Our retreat merges the traditional wisdom of indigenous medicine with a professional, safe, and spiritual atmosphere. Our experienced facilitators and practitioners are dedicated to ensuring your safety and providing guidance throughout your entire journey and after. We honor the sacredness and spirit of these medicines while also recognizing the importance of a scientific and grounded therapeutic approach.
Maxwell Honey
Instagram: @maxwell.j.honey
Maxwell has been working with indigenous and psychedelic medicines for over 15 years. Having experienced a past of drug addiction and debilitating sickness in his late teens, he eventually found Kambo medicine and healed himself of these afflictions at the age of 21. Not long after, Max attended Grand Valley University to study Chinese and philosophy, with the hopes of one day becoming a doctor of herbal medicine, and spent many years traveling to China, Japan, and all over East Asia. After several experiences with Ayahuasca and a trip to the Amazon rainforest however, Max eventually decided to change course entirely and instead focus on the exploration and integration of indigenous medicines into the modern context, gradually becoming a prominent teacher and guide for inner healing work over the next decade.
Maxwell continues to study and train in indigenous medicines, experiencing several rites of passage initiations with the African plant medicine Iboga in the last 5 years, as well as living with the Katukina people in Brazil – where he continued learning and integrating the indigenous approach to working with Kambo, Ayahuasca, Rapeh, and Sananga medicine. Today, Maxwell focuses much of his time to the ongoing development of a therapeutic, practice based, and trauma informed model of personal development and spiritual healing.
Additionally, later this year, Maxwell and a small team of providers and therapists will be bringing iboga sessions to Thailand, with the focus initially being on 1-1 rebirthing and therapeutic sessions, but with the hopes of eventually offering addiction resolution and detox protocols with the medicine in the future as well.
In addition to his work with indigenous medicines, Maxwell is also a certified Breathwork and TRE practitioner, a practicing Psychedelic Integration and Eudaemonic Wellness Coach, and the author of several books. Maxwell offers weekly classes for the public in Chiangmai, as well as monthly Kambo Warrior Immersions for those looking to more deeply explore the indigenous medicine path as a personal lifestyle. Maxwell currently lives in Chiangmai, Thailand.
Expertise
Kambo
What is Kambo?
Kambo is a traditional Medicine used by many indigenous tribes in the Amazon basin for (at least) several hundred years, most likely longer. It is the venomous secretion of Phyllomedusa bicolor (the giant leaf or monkey frog) – a bright green tree frog, and is traditionally used to detoxify the body, cleanse the mind, open and connect with nature, improve hunting abilities, vaccinate against and treat various diseases, and ultimately, to connect with Spirit. Today, Kambo is being used for many of these same reasons in the modern world.
How Kambo is Used
Kambo is applied to the body via small burn marks made to the skin, often called Kambo dots or gates, and elicits a wide variety of “cleansing and detoxing” symptoms. These often include some amount of purging (vomiting), as well as sweating, crying, or tremoring. Whatever the experience however, Kambo ultimately works on everything.
As one of the strongest purgatives known to man, enough cannot be said for the importance of being adequately prepared and ready to receive healing from this powerful medicine. Maxwell has been working with Kambo for many years – drawing upon both his knowledge as an indigenously trained medicine man and his knowledge of physiological nervous system dynamics – and has created a truly special and safe ceremonial context for working with Kambo Medicine in such a way that anyone can benefit, and in such a way that both the traditional and modern understanding of its many benefits can be easily understood by anyone eager to learn.
Bufo Alvarius / 5meo-DMT
Bufo is fast becoming one of the most loved psychedelic medicines by shamans and psychotropic users as it produces one of the most potent entheogen in existence, known as 5-meo-dmt. This substance comes from the Bufo Alvarius, which is a Colorado River Toad, also known as the Sonoran Desert Toad, and is commonly found in North Mexico and in the Southwestern parts of the United States.
