Mystical Plant Journey 

I discovered AYAHUASCA in 2011. My first ceremony was in rural Joshua Tree on my 47th birthday and It was a completely life changing experience. I immediately booked my next ceremony in Topanga Canyon, and from then  I was with Aya every month. 

 

I joined Bird Tribe in 2012. Bird Tribe was different from the deep Shipibo style I had been used to. It was much more social. The songs came from different traditions and different musicians which brought their own styles. We didn’t sit in pitch black darkness which is Peruvian style. There were candles spread around the various altars and people could move around a bit more freely.

 

I was introduced to the Santo Daime Church about 2 years later. In fact the principal facilitators of Bird Tribe were all members of the Santo Daime, which is how I made the connection. The Santo Daime is a wonderful organization that dates back to the 1930’s. Founded in Brazil, it brings together Amazonian shamanism, African rituals, and European Catholicism. Joining the Santo Daime does not mean that you have to abandon your native religion, So you can find Jewish, Catholics, Hindu, Arabs, Wiccans and just about anyone else in the Santo Daime Community. 

 

Wearing the Star indicates that you are a full member of the Santo Daime Church, and willing to show up and take on the responsibilities that the Church requires. Below you can see me getting my star from Padrinho Alfredo, the head of of the Santo Daime, in 2014.  

 

In 2014 I Traveled to Peru and learned a thing or two from the Shipibo shamans of Pucallpa. I spent three weeks there deepening my understanding of this particular medicine tradition learning how to make the medicine and how to serve it. Before leaving Pucallpa I funded a project to create a Maloca (ceremonial space) for the locals.

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In 2023 I returned to Pucallpa to be with my shaman friends Cesar and Fidelia, and see how the center they had created evolved. Cesar gave me a 15 day dieta with Pinon Colorado, (also known as "cura todo").  It's a plant used for empowering and clearing negative energy.  I've certainly been empowered. I was welcomed into the fold as a member of the church of Rao Kano Xobo and became a disciple to  the Shipibo medicine man (Onaya) tradition. On the 4th day of the dieta Fidelia gave me a special facial tattoo for confidence,  leadership and empowerment. This was huge! 

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My future goal is to offer healing ceremonies in the Shipibo tradition in a way that benefits others, while continuing and deepening my membership with the Santo Daime.

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