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“Hands of Women” Meeting
One of Takiwasi's functions is to act as Chakaruna (men-bridges), especially between the indigenous world and the Western world. Takiwasi manages different projects with Amazonian indigenous groups with the aim of recovering and strengthening their cultural roots, and safeguarding their environment.
In this sense, in May 2024, Takiwasi welcomed a group of 12 indigenous women leaders from Ecuador, from different Amazonian ethnic groups: Siona, Waorani, Cofán, Siekopai, and from the Cayambi community in the Ecuadorian highlands. They participated in an intense 10-day program, with plants intake and various rituals and workshops. It has been a very meaningful work, of support, collaboration and, above all, of reconnection with their roots, spirituality and territory.
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Visiting the Buddhist Monastery of the Bamboo Caves
The creation of the Takiwasi Centre was inspired by several sources and experiences. In 1990, the General Delegation for the Fight against Drugs and Drug Addiction (DGLDT) of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent Dr. Jacques Mabit on a mission to Thailand and the Philippines. One of the main reasons for his trip to Thailand was to visit the Wat Tham Krabok Monastery. Also known as “the Bamboo Caves Monastery”, where Buddhist monks had been welcoming addicted patients for decades to treat them with the combination of traditional Thai medicines and Buddhist spirituality. Jacques Mabit wrote an article about this visit, which was a source of great inspiration for the treatment model at Takiwasi. Those familiar with Takiwasi will identify, in different contexts, the similarities between Tham Krabok and Takiwasi. This article is a way of paying tribute to Abbot Charmoon Parnchand, his brother Charoen, and the Tudong Buddhist monks who opened this path of healing.
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Training in the Takiwasi Therapeutic Model
Dear friends, we present to you the “Theoretical-Experiential Course of Introduction to the Takiwasi Therapeutic Model” that will be held in Spanish at the Takiwasi Center from October 21 to November 3, 2024. This is our 4th edition of the training aimed at healthcare professionals, in which we combine a theoretical approach with a personal experience with the medicinal plants.
The program includes: intake of emetic plants, ayahuasca ceremonies, retreat/diet with master plants, conferences, workshops and dynamics of integration of the experiences with plants.
For more information and registration please send an e-mail to: terapia@takiwasi.com
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Purging to cleanse: a qualitative study of Ayahuasca healing
New paper by Svet Lustig and Takiwasi's research team published in the academic journal Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs: “Purging to cleanse: a qualitative study of Ayahuasca healing at a drug treatment centre in Peru”.
Abstract
Ayahuasca, an entheogen from the Amazon rainforest, has garnered growing interest to treat substance dependence. To date, there is little research concerning the act of Ayahuasca-related purging (mainly vomiting), which is considered to be central to healing during Ayahuasca rituals. This study explored practitioner perspectives on purging during Ayahuasca rituals at the Takiwasi Centre in Peru. We conducted in-depth interviews with curanderos (healers), plant preparers, and psychotherapists (N=11) at the Takiwasi Centre between August-October 2021. Interviews were conducted and transcribed in Spanish. Interviews were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Participants described purging as a fluid concept that went beyond the act of vomiting. Participant narratives around purging were organized into three central themes or “accounts”: Spiritual-oriented, which highlighted the relationship between purging and spiritual development; Amazonian-oriented, which placed emphasis on purging as a cathartic expulsion of embodied cargas (loads) that are perceived to lead to sickness; and Clinical-oriented, which stressed that purging generates a range of empirically-observable therapeutic benefits. All of these explanatory models emphasized the pivotal interconnection between purging and healing during Ayahuasca-assisted treatment for substance dependence at Takiwasi. This study highlights practitioner perspectives on purging at the Takiwasi Centre, who offer three main explanatory models for this aspect of healing during Ayahuasca-assisted therapy for substance dependence. This research contributes to the limited literature on the role of purging in Ayahuasca-related healing, which may inform further investigation into differential understandings of the role of purging for therapeutic benefits.
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Sound Journey to the Heart of the Living
A few weeks ago, at the Château de Chenonceau in France, the event “Sound Journey to the Heart of the Living” took place, organized by Antony Morau. We share the audio of this experience: this mix of sounds from around the world also included the ikaro “Ábrete Corazón” by Dr. Rosa Giove, which can be heard approximately at minute 56 of the recording.
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Protectors of Pachamama and The Climate Health Crisis
Ida Marchese is a health sciences student and young activist in Toronto, Canada. She has produced a short film, titled "Protectors of Pachamama and The Climate Health Crisis", that has been approved by the Youth Climate Report and the United Nations and will be shared by the UNFCCC at COP29.
This film explores the intersection of climate change and health through an ecofeminist lens, focusing on the importance of Indigenous knowledge and teachings. According to Ida, her visit to Centro Takiwasi in February 2020 was inspiring, thanks to the insights and experiences shared by the team. These contributions have significantly shaped the film's narrative, and an ikaro is the background music of the entire film.
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2024 Retreats/Diets
These are the dates of our next retreats/diets for the year 2024:
• 10 - 20 July
• 14 - 24 August
• 11 - 21 September
• 9 - 19 October
• 6 - 16 November
• 4 - 14 December
For more information and to start the registration process please write to: terapia@takiwasi.com
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Help us with your Donation
If you wish to support the activities of the Takiwasi Center, there are several ways to do it.
You can choose to give your contribution to the protection and conservation of Amazonian teacher plants through the project Adopt an Ayahuasca, or contributing to cover for the cost of the treatment and rehabilitation of our patients that suffer with drug addiction and have limited economic resources
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