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Mahฤvana Foundation is an ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ, ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง and ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ง๐ project nestled in the Peruvian Amazon near the city of Iquitos. Our small, family- run center offers a unique, individual and personalized experience, with private or semi-private retreats limited to only ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ at a time.
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The ๐ฌ๐ข๐ณ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ both during the Ayahuasca ceremony and at every step of the process. At our place you will get the attention you need and deserve, as well as enough space not to be side- tracked by big group dynamics and other peopleโs processes.
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You will have the opportunity to participate in ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐จ and ๐๐ฒ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐๐ ceremonies and receive personalized healing treatments with ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ฌ tailored to your individual needs.
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“Dieta” is a traditional period of seclusion, during which the dieter comes in contact with ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ “๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ”” and its spirit. During this time ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ are followed, so that the dieter consumes no salt, sugar, (also no sugary fruit and vegetables), oil, species, or processed food. The meals are bland and simple.
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No distractions, including use of cell phones, reading and sexual activities are allowed. Diet is a time of ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง and ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง. Frequent journaling, drawing, and painting is advised in order to process fully the incoming information and insights. It is also a time of intense and vivid contact and immersion in the nature.
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The choice which Master Plant to diet depends mostly on intention of the person undergoing the process and their experience working with plant medicines. The purpose of doing the diet might be of ๐ฉ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ, ๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ nature, however plants usually work on all these levels at the same time. During the diet one can expect to have deep and meaningful dreams induced by lack of external stimulation, closeness of the nature and ingestion of the master plant.
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We work with a variety of plants that help with different ailments, including e.g. ๐๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง, anxiety, ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐, feeling stuck in life, d๐ข๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ฌ, ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐ง๐๐, โdark night of the soulโ an many more.
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Depending on duration of the diet and particular character of the master plant chosen, dieter will participate in ๐๐ฒ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐๐ฌ every few days.
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The minimum duration of a diet is 8 days.
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Our experienced healers will guide you through the transformative journey of Ayahuasca, a powerful plant medicine known for its ability to unlock deep spiritual insights, heal emotional wounds, and connect you with your true essence. We cook our medicine ourselves, using only Ayahuasca vine (banisteriopsis caapi) and chacruna (psychotria viridis) leaves. During your Master Plant Diet you will participate in Ayahuasca ceremonies on regular bases.
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Kambo It is obtained from a giant tree frog, Phyllomedusa bicolor. Indigenous people have used kambo for centuries to heal and cleanse the body by strengthening its natural defenses. Kambo contains unique peptide chains that ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ.
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It is a great way to clean the body of toxins, as deep as on the cellular level, as well as treating numerous health conditions. The latter may include: addiction, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐จ- ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ฌ, Alzheimerโs disease, Anxiety, cancer, chronic pain, depression, diabetes, hepatitis, HIV and AIDS, infections, infertility, rheumatism. What is more, Kambo kills bacteria, viruses, ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฌ and fungi.
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Our philosophy is to approach the healing process in an integrative manner, combining ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ and their knowledge of the plants (from the lineage of Mestizo shamans and the Galindo family) with Western sensitivity to ๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ซ๐, intricacies of ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค and ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง process.
Our main healer, ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ, has over ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ working with Ayahuasca. He apprenticed under ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ณ๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐จ don Roldon Galindo and his son, Gumercindo Galindo. Peter brings a unique perspective to the medicine practice, ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ค prior to his work with plant medicine. His deep understanding of spiritual practices and commitment to healing make him a powerful guide on your journey.
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In addition, our main facilitator, Anna, apart from taking time for dieting Master Plants, is also undergoing a training in cognitive behavioral ๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ฒ, a widely recognized and evidence-based approach to mental health treatment. This, together with Inner Child Work and ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ skills, allow her to provide additional support and guidance for those seeking to integrate their Ayahuasca experience into their daily lives.
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Our center is designed to provide you with a safe and supportive environment, with comfortable accommodations, nourishing meals made from locally sourced ingredients, and plenty of opportunities to connect with nature.
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The accommodations are built using ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง techniques with natural materials, providing a rustic and ๐๐๐จ-๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฒ atmosphere that perfectly complements the ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ก ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ surroundings.
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You will be provided a ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ญ boasting a 360-degree view of the jungle around, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the region. Comfort is key, with each hut featuring a comfortable bed, hammock, shelf, table, and chair, private toilet, providing everything you need to relax, unwind and focus on the healing process.
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We understand that the integration of the experiences gained during the retreat is a ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ of the healing process. We offer post-retreat support to help our guests integrate their experiences into their daily lives.
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During the retreat, participants have access to ๐จ๐ง๐-๐จ๐ง-๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ with our experienced facilitators. These sessions are designed to help participants process their experiences and explore how to integrate the insights gained into their daily lives. Our facilitators offer guidance and support to help participants navigate any challenges that may arise during the integration process.
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Before participants leave, we also provide them with resources and tools to support their integration process.
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Our commitment to ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ extends beyond the retreat itself. We maintain ongoing relationships with our former Master Plant Diet participants and consider them to be our ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฌ for years to come. We welcome our former guests to ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ก ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ for support and guidance during their integration process.
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If you require any more information, don’t hesitate to drop us a message!
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BobEbunz
February 4, 2025 at 10:17 pmIt’s been about two weeks since my return from Mahavana.
My partner and I undertook a week long dieta with Chuchuhuasi. Going into it, we didn’t know we’d be staying in separate tambos (simple screened huts), but the entire experience ended up being exactly what we needed.
