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…
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,…
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…
James Martin
James is a facilitator of Ayahuasca and Kambo whose journey started with plant medicines began in 2015. James was trained to carry Kambo in 2017, and entered into training of facilitating Ayahuasca ceremonies with the Yawanawa tribe in the Brazilian Amazon in 2019. He was initiated into the Yawanawa tradition by completing the year long sacred dieta of Muka by one of the leaders of the tribe, Matsini Yawanawa. James is also a military veteran and former firefighter/ paramedic , who’s work focuses heavily on bringing access to plant medicines to this community of veterans and first responders. He also…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
