WISDOM OF THE INDIGENOUS ELDERS
The Indigenous peoples of our world have lived in harmony with the natural environment for thousands of years. The wise elders of these traditions have much to teach us about our role as custodians of the earth and about the central importance of spiritual growth to a life lived well. Learning to take only what we need, to waste little, to honour our ancestors, to listen to our bodies and to the natural world are but some of the teachings these wise elders can share with us. At AYA Healing Retreats, we recognise the sacredness of these teachings and we draw from this generational wisdom passed down through the centuries to offer a powerful, authentic and life-changing healing experience.
We are blessed to have our curanderos / curanderas bring their expert knowledge of sacred plant medicines to our retreat center. Their primary role is to guide participants in directing the energy flow of the plant medicines, paving the way for a profound healing experience.
Shipibo Curandero
Shipibo Curandera
Shipibo Curandero
Maestro Matsé
For ourselves and for the environment
For ourselves and others as we prepare to face our truth
For the ancient wisdom and sacred healing traditions of the peoples of the Amazon Basin
To our healing journey and to the replanting and regeneration of native plant medicines
With our guests and non-for profit partners
For the healing we experience, the opportunities we have in life and the generosity of the indigenous peoples of the Peruvian Amazon
Sacred plant medicine healing can be a confronting experience. You will likely feel a variety of distressing emotions and be faced with shadow aspects of your personality and upsetting memories. The confrontation with these uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and visions can cause us to panic, feel fear, to cry, scream and to vomit. Whilst uncomfortable, for the body to purge past trauma it must first have a chance to detoxify and rid itself of all that is preventing deep and enduring healing to occur.
The role of our facilitators, who all have extensive experience in sacred plant medicines and various psychological and creative therapies is to support you to locate the courage you need to move through the difficulty. Their primary role is to ensure your wellbeing. Our facilitators will create a loving, compassionate space in which all participants feel safe, respected and free to express themselves authentically.
Founder
Facilitator, Women’s group
Medical Doctor, Cardiologist, Facilitator
Facilitator
Facilitator
Facilitator
Facilitator
Facilitator
Lead Facilitator
Lead Facilitator
Our new home and the location for the majority of our Ayahuasca Retreats. We are very grateful to be able to share this incredible healing space with many rare plant spirits in the area which are great teachers and catalysts for your healing journey and self actualization.
Sacred plant medicine is a tool for realising profound spiritual, emotional and physical healing. These traditional medicines are gifts; gifts that over centuries have been cultivated and used by the indigenous tribespeople of the Amazon Basin to transform lives. As the direct recipients of this healing it is our social and personal responsibility to ensure that we use our new-found knowledge, wellness and transformation for good.
AYA Healing Retreats is committed to creating a more compassionate, safe and equal world. Which is why we support one extraordinary humanitarian project.
The Shipibo people have a population of between 35,000 and 40,000 people and are one of the largest and most resilient tribes in the Peruvian Amazon. Today, the Shipibo live in approximately 150 small communities nestled along the Ucayali River. Around 1600, Spanish missionaries first began to flood the Amazon rainforest, looking to convert the Shipibo to Christianity and to colonise the region. The Shipibo resisted and it wasn’t until 1950’s that Christian missionaries attempted once more, with varying degrees of success to convert the Shipibo people. The Shipibo people are a resilient tribe, and despite numerous attacks on their culture and traditions, they have retained their traditional knowledge and customs.
The Shipibo people are deeply respected for their knowledge of the sacred plant medicines, ceremony and their spiritual connection to the rainforest environment. Traditionally, the Shipibo women, or Shipiba’s are artisans and are responsible for creating intricate and beautiful pottery, textiles and jewellery. The ceremonial songs, or Icaros and the energy that the songs produce is used to inspire the visual aesthetics of the Shipibo’s textiles, resulting in designs that are truly unique and hypnotic.
