| comfortable
and spacious double accommodation lodging |
all
local transportation, land and water |
| excellent
meals at SpiritQuest Shamanic Sanctuary |
sensitive
aid and assistance during the ceremonies |
| Spanish-English
translation |
experienced
and skilled transcultural facilitation |
| entheobiological
instruction |
shamanic
tuition and instruction |
| Ayahuasca
cleansing and healing ceremonies* |
personal
shamanic diagnoses and consultations* |
| medicinal
flower baths |
facilitated
group sharing circles following each ceremony |
| personalized
shamanic counseling |
guided
river and rainforest explorations |
social
and trading visits with indigenous Yahua, Muruy, Shipibo and Bora people
visits
to beautiful old-growth rainforest and natural ethnobotanical gardens
The
heart and soul of Ayahuasca SpiritQuest is the opportunity to seriously
engage focal work with Ayahuasca,
the legendary holistic spirit medicine of the Amazon, conducted by a superb
maestro
ayahuasquero and curandero, a genuine master of the shamanic
healing arts.
Don
Rober de Lamas is an extraordinary banco ayahuasquero of the renowned
Lamista lineage. He conducts his healing work in purely positive
healing modality, classical curanderismo. He maintains an active
healing practice in service to his own communities.
Don
Rober is an extraordinarily gifted human being, characterized by his unbridled
devotion to the ancient jungle healing arts, a deep knowledge of traditional
plant medicine, and a sense of service to the healing spirits of the Earth,
Water and Heavens and humanity. He radiates positive healing energy
and uncomplicated wisdom which communicates directly to the heart and soul
of everyone in his presence.
Don
Rober is a gentle, caring man with a great sense of humor and a special
sparkle in his eyes. He compliments his natural gift and mastery of his
art with dedication, personal sacrifice, discipline and integrity.
Don
Rober ws initiated in Ayahuasca at the age of eight by his uncle who was
also a Lamista maestro in a shamanic lineage spanning three generations.
Don Rober was considered a maestro at age 18 and has continued his dedicated
work all his life. He has practiced Ayahuasca shamanism for over
45 years.
Don
Rober holds his gifts and knowledge with humility and grace, always passing
gratitude for healing to the universal Spirit and the many spirit
doctors who work with him as healers, helpers, guides and allies.
The
harmony and positive healing energy inherent in his work is extraordinary
and felt by everyone present. You will have opportunities for private counseling
and personalized healing work in addition to group ceremonies.
Three
or four nocturnal shamanic ayahuasca healing ceremonies will be conducted
in the course of the 7-day or 8-day Ayahuasca SpiritQuest retreats.
The disciplines and practices of shamanism in the Peruvian Amazon are diverse
indeed. While most use tobacco and Ayahuasca as their principal plant
healers, these are often combined with other plants, techniques and bases
of knowledge. In SpiritQuest, you will experience the knowledge
and work of a genuine Lamista banco ayahuasquero (supreme master
ayahuasca healer).
In the presence of ayahuasca for "Medicine Power" and chacruna for
"Light",
our groups convene in ceremony with don Rober and invited spirits presiding.
A lovely blend of indigenous and mestizo icaros,
the curandero's spirit healing chants and songs, will guide our journey
as we venture beyond the ordinary together.
The morning after each ceremony, we will be awakened and refreshed by an
invigorating sacred fragrant flower bath administered in the classic shamanic
style with tobacco blessing and personal icaro.
We'll be inspired and stimulated by group 'talking stick' discussions the
days after our ceremonies, sharing our visions, dreams and impressions
from preceding evenings. We'll lend shamanic interpretation to your recollections,
which will grow clearer as time passes.
Stimulating and cleansing hot steam jungle saunas "saumedas" using
aromatic jungle plants may be administered on request.
We will spend quality time with our Yahua
, Bora and Muruy
Huitoto Indian friends, sharing traditional dance and trading for their
beautiful handicraft made entirely from natural rainforest resources. These
people still live a largely traditional lifestyle although change is rapidly
encroaching. You will find their friendly charm unforgettable.
We'll travel on the mighty Amazon River to visit with our indigenous
Muruy Huitoto friends there and walk through their beautiful "terra
firme" old-growth rainforest to the invigorating waters of the "quebrada
encantada" ("enchanted stream") where we will enjoy a refreshing natural
waterfall 'jacuzzi' and healing medicinal clay baths if the water
is not too high (August-January is the low-water period).
In the Peruvian Amazon, ancient mystical relationships with nature still
thrive in isolated jungle communities. We'll visit a prime area of old-growth
white sand rainforest to experience the rich diversity of plant and animal
life there. We will find many plants of shamanic and ethnobotanical interest
and discuss them from both perspectives. Here you will sense the vast knowledge
held by the shamanic keepers of the rainforest's secrets as they share
tidbits with you. True shamans are not only teachers and healers but also
perennial students of the countless hidden secrets of nature, man, and
the universe.
We'll pass through old Puerto Belén (Port of Bethlehem) on the Río
Itaya in our fine boats, the B/F Reyna de la Selva and B/F Otorongo
Blanco.
