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.
Add Review
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Recent Reviews
Review of Espiritu Pandorita by My workshop experience at Pandorita was nothing short of extraordinary. Even before booking, I was thoroughly impressed by their commitment to guest well-being. The complimentary info call provided me with invaluable insights and answered all my questions, setting the stage… Read More from pesi May 19, 08:26- Review of Dreamglade by I just returned for a 2nd time to Dreamglade for a week. My first time being just under a year ago. Obviously as a returning guest, I liked it the first time around. It’s a beautiful setting in the jungle… Read More from JeffreyT May 17, 09:55
- Review of Awakenings Ayahuasca Retreat by Really intense and interesting experience. I felt welcomed and safe at all times. It was really helpful to have Stefanie around to translate from Spanish to English. Read More from kon May 15, 12:39
- Review of Yosi Ocha by A wonderful place, full of powerful medicines, amazing Shaman and his family. This was my second time returning to Yosi Ocha as a solo female traveler, and I could not recommend this place highly enough. To immerse yourself in the… Read More from Samantajat May 15, 11:14
- Review of Arkana Spiritual Center by This place felt like pure magic, overflowing with love and care. It was here that I rediscovered myself, and my life’s path became clearer than ever before. The team at Arkana is incredible, driven by love and a genuine desire… Read More from irenchik88 May 14, 16:13
Esperanza
May 13, 2014 at 12:00 amTemple of the Way of Light Review.
I first heard about the Temple from a friend who had visited soon after the Temple opened its doors, a good few years ago now. She spoke and wrote so movingly about the healing she had encountered there, and the principal of the ?divine feminine? that the Temple was based upon, that I made a mental note to visit myself if the time ever felt right.
My chance came in March of this year. I was at a very low point in my life, and knew that I needed some healing.
I had a real mixture of emotions as I journeyed to the Temple ? fear that the medicine wouldn?t be strong enough, fear that I wouldn?t receive the healing that I so desperately felt I needed. Mostly fear. But excitement too. I was long overdue for an encounter with myself and the limiting patterns that I had carried for years.
My experiences there were by no means easy, but from start to finish; being greeted by a line of tiny, grinning, Shipibo and Shipiba healers at the door, to leaving, feeling as light as I ever have, I felt supremely held.
The accommodation is basic, but great. The food is phenomenal. The facilitators have integrity. The attention to detail is wonderful. Above all though, it is those extraordinary healers that make the difference. I know there are many retreat centres out there, and having visited only one, I cannot speak for them all, but it seems to me that this is what sets the Temple apart; those loving, mischievous, funny, tireless healers, most of them female, that you will encounter there.
The ceremonies were challenging. There are no short cuts with this work. So much of what I was working with was fear. The phrase that kept coming up for me was ?the only way out is through.? The only way through my fear was to experience it fully, to go back to its source and release it.
So I spent many nights lying on a mat in a dark, thatched hut, writhing around, wondering what on earth had made me want to travel thousands of miles to have this experience. But my goodness was it worth it.
One month on and I still feel the medicine working in me. I hope it continues to make its presence felt for a long time yet. Such strong, wise and generous medicine. Thank you!
Garuda
April 29, 2014 at 12:00 amI have recently returned from two weeks at the Temple. It was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. I do not normally write reviews, however as the experience was so incredible I feel compelled to make an exception.
On arrival you are made to feel extremely welcome and it is immediately apparent that it is a very safe space. The jungle is of course beautiful and peaceful and every day I marvelled at just how lucky I was to be there. The facilitators you work with are incredibly helpful, supportive and always available if you need them. Everything is meticulously planned and organised which makes the healing part infinitely easier. Very rarely in life are you able to solely concentrate on yourself!
The maestras and maestros are very much the heart of the place; they work tirelessly and give so much, it is impossible to put into words just how thankful I am. I was aware from our first meeting how powerful and strong their love and desire to help is.
As everyone?s experience with ayahuasca is different, there is no need to go into my own person journey. I will say however that it was without doubt my favourite part (which says a lot considering how much I enjoyed the flower baths). You drink as much as you need to and there are always people on hand to help if necessary. You couldn?t be in a safer environment. It is still very early days but it seems to be life changing in the most positive way.
Everything that you learn during the ceremonies is reflected in the ethos of the temple. I couldn?t recommend it more highly. Their focus on permaculture is truly inspiring and their work with Alianza Arkana hugely important. It is a place full of love. I hope to go back again and again!
Andy
April 24, 2014 at 12:00 amMay 2013 i did a 12 day aya retreat. It is now one year ago and I am still very happy that I went all the way to the jungle in Peru from Sweden.
