In this unique Ayahuasca retreat, you will be offered the opportunity to open and connect to your voice within the context of the Noya Rao Dieta and with Ayahuasca in ceremony. You will be asked to refrain from speaking from the morning of the third day of retreat until the morning of your last day. The retreat will involveĀ a Master Plant DietaĀ on the sacred Noya Rao tree, 5 Ayahuasca ceremonies. and Daily Guided Meditation. You will also have the opportunity to participate in one to one consultations with our Shipibo curandera Maestra Juana each day of the retreat to seek spiritual guidance as you journey with the sacred plant medicines.Ā
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Fascinating group lectures that reveal the sacred traditions of the Shipibo:
Whilst on retreat we will enjoy three superb meals per day, freshly prepared by the team at our center. On the days of our Ayahuasca ceremonies, we will restrict this to 2 meals, the last one is not to be eaten after 2pm. All meals are prepared with the best local ingredients and will be mostly vegetarian with the occasional river fish and organic chicken.Ā Please let us know if you have special dietary needs.
All meals will be free from:Ā Sugar, Oil, Salt, Pork, Alcohol, Red Meat
You will also be expected to refrain from communicating via phone, text, and email for the duration of the retreat.
Our chaotic lives are often characterized by the absence of silence and can be devoid of intentional space for reflection and contemplation. Getting out of the city, traveling deep into the bush or forest can be a rare encounter that brings us briefly, face to face with natures silence and with the subtleties of our inner worlds. Often when we simply listen to our thoughts and to the sensations within we encounter strange and uncomfortable feelings. It can be difficult to simply be with what is and do not seek temporary distraction from technology, social media and from routine busyness. Silence is confronting, yet it may hold the potential to heal old wounds and heighten our intuitive capacities in ways we could never have imagined. Befriending silence has the power to transform our lives; lives that we may have spent careful time curating to avoid silence at all cost.Ā
Silent has therefore never been rarer, nor has it been more important.Ā
Our silent retreat is designed to gently confront you with your own silences and the thoughts and sensations within that need your attention in order for you to heal and to begin experiencing the world anew.
Noya Rao which is otherwise known as āThe Tree of Lifeā or āCamino a la Verdadā āĀ The Path of TruthĀ is a mythical plant, of which there are only three in the entire Amazon Basin. Noya Rao has belonged to and been used in sacred ceremony by the Mahua Shipibo traditions for centuries. Noya Rao is known for its capacity to activate intuition in the dietero(a), promote mental clarity and to increase oneās capacity for organized thought. Coupling a Master Plant Dieta with silence heightens Noya Raoās capacity to promote profound healing and to reveal important insights to the dietero (a).Ā Silence alone enables us to become aware of subtle sensations, thoughts, feelings, and messages within; taking time to simply be with oneself without distraction and mindless chatter can help us to become aware of that within us that needs to be let go of, or embraced. In short, silence on its own enables us to glimpse wounds that need our attention and to contemplate what we want from our lives. Noya Rao is, therefore, the perfect companion for silence as it accelerates this process of connection and recognition of the wounds within that need transmutation, whilst giving the dietro(a) the courage needed to make positive changes in their behavior and to let go of their limiting beliefs.
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Nestled along the Amazon river lies El encanto de Chullachaqui, our retreat center, where you will find a tranquil setting which inspires change, facilitates healing, and will help you realize your full potential
Legendary Shipibo Healers, Caring Facilitators
“This trip was a dream. It far exceeded my expectations. I felt so welcomed and comfortable, but it also challenged me in ways I didnāt even know could happen.Ā
Ā – Jessica Farrelli
Following your Noya RaoĀ Voice retreat, you will receive one individual 1 hour support session with our integration specialist. The sessions will be scheduled at 1 month post retreat will be delivered by Atira Tan (MA Art Therapy Dip Transpersonal Art Therapy, SEP). Atira has over 13 yearsā experience working in trauma recovery and is deeply passionate about the transformative potential of sacred plant medicines. In your integration sessions, you can expect to be listened to with compassion by a dedicated professional that has experienced sacred plant medicine herself. Atira will guide you using Somatic ExperiencingTM principles, helping you to locate within you the resources and wisdom needed to preserve with your healing journey. These sessions will offer you the opportunity to discuss your sacred medicine experiences, including any visions you may have witnessed and to work through tangible solutions to any real-world problems you are facing that are preventing you from fully integrating this work.
