Meet Our Shamans

Arkana’s highly-trained Shipibo Master Shamans come from an unbroken lineage of plant medicine knowledge passed down through thousands of years of indigenous Amazonian culture. They are lovingly dedicated to the healing processes of our guests. They work closely with Ayahuasca and other master plant teachers of the jungle with healing songs (icaros), capabilities, and knowledge with integrity and honor, for truly profound and deeply healing work.

MaestrA JUSTINA, LEAD SHAMAN

With over 40 years of experience Maestra Justina is undoubtedly one of the most gifted healers of our generation. A direct descendant of a long line of Merayas, the Shipibo's highest ranked Shamans, she is the heiress of all of their ancestral knowledge and carries their tradition proudly. She was born in the quaint community of Vencedor, in the banks of the Pisqui River in the upper Ucayali. …

MaestrO MISAEL

Maestro Misael is a native of the small fishing town of San Francisco de Yarinacocha on the banks of the Ucayali River, in the Peruvian Amazon. The town is famous in the region for its strong tradition of vegetalismo shamanism using the wealth of medicinal plants that grow in the surrounding area. Misael was born into a family of talented and dedicated healers. Since a very young age, Misael developed his love of...
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Maestro ELIGIO

Eligio was born deep in the Peruvian jungle in the native community of Vencedor, a 24 hour boat ride from Pucallpa. The son of Maestra Justina and Maestro Cesar he comes from a pure lineage of Meraya Healers and is one of the most promising talents in the Amazon. He started working with the plants at the young age of 14, when he concluded his first Noma Rao dieta under the guidance of his mother.
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Maestro Luis

Also known as Soy Metsa in Shipibo; Luis was born deep in the Peruvian jungle in the native community of Vencedor, a 24-hour boat ride from Pucallpa.

The son of Maestra Justina and Maestro Cesar, he comes from a pure lineage of Meraya Shipibo Healers and is one of the most promising young talents in the Amazon.
 
He started working with Ayahuasca when he was 7 years old, his dosage at the time being the size of a bottle cap. He committed to his path as a healer a year later, after witnessing his mother become very ill. Luis and his brother had to take her on an 8-hour boat ride to be cured by a shaman from a neighboring village, however on their way there, the motor of their boat failed, and they had to resort to rowing, prolonging the trip an additional 8 hours. Amidst the panic, he asked himself, “How am I not going to become a healer if I’m the son of a great Maestra?”

He started working as a Maestro (healer) at the young age of 10 after concluding a 2-year plant dieta of Sapote Renaco, Nihue Rao, and Sirenita Bobinzana under the guidance of his mother. 🌿
 
For the past 10 years, he has continued honing the skills of the plant world, working alongside his family at Arkana Spiritual Center healing visitors from all over the world. Luis is proud to represent the new generation of Shipibo healers and strives to be a role model for other Shipibo youth. 🙏🏼

Although he is young in age, he carries the wisdom of his ancestors and brings an amazingly powerful and youthful energy to those he works with. His mission is to help as many people as he can heal spiritually, physically, and mentally.
 
You can meet Luis and experience his delightful gifts when you come to one of our Ayahuasca retreats at our Amazon location.

maestro samuel

Also known as Run On Rawa in Shipibo; Samuel was born into a family of Ayahuasca Shamans in the native community of Vencedor, a 24-hour boat ride from Pucallpa. 🛶

He is the nephew of Maestra Justina, our lead shaman, who has over 40 years working with the medicine. Growing up immersed in the world of Ayahuasca, Samuel observed his extended family working in healing ceremonies and guiding plant dietas.

His desire to help his family and community inspired him to open his first plant dieta under the guidance of Maestra Justina, and has been learning and dieting with different plants ever since. Samuel’s first long-term dieta consisted of a stint with the very potent Ayahuma: a tree that provides energetic protection and strength.🌿

He has been working alongside his family at Arkana for the past year, making sure that the people who come to Arkana are healed deeply on all levels.

Maestro Samuel is a warrior of light and works purely from his heart at the service of others. His jolly nature and light-hearted attitude have the power to brighten any room he walks into. His mission is to be of service to as many people as he can and provide a prosperous future for his family and community. ✨