine energies, he discovered that true transformation begins when we embrace our paradoxes and meet every part of ourselves with love. His story is an invitation to turn inward, reclaim our power, and remember the freedom of being fully alive.________Chapters/Key Topics:00:00 – Introduction00:54 – Meet Cristiano Colla01:37 – “How Is Your Heart?” - — The Power of Presence02:33 – Leaving Football: Breaking Free from Identity05:34 – The Call to the Forest: Meeting Ayahuasca08:44 – The Somatic Surgery Experience12:34 – Dreams as Divine Guidance14:07 – How to Work With Dreams16:47 – Ceremonies Five & Six: Union of Masculine and Feminine Energies20:16 – Healing the Inner Child: Return to Authenticity23:22 – The Greatest Lesson: Embracing Human Paradox25:31 – The Message of the Book: Awakened by the Forest27:53 – Integrating Shadow and Emotion: The Process of Reclamation32:51 – Beyond Awakening: The Path Continues35:49 – What’s Next: Tantra & Energy Healing37:56 – Guidance for Those at a Crossroads39:31 – Gratitude, Family, and Forgiveness40:45 – One Truth About Life and Death41:42 – Closing and Where to Connect with Cristiano________Episode Resources:Connect with Cristiano:https://substack.com/@thehybridsoulhttps://oneiriclives.substack.com/https://www.instagram.com/cristiano.colla/Cristiano's Book:Awakened by the Forest – A Memoir of Ayahuasca and Inner Evolution (estimated launch date – early 2026) ________Connect With Hearts Rise Up and LifeQuest Horizonshttps://heartsriseup.com/Sign up for our popular, weekly “Notes From Your Higher Self”The Art of Inner Masteryhttps://www.lifequesthorizons.com/________ Subscribe to the podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hearts-rise-up-podcast/id1454410735https://open.spotify.com/show/7ebcnnbCjRIeUmJWUC2hYy________Hearts Rise Up Production TeamHearts Rise Up is a  "Best Wisdom Podcast"Audio editing by: Ann SerrieTechnical Director: Christopher DrummondMusic by: Jonn Serrie