A seasoned facilitator 5-MeO-DMT ceremonies, where profound relaxation converges with immense power, Maxwell approaches all his ceremonies with a unique blend of therapeutic modalities, ensuring that participants are prepared mentally and emotionally for the intensity of this experience. With a soothing demeanor, he creates a safe and supportive environment that allows individuals to surrender to the healing potential of 5-MeO-DMT, while also ensuring that they are physiologically prepared – utilizing a deep screening and preparation process that includes mineral rebalancing, water fasting, and self-reflective journaling.
Additionally, utilizing many integration techniques, Maxwell goes beyond the ceremony itself, fostering a comprehensive approach to healing that lasts beyond the end of the ceremony itself, helping people extract the most practical material from the life-changing experience. He honors this powerful medicine by creating a truly sacred space where the potency of 5-MeO-DMT can be harnessed to its fullest, offering participants the opportunity for deep self-discovery and transformative growth within the harmonious interplay of other relaxing and integrative healing techniques.
Rapecito
Rapeh or Rap’e is a traditional snuff made from dried and powdered Tobacco rustica, along with a variety of medicinal plants and ashes from all over the Amazonian rainforest. There are hundreds of types of Rapeh, and each has their own very unique effects.
Sananga
Sananga eye drops are made from the Tabernaemontana undulate shrub, and is present throughout many countries in South America. They take the bark from the roots of the shrub, grind it into a fine powder, and then strain the mass several times through a mesh filter using spring water. The active ingredients of Sananga have not all been scientifically investigated or proven, but the medicine is said to contain trace amounts of both ibogaine and other potent alkaloids, which are known to have many neurological and psychological benefits, as well as eliciting a wide variety of psychoactive effects.
Breathwork and T.R.E.
TRE – Trauma Release Exercises
TRE® is a self-care technique based on the understanding that in stressful and traumatic situations, the human body is genetically wired to both protect and heal itself. The TRE practice assists the body in releasing deep muscular patterns of stress, tension, and trauma, by safely activating the body’s natural reflex mechanism of shaking – or vibrating – thus reducing muscular tension and bringing the entire nervous system back toward homeostasis.
This process is not only unique to humans but it is also present in the nervous systems of all mammals in the wild. However, as most of us in the modern world have been unconsciously conditioned to inhibit this natural healing response typically since childhood – to fit in, maintain face, and/or not show signs of physical, mental, or emotional weakness – we have essentially suppressed this adaptive mechanism of our own nervous system.
Fortunately, TRE® was precisely created to help us turn back on this natural healing response! Like a program on your computer that you forgot about for a while, yet it still runs perfectly… our own tremor mechanism simply needs to be re-opened and given permission to do its work. The practice of TRE® helps to reactivate this dormant healing response.
Breathwork:
Breathwork is perhaps the most potent transformative tool we have available to us: it costs nothing, it is always available, and it can shift us in profound, beautiful, and lasting ways in a relatively short period of time. It has the power to move us away from living from the fight, flight, and freeze programming of our biology, and into state of consciousness which is more grateful, empowered, centered, healthy, courageous, and resilient.
Satori Breathwork™ is a concise, scientific, easy to learn, and easy to integrate into your daily life, and can be tailored to people with a wide variety of health and wellness goals as well as to those with pre-existing health conditions. It is not just about breathing better, but about reconnecting to your body, emotions, desires, as well as in learning how to authentically connect with other people in a safe and therapeutic way.
Additionally, as you become more experienced in breath and embodiment practices, including listening to your own body, your intuition will eventually become your guide in this practice! It may take some time to develop, but that process can be greatly expedited with guidance from an instructor, as well as with a proper understanding of the primary physiological mechanics, which is always the primary goal in the Breathwork system that I teach.
Marbella Barajas
Instagram: @marbellareads
Marbella Barajas has become a gifted medicine provider over the past several years, specializing in developing and holding healing containers for women. Through her dedicated and ongoing work with the indigenous medicines Kambo, Iboga, and psilocybin, Marbella has honed her unique abilities to guide others on transformative journeys of self-discovery and renewal, working both in a wide range of contexts and with a wide range of clientele.