Several terrible political policies in the past have led to widespread degradation of the Shipibo’s natural environment. Increasing pollution of the waterways, unsustainable palm oil plantations, oil spills and the predominance of multinational oil and timber companies is an unrelenting threat to the Shipibo people. With this is mind, AYA Healing Retreats is committed to not contributing to the devastation of the Shipibo people that has been legislated by the Peruvian government for decades. We are committed to supporting the Shipibo people’s right to self-determination and to contributing what we can to restoring the vitality of the Amazon Rainforest.
Don Miguel was born into a Shipibo community called Roaboya on the River Ucayali. When Don Miguel was a child, Angel Sanchez Vargas, his grandfather was the community’s curandero. Vargas was an expert in sacred plant medicines and was frequently called upon to heal and share his spiritual wisdom with members of Roaboya. The school built some years later was named after Vargas and Roaboya went on to be recognised as the first indigenous community 114 years ago. Don Miguel grew up surrounded by the Shipibo wisdom and possess intimate knowledge of the sacred plant medicines. At a very young age he began his apprenticeship as a curandero through plant dietas under the supportive guidance of his grandfather. Miguel is also a trained literature professor and thoroughly enjoys teaching the Shipibo language and culture. Since 2012, Don Miguel has spent the bulk of his time leading lectures, workshops, initiation courses and retreats. Don Miguel will lead our Ayahuasca ceremonies, circle discussions and be available for personal consultations whilst on retreat.
Don Miguel was born into a Shipibo community called Roaboya on the River Ucayali. When Don Miguel was a child, Angel Sanchez Vargas, his grandfather was the community’s curandero. Vargas was an expert in sacred plant medicines and was frequently called upon to heal and share his spiritual wisdom with members of Roaboya. The school built some years later was named after Vargas and Roaboya went on to be recognised as the first indigenous community 114 years ago. Don Miguel grew up surrounded by the Shipibo wisdom and possess intimate knowledge of the sacred plant medicines. At a very young age he began his apprenticeship as a curandero through plant dietas under the supportive guidance of his grandfather. Miguel is also a trained literature professor and thoroughly enjoys teaching the Shipibo language and culture. Since 2012, Don Miguel has spent the bulk of his time leading lectures, workshops, initiation courses and retreats. Don Miguel will lead our Ayahuasca ceremonies, circle discussions and be available for personal consultations whilst on retreat.
Maestra Juana was born into the Shipibo community of Pahoyan, one of the most powerful Shipibo healing lineages in the Peruvian Amazon. She is around 60 years old, however her exact age is unknown.She has been studying for more than 35 years under Maestra Manuela, Papa Gilberto and Papa Bejamin, who are all members of the highly-respected curandero family, the Mahua family. Juana began her dieta on the mythical Amazonian tree Noya Rao when she was just 20 years old and has dedicated her life to the path of healing ever since. Juana is also very learned in the workings of the human body, possessing an excellent knowledge of the bones and skeletal system. Juana specialises in bone massage and will be available on the Noya Rao retreat to provide our guests with this unique healing experience. We are delighted to have Juana’s expertise, depth of wisdom and fun loving spirit with us on the Noya Rao retreat.
Maestra Juana was born into the Shipibo community of Pahoyan, one of the most powerful Shipibo healing lineages in the Peruvian Amazon. She is around 60 years old, however her exact age is unknown.She has been studying for more than 35 years under Maestra Manuela, Papa Gilberto and Papa Bejamin, who are all members of the highly-respected curandero family, the Mahua family. Juana began her dieta on the mythical Amazonian tree Noya Rao when she was just 20 years old and has dedicated her life to the path of healing ever since. Juana is also very learned in the workings of the human body, possessing an excellent knowledge of the bones and skeletal system. Juana specialises in bone massage and will be available on the Noya Rao retreat to provide our guests with this unique healing experience. We are delighted to have Juana’s expertise, depth of wisdom and fun loving spirit with us on the Noya Rao retreat.
