Our Teachers

About our Ceremonial Leaders

Derek Januszewski

Derek Januszewski is the visionary owner and founder of Pachamama Sanctuary, a transformative retreat center dedicated to spiritual healing, personal growth, and emotional mastery. Guided by his passion for helping others overcome inner obstacles such as negativity, self-doubt, and limiting beliefs, Derek has built a space where individuals can reconnect with their true selves and tap into their full potential. His deep commitment to mindfulness, compassion, and conscious living is at the heart of his leadership at Pachamama. With a rich background in personal transformation, Derek has developed a unique approach to healing that integrates spiritual ceremonies, workshops, and community-driven experiences. Under his guidance, Pachamama Sanctuary has become a haven for those seeking a deeper connection to themselves, others, and the universe. Derek’s own journey of overcoming adversity fuels his mission to empower others to break free from their limitations, embrace self-love, and unlock their highest selves. At Pachamama Sanctuary,…

Haru Kuntanawa

Haru Kuntanawa, also known as Prince, stands as a guiding light among indigenous communities in Brazil, celebrated for his transformative leadership in revitalizing the rich cultural heritage of his people. With a commanding presence, compassionate heart, and influential spirit, Haru has nurtured faith and unity within his tribe and neighboring villages along the enchanting banks of Acre, Brazil. Deeply respecting traditional wisdom and the sacred healing properties of natural plant medicine, Haru took visionary steps to safeguard and honor these ancient practices. He played a pivotal role in organizing the Pano Corridor Project, a groundbreaking initiative uniting diverse tribes, nations, and people worldwide, fostering a deeper understanding between cultures across continents. Currently serving as the president of the Ascak Association, the social organization of the Kuntanawa people, Haru passionately advocates for the collective rights and interests of his community. In collaboration with his wife and Co-leader, Dr. Hayra Kuntanawa, an…

Hayra Kuntanawa

Dr. Hayra Kuntanawa: Co-Leader of the Kuntanawa Hayra Kuntanawa is an internationally recognized medicine woman, Chinese Medicine doctor, teacher in various healing arts, musical artist and holds the distinguished position of co-leader alongside her husband in the Kuntanawa Nation. The healing path has been a part of Hayra’s life since childhood, leading her to develop a unique field of medical practice. Her studies and work have taken her across Asia, Europe, North, and South,America. Hayra has graduated from and studied under numerous world-renowned schools, institutions, and teachers, including: – Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, the leading school in the United States for Oriental Medicine – ⁠East West Collage of Oriental Medicine – Hypnotherapy Academy of America, the top school globally for Hypnotherapy studies – Mikio Sankey, founder of Esoteric Acupuncture – Lillian Pearl Bridges, a pioneer in Facial Diagnosis Dr. Hayra Kuntanawa holds titles including Co-leader of the Kuntanawa Nation, Doctor…

Leandro

Leandro, originally from Brazil, brings a wealth of life experience and a deep commitment to healing and transformation to Pachamama Sanctuary. Now 35 years old, he is the proud father of a one-year-old daughter, Amaranta. In 2022, after years of exploring different parts of the world, Leandro found his home in the serene landscapes of Vermont, a place that inspires his journey of personal growth and service. Leandro’s path of self-discovery began at 17 with his first psychedelic experience, sparking a profound interest in the healing potential of entheogenic substances. Since 2012, he has devoted himself to studying and intentionally working with Ayahuasca, using this sacred medicine to deepen his understanding of himself and support others on their transformative journeys. For Leandro, personal growth and serving others are intertwined. He finds his greatest fulfillment in holding space for individuals seeking meaningful inner healing, and he is deeply honored to be…

