Amaru Spirit
About us
Amaru Spirit
A messenger of renewal
The meaning of Amaru Spirit is rooted in Quechuan culture; the Amaru serpent is powerful in the cosmovisión of the region, and is a symbol of transformation
The Amaru is the guardian and messenger of Uku Pacha, the inner world of the cosmos; this is the world ancestors and of spirits. The Amaru serpent travels between all the realms, connecting them and acts as a spiritual bridge between life, death, and rebirth,The Amaru was closely associated with waters, rivers, and rainfall and the fertility that is embodied with the land and pachamama. In that dualistic cycle embodies the forces of nature — creative and destructive — as the storms can bring floods and new growth.
Like a snake shedding its skin the Amaru serpent represents rebirth — a journey into the subconscious, the shadow that can allow for awakening.
Healers
Curanderos and Ayahuasqeros
At Amaru Spirit, we work with a dedicated group of experienced ayahuasqueros and curanderos throughout the year, each rooted in distinct healing traditions from across the Amazon.
We have worked with a variety of indigenous and mestizo maestros and we vary the curanderos throughout the year and also for specific groups and for groups of individuals. Experiencing different methods and styles of icaros, limpiezas, diagnostics, etc. allows for a larger spectrum of the diversity and the uniqueness that exists in the Amazon. For many years we have been working with 3 mestizo and 2 Shipibo curanderos/ayahuasqueros, all of which work for us and independently work on their own. This rotation of practitioners allows us to honor the diversity of Amazonian healing and offer guests a rich, multifaceted experience.
We also do the occasional workshop bringing in foreigners, infusing East/West traditions of nutrition, physiology, detoxing, Ayurveda, kundalini, tantra, yogic, meditation, creativity, etc, with Amazonian methods. We find that the Amazonian traditions mix very well with other traditions when placed at the right moment, and adding a more contemporary knowledge of plant based nutrition diversity and density.
Local Staff
Many of our employees are from the local communities and they have worked with plant medicines themselves with Slocum, the curanderos and the ayahuasqueros who work on the land. The tight knit staff and community are what keep Amaru Spirit running smoothly. From creating clean organic meals, to tending the fruit in the garden; those who work to physically sustain the center are truly the backbone to this healing place. Amaru Spirit has grown organically, shaped by the hands and hearts of a dedicated team — many of whom are local to the area — who care for the land, prepare nourishing meals, and help hold a safe, grounded space for healing.
Here Gladice is showing off an organically created pizza, that is being fired in-house in the brick oven built onsite. Gladice has been the main chef in the kitchen at Amaru Spirit for over a decade.
David Slocum Hewson
Amaru Spirit was founded by David "Slocum" Hewson — an artist and healer whose creative path eventually led him from the art world to the heart of the Amazon. He has connected and inspired many people across the world to pursue their dreams and self-expression.
After two decades immersed in painting and fine art, Slocum followed an inner call to Iquitos, Peru, where his journey deepened through direct experience with plant medicines and traditional Amazonian healing. Over the years, through intensive plant dietas and apprenticeships with local vegetalistas, he began to bridge the worlds of indigenous healing and modern holistic practices — lending the wisdom of indigenous healing traditions with modern approaches to nutrition, detoxification, and holistic wellness. This journey has connected him with inspiring individuals, hard workers, and beautiful thinkers that has cultivated the center known as Amaru Spirit.
Today, Slocum lives on-site with his wife and children, continuing to create fine art in his jungle studio while helping guide Amaru Spirit
Facilitators and Workshop leaders
Amaru Spirit has welcomed a variety of facilitators whose work touches different dimensions of healing—from body-based practices to consciousness studies. Workshops are offered periodically and are meant to complement the plant medicine process, giving guests the opportunity to engage with their journey in new and supportive ways.
These workshops are optional additions to your retreat, and offer a chance to engage with the healing journey from different angles—whether through ritual, health, or creativity.
Gardeners
The land at Amaru is a living balance between untouched jungle and carefully cultivated garden. This duality reflects our commitment to honoring the wild intelligence of the forest while also tending to the plants and food that nourish those who come here to heal.
In our garden spaces, we are actively restoring and enriching the soil, working to cultivate a fertile, living ecosystem that supports the growth of native and naturalized medicinal and edible plants.
Chris Wermuth, our head gardener, leads this effort with patience, vision, and deep ecological understanding. His focus is on building a healthy, resilient soil biome—one that will sustain long-term food and medicine cultivation. This work is part of our larger intention to live in reciprocity with the land, align with the rhythms of nature.