Papa Gilberto Mahua was born into a lineage of renowned Shipibo healers. His grandfather, father and earliest ancestors were all respected curanderos, who, Like Gilberto, were initiated into the plant medicine tradition at a very young age. Gilberto completed his first master plant dieta at the age of 11. For eighteen months, Gilberto saw only his father and uncle who were guiding him through the dieta and his two brothers who are also being apprenticed in Amazonian plant medicine. Ayahuasca and Tobacco along with Ayahuma, Bobinsana, Huaira Caspi and Chiric Sanango formed the basis of his initial journey with master plants.
Since that time, Gilberto has accumulated close to 60 year’s experience working in concert with master plants to promote healing in himself and others. He is regarded in his local community along the Ucayali River and throughout the West as a healer of great integrity, wisdom and excellence. Gilberto is revered not only for his experience and expertise but for his commitment to keeping the Shipibo healing traditions alive at a time when their culture faces ever-increasing political and environmental threats.
Gilberto is regarded as a father to his students. He cares deeply about the healing journey of each and every person and brings great compassion and strength to our ceremonies. His kindness and compelling presence coupled with his singular expertise create a container of safety that enables students to truly surrender to the healing process.
Papa Gilberto Mahua was born into a lineage of renowned Shipibo healers. His grandfather, father and earliest ancestors were all respected curanderos, who, Like Gilberto, were initiated into the plant medicine tradition at a very young age. Gilberto completed his first master plant dieta at the age of 11. For eighteen months, Gilberto saw only his father and uncle who were guiding him through the dieta and his two brothers who are also being apprenticed in Amazonian plant medicine. Ayahuasca and Tobacco along with Ayahuma, Bobinsana, Huaira Caspi and Chiric Sanango formed the basis of his initial journey with master plants.
Since that time, Gilberto has accumulated close to 60 year’s experience working in concert with master plants to promote healing in himself and others. He is regarded in his local community along the Ucayali River and throughout the West as a healer of great integrity, wisdom and excellence. Gilberto is revered not only for his experience and expertise but for his commitment to keeping the Shipibo healing traditions alive at a time when their culture faces ever-increasing political and environmental threats.
Gilberto is regarded as a father to his students. He cares deeply about the healing journey of each and every person and brings great compassion and strength to our ceremonies. His kindness and compelling presence coupled with his singular expertise create a container of safety that enables students to truly surrender to the healing process.
Wilder is the son of Andrés and Juana, originally Matses from Brasil, founders of the community El Paujil, at the basin of the Galvez river, in between Brasil and Perú, where he lives currently with his family.
He was raised learning traditional medicine and leadership from his father, what lead him today to be the chief of his community and legal representant of the Matse community with the goverment.
His people lives in harmony with their enviroment, surviving from fishing, little agriculture, and hunting, activity from what they are highly skilled and proud.
They also create beautiful artisan crafts that will be for sale at the market during the retreat.
Wilder is the son of Andrés and Juana, originally Matses from Brasil, founders of the community El Paujil, at the basin of the Galvez river, in between Brasil and Perú, where he lives currently with his family.
He was raised learning traditional medicine and leadership from his father, what lead him today to be the chief of his community and legal representant of the Matse community with the goverment.
His people lives in harmony with their enviroment, surviving from fishing, little agriculture, and hunting, activity from what they are highly skilled and proud.
They also create beautiful artisan crafts that will be for sale at the market during the retreat.
Elio Geusa is the founder of AYA Healing Retreats and is a qualified Social Worker with over thirteen years of experience working both on national and international humanitarian projects, supporting adults experiencing mental health and intellectual disabilities, and refugee populations throughout Asia, Europe, and Australia.
Elio believes that loving and inspired action can create meaningful change in the world.
Elio has been devoted to the path of plant medicine and Ayahuasca since 2009 and began an apprenticeship under the guidance of Maestro, Vegetalista Manaco Manai. In his long time in Peru, he has continued to deepen his knowledge, experience, and understanding of the workings of the sacred plant medicines, studying the Shipibo traditions under the revered Mahua family and has undertaken numerous Master Plant Dietas with well-respected curanderos in the Peruvian Amazon.