With a formal degree in Western psychology, Marbella is passionate about bringing sacred wisdom to a modern context, helping those who feel lost in today’s hectic world find harmony within themselves and the world around them. In addition to being a compassionate feminine spirit, Marbella is also a prolific tarot card reader and professional coach, with a talent for creating therapeutic experiences where her clients feel comfortable reconnecting with their own essence, while at the same time aligning themselves with the wisdom of the Earth and beyond. She lives in Chiangmai, Thailand.
Expertise
Shamanic Mushroom
The ancient origins of shamanic mushrooms can be traced back to as early as 10,000 BCE from rock-etched murals of the psychedelic found in Northern Australia. A controversial Stoned Ape Theory developed by a famous ethnobotanist, Terence McKenna, claimed that “the shrooms may have expedited human evolution” by increasing the size of human brains, creating hyperconnectivity between the neuro network, which led to our primitive ancestors achieving heightened levels of consciousness.
Marbella seamlessly integrates various somatic and feminine energetic practices into her ceremonies, crafting a transformative synthesis that extends far beyond traditional boundaries. Specializing in the art of mushroom medicine, she guides individuals on a journey of self-discovery and comprehensive healing, recognizing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit, and how these aspects of our nature synergies with the organic landscape of the psilocybin experience. Marbella’s approach also goes beyond the psychedelic experience, weaving together practices that honor the feminine energy within each participant. Her ceremonies embody a truly sacred space where the wisdom of mushrooms harmonize with somatic techniques, creating a powerful avenue for individuals to explore the spiritual depths of their own being.
With Marbella as a guide, participants embark on a journey that transcends the ordinary, embracing the richness of self-exploration and the potential for profound healing within the tapestry of somatic and feminine energetic practices.
Rapha Sun
Instagram: @sunceremony
Greetings and blessings. My name is Raphael Sun, fondly known as Rapha, and Im from Australia. My life’s journey has been a long and tumultuous tale of spiritual exploration, profound encounters with the mystical, and now a deep-rooted connection with the sacred shamanic medicine known as Ayahuasca.
For the past eight years, my existence has been inexplicably intertwined with her awe-inspiring power. My journey began with a serendipitous encounter that led me to the heart of Peru, where the enchanting call of the Amazon Jungle beckoned me. In this wild sacred space, I embarked on a life-changing pilgrimage to immerse myself in the wisdom of the revered Shipibo people.
Living amongst the Shipibo community for three magical months, I learned the sacred art of working with Ayahuasca, a powerful plant medicine revered for its spiritual and healing properties, witnessed their deep connection with nature and the cosmos, and felt a profound sense of interconnectedness with all living beings.
Eventually, the teachings bestowed upon me during this time helped me hone my skills as a facilitator of shamanic medicine.
In addition to plant medicine work, I am also an avid teacher of yoga and martial arts. For me, yoga offers profound wisdom for the union of mind, body, and spirit, for embracing the power of breath, and for cultivating our inner shiva fire. Martial Arts, on the other hand, can help us develop discipline, focus, and mutual respect, instilling in our communities a sense of harmony.
Blending the ancient wisdom of the Shipibo people with the transformative power of Yoga and Martial Arts, my goal as a facilitator is to create a unique, enriching, and grounded experience for me and spiritual seekers.
Expertise
Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca, also known as the “Vine of The Soul” (with Aya meaning Soul, and Waska meaning Vine) in the Quecha language, is an herbal tea that is mostly used as a spiritual medicine amongst the indigenous tribes of the Amazon basin in South America. Traditionally, its use was only entrusted to the tribe’s healer, the “Curandero”, as the medicine induces powerful pyscho-active effects that brings about an altered state of consciousness (e.g. hallucinations, out of body experiences and euphoria), which can be frightening for the inexperienced. In this state, the Cuanedro would perform rituals and seek advice from the spirit world to heal various mental, emotional, physical or spiritual ailments of a tribe member.
A seasoned Ayahuasca facilitator with a wealth of experience forged through years of profound engagement, hundreds of ceremonies, and steeped in the ancient traditions of Ayahuasca, Rapha brings a unique depth to the ceremonial space – not only as a guide, but also as an extraordinary singer of traditional icaros. His melodic voice becomes a vessel for the sacred, guiding participants through the intricate realms of Ayahuasca with a harmonious blend of authenticity, power, and reverence.