The experience felt like a necessary cleanse from Western life, from the “go, go, go” mentality. Simple, wholesome food. Ample time with myself and the amazing natural world that this center is in harmony with.
Peter is an incredible person. I had previously worked with Shipibo maestros at a retreat center 9 years ago, so I had slight preconceived worries that the experience wouldn’t achieve the same depth. My fears were quickly put to rest after the first ceremony. Peter is extremely kind, wise, and holds space immaculately. His words and guidance were always welcome in the moment, never over-explaining.
His 15 years as a monk in India inform much of how he shows up in life and in this work. Hearing Vedic chants / mantras while deep in the medicine was an experience that has imprinted on my soul.
This place is the real deal.. You come here to do deep work. Retreat centers with nice amenities, tours, spending days with other people, have their place. This was my previous experience with the medicine, and it was perfect for that time in my life. But doing dieta the traditional way (being alone with one’s self and the plants) allows for many more layers to be worked through.
We plan to come back again, and are so grateful to have found this place.
I’m a little reluctant to leave a review, as I want this center to remain a secret! Peter has expressed that he wants to keep his place small, no more than 4 people at once (currently 3). This intention paired with his very fair rate shows that he walks in integrity.
sevanmercy
January 29, 2025 at 10:53 pmI could not have asked for, or planned for, a more beneficial experience. My partner and I found Mahavana via a dear friend of mine who sat with Peter last year and had wonderful things to say. Trusting this friend, my partner and I decided to go here out of the many other retreat centers we looked at and considered. Iโm so, so glad for this.
Immediately upon exiting the thick jungle path from the river to his place on the land, I was soothed by a sense of safety. Not once during the duration of our stay did I ever feel afraid or nervous (which is a lot coming from me, a U.S. living in a โroughโ neighborhood). Spending my days in my private tambo with no walls, just a screen between me and the flora and fauna of the Amazon, I was continually astounded by the glory of nature and felt grateful to get to be so close to it.
Peter offers a traditional dieta, which to me, is what you want if youโre truly looking to deepen your relationship with yourself, these plant teachers, and your path. There are no jungle tours, or yoga classes to fill your time and distract you. Itโs just you, the plants, and the jungle.
The container in this truly beautiful part of the Amazon- thriving and pulsing with life, and the solitude of the traditional dieta, paired with simple and nourishing meals, is the perfect recipe for a profound and transformative experience.
Peterโs wisdom is as potent as he is humble. He exudes calm, grounding, seasoned energy that made me feel confident in my own innate wisdom and medicine. His words are never pedantic or preachy, he doesnโt interfere with your own process, and says just the right thing in a straight forward and simple way. Like a good teacher, he doesnโt tell you, he creates the right environment for you to discover for yourself.
Oh, and his songs!
The icaros are deeply moving.
You may already know that Ayahusca is not a cure all, and that often weโre left with more questions than answers. You may know that what weโre shown and what we encounter in ceremony is half of the medicine, and the other half happens in the weeks, months, years to come.
With that in mind, this place, this dieta, this experience, this person, will hold a very special place in my heart and soul as I continue to unravel the mysteries I encountered and allow them to inform how I live my life for myself, my loved ones, and for a better world.
SD11
July 4, 2023 at 10:32 amThe Mahฤvana Foundation is an incredible space for healing and transformation. With the kindness and hospitality offered by Pran and Anna, as well as their humble guidance throughout the process, itโs a place to feel at home while working with master plants.
If life has led you to the point where you find yourself reading this, take it as a sign and do yourself a favour by booking in for a life-changing experience here – youโll be so grateful you did.
George Kilmurry
April 27, 2023 at 3:53 pmI gave top ratings in all categories because the care, forest location , facility, and expertise made my stay incredible.
As a London based psychotherapist my interests were in experiencing the insight and personal healing that can be achieved working with plant medicines.
From the preparations of master plant, food according to the diet, and the conducting of Ayahuasca ceremonies, Peter and Anna at the Mahavan Foundation were just brilliant. Itโs a place you can fully trust and enrich your life from visiting.
JohnMcLean44
April 27, 2023 at 7:19 amHello!
I am happy you are here reading this!
Have you ever experienced something so transformative that it alters your life’s perspective? The experience of participating in Ayahuasca ceremonies with Pran at Mahavana was transformative in ways that are difficult to put into words. Mahavana centers around traditional medicine and the use of sacred plants for self-discovery and healing. I had never participated in anything like this before, but I was open to the experience to see what it could offer me. During a ceremony with Pran, you can expect to be guided through the sometimes-challenging terrain of the Ayahuasca journey with compassionate and knowledgeable support and guidance as you work through whatever arises. The ceremonies with the medicine are undoubtedly amazing and transformative, Ayahuasca helped me to understand things about myself that were previously out of reach. The ceremonies allowed me to have a deeper understanding of my place in the world and my connection to others. It wasn’t just the ceremonies that made this such a special experience, it is the setting that is created at Mahavana, here you will find a space where you can truly be yourself without the fear of judgment. Mahavana has a calm and peaceful setting, ideal for meditation and introspection with a focus on integration, this is what truly makes Mahavana stand out. This is not just about the ceremonies – it’s about integrating the experience into your daily life. Mahavana provides guidance and support for this process, making it easier to bring the lessons learned with the plants into the “real world.โ If you’re looking to connect with yourself on a deeper level and experience personal growth and self-discovery, I highly recommend Mahavana, it is an invaluable resource for anyone who is interested in exploring this powerful medicine.
Note: This review was edited for over-capitalization, but has otherwise been left in its original form.