the shipibo tradition

and the lopez-mahua lineage

We work in the Lopez-Mahua lineage of the Shipibo tradition of plant medicine — a lineage formed by the union of two families, both sides rooted in generations of Curanderos, carrying with them today what the plants and their ancestors have passed down, stretching all the way back through an unremembered past.

Originating from the Ucayali River region of Peru, the Shipibo are known as plant doctors — not only for their ceremonial use of plants, but for their vast knowledge of the Amazon jungle and its healing applications on the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and energetic levels. Their methodology has been refined over thousands of years, with much of this knowledge transmitted directly from the plants themselves. The strength of their ancestral knowledge is rooted in generations of living in communion with nature, representing time-tested practices in health and wellness, born from working alongside master plants and learning from them directly.

The Shipibo tradition carries with it an experiential science gained through lived, embodied application. The body is not separated into its parts, but seen as a whole ecosystem working in orchestration. All efforts work toward bringing greater homeostasis to the system as a whole — removing energetic distortions, cleaning and aligning the positive patterns of mind and body, and advancing our lives along the path of potential. This tradition is a holistic approach — one tending to the roots rather than simply addressing the symptoms.

Within ceremony, the Shipibo are particularly known for their use of icaros. Icaros are the songs of the plants and the primary technology used to interface with, navigate, and direct the medicine in ceremony. Sung from moment to moment by the Curandero, they address all aspects of the ceremonial structure — from protection to extraction, healing and filling the body with good energy. As a participate they act as your anchor, guide, and compass. They are the medium through which the plants move through the space and connect with you personally, holding you in your process and giving the medicine access to work deep within your body from the roots upward, allowing your deepest states of healing to unfold.

It is said that the Shipibo language was passed to the Shipibo by the plants over thousands of years. When you sit in ceremony within this tradition, you are held by something far greater than any one healer — you are held by the ancestral knowledge, icaros, and the jungle itself, all converging in service of your healing.

We are honored to carry this lineage forward, and to offer a space to all those who feel called to receive it.