My first seven ceremonies was very rough and it took a lot of will to keep going, but the support from the staff, the facilitators and my group helped me through and the fifth ceremony changed it all for me and the last tree ceremonies were wonderfool.
The tools I got is still helping me in my every day life back home here.
Accomendation was good and the food great – and very powerful medicine.
The permaculture project they do there is impressive AND the work with Alianza Arkana is so important. A place full of love.
I?m planning to go back again later this year.
Andy
LiveOak
April 14, 2014 at 12:00 amI first attended ceremony at the Temple in February 2012. It was my first ever ayahuasca experience, and I chose the Temple after a recommendation from a friend who worked for their sister NGO, Alianza Arkana. A little research confirmed it was a reasonable place to try.
What I found was more incredible than anything I could have imagined. Not only was the Temple an oasis in a physical sense, with a huge emphasis on beauty and harmony in living in the rainforest, but it was the most transformative experience of my life.
The medicine served is strong and lovingly prepared, the maestros and maestras are dedicated and loving and the approach is one of all around plant-spirit medicine, including not just 7 ceremonies, but also plant remedies and floral baths daily, along with energetic massage by the maestros.
The maestros are available 24 hours a day for any issues that come up, as are the staff. The Temple is populated by loving and open hearted people, including local workers, foreign staff and healers, that love what they do and want to share it in a supportive and attentive way.
The food is excellent and plentiful. The accommodations are perfect and all that one needs. In very short order one feels deeply a part of the land and the community there.
I returned 7 times in the next 18 months (that is not a typo), as I was drawn deeply to the medicine and incredibly comfortable with the accommodations and community there. I have returned many times with my wife, and have met several close friends there, and recommended it to several others who have all had similarly incredible and positive experiences. Many have returned more than once.
To be completely open, after my 7th workshop in 18 months, and my deepening connection to the medicine and the Temple community, I was asked to return as a facilitator. I agreed to do so and have been leading workshops every 3 or 4 months as a “guest facilitator” ever since.
I know it is a bit questionable to offer a review as a facilitator but the reason I do so is this:
I am not paid to work there. I pay for my flights there and all of my expenses. My wife often joins me as a guest and we gladly pay for her spot. I can think of no greater testimony than to say that I eagerly volunteer my time there to contribute to the beautiful mission of the Temple and the amazing work they do there. I believe in it that strongly.
If I was not facilitating I would still be coming 4 or 5 times a year as a guest, as I was doing when I was offered the opportunity to facilitate.
I am sure that there are many wonderful, supportive and incredible places to have an aya experience, and each is unique. I can promise you that if you feel called to the Temple of the Way of Light you can feel safe and certain that you have chosen well, and will get the experience your soul is hoping to have. You will have it in a safe, open-hearted, loving and comfortable environment.
Ayagirl
April 10, 2014 at 12:00 amLooking at some of the negative reviews, it is beyond my why anyone who genuinely has worked with Mother Ayahuasca, the powerful Shamans of the Temple and most importantly–who’ve taken the time to work on themselves and invest in themselves would come on here and write such dishonest and vile lies. It’s more of a question of who these people are and their own self-centered motives than anything else having to do with the Temple. With that said, I give my honest review of this magical place called The Temple of the Way of Light. The Temple is in the heart of the Amazon surrounded by a vortex of healing energy and its orchestra of exotic gorgeous wildlife that only a chosen and sacred land can offer. Just arriving at the Temples grounds alone, you will automatically feel as if you’ve entered a different dimension all together. It’s quiet, scenic, healing and most of all the people who work there are genuinely concerned with helping you through your own individual experience in healing (I believe their purpose in working their is a deep calling in helping humanity evolve and a respect for nature –they’re not just there for a paycheck!!!!) Once you arrive at the Temple everything is organized– you get your own personal Tambo (hut) fully furnished and comfortable– if you need to have laundry done or need an extra towel, or a basin of water– someone is always around to provide that for you. Shortly after that, you get your own individual consultation as discussed between you, the amazing facilitators and Maestros/Maestras, where a plan of treatment is tailor made for you in addition to Ayhuasca, and you WILL see the difference in a week in terms of your overall body condition, your mental state and your emotions.The food is always fresh, yummy, satisfying and very cleansing I noticed. I actually adopted their menu once I returned home and lost a bunch of weight too–and I look better ; ) With all that said–I understand every person who works with Ayahuasca will always have a their own personal experience. I can’t speak for others, but all I’ll say about working with the wonderful, light hearted yet very powerful Shamans and Mama Ayahuasca is it saved my life. It’s not an easy journey working through the shadows of your mind, but if you just relax your mind, breath in a bit–allow for Aya to do the job she’s always done, I guarantee you that you will not be the same person you were before. You’re a brand new person, with an open heart, with an unlimited capacity to love others–and you just may find your second calling in life–as I did. I will always be grateful and indebted for my incredible facilitator who not only showed me love, kindness and compassion but took care of all of us–while the Shamans and Aya did the massive healing and cleansing through out the successful workshop. Thank you thank you thank you! You truly saved my life!!!!!!!!!!
