Choosing Caya Shobo was a wonderful decision. My experience there was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I went to Caya Shobo during a time of transition amidst a bout of acute fatigue and other ongoing chronic struggles, including 20 years of ongoing depression and anxiety. I was hoping to breakthrough into new ground and get to the core of what was going on holistically-speaking (mind, body, emotions, spirit), and that definitely happened. When I returned home I felt so much lighter (and not just from losing weight on dieta), as though I was no longer carrying around the heaviness and weight I had come to know.

From the moment of arrival the entire staff was very supportive, kind, warm, knowledgeable and safe. The Shipibo Maestro that was there during my stay, Arturo, was incredible – a very modest, unassuming, kind, honest, skilled Maestro. I trusted him immediately, which is unusual for me. Working with Arturo, Ayahuasca, medicinal plants, the facilitators onsite (Julien & Katy – also amazing), the staff and the sanctitude of the jungle, in a spacious, compassionate environment designed for deep and holistic healing, allowed me to lay down ways of being; ancestral inheritances; old and outdated feelings, thoughts and stories; align my mind and heart and heal a lot of old hurt/wounding that I had been actively working with for years (generations), yet was unable to fully access on my own.

During my time there the Facilitators were available for support, to listen, to provide assistance when needed, and share their experience. Space was created to interact with the Maestro a few times a week for check-ins, to ask questions, receive guidance and partake in conferences to learn more about Shipibo culture, Ayahuasca and medicinal plants. Those staying at Caya Shobo are given plenty of space to be in their own process; however, assistance is always just an ask away and willingly offered with great compassion. You can tailor the experience to meet your needs, staying a couple days, a couple weeks, a couple months (or longer) and working with Ayahuasca alone or if staying long enough, also opening a dieta for deeper support and healing. One can also choose to be in isolation and follow a strict dieta if desired.The food is delicious, the rooms are pretty basic, but cover one’s needs. The Treehouse (one of the lodging options) is phenomenal, if you want indoor/outdoor living, a beautiful view and some space from others.

There is so much I could say and yet it is challenging to put such an experience into words and do it justice. If you feel called to work with Ayahuasca and plant medicine and want to give yourself the greatest gift you could imagine, that of truly investing in your own healing (which is not for yourself alone but will affect and heal past and future generations and enable you to evolve and more effectively navigate and contribute to the present) then I highly recommend Caya Shobo, especially staying long enough to experience a dieta. I also recommend laying down any preconceptions around what will happen or even who you will be following your experience, which does NOT end when you leave the center, but continues to unfold. If you choose to engage in this work, I recommend a willingness to embrace not knowing, as the reaches of the ensuing transformation are deep, wide and potentially completely restructuring.

Real healing happens at Caya Shobo!