Workshops at the Temple of the Way of Light
12 day intensive healing workshop
Dates
Starting on the 3rd of most months throughout the year, we offer a 12 day workshop focused on intensive healing and spiritual transformation.
Exceptions to the start date are January 09 where we will start the workshop on the 9th due to New Years and Epiphany festivities. In addition, in May and October 09 we will start on the 15th.
Format
The workshop is carried out in a group format with a limit of 21 participants.
Single accommodation
One of the unique characteristics of our workshops is we offer each participant individual accommodation in comfortable, yet traditional tambos (sleeping huts). This ensures that each participant can obtain the maximum benefit from the workshop and has the necessary space / isolation which is an important factor whilst working with Ayahuasca. Our tambos are spread out across our land (we have 40 hectares in total) with sufficient space between them for peace and isolation. Each tambo is made from local wood, some with private bathrooms, covered by mosquito netting with a mosquito over the bed, comfortable mattress, table, chair and hammock.
Ayahuasca ceremonies
We can hold Ayahuasca ceremonies each night although it is often necessary to take a break after running 3 ceremonies in a row to allow the medicine / process to integrate, to recuperate physical energy and catch up on sleep. Our ceremonies generally start around 8pm finish from 2 to 4am.
The healing carried out by the curanderos is focused on your emotional, mental, physical (where time allows / subject to the illness) and spiritual bodies. We aim to work very closely with each participant throughout the 12 days working with the group together and individually.
The intention of our workshops is to provide the conditions and orientation to enable participants to work with Ayahuasca in a comfort¬able, secure and positive setting – creating a safe, sacred space for everyone heal and grow. The curanderos are experts in hold¬ing ceremonies according to the traditional prac¬tices of the Amazon basin, and we adhere to these ancient procedures to ensure safe ceremonies.
Daytime activities
During the daytime, we work in a very friendly atmosphere and encourage you to relax. Although time alone in solitude in your tambo to reflect, connect and integrate the work is critical, when we are together as a group, we like to keep the at¬mosphere light and happy, and never too solemn. The spirits prefer this; although, of course, they also require focus and seriousness at certain points.
In the mornings after a floral bath, we like to hold a group meeting to discuss the previous ceremony whilst the medicine is still working with you. In addition, the curanderos still have the nights work fresh in their minds in order to discuss their visions, diagnosis and how they have been advised to work with you by Mother Ayahuasca and the Spirit Doctors.
We then generally begin individual consultations with each participant discussing their experience during the ceremony, their intentions, necessary healing, etc, etc.
Breakfast is held between 8 and 10pm. Lunch is held between 12 and 2pm. The afternoons are generally used to relax, read, write in your journal, catch up on sleep, meditate and take in the sounds & beauty of the surrounding rainforest.
Floral baths
We hold a total of 9 floral baths initially working on cleaning, purifying and then attracting whatever you wish into your life. They are carried out as a process of transformation:
1. Bano de Florecimiento – Cleansing: cleaning physical, emotional and spiritual bodies to remove negativity stored up in your body.
2. Bano de Florecimiento – Flores Blancas (White flowers): helps bring Light to your body, aids with feeling more relaxed and helps removes bad dreams.
3. Bano de Florecimiento – Purificacion: bath for your spirit and mind, to bring spirits to your dreams and visions to help teach you, protection against bad spirits, good to remove negativity and to bring good luck.
4. Bano de Pusanga – Attraction: from naturally perfumed roots, bark, flowers and leaves to attract whatever you are looking for in your life, i.e. love, fortune, friendships, family, etc – day 12.
5. Bano de Flores – Cleansing: using wild flowers of the jungle. Further cleaning of your mind, emotions and spirit, aids with spiritual tranquillity.
6. Bano de Arcana – Protection: cuts from tree barks with perfumes to give spiritual protection (amour) against bad spirits / negativity.
7. Bano de Ojarasca – Abundance: using dried leaves off the jungle floor to bring you abundance of whatever you wish in your life.
8. Bano de Cogollos – Spiritual maturity: using young, new leaves from jungle plants and trees to mature you spirit and improve your spiritual intelligence.
9. Bano de Barro – Fertilizing spiritual growth: to bath in Mother Earth, to help fertilize your spirit accelerate spiritual growth.
Food
One of the most important aspects of working with Ayahuasca is adhering to a time-honoured tradition of following a special diet in order to prepare not just the body, but also the mind and soul to incorporate the healing energy of Ayahuasca. This diet also shows Mother Ayahuasca your intention, and is a test of discipline and commitment.