Typical residential homes in Puerto Belén are elevated
on stilts or float on balsa logs during the high water season from March
to July.
Transportation, guides and language interpretation are provided for all
group activities and personal consultations.
Accommodations
The
SpiritQuest
Shamanic Sanctuary is a superb shamanic ceremonial retreat center
surrounded by rainforest and the Río Momón. Here you will
be immersed in the genuine cultural lifestyle of the Peruvian Amazon.
You'll quickly feel at home here like a member of our family.
Our
facilities offer a superb natural ambience, amazing local cultural diversity,
friendly and competent staff, and outstanding purely organic food prepared
in a wholesome and sanitary manner by excellent Amazonian chefs.
You
will sleep confortably and well in spacious double-occupancy residential
quarters (single occupancy with groups of 15 or fewer people), screened
for ventilation and protection from mosquitoes.
Each
room has a private bathroom with flushing toilet and sink, electricity,
and wi fi internet access (bring your own laptop). Central shower facilities
are conveniently located near the guest quarters.
You'll
rest well here, basking in serene tranquility by day and in unforgettable
jungle symphony and shamanic icaro concert by night.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily. The meal preceding
each ceremony is light and easily digested. Food is washed and prepared
using bottled purified drinking water to prevent food-related illness.
Vegetarian
diets are deliciously accommodated. Please advise us in advance of
your special diet needs and we'll do our best to find the foods you prefer,
subject to availability. Fresh fruit and fruit drinks (refrescos)
are available between meals.
Fruit and fruit juice mixed with water called "refrescos" of both
familiar and exotic flavors are available with and between meals. Purified
drinking water is available at all times. Evening meals before shamanic
ceremonies are light and served in the afternoon.
Vegetable staples include yuca (aka manioc; cassava), chonta
(heart of palm), platanos (plaintains), and a variety of vegetables
and fruits, some of which are unfamiliar outside the Amazon.
Grilled fish wrapped in leaf (patarashka) is the main protein staple
served daily during the retreat. Among the tasty native fishes served are
paiche,
an enormous ancient fish relished in the region, and
tucunaré,
the peacock bass (actually a cichlid). NOTE: Only smaller and
bonier fishes such as boca chica and
palometa are consumed
in the strict vegetalista diet. The choice is yours.
Though
the more liberal diet is not as rigid and rigorous as that required of
shamanic apprentices, it provides the requisite for safe and successful
work with the Ayahuasca medicine to optimize the processes of purification,
healing, and personal transformation.
We
encourage you to follow the more strict diet if you can. The Amazonian
vegetalista
diet is not a strict vegetarian diet per se since certain fish is
included. Of course the vegetarian can pass on the fish.
Specific content of the vegetalista diet varies throughout the Amazon depending
on the maestro and purpose of the diet.
The
Vegetalista Diet
IMPORTANT NOTE:Dietary
preparation
is required before, during, and after partaking of Ayahuasca. Consumption
of salt, sugar, coffee, hot spices, and oils must be reduced or avoided
entirely at least three days before the first ceremony and continuing through
the final ceremony. Additional short-term dietary restrictions are suggested
as an added safety measure to avoid potential complications from temporary
monoamine
oxidase inhibition.
See
MEDICAL
PRECAUTIONS AND WARNINGS for more important information. Be sure to
read SpiritQuest
preparations
for the Ayahuasca experience.
Abstinence
from pork is required for two weeks surrounding work with Ayahuasca. Abstinence
from sexual orgasm is prescribed for three days prior and after work with
Ayahuasca. For many this is the hardest part of the diet to keep, but most
people find their libido and sexual energy pleasantly enhanced upon breaking
this aspect of the diet.
The
strict
vegetalista diet is very bland with no salt, sugar, oil,
or spices, consisting chiefly of certain types of small grilled or boiled
fish, yuca (manioc), plantains. and heart of palm. Initiates are
instructed not to bathe with soap or shampoo or brush their teeth during
the diet. Isolation and sexual segregation is also prescribed.
This
diet is difficult to keep for an extended period of time even by the native
people here, and initial diets of 7, 10 and 14 days are common starting
points. Some elder maestros claim to have kept strictly to this diet
for three years or more!
The
more varied diet is typically observed by local people who partake of Ayahuasca
from time to time. The strict diet is undertaken at specific times
for specific purposes and no one, not even the shamans, keeps to it all
the time.
NOT
INCLUDED: airfare,
bottled drinks (abstinence from alcohol is required during all our
work), restaurant meals in Iquitos, personal item , traveler's insurance
(recommended but not required), personal services such as laundry, tips
and honoraria. Airport tax (US$5 domestic and $29 international airport
departure tax) is not included in the airfare and must be paid in cash
at the airport before departure.
Tips
and honoraria for local Peruvian staff and faculty are appropriate
based on your personal means and satisfaction with their services.
| Click on the candle
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participants... |
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Things
to Bring
Preparations,
equipment, and personal items
Air
Travel
Current
information about air travel planning and sources for reservations.
El
Tigre Journeys Mission Statement
Our
mission
... ... is to enhance, nurture, preserve and protect the unique cultural,
spiritual
and ecological treasures of Mother Perú.
Ayahuasca
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