HOW WE WORK
NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
People are drawn to plant medicines and the Shipibo tradition for many reasons. Some of us have physical health concerns or feel emotionally stuck. Some of us are searching for our next steps in the puzzle of life or seeking to alleviate the residual effects of profound trauma. Some of us are focused on a broken relationship with a spouse or big existential questions about meaning and reality. Some of us are athletes, writers, or musicians curious about what inner potential can be unlocked. Most of us have more than one reason for coming to do this work.
For everyone that comes to us for a retreat or a dieta, the core of the program is built around the same tools – plant medicines, icaros, intermittent fasting, silence, sweat lodges, and distraction-free introspection. However, the specific ways in which we use these tools can differ widely from person to person.
We start with getting to know you and identifying WHY you want to come and what you want to gain from the process. Then, we create a plan of action with you that includes specific dates, details, and preparation guidelines.
Read more about the specific ways this tool kit can be applied to various WHYs, here.
Read more about dates, pricing, and details, here.
SMALL GROUPS - SMALL TEAM
If you’ve done this before, you are already aware of just how important group size and composition are. Working with ayahuasca is intensely personal and not something to be shared with just anyone. We prioritize safety and intimacy in everything that we do, building personal relationships with every guest before they arrive. Our groups are always eight people or less and composed with care and attention to detail.
Our team is also small, which means that you know exactly who you will be working with when you arrive. At the heart of it all are Maestro Nete Besó (a.k.a. Richard) and Maestro Metsa Manó (a.k.a. Julio). These two brothers have each been working with ayahuasca and growing in their craft for over 30 years. They love their work and take personal responsibility for the path of each ceremony, retreat, and dieta. They are proud of their Shipibo culture, their specific lineage, and their work at Amakaya.
Supporting the maestros and each guest in their process are Kajsa and Jonathan. They are the founders of Amakaya and the facilitators for each retreat and dieta – always present and available to give guidance and encouragement throughout the process.
For full team bios, see our About Us page.
AYAHUASCA CEREMONIES
Almost all of our retreats and dietas have ayahuasca ceremonies at their heart. As ayahuasca has rapidly spread around the globe, the term ceremony has come to mean many things. They are held in all kinds of locations by all kinds of practitioners. Some have indigenous roots, others don’t. Some are wonderful, highly effective experiences. Others range from disappointing to dangerous.
We run ceremonies in the Shipibo tradition. We began to work exclusively with Shipibos after many years of experiencing different types of ceremonies. We found that drinking ayahuasca with a genuine Shipibo maestro (or maestra) is like nothing else. Their icaros and methodology of working with plants and people are virtually beyond description ― but the effects on your medicine journey, body, and mind are absolutely undeniable once you have experienced it for yourself.
Our ceremonies usually last four to six hours and take place at night. These experiences are shared in total silence except for the sounds of the jungle, the sounds of purging, and the singing of Nete Besó and Metsa Manó (one or both). Kajsa and Jonathan are always present and available throughout the entire process.
For more in-depth information on Shipibos, icaros, and how ceremonies actually work in practice, see our Informational Video Series.
OTHER PLANTS
The Shipibo medicine cabinet has much more inside of it than just ayahuasca. For certain people, we will incorporate other jungle plants into the overall regimen. For example, some plants are used to calm our nerves or help us sleep. Some are used to relieve constipation or heal internal lesions. Some are applied topically to rashes or skin conditions.
For some people, there is another class of plants here in the Amazon that will be a core part of their overall program. The indigenous cultures usually refer to these as Master Plants (a rough translation that stuck with time). These Master Plants are revered by the Shipibo for their power to teach, heal, and catalyze growth. Traditionally, they have been used to treat chronic health issues and/or deepen a person’s understanding of themselves and the nature of reality. They are consumed under supervision and strict dietary restrictions.
To read more about Master Plant Dietas, here
"I am not what happened to me,
I am what I choose to become."
- C.G Jung -
FASTING & SILENCE
During the ceremonies is when we experience our most direct and exhilarating forms of learning and healing. However, the hours and days that pass in between are vital to the overall outcome of the process.
Experienced ayahuasqueros know that the medicine is continuously working during this time and that too much food, chit chat, or distraction strongly limits that process. All too often, many other centers encourage just such diversion to keep guests comfortable. To us, this is poor guidance and the waste of a beautiful opportunity.
As in many cultures around the world, the Shipibos have a deep respect for the transformational power of fasting, silence, and looking inward. We have no swimming pool, list of amenities, or constant flow of activities to keep you preoccupied. Rather, we choose to lean into the catalyzing discomfort in a structured, intentional way. What you find and feel during these special, difficult hours will open new levels of depth and clarity in your ayahuasca ceremonies and in your understanding of yourself.
SWEAT LODGE
While this is originally a tradition from North America (Temazcal), it is one of our favorite indigenous healing modalities and something we have worked with for many years. It is a surprisingly powerful medicine that perfectly complements the work with ayahuasca.
The basic idea is that fire-heated stones and water are used to create a primitive steam room inside of a structure usually made of flexible saplings and covered with blankets (originally animal hides).
Inside the steam lodge, we will meditate in silence, sway to the beating of the drum, and surrender to the heat. We will
sweat out toxins and wonder if we have the strength to go on. After the climax of effect, the cool mountain stream waits only a few steps away.
Participation will always be optional and the length of time and level of heat are variables that we will adjust for every person and group as needed.
DIGITAL DETOX
Phones, the internet, and constant connection affect us more strongly than ever. Disconnecting and resetting our systems is vital and beautifully aligned with the ayahuasca process. We consistently hear from people how impactful this has been for them.
So, during your retreat, we will strongly encourage you to put your phone in our safe and leave it there until the last day. We will give you an old fashioned alarm clock and take photographs to share as a group.
Certainly, exceptions can be made or hybrid solutions created. However, we will ask that you take this idea seriously and generally embrace it as fun and worthwhile.
To begin the process of planning your trip.
see our Dates & Details page or contact us directly.