The central aspects of the diet we follow at the Temple are common to the teachings of all the ayahuasqueros across the Peruvian Amazon. In the case of some of the food restrictions, there is also de¬finitive scientific evidence that they are essential for safety. We advise you to begin the diet at least 1 week before a 12 day workshop and to continue the diet for at least one week after the last ceremony.
The food prepared at the Temple is prepared by our cook Teresa who provides you with a well rounded, healthy and plentiful diet throughout your stay whilst adhering to the essential restrictions.
We recommend that you abstain from the follow¬ing foods prior to, during and after your workshop:
• No salt or pepper
• No sugar, sweets or chocolate
• No pork (minimum 2 weeks before and after)
• No red meat
• No oils (if you must use oil, use olive oil very sparingly)
• No fat (lard, etc)
• No alcohol (minimum 1 week before and after)
• No fizzy drinks (including “diet” sodas, as these contain NutraSweet/Aspartame and other sweeteners), no energy drinks, no non-alcoholic beer
• No seasoning (white pepper, spices, etc)
• No chillies or other hot peppers
• No ginger
• No ice, ice cream, or ice cold drinks
• No dairy
• No fruits that are bruised or overripe inc raisins or other dried fruits
Additional restrictions
• No sexual activities of any kind, including masturbation
• Avoidance of synthetic soaps, perfumes, toiletries, etc. (Lifesystems All Purpose Travel soap is recommended)
• No prescription drugs (please contact us with more information if you are currently taking any medication, especially antidepressants or antibiotics)
• If female participants are menstruating, then please inform us
• Ayahuasca is not compatible with pregnancy
By eliminating these things from your diet, you will prepare your body physically for the Ayahuasca journey, and perhaps also reducing the amount of “purging” needed to clean your physical body. In addition to the physical aspects, by showing your commitment and determination to Mother Aya¬huasca, you are creating the foundations of your relationship with Her and offering Her the respect which is essential to this work.
Additional activities
• We demonstrate to the group how to prepare and cook Ayahausca.
• Jungle excursion to identify medicinal plants
• Boat excursion and opportunity for a swim in a jungle “cocha” (lagoon)
Our intention
By working closely with you providing a safe, warm and optimistic approach, we hope to be able to effect positive change in your lives. Ayahuasca is an incredible medicine and we only work with experienced curanderos with integrity who truly want to make a difference. We are often able to help people move away from fear, despair, insecurity, anger, worry and doubt about whatever aspects of their lives that are troubling them to return filled with more hope, belief, passion, love and joy.
The possibility to transforms one’s life is certainly there and a lot of change is often realised in 12 days. Obviously, we can not guarantee anything and much of the end result rests on your determination, intent and focus on your inner work. However, we are proud of the results we have achieved and genuinely care about each participant who comes to work with us.
Frequently, a 12 day workshop is the beginning of a much longer process and we see many people returning back each year to further their understanding of this work and their relationship with Mother Ayahuasca / themselves. That said, much can be achieved and we have found from experience that 12 days offers a sufficient time to effect considerable change to peoples lives.
If you wish to stay with us longer then you can then extend the workshop with a plant dieta. The duration of a dieta is flexible although basic introductory dietas are for 12 or 24 days. If you wish to stay for a prolonged period / to study as an apprentice (up to 2 years), this is also possible. Please contact us for further information.
What’s included:
• Comfortable single-occupancy lodging (in our individual tambos)
• Collection from Iquitos airport / hotel in Iquitos
• All transportation to / from the Temple.
• All meals and drinks at the retreat
• Ayahuasca cleansing and healing ceremonies
• Purifying, cleansing and revitalising floral baths (banos de florecimientos)
• Medicinal and purgative plants carefully-selected for highest quality used for body, mind, emotions and spiritual cleansing
• Tuition and healing
• Personal diagnoses and consultations with the Curanderos.
• Participation in the preparation and cooking of the Ayahuasca medicine
• Guided Jungle walks
• Laundry during the retreat
What’s not included:
• Airfares (International and National)
• Transportation to and from Lima aiport
• Local airport taxes (apprx $5 per flight)
• International departure tax (currently $30 from Lima)
• Travel Insurance
• Accomodation in Iquitos (we can book this for you)
• Peruvian Visa costs for non EEC or USA nationals.
• Personal expenses (meals and drinks in Iquitos, etc)