Natasha Devi

I am Natasha Devi. Life has led me back to Pachamama, to work alongside her, for her many earth children. I am a retired New York state attorney who has been living in the Peruvian Amazon for 7 years. Kambo and plant medicines have been strong teachers, healers and guides, in my life and i have dedicated ongoing energy to learning from and advocating for them. As a person sharing these sacred earth medicines, it is very important i take the time to do my own work, for my energy is intertwined when i hold space. Life has gifted me many lessons and i am grateful and embracing all with a deep knowing, all is for reason, for a higher good. One thing I hold of importance when sharing these divine, creator made medicines, is to do so with respect to where it comes from and to those who have…

Sitora

Sitora is a multifaceted guide, mentor, and medicine woman, born in Uzbekistan and rooted in Persian and Mongolian ancestry. She was raised by her wise woman grandmother and the ancestral healing wisdom passed down through their lineage. In 2015, Sitora began her shamanic apprenticeship, and by 2018, she was leading her own circles and retreats. She founded the Wild Wombyn Retreats in 2020, which has expanded across the US. Sitora founded Ishtar Alchemy which specializes in feminine liberation, womb healing, and shamanic mentorship, helping others embody their sovereign power. She is a skilled herbalist, drawing wisdom from plants to create transformative remedies. As professional astrologer, she interprets the language of the stars through private consultations and collective teachings on various platforms. Her mission is to re-awaken the Divine Mother principle within collective consciousness, healing the womb of the Earth, as well as women, and helping men reconnect with the energetic…

JC Arkawa

Juan Carlos Arkawa has worked with Ayahuasca for 22 years. He trained in Colombia and serves the sacrament with the highest respect and honor. JC is a multi-instrumentalist musician, producer, composer and arranger of indigenous Colombian descent from the town of Los Pastos. With more than 30 years of musical experience, he bases his work on the fusion of instruments and ethnic music from different parts of the world, as well as cultural knowledge from diverse ancestral communities and contemporary technology. He is a self-taught performer on more than 100 wind instruments from around the world. In 2014 he was recognized by the Congress of the Republic of Colombia for the contribution of his artistic career. JC has given concerts in major Colombian cities as well as internationally in Rome, Prague, United States, Greece, Spain, Germany, Austria and more. He has appeared on television and radio internationally (Telemundo, Univision, CCTV Channel…

Leydi Johana Ramirez Lopez

Medicine woman 10 years ago, born in Colombia, mother, walker of the red road in service with fire, for sacred altars as they are, Temazcales of medicines and awakolla. Practitioner of the shamanic medicinal wheel of Mother Earth, she provides therapeutic accompaniment through different integral medicines such as ancestral feminine wisdom, lunar sowings (woman), ancestral gynecology (uterine healing), works with obsidian and its different geometries. Johana is currently studying natural fertility, trained in mixed international circles, pregnancy and childbirth as a ceremony (Mhuysca) and placental medicine (Mhuyscas). Facilitator of ancestral medicines such as ayahuasca, kambo, sananga, mambe, ambil, rape, cocoa apprentice with a guide and from personal practice, with the purpose of sharing a rite of passage as it is the blessing of the road for pregnant families and future generations. Founder of the ETNEUF project in Colombian territory whose objective is socio-family work; co-founder of malocas such as, Atawaira…

Nico

Nico’s path with Ayahuasca began 16 years ago through an apprenticeship under Taita Florentino Agreda, from Putumayo Colombia. These first few years of regular ceremonies were a powerful initiation, which brought a lot of clarity and established a deep relationship with this medicine. With Taita Florentino Nico has traveled throughout Colombia, assisting in ceremonies, playing medicine music, and eventually learning from Taitas of other traditions. Some names include Taita Isaias Munos Macanilla (Kitchwas community from the Amazon), Taita Querubin Queta (Cofan), Taita Leonel Tascon (Embera), to list a few. Another profound experience during these years of exploration and healing was living with the indigenous Kogi people in the town of Sebiaca, in Sierra Nevada, Colombia where Nico taught and played music with the children of the community. A unique experience where he learned about the cosmology and the healing practices of these indigenous people, the simplicity and beauty of life in…