Beyond his musical prowess, Rapha possesses a profound knowledge of Ayahuasca energetics and symbology, enriching the ceremonial experience with layers of wisdom and post-integration insight. With Rapha as your guide, you are ensured to embark on a transformative journey into the heart of Ayahuasca, where the intersection of experience, tradition, and spiritual resonance unfolds in a symphony of healing and spiritual self-discovery.
San Pedro
San Pedro is a fast-growing cactus native to South America. Its indigenous name is Huachuma or Wachuma, which has been mainly used in healing, spiritual awakenings and religious divination in sacred rituals for thousands of years.
Tristan RT
Instagram: @thedencnx
Exploring movement, mainly through BJJ, strength training, and stillness, joined by varieties of other practices.
I teach movement through a kinesthetic language allowing participants to hear/be attuned to the sounds of the relationship, affording them to move by being intuition, as opposed to experiencing intuition.
I see such a language as a proxy to make sense of our relationship with what-is-not-us. The language is explored through ‘relational practices’ where we explore cooperation through Contact Improvisation, and competition through BJJ. I am co-founder of “theDENcnx”, a space where people can cultivate themselves through various movement practices.
Expertise
Contact Improv and BJJ
Trauma-informed CI is a relational practice where we will explore the layers of touch. Viscerally experience each layer and establish a linguistic framework that can be exapted to intuitively make-sense of all forms of relationship.
Contact Improvisation is a partner dance form based on the physical principles of touch, momentum, shared weight, and most quintessentially – following a shared point of contact. The form was founded in 1972 by Steve Paxton. Integrating his background as a modern dancer and his studies in the martial art form Aikido, Steve developed Contact Improv through explorations with his students and colleagues at the time. This dance practice explores the skills of falling, rolling, counterbalance, lifting using minimal effort, how to make ourselves light when being lifted, centering and breathing techniques, and responsiveness to our partners and surroundings.
Also a seasoned practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a brown belt, Tristans passion for healing extends beyond the disciplined world of contact improv and martial arts. In the realm of body movement and expression, he is deeply engaged in the philosophies of weaving a rich tapestry of physicality and grace through all forms of movement and somatic practice. More than a skilled athlete, Tristan embodies a holistic approach to wellness, channeling his expertise into the profound connection between mind and body utilizing dynamic movement and connection to self and other, by way of enhanced communication, circling, and emotional dialogue. In a nutshell, Tristan offers a unique perspective on the transformative power of movement arts and healing through self expression, inviting individuals to explore the intricate dance between strength, fluidity, and the boundless potential for healing within all realms of mind/body dynamics.
Kay Phongsan
Since childhood, he has always wondered what the universe really is and who we truly are. So, he chose to study science until receiving a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a research grant in nuclear fusion from the US department of energy. He then became a researcher in a nuclear safety research center in France and a university lecturer in engineering. He then realized that science mostly focuses on studying how the universe works, not what it is and who we are.
However, through quantum physics, he learned of the immense importance of consciousness in the physical world, a missing link that is rarely studied in science, which led him to become interested in spirituality and psychedelic that has direct effects on the consciousness.
For 4 months in the Sacred Valley of Peru, he had been trained in many spiritual practices in which he found that plant medicine ceremonies are the most profound for healing and the realization of the true nature of the universe from direct experiences that anyone can have access to.
Through hundreds of plant medicines ceremonies that he and his team have hosted in his native land of Thailand for those who seek healing and those who feel the calling for spiritual growth, the effectiveness of the plant medicines, especially in the ceremonial setting, have only become more evident psychiatrically and spiritually. His powerful chanting, which is an integral part of the ceremonies, has helped those who find the experience challenging to be able to navigate themselves back in alignment with light and compassion.
His understanding of energy and internal power undoubtedly stem from Karate that he has trained since childhood and later in Okinawa that led him to become interested in internal martial art that brought him to Taiwan and Chiang Mai to study Taiji (Tai Chi) with Mark Rasmus and Howard Wang. He is able to incorporate the internal energy principle into Karate for martial applications, therapeutic purposes and spiritual development. This led him to found “Metta Dojo”, a martial art school for spiritual attainment by practicing self-defense until there is no self to defend.
