“Forever grateful to my brothers and sisters, the yachaks, the shamans, the tribal elders, the teachers and wisdom keepers… for their warmth and kindness, and for so generously opening their homes and sharing their teachings and traditions.”
Taita Yachak Itzhak Beery
My friend Itzhak is an international leading shamanic teacher, healer, speaker, community activist, and author of three Amazon bestseller books. Since 1995, Itzhak has bridged the spiritual and practical wisdom his indigenous and Western teachers entrusted to him. He was initiated into the "Circle of 24 Yachaks of Imbabura" by his Quechua teacher in Ecuador and Amazonian Kanamari Pajè in Brazil.
in Mindo, EC
in ceremony at Amaroo
To learn more about Itzhak and his teachings, visit itzhakbeery.com
The Tsachila
The Tsachila are one of South Americas oldest indigenous tribes, residing in Santo Domingo de los Colorados, a province on the western slopes of the Andean mountains of Ecuador. Legend has it that the shamans of the Tsachila hold secrets of the rain forest and possess powers to heal what western medicine cannot. They are warm, proud and generous people.
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Don Augusto Calacazon
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A very talented Tsachila
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a beautiful tradition
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w/ Taita Don Manuel Calacazon at his home in Santo Domingo
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Water ceremony at Mindo, EC
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inside the Tsachila ceremonial maluca
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a water blessing
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w/ Don Augusto Calacazon at his home
the Siekopai
The Siecopai (or Secoya), known as the multi-colored people, are an indigenous group living along the banks of the Aguarico River, deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
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Don Basilio Piaguaje, Siekopai elder, wisdom keeper, and and yaje drinker
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my buddy, Maykel Piaguaje
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Sacred Yaje' ceremony
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"the multi-colored people"
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the next generation of Siekopai
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Ritual face painting on the Rio Aguarico, Amazon
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Don Basilio and his lovely wife
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My dear friend Lenin Piaguaje, near Rio Aguarico
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"Sultan" and his Siekopai human
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my dear friend Alessandra
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Meet Arley Piaguaje’
My friend Arley is a proud Siekopai tribe member on a one-man mission to protect the Siekopai culture and lands from the incessant pressure of industries exploiting their Amazonian lands
He has planted thousands of native fruit trees and supplied and trained local families to do the same, rather than selling their lands to the palm oil companies.
To learn more and to help Arley with this most important cause, visit yakum.org
w/ Taita Don Shairy Quimbo at his home in Otavalo
w/ Supai Pishku near Puyo, Amazon
Supai Pishku in ceremony
w/ Taita Don Jacho Costello in Otavalo
w/ Taita Don Jacho Costello in Central Park, NY
w/ Taita Don Jacho Costello in Central Park
w/ Jose Zambrano at Amaroo
Michael Cutter, Denver, CO. healer and master drum maker.
Taita Don Jose Jouakim Pineda, at home in Otavalo
Yumbo curandera, Vitelia Alarcon in Pacto, Ecuador
Master Yachak, Taita Don Alverto Taxo Taco Chicaiza. I have only met him in a dream, but his wisdom is timeless. I highly recommend his book, "Friendship with the Elements"
amazing curandera Mama Donna Josephina at home in Otavalo
Mama Donna Josephina
Taita Don Shairy Quimbo at home