Taita Jhon

About Taita John Muchavisoy, At a very young age, he began the journey of learning to become a traditional indigenous doctor certified by the Columbian Government. He immersed himself in the jungle for more than 15 years where he went through preparation processes and was able to work hand and hand with the various medicines of the earth, in different patients with physical, emotional and spiritual conditions. His experience and journey now totals 25 years during which time he learned from great grandparents and teachers. The main one, the renowned Major Taita Hipotito Muchuviddy, his father who brought him the knowledge of medicine since he was a child. Ayahuasca medicine is more than a plant, it is a spirit, which manifests itself thought its consumption and helps us to observe our journey through life. It brings us to the present moment, in which it is possible to recognize the reason…

Melissa

“The Whole World is waiting for you to shine your Light, and I am here to support this process” INTEGRATION COACH SPECIALIST: Melissa’s mission is to support your Soul Process and your integration of Plant Medicine work using Psychosynthesis Coaching, the Psychology of the Soul, combined with a deep knowledge of Ceremonies and Plant Spirits and the ancient wisdom of Yoga. Expertise: – Psychosynthesis Integration Specialist – Pre and Post Ceremony Integration – Jungle Trained Facilitator (trained with Shipibo Tribe in Peru) – Yoga Teacher (Hata, Vinyasa, Ying) – Tantra Practitioner – Highly empathic and intuitive – Expert in Languages and Cultures, which composed some of the basic structure of the ego A PATH OF INTEGRITY – A BIT ABOUT ME: My system based on these 3 main tools are the path I am walking. Plant Medicine Path: I choose to dedicate my life studying how to serve Ayahuasca and…

Maima María Manesita Queta & Taita Luis Alberto Queta

Maima María Manesita Queta is the sister of Taita Mayor Querubín Queta Alvarado 108 year old Chief of the Cofan tribe from the south of Colombia. She will be accompanied by her son Taita Luis Alberto Queta. Their tribe resides in the Ukumari Kankhe reservation in Nariño just over the Putumayo county border and are part of an unbroken lineage of Yage oral traditions that goes back over 5000 years. They work with chants, Wairas, and harmonicas to harmonize one with the medicine and perform deep energetic cleansing to help shed stagnant energy and align one’s spirit. Maima Manesita is known for her sacred healing chants and is the first medicine woman to come from their tribe. Taita Luis Alberto also works with Hapé as well as other sacred plants and special resins used in smudging rituals. Their ceremony is done in a traditional way holding sacred silent space in…

Marco Gonzalez

Marco’s communion with Ayahuasca began 19 years ago. He was initiated by a Huichol Medicine Man on a pilgrimage to Wirikuta, followed by vision quests for 4 years under the guidance of Lakota Indians from the North. He has also studied under Yopo and Mamawilka from the Piaroa tribe under the guidance of the tribe elder Bolivar. His path with Ayahuasca started 10 years ago with an apprenticeship in the Amazon jungle with the Shipibo Tribe and tribe Shamans: Fidel Mozombite, Mateo Arevalo, Daniel Arevalo, Takiwasi and Atahualpa and continued in Mexico under the Mayan Shaman Don Lauro de la Cruz doing energy healing work. He continues to learn and practice these traditions with by communing with kindred sacraments in places like: Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, and the United States. He has been performing Ayahuasca ceremonies for the past 7 years and believes the most important thing everyone needs to know is that the sacrament herself is the shaman, his part…

Juan

Juan, the creator of Ayacona, has dedicated himself to working with sacred medicines from the Amazon for approximately 18 years. Originally from Colombia, he has had the privilege of learning from and collaborating with various taitas, shamans, and indigenous communities from the Amazon region. Juan strongly believes in the unification of tribes, traditions, and medicines, recognizing the power and wisdom each holds. Through his ceremonies, music, and sacred space-holding, he integrates elements from different traditions, aiming to bring unity, healing, and peace to us and our planet. Juan’s alliance with the Lakota people demonstrates his commitment to fostering respect, ceremonies, and medicine as a means of unifying people and awakening ancient memories within us.