This immersion in the sacred plant medicines of the indigenous peoples of Peru enabled Elio to experience deep and profound healing. He has overcome crippling anxiety and anger as a result of traumatic childhood experiences and healing that trauma imprints that were not possible through the Western medical paradigm. His renewed sense of self-worth, love, compassion, and empathy for himself enables him to extend those same qualities to others.
Elio founded AYA Healing Retreats because he is convinced of the healing potentialities of sacred plant medicines. Not only does he hope to share the indigenous wisdom of the ancient traditions of the Indigenous people of the Amazon, but he also hopes to make a bigger difference by investing profits from AYA Healing Retreats into humanitarian projects that create a more compassionate world.
Elio Geusa is the founder of AYA Healing Retreats and is a qualified Social Worker with over thirteen years of experience working both on national and international humanitarian projects, supporting adults experiencing mental health and intellectual disabilities, and refugee populations throughout Asia, Europe, and Australia.
Elio believes that loving and inspired action can create meaningful change in the world.
Elio has been devoted to the path of plant medicine and Ayahuasca since 2009 and began an apprenticeship under the guidance of Maestro, Vegetalista Manaco Manai. In his long time in Peru, he has continued to deepen his knowledge, experience, and understanding of the workings of the sacred plant medicines, studying the Shipibo traditions under the revered Mahua family and has undertaken numerous Master Plant Dietas with well-respected curanderos in the Peruvian Amazon.
This immersion in the sacred plant medicines of the indigenous peoples of Peru enabled Elio to experience deep and profound healing. He has overcome crippling anxiety and anger as a result of traumatic childhood experiences and healing that trauma imprints that were not possible through the Western medical paradigm. His renewed sense of self-worth, love, compassion, and empathy for himself enables him to extend those same qualities to others.
Elio founded AYA Healing Retreats because he is convinced of the healing potentialities of sacred plant medicines. Not only does he hope to share the indigenous wisdom of the ancient traditions of the Indigenous people of the Amazon, but he also hopes to make a bigger difference by investing profits from AYA Healing Retreats into humanitarian projects that create a more compassionate world.
Lindsey has spent the last decade gathering people from all over the world to sing healing medicine songs and mantras. She’s the founder of Global Sisters Song Circle and Global Song Circle that gathers on new and full moons. She uses music and movement to break down the emotional and energetic barriers that keep women stifled.
Following the birth of her first child, Lindsey Wise bled to death. During this Near-Death Experience, she found herself surrounded by multitudes of light beings, who initiated her into the world of subtle energies and healing vibrations. At that moment, she realized that all beings create their own unique vibration—their soul song. Each person’s soul song makes up the great Choir of Life.
Lindsey’s work is to awaken humanity to the healing power of the voice. She has traveled the world and the astral realms, cultivating healing techniques to help people awaken to the power of their own voice and to the healer within. Lindsey is an E-RYT 500 certified yoga teacher. She blends yoga, breathwork, guided journeys, energetic healing, and community song to help people overcome fear and anxiety and to clear the energetic blocks that limit expression.
For more about Lindsey: www.lindseywise.com
Lindsey has spent the last decade gathering people from all over the world to sing healing medicine songs and mantras. She’s the founder of Global Sisters Song Circle and Global Song Circle that gathers on new and full moons. She uses music and movement to break down the emotional and energetic barriers that keep women stifled.
Following the birth of her first child, Lindsey Wise bled to death. During this Near-Death Experience, she found herself surrounded by multitudes of light beings, who initiated her into the world of subtle energies and healing vibrations. At that moment, she realized that all beings create their own unique vibration—their soul song. Each person’s soul song makes up the great Choir of Life.
Lindsey’s work is to awaken humanity to the healing power of the voice. She has traveled the world and the astral realms, cultivating healing techniques to help people awaken to the power of their own voice and to the healer within. Lindsey is an E-RYT 500 certified yoga teacher. She blends yoga, breathwork, guided journeys, energetic healing, and community song to help people overcome fear and anxiety and to clear the energetic blocks that limit expression.