Moochie
April 10, 2014 at 12:00 amTOTWOL was the most inspiring and life changing experience Ive ever had. I have nothing but positive reviews of the center. It is well organized, great food, beautiful grounds. The tambos are comfortable with a lock box for valuables, and mosquito netting around the bed. The facilitators are smart, caring, and always available. We had 5 shamans, 3 women and 2 men which was plenty during the ceremonies. 7 ceremonies over 12 days which was perfect. There were massages, floral baths, yoga and meditation exercises, etc. The staff is incredibly kind and helpful. There is always enough to eat at meal time. The bonds you will make here with the participants will last a lifetime. Its really a special place. I can’t wait to go again. Happy journeying.
markeddie
April 10, 2014 at 12:00 amI attended the Temple over Xmas last year. This was after a huge amount of research. From the moment we were picked up in Iquitos i knew that i had chosen correctly. Everything was meticulously planned and organised in a safe but yet relaxed way. In fact one of the things i pondered during ceremony was how perfect the place and schedule was in conjunction with the Ayahuasca. I believe that the programme fitted perfectly and mentioned this in group meetings.
The facilitators, food, accommodation, maestros/a’s, surroundings were all amazing. Ive read some of the other comments on here and i can understand constructive criticism, but some of the stuff said seems beyond that. All i know is my experience and that of the 21 other people who were with me on the workshop, all were unanimous in saying that it was a) extremely well run and b) a hugely profound life changing experience.
The Temple offer 7 ceremonies which i think is more than other places. I really needed the full 7 and although tough at times this was perfect for me and one of many reasons i will return.
If anyone wants to either meet up in London to discuss anything about the Temple or Aya in general give me a shout or you can DM me here.
Cheers y’all !
JustinB
April 10, 2014 at 12:00 amI have been to the Temple for three 12-day workshops in the last 13 months. Initially, my first and overriding concern after a lot of research was finding a facility that was safe. Obviously the fact I returned twice speaks volumes for how I subjectively experienced safety. I always felt well taken care of, all my queries and doubts were answered by the facilitators promptly and in a manner that spoke directly to my view of the world; that is to say, they were astute enough to understand my unique concerns (neuroses would be more accurate!) and pitch the information/feedback in the literal and metaphoric terms that I “got”.
This included in ceremony itself. In the sometimes murky and confusing world of aya-space, the mere fact of knowing they possessed the necessary experience and skills – and of course the smarts to know when to call upon the maestra(o)s – meant I was free to go through a range of emotions and physiological releases, some acutely distressing, without ever feeling unsafe. On the rare occasion I needed their help directly, the advice I received from the facilitators was practical and very useful. In any case, with seven maestra(o)s circling the maloka, further help was always at hand. (It was awe-inspiring to both witness and experience what can be sung into the energy field by an experienced Shipibo healer; they could accelerate or slow down, intensify or modulate; calm or electrify).
The Temple has a magical quality, balancing the need for community and solitude in an otherworldly environment (for a city boy). The seven ceremonies and 12 days allowed enough for time and space for issues to be visited at a very deep level, accompanied by purging and insight; the medicine seemed to calibrate what I needed to learn, understand and let go of within the space of those seven ceremonies. As such, there was an arc and logic (perhaps best seen in retrospect) to the seven experiences that felt just about perfect.
The heart and soul of the place are the maestra(o)s. They are, it seemed to me, part channel, part doctor and part artist, though such distinctions are unnecessarily liner and Western! They were hugely loving, sensitive and kind. There was a 50/50 spilt between male and female healers; though I was personally more focussed on the uniqueness of their individual gifts than gender. I felt truly blessed to receive their medicine, generosity and kindness.
Finally, I experienced the Temple as a place where integrity was the guiding principle, the food was better than an ayahuasca diet has a right to be, and the tambos more than adequate in terms of privacy and space.
