The Shipibo tribe are widely regarded as the masters of plant medicine and see the jungle as their pharmacy. Their tradition can trace its roots back thousands of years and even the Shipibo language is said to have been taught to them by the plants. In traditional ceremonies, the healer will sing Icaros (translating as “language of the plants”). These are sacred, healing songs passed down through lineages of healers. 

The Shipibo have passed the technology of this medicine through their family lineages. I am blessed to be an initiated guardian of this tradition.

Mushrooms are a remarkable species that decompose dead organic matter and release nutrients to support plant growth. Psilocybin mushrooms, a type of psychedelic mushroom, are thought to reduce activity in the brain’s default mode network, which can help break down old patterns, memories, and behaviors that no longer serve us. By creating spaciousness in our minds, psilocybin mushrooms can allow for new ways of being, thought patterns, and neural pathways to emerge, fostering greater connections with ourselves, others, and the world around us.

Ayahuasca is an ancient and powerful plant teacher from the Amazon jungle, used by the indigenous tribes of South America within a spiritual and ritual context for thousands of years.  Ayahuasca is a brew made from two plants: the Ayahuasca/caapi vine and the Chakruna plant.  It is often called “The Mother” or “The Grandmother”. It is used in healing ceremonies together with Icaros (traditional healing songs) to release physical, emotional, and spiritual blockages.  It is a gateway to our truest self, to awaken our spirit and connect us to our true purpose.

Mapacho is the purest form of tobacco; it is the pure dried tobacco leaves (Nicotiana Rustica) from the Amazon. Most ancient cultures have used a form of tobacco in sacred rituals. We work with Mapacho in a ceremonial way for spiritual cleansing, grounding and protection before, during and after ceremonies. Smoke is  blown through a pipe over participants in the ceremony space. Rapeh (Hape) is another form of tobacco, which is mixed with the ash of grandfather trees from the Amazon. It is administered as a snuff that is blown into the nose with a ‘Tepi’ pipe.

Noya Rao is one of the most magnificent trees you’ll ever see. Noya translates as “Flying” and Rao to “Plant Spirit”, so she is known as “the Flying Plant Spirit”. There are very few of these trees in existence, currently only a handful in the Peruvian Amazon and maybe less than 20 in existence. Noya Rao is pure light and unconditional love, and is known by the Shipibo as the president of the jungle. 

Noya Rao is seen to be an embodiment of the divine feminine , of pure light and unconditional love. The spirit of Noya Rao is known for helping those who work with her to find their life purpose and their highest path. We work with Noya Rao in tincture form in combination with medicine, and through my work with her, her spirit is ever present in my work.

Chiric Sanango is more commonly known as the Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow flower. It blooms in Peru, South Africa and New Zealand and sprouts purple and white flowers. 

In Peruvian shamanic traditions, Chiric Sanango is often felt as a strong male energy. It is not a psychoactive plant, but rather a medicine that is used to treat a variety of physical and spiritual conditions. This plant is a specialist when it comes to flushing out the nervous system, stimulating the lymphatic system, and treating anxiety, inflammation, rheumatism and arthritis. The word “Chiric” in Quechua means ‘itchy’ or ‘tickling’, which refers to the physical sensation of the brew being swallowed.