For more about Lindsey: www.lindseywise.com
Hailing from her native Singapore Atira Tan, now based in Melbourne Australia, has over 15 years experience healing trauma through yoga, mindfulness, art, and counseling. Atira has a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy from Latrobe University, Melbourne, she was featured on TED X, is the founder of Art to Healing and the annual international Yogathon event, Yoga for Freedom. Atira works extensively throughout Asia and Australia in various projects that are centered around healing and empowering women and girls who have been sexually abused and violated through the sex trafficking industry.
From 2004 onwards, Atira established numerous clinical art therapy and trauma recovery programs and has partnered with international organizations to bring art therapy, somatic therapies, yoga, mindfulness to the refugee camps of Burma, the war zones of Cambodia, the brothels of Kathmandu, regions devastated by earthquakes in Nepal and to remote Aboriginal communities in Australia. In addition to her not-for-profit work, Art to Healing, Atira works as a clinician and clinical supervisor in Australia and the Asia Pacific region and as an educator in Transpersonal Art Therapy. Like Elio, Atira is dedicated to creating the space for transformative experiences to occur for each participant. She is the head of our integration team and as well as teaching yoga on selected retreats, she will facilitate your post-retreat integration sessions via Skype.
More about Atira Tan: atiratan.com
“My mission is to inspire others to step into their TRUTH, to LOVE themselves wholeheartedly and to EMPOWER their unique EXPRESSION in the world.”
Hailing from her native Singapore Atira Tan, now based in Melbourne Australia, has over 15 years experience healing trauma through yoga, mindfulness, art, and counseling. Atira has a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy from Latrobe University, Melbourne, she was featured on TED X, is the founder of Art to Healing and the annual international Yogathon event, Yoga for Freedom. Atira works extensively throughout Asia and Australia in various projects that are centered around healing and empowering women and girls who have been sexually abused and violated through the sex trafficking industry.
From 2004 onwards, Atira established numerous clinical art therapy and trauma recovery programs and has partnered with international organizations to bring art therapy, somatic therapies, yoga, mindfulness to the refugee camps of Burma, the war zones of Cambodia, the brothels of Kathmandu, regions devastated by earthquakes in Nepal and to remote Aboriginal communities in Australia. In addition to her not-for-profit work, Art to Healing, Atira works as a clinician and clinical supervisor in Australia and the Asia Pacific region and as an educator in Transpersonal Art Therapy. Like Elio, Atira is dedicated to creating the space for transformative experiences to occur for each participant. She is the head of our integration team and as well as teaching yoga on selected retreats, she will facilitate your post-retreat integration sessions via Skype.
More about Atira Tan: atiratan.com
“My mission is to inspire others to step into their TRUTH, to LOVE themselves wholeheartedly and to EMPOWER their unique EXPRESSION in the world.”
Born in the United States, Adelina began her healing path at the young age of 5 with deep initiations through the womb. Modern-day medicine saved her life and would later unfold her dharma. Rooted in her Native American and Italian heritage, she began communing with the dreamworld and spirits in her early teens. She has always felt deeply guided by her ancestors. In 2011, Adelina graduated from university with a Bachelor’s in Human Behavior and Health Education, intending to attend medical school. She instead enrolled in Massage School and now specializes in modalities such as Polarity, Neuromuscular Therapy, and Trauma Bodywork. Shortly after, she was then guided to Peru and received her 200 RYT in the Sacred Valley in 2015. On this trip, she met the Ancient Mother, Ayahuasca, which changed the course of her life path.
She received many instructions from this plant teacher and shared deep prayers of gratitude. Following the call, Adelina traveled to the sacred lands of Mount Shasta to complete her facilitation certification in Clarity Breathwork. The sacred medicine continued to speak with her in dreams until she met with her again and full trust of this path was born. She has spent the past 3 years assisting in circles and helping in ceremonies. After holding space for so many, she began to realize the importance of grounded integration while working with such intelligent plant allies. This led to an in-depth focus on somatic studies, attachment theory, non-violent communication, and mind-body practices. Coming from a bloodline of addiction and sexual trauma, a lot came to surface while studying. She returned to the amazon to sit with Maestra Juanita and the Master Plant Noya Rao at AYA Healing Retreat Center in 2019 – where her respect for this path deepened even more.