JMG
April 9, 2014 at 12:00 amI can not speak highly enough of the Temple of the Way of Light. The staff, facilities, and Shaman are exceptional. The support of the facilitator and other journeyers is amazing. A peaceful setting and a truly authentic experience. I have been twice to the Temple and will return again one day. If you are serious about working with Aya in a safe, supportive environment, I can not recommend the Temple enough. A truly special place.
gbeustring14
April 6, 2014 at 12:00 amI remember Celestina?s laugh. The first day I came around a corner and we saw each other and she just laughed such an innocent and beautifully friendly laugh. You can begin to hear it at the end of her youtube video.
I learned with great power comes great responsibility. It?s been a year and that truth has continued to evolve more and more. It forced me to see that integrity sheds the old skin of fear and doubt. Great clarity and knowledge moved me from uncertainty to certainty. Even though in some cases I could remain certain that I was uncertain and that was the best approach in some contexts. I learned a deep personal safety and love that hadn?t been felt before. It was like I doubled what it meant to be alive and slow down time to really appreciate sensing the world around me and my ability to sense it more fully and completely. Discovering the conviction of a certain direction seems like it wants to pull you there.
. I couldn?t believe I had ever been rude or mean to anybody. It made no sense. You realize such compassion for people, it?s so true. Being back in the world, this is forgotten much less and only to a degree. And it never reaches the intensity it used to because the causes seem absurd and irrelevant to anything really. It seems others comment on me being way more easy going than I had before more often than I notice.
I lost about 20 pounds at the Temple of the Way of Light. You?re eating such healthy foods and the ceremonies really clean out the body pretty quickly.
Many people rest the whole time but I felt a massive release the first ceremony and just feel like going and going. Although there were some days I needed some deep rest now that I think about it. Even though I was eating massive portions of food at breakfast and lunch.
Sometimes I would go into the library and shift through all these books I had never seen or heard of before. I think I read a whole book in one day while sitting in the hammocks in the Maloka.
The way the Maloka is, the breeze sweeps right through it and it would just put me right to sleep sometimes as I swung back and forth.
I remember sometimes there would be a couple doing Yoga in my peripheral. The shade of the Maloka and the bright backdrop of the green jungle behind, makes for a beautiful silhouette of steady and graceful movement and was nice to have around. Sort of like being at the beach where people?s voices are so soft and off in the distance and you have such a sense of peace.
There was one morning, I don?t know how much has been added since I?ve been but, there is a circular path garden with all kinds of vegetables and flowers and in the middle, the smoke from last night?s fire is going, this other guy and I, we plucked out a new song on his guitar. The night before we had a campfire and we sort of sang songs we all knew from home. Songs that seem to carry new meaning in them now. I remember the stars at night are so bright out there it?s like your own eyes are a natural telescope.
One night we turned the Maloka into a jungle drum party. Some various Dj?s from around the world happened to be there. We found a generator and they hooked up and we had a dance party that night. I don?t know if we were supposed to do that but we did and it was fun, after the rough week of ceremony.
I did face some great difficulty through my personal journey. I saw how much I had been neglecting myself in ways I hadn?t known before. I saw a part of me that was so furious with myself for not giving myself more credit for things I?ve gotten done in the past. The hurt and pain I saw was shocking at the time. My ?weak? and ?fearful? areas had great hidden power over me. And my weakness was transformed into great strength and self appreciation.
When the Shamans get in front of you in the dark, knee to knee, face to face, it is amazingly overwhelming. These Shamans Give You There Last Breath throughout each of your songs. They give you everything they have in there body to your song. It?s such LOVE that it?s too much and it changes you for good.
One night I got up to purge outside and was lucky enough to step on a spider. One of the Shamans whipped out this goo and wiped it on the area and a few minutes later I felt fine. Later that night the song seemed celebratory in nature. I got up and went outside with the most amazing sense of comfort. The jungle became so Alive. The moon was bright that night and the jungle and I began to breath all together. The immense sound the jungle makes is like a concert of melody and rhythm. The jungle sounded celebratory in nature. It sounded like being at a concert when the artist stops singing for a moment and the whole crowd continues to sing the song. I had no fear of the future and will never again. I learned that night that if you move towards your fears they will give their life for you. All of the precious gifts you might ask for are there. Life is calling you to realize what?s true for you and what needs to be done in the world through you.
It?s been a year since I?ve been to the Temple. What this experience has done is open up an awareness of so many coincidences. I feel and see I have brought the Temple of the Way of Light with me and it makes distance irrelevant.
It?s like, not only do you have healing to do but the world is calling you to go there. If you feel that calling you must trust your instincts and your guts.