My 20 days deep in the Amazon
I recently spent 20 days in a Shipibo-Conibo community learning from a curandero—the main Shipibo shaman, maestro Don Rono. To say that my life has forever changed is an understatement.
I was curious to see how learning from the Shipibo could overlap with my current knowledge of shamanic principles under a different Peruvian lineage. Before the Shipibo, I had been studying with the Q’ero Nation from the Andes — another shamanic lineage from Peru.
I arrived in the jungle with an open mind and not really knowing what to expect. I just knew I needed to be there. But let’s start from the start:
Who are the Shipibo-Conibo?
The Shipibo-Conibo are an Indigenous people of the Peruvian Amazon, known for their shamanic traditions, elaborate—super cool—geometric art, and sacred songs (icaros). They have lived in that area for millennia and are traditionally located along the Ucayali River and have a rich culture deeply connected to the natural world (my type of thing)—particularly through their use of the plant medicines Ayahuasca and sacred Tobacco.
They have been around since the beginning of time, and when Christianity took over Peru, their culture was almost lost! Gratefully, they survived colonization, and from around the 1960s they have been recovering. Today, more than ever, their culture is very much alive. People travel from all around the globe to learn, heal, and transform their lives through their teachings and I was able to witness their work and my own self-transformation.
As Peruvian, am I related to them?
Short answer: No. My family is not Shipibo, but my dad’s lineage—and all my ancestors before him–came from that region (Iquitos and the Ucayali River). This is the reason why I went there: because I felt the call of my male ancestors. Their call had been in my awareness for about a year before I decided to immerse myself in a Dieta journey.
Marucita Master Plant
What is a master plant Dieta?
A Dieta (Spanish for “diet”) is a rigorous process of forming a deep, personal, and lasting relationship with the conscious spirit of a specific “master” or “teacher” plant. In my case, I dieted with Marusa—a beautiful, small, soft-to-the-touch plant with tiny white, delicate flowers.
I personally think a Dieta is not for everyone, as it involves a deep commitment under the guidance of an experienced Shipibo shaman.
What involves a Dieta process?
Ingestion and communion with a master plant:
We regularly consumed an extract of the specific plant or tree we were dieting with, as well as used plant vapors and plant baths and other medicine if we feel called to do so. During my time in the Amazon I also ingested Chiric Sanango and Machinga for specific reasons.Learning to use a Shipibo pipe:
During our first class, I raised my hand and said, “Maestro Rono, I have never smoked anything in my life—how am I going to learn how to ‘soplar’ myself with a pipe?”, he chuckled and said: —you will— A week later, I was using my pipe and wanting to commune with my master plant. Sacred Tobacco is the bridge that helps us create a connection with the plant realm. We don’t smoke Tobacco — we ‘soplar’ (blow) the smoke, which is very different.Strict dietary restrictions:
The “dieta” part refers to abstaining from specific foods, including salt, sugar, oils, spices, red meat, and dairy, as these are believed to get in the way of the subtle energies of the plant and the healing process. We also commit to letting go of pork or any by-products for the rest of our lives.Modern product restrictions during the dieta process:
We also need to commit to being as ‘natural’ as possible during our Dieta process. What does this mean? We can shower and brush our teeth, of course, but we need to let go of shampoo, conditioner, creams, toothpaste, deodorant, repellent (that was a test for me!), makeup, nail polish and so on—everything we usually use on our bodies. It’s about being as clean as possible when we start connecting with the master plant and allowing our spirits to integrate. I chose to put my phone on airplane mode during the duration of my dieta. I also chose to document my process, to take photos and record videos. Some of the participants chose to be totally off technology.Note: I have to say that it was challenging for me during the first few days,–specially not being able to talk to my husband–but I was amazed by my own ability to adapt and commit to what I was there for. I was totally devoted to my Dieta. I didn’t make it a huge deal, but I followed what I was meant to do rigorously, and I’m grateful today for my own commitment. Because I can say now, a couple of months after my process, that I was (we were—because I was not alone) in a bubble where time or space didn’t exist; where plants and spirits were with us, and it was deeply, profoundly touching and transformative.