David Bjorkstrom
David grew up with ADHD which caused him a lot of trouble as a child, as a teenager he took up drugs and crime seeing them both as solutions to his problems. “I was on a path towards complete self destruction. All I ever wanted was happiness and to be content with myself, and drugs gave me that. But not forever. There came a point where the only thing drugs made me was high and numb, but they could no longer make me forget. I was miserable and it didn’t matter how high I was. That was my bottom.
After multiple times at rehab I finally gave up, not to drugs but to the process. I saw that drugs were only a symptom of something much deeper. That my brain was functioning differently than others and I needed to approach things in a new way. I made my life into an experiment to go deep within and find the answers I’ve been looking for my whole life.”
After David solved his own problems he started helping other people and now have over 6 years experience in counseling and coaching people with adhd and addiction problems. Plant medicine has been a big part of Davids life for more than 15 years. He has used the wisdom of the plants to deepen his internal work and to help his clients heal. He is from Scandinavia and brings in elements from his Viking ancestors into his practice. He focuses on releasing built up emotions and letting go of things that no longer serves us and deep integration work of psychedelic experiences.
Expertise
Trauma Resolution, Integration Counseling
Integration work plays a crucial role in the journey of personal transformation, with applications both before and after ceremonies, although it is more commonly undertaken in the post-ceremony phase. This set of methodologies is strategically designed to aid individuals in assimilating their experiences, transforming them into valuable insights applicable to daily life. It is not uncommon for individuals to pursue transformative experiences without effectively applying the lessons learned or providing their minds and bodies with the necessary space to adjust to a newfound way of being.
Effective integration often involves stepping out of one’s own way, inducing relaxation in the conscious mind while activating the subconscious. Utilizing various forms of art, such as painting or music, proves to be a powerful means of achieving this state. Other times, it involves affording the body the rest and relaxation needed for optimal processing of the experience.
In our collaborative efforts together, we will navigate the intricacies of your journey, exploring both the positive and challenging aspects, to identify a personalized integration route. Together, we will map out the terrain, ensuring that the process is tailored to your unique needs, and providing the ideal framework for a comprehensive and transformative integration experience post-ceremony and post-retreat.
Melinda Jane Slusher
Melinda delights in loving presence, holding space in ceremony for healing energy to flow easily and effortlessly. She has a ten-year relationship with Kambo and Rapeh, and serves these medicines with a deep love, reverence, and care. Melinda has communed many times with Ayahuasca, San Pedro, Mushrooms, and Bufo Alvarius. She loves facilitating breathwork and movement practices in support and preparation for deep plant medicine journeys, and is here to embrace and celebrate the full dance of life with you. You can find Melinda hosting Darkroom Retreats, sisterhood gatherings, and shaking medicine circles.
Expertise
Women’s Work, Human Design, Darkroom Retreating, Functional Fasting
A dedicated facilitator specializing in women’s work, breathwork, and the transformative experience of hosting darkroom retreats in Chiangmai, Thailand, Melindas speciality is guiding women on empowering journeys of self-discovery, leveraging her profound understanding of feminine dynamics and trauma resolution as it relates to both childhood upbringing and human design. As a skilled breathwork practitioner, she harnesses the power of conscious breathing to facilitate deep emotional release and inner transformation.
Additionally, Melinda curates immersive darkroom retreats, providing a unique space for individuals to explore the depths of their consciousness. In the enchanting setting of Chiangmai, she creates a sanctuary where women can embark on profound healing, self-reflection, and personal growth, combining water fasting and occasionally dry fasting regimes, as another means of exploring naturally occurring, transformative states of consciousness.
Melinda’s commitment to women’s well-being and her multifaceted approach to holistic healing make her a beacon for those seeking healing experiences in the realms of women’s work, breathwork, and darkroom retreating. Combined with many years of chart reading in Human Design, Melinda has an uncanny ability to intuit the unique healing needs of the individual while also understanding the importance of collective trauma processing and interpersonal integration.