Written by guest author George Alvarez. From the UK, George has been on the spiritual path for several years and has drunk Ayahuasca many times in various parts of Peru and South America.
One of the most important things to consider when choosing to drink Ayahuasca (or do any other energetic work) is who is going to be leading the ceremony. Known as the gatekeepers, our Curanderos are very experienced and have each led thousands of Ayahuasca ceremonies. Their role is extremely important as they help you to navigate your experiences, and guide you through your healing process.
In this article we will introduce the three Shipibo healers that work with Spirit of Peace, and explain why each of them are great to drink with. We’ll also get to know them on a more personal level, including their background and what they like to do outside of their spiritual work.
Introducing our Shipibo Healers
The three healers working with Spirit of Peace are Raul Buenapico Ramirez and Lidia and Americo Huayta Ramirez, who are all siblings from the region of Pucallpa within Peru’s Amazon Jungle. Below we’ll get to know each of them, what led them to working with Ayahuasca and a bit more about their personal lives outside of medicinal work.
Raul
Raul is the eldest of the three siblings and had always known since he was young that he would become a healer. Born in the jungle region of Pucallpa in Central Peru, he was trained by his grandfather and when he was around 20 he then began travelling around the country to help others (given there were already many healers in the local area).
He has a fascination with the ancient Inca culture and cosmology, and during ceremonies he has an inspiring way of working with this medicine, which makes him very popular for many who keep coming back to work with him. Raul’s abilities extend further than just the work he carries out during Ayahuasca ceremonies, and has helped in hospitals when doctors were otherwise unable to help or cure their patients.
Raul has been married to his wife for many decades, and the same of whom he had met before he left to travel Peru in his early twenties. He has many children, and his youngest son is now following in his footsteps to also become a Curandero. Outside of ceremonies, Raul enjoys carving pipes and other handiworks, and also has a new-found love for sewing traditional embroideries. He loves to travel to the Sacred Valley region, where he enjoys exploring the Incan sites of which he has such a strong personal connection to.
Lidia
Next we have Lidia, who is the middle sibling of the three. Also born in Pucallpa, she first drank Ayahuasca at the age of 12 with her uncle and then quickly decided she would also pursue the medicinal path. Whilst most other healers-in-training at her young age were all male, she was a passionate exception who was devoted to learning and helping others as much as possible.
Her main focuses of work are spiritual cleaning and body healing, and over the years she has helped hundreds cure their ailments and illnesses which were otherwise not able to be solved. Lidia has spent most of her time working with Ayahuasca in many areas of the Amazon Jungle and has recently started to come to the Sacred Valley in the Andes too. She has also grown to love travelling - so expect more journeys around Peru and beyond from her!
Lidia has a large family, including seven children living in various parts of Peru and many grandchildren. Many of them also show an interest in the medicine path, including her eldest son who brews Ayahauasca for her ceremonies. Outside of the ceremonies, Lidia loves to make crafts and embroidered bags and mantas, and has even won competitions in Pucallpa.. She now has her own shop close to the main plaza where she and her family sell many of these popular items.
Americo
Finally we have Americo, who is the youngest of the three siblings. He also grew up in Pucallpa, where he began the path of becoming a healer at a young age. One of the most unique things about Americo is his ability to sing icaros outside of ceremonies (which is rare for other healers). For those who don’t know - icaros are songs which are usually only sung during Ayahuasca ceremonies - however Americo cultivated this useful ability to use them in other contexts during a long plant dieta.
Americo has a very holistic approach to working with Ayahuasca and the different sacred medicines.. He spends lots of his time in Pucallpa where he also holds ceremonies, but lives in Lima with his wife and many children.
Americo has many interests outside of healing and leading ceremonies, which include carving pipes and making jewellery. He also works other jobs during his downtime from Ayahuasca (which is very important - healers are human after all!), including gardening work. Like Raul, Americo also loves visiting the Sacred Valley region where he enjoys the change of climate and scenery and likes to hike and explore the valley.
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