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Temple of the Way of Light
The Temple of the Way of Light is a traditional plant-medicine shamanic healing center located in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest that offers intensive ayahuasca retreats with female and male Shipibo healers. We are dedicated to providing our guests with the opportunity to benefit from the ancient healing wisdom of the Shipibo people, and to helping this unique culture preserve its knowledge and identity in the 21st Century.
We work with some of the most respected and powerful healers (Onanya) from the Shipibo tribe. They are highly experienced, gentle, caring, and deeply dedicated to healing and embodying the wisdom and sincerity of their people. The healing traditions of the Shipibo people offer an ancient yet pioneering path to health, re-discovering our true nature and re-awakening to our true purpose.
The Temple firmly believes in respecting and honoring the ancient practices of the Onanya, experts in ayahuasca healing and plant-spirit shamanism of the Amazon. They bring a rich cultural and medicinal legacy to the healing process: time-honored rituals, intricate practices, an expansive cosmology, an encyclopedic knowledge of medicinal plants of the Amazon, and a far-reaching ancestral lineage.
The Temple has safely facilitated healing for thousands of people since 2007 and has forged an exemplary reputation for stringent safety protocols, compassionate care, and a balance of female and male healers and facilitators. We have used our experience to fine-tune a synthesis of ancient Shipibo medicine traditions and modern and Eastern integrative practices that now extends to comprehensive aftercare and integration support long after guests have returned home. All this takes place with an institutional focus on sustainability, permaculture, ethics, and social responsibility.
We offer ayahuasca retreat programs of varying duration, focus, and intensity, with a balance of female and male Shipibo healers, experienced western facilitators, floral baths, a steam bath, a high ratio of healers to guests, a high number of ayahuasca ceremonies, individual consultations, a nutritional and balanced ayahuasca food diet, and a strong focus on how to process and integrate healing, both during and after each ayahuasca retreat.
The safety of our guests is paramount. We are constantly working to offer the safest container and most effective ayahuasca healing experience in the Amazon. We have developed the most stringent health and safety protocols available on any ayahuasca retreat in Peru. The Temple’s commitment to guests begins with in-depth medical and psychological screening during our booking procedure and continues after the retreat through our integration support. Guiding you safely through deep personal healing and growth is our priority, both in and out of ceremony.
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darjada
October 19, 2017 at 8:53 amProfoundly transformative, surrounded by knowledgeable, sensitive, caring facilitators and Shipibo healers for whom safety was paramount. Every detail of set and setting was attended to. The food was fantastic as was the facility. Their devotion to sustainable agriculture and habitation makes me proud to have chosen this place to do my work. Wonderfully enlightening permaculture walk through the jungle. The facilitators model what personal growth looks like. One of the most important aspects of what The Temple provides is continuing after care to support the integration process. Having left the The Temple only a few days ago, i have a deep appreciation for their belief that 50% of the work is done in ceremony with Ayahuasca and the healers and 50% is the integration work that one must commit to afterward to hold onto and put into practice the insights acquired from the medicine. From my research into other centers, i have not found the same level of support and resources that The Temple is providing to its attendees. From day one after my departure i have been using this support to stay in touch with what i have learned. It has helped me to stay open and in a place of non judgementally observing my reactions and responses to the world beyond the jungle so that i can continue to grow. I miss the jungle, the maestros and maestras, the facilitators and my fellow attendees. Usually within a group one finds at least one or two peple who are having a hard time and can make it difficult for others. I credit The Temple’s screening process for bringing together people from all over the world who generously shared their genius and their wisdom with me. I will be forever grateful. I will return.
Jonathan Marc
April 17, 2017 at 2:02 pmI attended the Temple’s 30-day Deep Immersion Program in October 2015. At the time it offered 8 ceremonies over 4 weeks, with plenty of down time between ceremonies for integration, yoga, meditation, art therapy, and group sessions. It’s been sharpened to 7 ceremonies over 3 weeks, which I’d consider an improvement.
In my opinion, the Temple is aspiring to be one of the biggest and most renowned centres in Peru to meet growing demand from cultures afflicted with spiritual maladies. It thankfully understands the importance of doing so sustainably, which is evidenced in the Chaikuni Permacutlure Center work that’s being done on site.
The most important point I want to make is that the Temple is great for a lot of people, especially newcomers to the medicine, but can fall short on delivering what’s possible due to needing to give a lot of people a good experience.
Plant medicine is often intense. In rare cases, people die. Compared with all my other experiences, my opinion is that medicine at the Temple was mild for the sake of not scaring too many people off. If this is your first retreat, it will sufficiently knock your socks off, and give you a wonderful first experience. They have a knack for attracting world-class facilitators. If you’ve already journeyed before, or if there’s any urgency to your healing process, I’d advise finding a smaller specialized centre that follows the Shipibo healing lineage more closely.
My last thing to mention is that if you have any trouble with mobility or moving around, you should absolutely consider a different retreat centre. The hike in is gruelling, even with their porters carrying your bags.
docaya
March 5, 2017 at 6:52 am+ safe place, great introduction to the medicine, workshops on Shamanism, healthy diets, plants, yoga classes (Ian has been the best yoga teacher in my life so far:) etc.
+ I joined a 12 day retreat including 7 Aya ceremonies in December 2016; beautiful and intense experience, I am very grateful
+ food is better at the temple compared to most other retreat centers (considering that you are on Aya dieta) particularly if you eat fish; fish from the Amazon river is yummy… vegetarian alternative offered
+ during ceremonies a lot of 1on1 attention of Shamans so you get your share of healing
+ Wonderful facilitators/team Todd, Al, Scott and five great Shipibo Shamans
+ group size around 22
+ the bungalows (your accommodation) are located in the middle of the jungle, the bungalows are simple and provided with Moskitos nets
+ the Temple of the Way of Light is not inexpensive but offers a lot of great features e.g. the 3 months phone integration offer for free subsequently to the retreats. Besides the Temple is investing a lot in sustainability and neighboring locals
+ Highly recommended particularly for first-timers who are looking for a nice resort in the jungle and professional personal care
jazzkookie
November 13, 2016 at 10:48 pmI was there for the 12 day retreat. The location and the tambos are beautiful, serene and basic. They focus on healing and not day jungle adventures like some of the others, in case you might be looking for that.
I found the curanderos to be very gentle and had a good vibe about them. The facilitators helped the group and led us through the experience very gently and nicely without forcing us one way or the other. They were there to help if needed. They also treated the shamans and the ceremony with a lot of respect and humility.
I guess it also helps that the group you end up with is a good one.
The first dose was a small one, and this was understandable (other places are probably like this as well) as they need to understand how each one reacts to the medicine. After this the dosage is left to you and what you are comfortable with.
It is also amazing that we had 5 shamans conducting the ceremonies and it was wonderful to hear the different icaros from each of them when they sing to you personally or when they all sing in unison. It blew my mind! This is really one of the positives.
The food was excellent and i had a life changing time when i was there. I would gladly recommend the temple to anyone.
louise
August 18, 2016 at 9:36 pmI went reading all the previous comments and I can not share the same opinion. I had the feeling to be in a factory or a business instead of a legit spiritual center.
Don’t get me wrong the place is great and the location too but to me it feels like a money making machine and spiritually it is not what I was looking for.