Adelina is now focused on supporting people as they move through their traumas, addictions, ancestral conditions, and unaligned habits. She travels creating sacred spaces through sound healing, dance, breath-work, and somatic body awareness to help reprogram the subconscious. She is fully committed to helping people prepare and integrate their experiences with these ancient plants. Forever a student, she bows in deep gratitude to these sacred medicines and the lineages that hold them in protection.
For more about Adelina: www.adelinavaughn.com
“Through the heart, all can be healed”
Born in the United States, Adelina began her healing path at the young age of 5 with deep initiations through the womb. Modern-day medicine saved her life and would later unfold her dharma. Rooted in her Native American and Italian heritage, she began communing with the dreamworld and spirits in her early teens. She has always felt deeply guided by her ancestors. In 2011, Adelina graduated from university with a Bachelor’s in Human Behavior and Health Education, intending to attend medical school. She instead enrolled in Massage School and now specializes in modalities such as Polarity, Neuromuscular Therapy, and Trauma Bodywork. Shortly after, she was then guided to Peru and received her 200 RYT in the Sacred Valley in 2015. On this trip, she met the Ancient Mother, Ayahuasca, which changed the course of her life path.
She received many instructions from this plant teacher and shared deep prayers of gratitude. Following the call, Adelina traveled to the sacred lands of Mount Shasta to complete her facilitation certification in Clarity Breathwork. The sacred medicine continued to speak with her in dreams until she met with her again and full trust of this path was born. She has spent the past 3 years assisting in circles and helping in ceremonies. After holding space for so many, she began to realize the importance of grounded integration while working with such intelligent plant allies. This led to an in-depth focus on somatic studies, attachment theory, non-violent communication, and mind-body practices. Coming from a bloodline of addiction and sexual trauma, a lot came to surface while studying. She returned to the amazon to sit with Maestra Juanita and the Master Plant Noya Rao at AYA Healing Retreat Center in 2019 – where her respect for this path deepened even more.
Adelina is now focused on supporting people as they move through their traumas, addictions, ancestral conditions, and unaligned habits. She travels creating sacred spaces through sound healing, dance, breath-work, and somatic body awareness to help reprogram the subconscious. She is fully committed to helping people prepare and integrate their experiences with these ancient plants. Forever a student, she bows in deep gratitude to these sacred medicines and the lineages that hold them in protection.
For more about Adelina: www.adelinavaughn.com
“Through the heart, all can be healed”
Warren is a trained medical doctor who became a specialist in internal medicine and cardiology. At the beginning of his medical career, he was introduced to Ayurveda – the traditional Indian art of healing. Fascinated by this holistic approach, he participated in a whole array of training courses and retreats, learning and exploring holistic methods and wisdom from all over the world.
Especially in the last years, he regularly visited the Amazon jungle to train under the guidance of the Shipibo indigenous people and received different Plant Dietas. Those Dietas clarified his understanding of Naturopathy and how to face medical issues holistically.
Warren is also a passionate musician. With the Dietas, he connects deeply with the amazon tradition of singing Icaros, the traditional healing songs of the Shipibo community. He delights the groups with his wonderful music and guitar playing while in service as a Facilitator.
With great enthusiasm, he is now working as a holistic consultant focusing on solution-based approaches that support health in a humble, intuitive, and natural way.
For more about Warren: www.warrenashley.com
Warren is a trained medical doctor who became a specialist in internal medicine and cardiology. At the beginning of his medical career, he was introduced to Ayurveda – the traditional Indian art of healing. Fascinated by this holistic approach, he participated in a whole array of training courses and retreats, learning and exploring holistic methods and wisdom from all over the world.
Especially in the last years, he regularly visited the Amazon jungle to train under the guidance of the Shipibo indigenous people and received different Plant Dietas. Those Dietas clarified his understanding of Naturopathy and how to face medical issues holistically.