Interested in flexible pricing options? Speak to our program coordinator today
There are only 5 known matured Noya Rao Trees (and one “baby”). We are very excited and deeply grateful to be able to offer access to these magnificent natural wonders. The Noya Rao trees glow in the moonlight and possess a unique energy and capacity for deep healing.Ā
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 communityās 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 ourĀ Ayahuasca ceremonies, circle discussions and be available for personal consultations whilst on retreat.
Lindsey has spent the last decade gathering people from all over the world to sing healing medicine songs and mantras. Sheās 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 keepĀ womenĀ 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 vibrationātheir soul song. Each personās soul song makes up the great Choir of Life.
Lindseyās 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:Ā www.lindseywise.com
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 Juanaās expertise, depth of wisdom and fun loving spirit with us on theĀ Noya Rao 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.
Anna was born in the United States and is currently based in the Andes of Southern Peru. She is an alternative health advocate, healing is her passion. Anna has devoted her life to healing and continued health education. She offers her clients tools of self-realization and personal empowerment. Annaās primary focus is on plant-based medicine, yoga, qigong, and music.Ā From an early age, Anna gravitated toward the healing arts. She knew through her own healing and self-discovery that her lifeās work and personal fulfillment would be helping others.In 2010Ā her eight-year path of holistic healing and alternative medicine began at the Ashland Institute of Massage.Ā Soon afterĀ she began working with Native American teachers learning Shamanistic rituals; sheĀ built on her newfound knowledgeĀ through the study of the healing practices across the world;Ā earning aĀ Bachelorās Degree in Health Education and Native American StudiesĀ from Southern Oregon University in 2014.Ā InĀ lateĀ 2014 Anna felt the pull to focus on the ancient rituals of the Amazon. Traveling to Peru in August she had her first introduction toĀ theĀ profound healing capabilities ofĀ Ayahuasca. While Peru would eventually become her home; Anna continued to travel extensively through North, Central, and South America on a journey to connect with as many ancient rituals and practices as possible.Ā Along the way, she discovered a natural ability to bridge culture, backgrounds, andĀ uniqueĀ personalities with the healing powers of the Amazon.Ā By maintainingĀ a strong personal practice of daily meditation andĀ yoga that sheĀ learned in India; AnnaĀ has also been fortunate enough to share her knowledge of yoga and qigong with others for the last seven years.Ā The foundation of Annaās life is love, joy, and balance. She has enjoyed the opportunity to collect many ancient healing songs from around the world and is looking forward to releasing her first healing album in the near future.
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āThe healing plants of the Amazon have opened up my life and expanded my mind to amazing possibilities and opportunities. Itās a joyĀ that this path opened to me, and an honor that I can share this healing with othersāĀ
While living mindfully in the present, we are always excited for the future and we have much in store for the coming year. Among other upgrades to better serve our guests, we will be:
Part of our improvement plans include raising our prices starting in 2024 to support our continuing efforts in improving everything that we do. With that said, we will always do our best to keep our prices attainable and within reach for as many people as possible, and we will also offer the possibility of discounts in a few different ways:
We will continue to provide payment plans for all of our retreats, please contact us at info@ayahealingretreats.com to discuss options.
We are committed to prioritizing the quality of our retreats, giving you the most personalized and authentic experience possible, and caring for the health, safety, comfort and well-being of everyone who comes to AYA Healing Retreats.
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…and access to our limited duration promotions for new retreat offerings, online courses, and giveaways.
Our comprehensive screening questionnaire has been developed in partnership with the International Centre for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Service (ICEERS). Please take your time to answer it as honestly and with as much detail as possible. This information will remain strictly confidential and will only be used to assess your suitability for a place on retreat with AYA Healing Retreats and keep you safe
Please remember that the purpose of this screening questionnaire is to determine whether plant medicine healing is suitable for youā¦not whether you are suitable for plant medicine healing. Plant medicines are tools, like any other healing modality and like other tools for healing experiencing them entails certain risks. We need to make sure that our plant medicines will not compromise your wellbeing or harm you in any way before we allow you to begin your healing journey with us. In short, we care about your safety and we need to do what we can to ensure that during your time with us you are not at risk of harm. Plant medicines can be dangerous if the plants are not the right fit for the individual. Your answers to this questionnaire will help us to determine whether the plants we intend to use are going to help, rather than harm you
