Plant Medicine
Healing Retreat of Peru
10-Day Healing Retreat March 2027
I offer to take groups of people seeking healing—be it physical, spiritual, or mental. I offer my therapeutic and spiritual services as a safe container to assist you in your group for the duration of the trip. I will facilate group process and address any individual therapeutic needs that may arise along the way. Additionally, before I take a group of people, I hold individual and group meetings to prepare for the healing journey. Together we will map out the personal issues and concerns you are seeking to address. With my 15 years of experience in complex trauma therapy and family systems, I will engage you and the group in deep personal explorations to best prepare you in your awareness for the healing journey.
What is Shamanism?
Shamanism is one of humanity's oldest healing and spiritual traditions, with practices found in indigenous cultures around the world. While each tradition is unique, shamans are generally understood to be individuals who serve their communities by entering expanded states of awareness to seek insight, healing, and guidance. These traditions often view emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being as deeply interconnected.
In many cultures, shamanic knowledge is passed down through family lineages, while in others it is transmitted through years of apprenticeship with a respected elder after an individual is recognized as having a calling to the work. Although practices differ across cultures, authentic shamanic traditions emphasize humility, service, and respect for the lineage and community from which the teachings originate. In my practice, these cultural wisdoms of healing are integrated into my world view to augment my understanding how human beings heal. Therefore these ancient traditions compliment my western psychotherapeutic approaches. They are not a replacement for medical treatment. Clients are never expected to adopt any particular spiritual belief, and these approaches are always tailored to each person's values and comfort level.
Retreat Center
TierraVida Benxote
TierraVida Benxote is a family owned ecological 10 acre farm and healing sanctuary on the Ucayali river of the Amazon rainforest in Pucallpa, Peru.
The sacred ceremony building known as the "maloka"
Our Hosts at TerraVida Benxote
Adam and Bella Stone own TerraVida Benxote. Here they raise their children with the support of their parents and community.
Adam and Bella's family are of the Shipibo people. Adam has created a ceremony center to support the local Shipibo shamans in their healing service work. Through their family, Adam apprentices in the shamanic ways of the Shipibo people and assists with Maestro Miguel and his son Abigial in our retreat ceremonies. Being fluent in Spanish, Adam also works as a translator for you to assist in talking and understanding Maestro Miguel.
In addition to this focus, Adam and Bella's farm is an education resource and non-profit, Ni Bero, where they can focus on seed saving, permaculture, reforestation to support the local communities and sustainable ecology. To learn more about Terra Vida Bentoxe check out: https://www.nibero.org/
Our Shaman of the Shipibo People
Maestro Miguel Ochavano, in his late 60's, is carrying the lingeage of Papa Benjamin Mahua, the 104 year old elder of the Shipibo-Konibi people. The Shipibo shamans, called Onaya, carry generations of knowledge passed down by their elders from very young. Through sacred songs as sacred technology in ceremonies the shaman work with plant spirit medicine known as Ayahuasca to heal many afflictions in people from mental health to physical illnesses. Maestro Miguel's heart-centered focus has integrity to ensure your safety and support your intention for healing.
Video Message from the Shipibo Lineage
This is Maestro Miguel's son, Abigial Ochavano, who is carrying the lineage as well. Here he explains the importance of bringing their traditions of healing to the world with a pure heart.
What is Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian plant medicine that has been used for for millennia by generations by Indigenous peoples in ceremonial settings to support spiritual and personal growth, emotional and physical healing. Ayahuasca is a drink prepared through the combination of two native plants.
In the Shipibo lineage, Ayahuasca is considered a master plant, a teacher. It connects us to ancestral and spirit realms which can lead to direct healing. It is combined with Chacruna, a plant with DMT (dimethyltryptamine) a psychedelic compound which assists with inner vision during ceremony. Ayahuasca is known as the "Mother" or "Grand Mother" as it carries feminine qualities. It is known to introduce people to plant spirits of the jungle that come to support the journeyer for their transformation.
The Shipibo's origin story of this drink came as instructions from ancient powerful healers preparing to transition through death. Before departing, they told the people these two plants would appear at the ceremonial burial sites and they could use the plants to continue to learn from their wisdom. Cultures of indigenous wisdoms understand the sacred relationship to all things. And so, they honor and enter sacred relationship to learn directly from the plant spirits themselves, being guided, instructed or gifted songs, wisdoms, or future visions.
Your 10-Day Retreat
When you arrive at TerraVida, we will have 10 days of focused healing work, 5 of which will be traditional ayahuasca ceremonies in the sacred building known as a Maloka. The ceremonies will occur through the night. The maestro shaman, Miguel and his apprentices--Abigial and Adam--will guide and facilitate the taking of the medicine and sing the traditional healing songs of the lineage. As preparation or treatment recommendations, there will be offered additional cleansing medicinal plants and baths available. No one is required to take Ayahuasca or any other plant medicine recommendations. It's important that you can move at your own pace and comfort for your purposes and intentions.
The diet while at TerraVida is specific for the ceremonies. There will be healthy fresh vegetables, chicken, fish, eggs, fruits, and rice. The preparation diet and diet while is ceremony are known as "dietas", it is important to follow the dieta because it impacts your ceremony experience. The plants work best when honoring the foods prescribed during the dieta.
In addition to the ceremonies at TerraVida, there will be opportunities for massages, energy work, yoga, nature walks, local ecology and permaculture lessons as well as a river tour. Local Shipibo artists and musicians will come show their work honoring their sacred tradition's visions and values.
From our preparation meetings in the USA to the 10-day retreat and upon return to the USA, I will be your therapeutic support.
The cost of the retreat includes all our therapeutic work. Preparation starts in the states as I will organize a group of 8 people, hold in-person group sessions to introduce ourselves and develop safety, support, and assist with developing a clear healing purpose for each individual. I will also have one therapeutic individual session with each person. Once in Peru, I'll be the therapeutic support the entire time responding to individual needs and holding group process between ceremonies. When we return from Peru, there will be two reintegration group meetings as well to help with returning to life at home, community, and sustaining new relationships. It's critical to me to prioritize safety for all individuals and therefore group cohesion during our retreat.
March 2027 - Retreat Inquiry
If you are interested in joining the March ayahuasca 10-day healing retreat in Peru, please fill out the form below. Plan to travel from 2/27-3/12 (13 days). I will contact you to schedule an initial consultation to ensure this journey is the right fit for your healing path.