Warren is also a passionate musician. With the Dietas, he connects deeply with the amazon tradition of singing Icaros, the traditional healing songs of the Shipibo community. He delights the groups with his wonderful music and guitar playing while in service as a Facilitator.
With great enthusiasm, he is now working as a holistic consultant focusing on solution-based approaches that support health in a humble, intuitive, and natural way.
For more about Warren: www.warrenashley.com
Mariana Gutierrez (Mariri) is a trauma-informed plant medicine and kambo facilitator, sound healer, herbalist, yoga instructor, and sound engineer. She is passionate about guiding individuals in connecting to their voices as a powerful tool for healing and enhancing plant communication through improvisational, intentional, and somatic sounding.
She hosts and co-hosts various healing and wellness retreats assisting participants on their healing journeys by safely guiding them through expanded states of consciousness. Her ultimate goal is to help individuals tap into their empowered selves, find their true voices, and discover the healing power that lies within themselves.
Mariana Gutierrez (Mariri) is a trauma-informed plant medicine and kambo facilitator, sound healer, herbalist, yoga instructor, and sound engineer. She is passionate about guiding individuals in connecting to their voices as a powerful tool for healing and enhancing plant communication through improvisational, intentional, and somatic sounding.
She hosts and co-hosts various healing and wellness retreats assisting participants on their healing journeys by safely guiding them through expanded states of consciousness. Her ultimate goal is to help individuals tap into their empowered selves, find their true voices, and discover the healing power that lies within themselves.
Born in Aotearoa, New Zealand, Lara has spent 8 years studying with plant medicines in the Peruvian Amazon. She also co-founded an ayahuasca retreat centre where she has supported hundreds of people on their healing journeys.
She is a devoted student of the rose, with a strong connection to the Venusian priestess lineages and feminine mystery schools. Her other passions include folk herbalism, embodiment, trauma informed care, myth, astrology and tantra yoga.
Lara loves to laugh and with her grounded, compassionate energy supports others to feel both empowered and at ease.
Born in Aotearoa, New Zealand, Lara has spent 8 years studying with plant medicines in the Peruvian Amazon. She also co-founded an ayahuasca retreat centre where she has supported hundreds of people on their healing journeys.
She is a devoted student of the rose, with a strong connection to the Venusian priestess lineages and feminine mystery schools. Her other passions include folk herbalism, embodiment, trauma informed care, myth, astrology and tantra yoga.
Lara loves to laugh and with her grounded, compassionate energy supports others to feel both empowered and at ease.
Mathis was raised in Switzerland and has dedicated much of his life to traveling the globe. He currently serves as a plant medicine facilitator with over 7 years of experience in studying and applying entheogenic medicines. His sincere commitment lies in guiding individuals towards their genuine state of being and facilitating healing through various modalities, including body movement, sound healing, and medicine music.
Having honed his musical prowess as a professional musician touring worldwide for more than a decade, Mathis is passionate about integrating his personally composed medicine music into ceremonies while also imparting ancestral musical practices to access profound states of self-awareness.
Mathis’s specialization predominantly resides in the Shipibo tradition of Ayahuasca, complemented by training in the Chavin tradition with San Pedro. He consistently embarks on pilgrimages to the sacred sites of Peru, continuously deepening his knowledge and devotion to guiding others through their transformative journeys with ancestral medicines.
Mathis was raised in Switzerland and has dedicated much of his life to traveling the globe. He currently serves as a plant medicine facilitator with over 7 years of experience in studying and applying entheogenic medicines. His sincere commitment lies in guiding individuals towards their genuine state of being and facilitating healing through various modalities, including body movement, sound healing, and medicine music.
Having honed his musical prowess as a professional musician touring worldwide for more than a decade, Mathis is passionate about integrating his personally composed medicine music into ceremonies while also imparting ancestral musical practices to access profound states of self-awareness.
Mathis’s specialization predominantly resides in the Shipibo tradition of Ayahuasca, complemented by training in the Chavin tradition with San Pedro. He consistently embarks on pilgrimages to the sacred sites of Peru, continuously deepening his knowledge and devotion to guiding others through their transformative journeys with ancestral medicines.