Lifestyle restrictions and isolation:
We needed to follow strict behavioral guidelines, including sexual abstinence and minimal social interaction—this involved complete or voluntary isolation in our tambo (jungle hut). Some of us chose to also be in silence for a period of time or fast for more than the required 2 days. To my understanding, this is done to minimize energetic and emotional distractions and heighten sensitivity to the plant’s teachings.Shamanic guidance:
Our Dieta process opened and closed with Ayahuasca ceremonies and healing songs (icaros) performed by the curandero. These songs establish a connection with the plant spirit and offer protection. During ceremonies, maestro Rono called in the plant spirits with his icaros.I was in awe of the amount of energy maestro Rono was able to hold. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life—to be in the presence of an experienced Shipibo maestro and listen to his songs in ceremony.
Integration is extremely important:
Like any other shamanic practice or lineage this is a chosen lifestyle and our process will continue to unfold as time passes. The learning and healing continue for weeks, months, or even years after the formal Dieta period ends, requiring a gentle reintroduction to normal life and continued self-reflection.
What is the purpose?
The primary goals of the master plant Dieta are deep, holistic healing and simply learning spiritual knowledge. In my case, I wanted to connect and get to know my male ancestors, connect directly with the energy of Madre Selva (the Amazon rainforest), and learn from Master Plants.
In shamanism, we believe in the interconnection of all beings — everything has a spirit, energy, and wisdom. So the shamanic principles and teachings were not foreign to me. However, learning from my Shipibo maestro helped me gain a deeper understanding of energetics from an Indigenous and ancestral wisdom point of view. It actually deepened my understanding of frequency, vibration, and how to manage energy.
In my experience this is what I feel are the main benefits:
Physical and emotional healing:
The plants work to purify the body, mind, and spirit—helping to resolve physical conditions, emotional trauma, and psychological struggles by addressing their energetic roots. In my teachings and coaching sessions I always refer to the body as our vehicle— a biological machine—our tool to access different states of consciousness. The plants helped us clear our channel and our bodies to be able to connect more deeply with them.Deep spiritual connection—out of this world:
It fosters a profound, lifelong connection with the spirit of the plant, which acts as a guide, teacher, and protector.Learning and wisdom:
Through dreams, visions, and intuition, we received insights, self-understanding, and sometimes even sacred healing songs (icaros) directly from the plant spirit. Believe it or not I channeled a song for Marusa one morning.Personal transformation:
The process is challenging, I won’t lie. We are encourage to recognize our own shadow and deep wounds, deconstruct our ego, and make profound, lasting changes in our lives to live in greater alignment with our higher self and nature.
Note: It is my belief that personal growth requires solitude. We change, we transform, and we experience things that we sometimes are not able to share —simply because they are too profound or too complex to explain. Over the years, I’ve learned to share parts of my journey with some of my closest friends, and with others, I don’t—and that’s okay. My husband is the only one who knows it all: the crazy, multidimensional, out-of-this-world, believe-it-or-not experiences.
As with any energetic process or shift, the real work starts when we return to our homes, to our families, and to the modern world.
A question floats in my awareness… How can we carry on what we’ve learned, what we’ve experienced, and share it with the world in a way that contributes to people’s lives —to the collective?
What now?
It’s been less than three months since my Dieta was completed. I’m back in the big city and still easing back into my “normal” business life. It still brings deep, loving emotions and excitement when I think about my time in the jungle—even writing this blog brings those feelings back, my heart dances. At this point in my life, I don’t know if I will return to the Amazon anytime soon or ever, but I’m open. I’ll pay attention to the signs and follow the path as it unfolds.
I feel that my understanding of energy, vibration, consciousness, emotions and frequency is much deeper now. The plants showed me new ways to understand and explain complex shamanic and energy related concepts in a simple and practical way, and I’m excited to share soon what I’ve learned.
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