ceremonies in brazil | The Edinburgh Shamanic Centre

Meet your ceremony facilitators

We have been working with them since 2016

Maná Madhá

Maná has received from his own people, the name of "Santo" (Saint), what already tells us much about his noble mission on the service of healing.

As stated by Yawanawá leaders, Maná and his wife Ratsuhá, are "human beings of 500 years ago" and "kings" of spirituality. Maná has received a traditional training that very few shamans [pajés] have today and he also possesses an extraordinary knowledge of plants and a technique of spiritual healing that allows him in some cases to bring the disease into his mouth and materialize it into small stones that he then spits out.

Maná is a great master when it comes to healing of a spiritual nature, being a "complete shaman", both in terms of physical and spiritual matters.

Ratsuhá Madhá

has undergone traditional training that few healers possess today. As a birth specialist, she has attended the births of thousands of babies and is also a knowledgeable plant specialist.
She collaborates with her husband, Maná, in the healing arts, following the Madhá tradition.
Ratsuhá also sings beautiful Icaros.

Vêsku Yawanawá

Vêsku devotes her life to preserving and promoting the culture of indigenous communities across various states in Brazil, with a special focus on empowering women and revitalising the use of medicinal plants.
As the eldest daughter of the esteemed leader Raimundo Luiz Tuimkuru, Vêsku carries on a rich legacy of healing. Her grandfather, a renowned healer, passed down to her deep love for medicinal plants, ensuring that this wisdom continues. She supports the Sitoakore Women's Organization, working with 18 indigenous nations, thus witnessing and learning various healing modalities with the use of oils, plants, trunks, leaves and roots.

Vesku has also developed a healing centre, the IRPY Instituto Runyn Pupykary Yawanawá, a medicinal plant pharmacy and a seed bank.

Runuiná Yawanawá

Runuiná carries in his name the mystery of great healing beings of the forest. Grandson of a great leadership Raimundo Luiz Tuimkuru, he is the son of Vesku Yawanawá and Antônio Apurinà, two great leaders within the indigenous movement in Brazil.

He is an apprentice of Maná Madhá and did diet guided by Biraci Nixiwaká and his aunt Putanny in the Holy Village (Aldeia Sagrada). Runu is a very talented musician with a unique voice, bringing songs from a very deep Yawanawá root.

Our work: creating connections and sharing wisdom

Participating in an ayahuasca ceremony facilitated by traditional indigenous shamans is a profound experience, as these shamans carry the wisdom and cultural heritage passed down through generations. These ceremonies are much more than simply consuming a plant medicine; they are sacred rituals that necessitate the deep knowledge of guardians, traditional healers, shamans, and elders who understand not only the power of ayahuasca but also the spiritual, emotional, and energetic realms it connects to.

Ayahuasca ceremonies guided by traditional shamans go beyond physical healing—they offer a path to inner transformation, helping us confront and heal from deep emotional, psychological, and even ancestral wounds. The shamans serve as navigators through this intense journey, utilizing their understanding of the plants, songs, sacred indigenous wisdom, and spiritual energies to create a safe and transformative space. Their presence is essential for ensuring that the healing is holistic, deeply integrated, and guided by ancient wisdom that extends far beyond the plant itself.

This type of healing is a journey that calls for respect, intention, and skilled guidance. The spiritual and deep connection of traditional indigenous shamans helps you connect with the natural world, your inner self, and the profound energies of the plant, making the journey both meaningful and transformative.

It is a rare and remarkable opportunity to participate in their most ancient tradition and honor their contributions to our collective journey of healing and transformation.

In this transformative gathering, we come together in unity, reverence, and gratitude. It is also a wonderful opportunity for us to learn, grow, and strengthen the bonds of global friendship.

Stay tuned and join us for this highly anticipated event in Brazil.

Exchange:

Exchange for the week: £900 (only £128 per day). Paid directly to the indigenous people.

Included:

All ceremonies, vegetarian meals, and an individual healing session with the shaman, held in a group setting on one of the ceremonial nights. If time is limited, the session may be scheduled during the week to ensure everyone receives attention.

Not included:

Flights, 2 x airport, transfers(3 hours journey around £25 each), accommodation (nice hostel or hotel between £20 and £50 per night), also cost for local waterfall visit for herbal bath approx (£10).

Ayahuasca retreat in Brazil: All-week immersive.

Notes: Accommodation ranges from £20 to £50 per night, depending on your choice and whether you are sharing. A hostel is located directly across from our centre, and a hotel is less than a 5-minute walk away.

The healing session will be offered with translation support. Paje’ Maná practices a rare, ancient healing technique preserved by only a few shamans in Brasil.
This profound method is challenging to express in Portuguese or any linear language due to its complexity and its foundations in different paradigms and perspectives of physical reality. In some cases, small stones may be removed from the person’s body during treatment, followed by specific dietary and protective guidance.

Another service available is "opening of the voice," a practice involving both body and spiritual work to deepen one’s understanding of sacred songs. Students familiar with the Yawanawá tradition will recognize the prestigious role of the Kulina-Madhá people in this unique form of spiritual study.

Included in your exchange is a session with the shaman in a group setting during one of the ceremony nights and you can choose one of the two modalities listed above. If you would like to experience both modalities (two sessions), there is an additional fee of £140 and a time will be arranged for that.

All funds raised will support infrastructure projects for their communities. To secure your booking, a £250 deposit is required. All bank transfers will be directly to the indigenous people.

Here’s our timeline to consider:

Deposit: £250 paid at the time of your booking.
Second Payment: £200 paid beginning of January.
Final Payment: £450 paid when you arrive in Brazil.

All the above will be paid directly to the indigenous people. This provides time to handle any last-minute adjustments, for you to purchase the flights to Brazil, and for you to plan financially.
We strongly recommend booking flights as early as possible, as prices tend to rise significantly closer to the departure date.

Cancellation Policy and Refunds:

Cancellations made 7 days or less before the event: No refund.
Cancellations made 8 to 15 days before the event: 25% refund.
Cancellations made 16 to 30 days before the event: 50% refund.
Cancellations made more than 30 days before the event: 70% refund.
In the unlikely event that we need to cancel, a full 100% refund will be issued.

What to bring:

Comfortable summer clothes, a towel, and swimwear for the medicinal plant baths. We will provide vegetarian lunch, bread, tea, coffee, water and vegetarian soup for dinner. Transportation to and from Alto Paraíso, for small extra cost, just 5 minutes away from our Centre, can easily be arranged during your stay.

About the 'Recanto do Beija-Floor' Shamanic Centre

The Recanto do Beija-Flor Shamanic Centre overlooks stunning mountains in the Cerrado, offering unforgettable sunsets.
Newly built and founded by Cláudia Goncalves and Mark Halliday, the center is a sister to the Edinburgh Shamanic Centre and the Planetary Healing Centre.
Just a 20-minute drive from the centre are two stunning waterfalls. The region boasts over 200 breathtaking waterfalls in total.

Ayahuasca Retreat

Central Brazil, 10 to 16 of February 2025

When, Where, What and Why

Our programme: