About this Retreat
Hugo Esteban Perez is a Mazatec mushroom ceremony facilitator with over 50 years of experience in the Mazatec healing tradition. He began working with the healer María Sabina at the age of eight, serving as her translator in Huautla de Jiménez, Mexico. He continued his studies with many other respected healers from the region, deepening his understanding of the Mazatec ceremonial and healing path.
Hugo has received legal permission from the local government of Huautla de Jiménez to work with psilocybin mushrooms. In addition to his ceremonial work, he practiced for many years as a medical professional. He is the Principal Teacher and Mazatec lineage holder of the Mazatec Apprenticeship Program, where he is dedicated to transmitting this sacred tradition with integrity, responsibility, and deep respect for its cultural roots.
Agder Iztacmitl (White Arrow) is a sacred pipe (Canupa) carrier and Sun Dancer from Mexico. He has over 30 years of experience working with the Mazatec mushroom tradition and was initiated more than 25 years ago. His father was a medicine man before him, and Agder was introduced to the medicine path at the age of eight. He later participated in Red Road ceremonies, including the vision quest and Sun Dance. He was adopted by Yuwipi man Christopher Long, who granted him permission to carry and share the peyote sweat lodge ceremony. His work has taken him to Europe, India, and across North and South America.
Eva is a retreat, excursion, and ceremony facilitator, as well as one of the teachers and the program manager of the Mazatec Apprenticeship Program. She is a certified transformational and integration coach specializing in psychedelic therapies and spiritual development.
Eva has worked with clients around the world for over 25 years. Her experience includes personal, leadership and organisational development and she has a background in applied psychology, breathwork, Reiki, and sound healing. She is a dedicated student of Central and North American Indigenous spiritual traditions for the last 10 years. In 2019, she founded what has grown into the Institute of Ancestral Ceremonies, working alongside spiritual advisors from Indigenous traditions and a dedicated team to shape the institute into what it is today.
Details of this retreat
You are invited to participate in an intimate retreat that includes two ceremonies in the ancient tradition of the Mazatec people of Oaxaca, Mexico. These ceremonies are profound spiritual undertakings that trace their origins back through generations. It became known worldwide in the 1950s and 60s through Maria Sabina, a medicine woman who first opened the ceremony of the holy children (mushrooms) to the world. Centuries of wisdom and reverence for the “holy children” have culminated in a sacred practice designed to facilitate deep introspection, spiritual healing, and divine communion.
Beyond the two ceremonies, we offer traditional Mazatec readings, healings, and teachings, together with thoughtful preparation and integration support before, during, and after your journey, so you can embody and sustain the wisdom of this experience over time.
THE LOCATION
We will stay at a secluded retreat center nestled in the heart of nature in the Netherlands, where it is legal to work with psilocybin truffles. This intimate sanctuary is surrounded by lush, open landscapes and offers welcoming communal spaces for connection, as well as peaceful areas for rest and introspection.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The ceremony takes place at night, enveloped in a tapestry of songs, prayers, and a profound connection with the divine. Above all, it embraces the sanctity of silence, providing a sacred space for connecting with the profound depths of your soul.
Within the Mazatec community, psilocybin mushrooms are seen as sacred allies, bridging the gap between the physical and spiritual realms. They are believed to carry the essence of a divine consciousness, offering healing, wisdom, and connection to the sacred forces of the universe.
One of the spiritual leaders of this tradition, “Hugo Esteban Perez,” will join us to share three ceremonies. He started working with Maria Sabina when he was 9 years old as her translator and continued his studies with many of the Mazatec elders. He is recognized by the Mexican government as a healer of this tradition and has received legal permission to work with psilocybin mushrooms.
We take a holistic approach to optimal wellbeing and spiritual development designed to deepen your experience and offer extensive preparation and integration support before and after focused on lasting results. During the retreat, we use several modalities to enhance your experience, such as breath work and sharing circles. To help you feel at your optimal best organic and locally sourced (where possible) meals are included during your stay with us.
Each participant will be assessed before entering the program through a compulsory application form and screening. Due to the powerful nature of psychedelic ceremonies and the impact that others sharing the space can have, we limit this retreat to 15 selected people.
PREPARATION
In the 4 weeks leading up to the retreat, we will virtually support you with your preparation.
Private 1:1 coaching call focused on your intention, preparation and to answer any questions you may have
Individual preparation activities
Group preparation call
RETREAT
This is a 4-day in person retreat starting on Thursday and concludes on Sunday early afternoon.
Mazatec healing
2 Mazatec mushroom ceremonies
Breathwork
Group sharing circles
Private 1:1 coaching
INTEGRATION
We offer integration support for 4 weeks after your retreat to transition what you have learned in your day-to-day life.
2 x group integration calls
Individual integration call - Further integration coaching/support is available. Please contact us on support@ancestralceremonies.org to explore.
YOUR EXPERIENCE
It is not possible to guarantee what your ceremony will be like. However, here are some of the common experiences.
We are honoured that you have chosen to take this journey with us, and we look forward to sharing this transformative experience with you.