6 Day Personal Growth & Bufo Retreat in Peru

Founder & Retreat Directior Ama-ra's journey has been far from ordinary. After running away from home at the young age of 14, without any formal qualifications, she embarked on a remarkable path of self-education, navigating the school, college, and university of life with determination and resilience. Throughout her life, Ama-ra has embraced various entrepreneurial ventures, charting her own course in the world of business. From selling homemade sandwiches at London's bustling Liverpool Street station to delving into alternative health therapies, selling clothes and music CDs on vibrant market stalls, pursuing her passion for photography and DJ'ing, and even working in bars and clubs, she fearlessly explored diverse avenues. Ama-ra's focus, independence and early savings allowed her to purchase her first property in her twenties, wisely capitalizing on the booming property market at the time. As the value of her investments increased, she seized opportunities to expand her real estate portfolio through astute financial planning. Her last business in the UK was managing her property portfolio where she oversaw long and short-term rentals in central London. Eventually, Ama-ra sold her properties in London to support her profound calling in shamanic development, which drew her to the serenity of the Amazon rainforest in Peru. Through sacred medicine experiences, she discovered profound wisdom and healing, becoming a devoted student on her own transformative journey. Fueled by her own growth, she remains compelled to support others in finding their higher destiny paths. Her calling included the responsibility and remarkable challenge of physically directing the construction of the Modern Ancient home in Peru. Undertaking this demanding project as a single woman who initially did not speak any Spanish was an immense test of her resilience and adaptability, and is testament to her courage and determination to create a space on sacred land for connection, healing and transformation. For the past nine years, Ama-ra has permanently settled in Peru, fully immersing herself in the vibrant culture and community. She sought training and initiation from the Peruvian Shipibo tribe, gaining profound insights into their ancient wisdom. Ama-ra has shared her knowledge and facilitated countless ceremonies both in Peru and abroad, using a range of powerful medicines such as Ayahuasca, Iboga, San Pedro, and Kambo. In addition, Ama-ra developed and successfully trialed Iboga micro-dosing programs for private clients of Ansuya Devi and Modern Ancient Sanctuary over the past seven years. On retreat Ama-ra metaphysically assesses each student, expertly determining the most suitable medicines and doses for their overall well-being. This personalized approach lies at the heart of the Modern Ancient ceremonial experience, ensuring that no student's needs are overlooked in favor of a one-size-fits-all approach. She provides invaluable guidance on embracing unconditional love, cultivating compassion, taking full responsibility, and practicing forgiveness, particularly for those navigating challenging emotional states that follow the ceremonies. Ama-ra's traditional and disciplined eastern upbringing from an early age provided her with strong spiritual foundations and subsequently the ability to discern religious from spiritual practice in a way that authentically and peacefully serves reaching higher consciousness. With warmth and compassion, Ama-ra dedicates herself to guiding others on their personal journeys of healing, self-discovery, and transformation. Her unwavering commitment to individualized care, profound knowledge of sacred plant medicine, and ability to create a nurturing environment make Modern Ancient a sanctuary for those seeking to fully honor and create a life to serve their true divine nature. Ama-ra continues to study various sacred medicines, taking advantage of the plants available in the Amazon. Her personal self-development practice includes pursuing out of body experiences, working with hypnotherapy, binaural beats, oxygen, crystal therapy and much more.

As a holistic transformation guide, with a coaching practice focused on energy management and heart based living as the foundation to a fulfilling and successful life, Suya feels privileged to have witnessed and supported her clients' remarkable breakthroughs and life-altering outcomes over the past eight years. She holds an unwavering belief that every single person is astonishingly powerful - even if they don't know it yet, and if provided with the right level of care, mentorship and relevant resources, accessing one's true potential can lead to extraordinary achievements and transformative impact on both their own lives and the world around them. Suya envisions a future where every individual's unique talents and abilities are nurtured and supported, enabling them to overcome challenges, pursue their passions, make a meaningful contribution to society and create positive change that ripples through generations to come. With an abundance of personal growth knowledge, art of living approach, wealth of hands-on experience and a dash of humor, she brings to life the Modern Ancient Method ™ utilized in retreat programs. Combining ancient wisdom with a modern lifestyle and mindset, Suya's practical insights are based on her adept use of the chakra system as a diagnostic framework for mental, emotional, and physical dis-ease. To support an informed approach to holistic health, Suya formally studied and trained for several years alongside her corporate career, including but not limited to obtaining diplomas in Bio-Energy Healing and Integrative Ayurveda as an Ayurveda Nutrition and Lifestyle Consultant. Further, she obtained her certification in life coaching from neuro-lingusitic programming (NLP) co-founder Richard Bandler and has been mentored through several transformational programs. Suya's sacred medicine journeys, over the past decade, have facilitated healing deep trauma, supported intuitive and psychic gifts, graced her with ineffable experiences of unity consciousness, and drives her passion for heart based living. She has successfully coached and led many clients through first time sacred medicine use, including effective Iboga microdosing programs. As a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, Suya draws on her Ashtanga Vinyasa, Yin and Kundalini trainings in India, France, the US and London to maintain an evolving practice that explores Patanjali's Eight Limbs. She continues to overcome her mental boundaries to achieve physical and spiritual transcendence, incorporating regular practices such as traditional Peruvian plant dietas, vipassana meditation, bikram yoga, dry and intermittent fasting, chemical-free product use and cold plunges. As a member of Self Realization Fellowship, she is dedicated to studying the scientific meditation techniques and teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. In addition to retreat facilitation, business oversight and development, she co-leads the health and safety team training for sacred ceremonies and is certified by the American Red Cross in First Aid/ CPR/ AED. Suya is dual-qualified as a lawyer in the state of New York and a barrister in the UK, and has worked in investment banking in regulatory compliance, risk management and the legal industry, for nearly two decades. As a member of the Board of Directors for Rich Mix, a leading cultural hub and diverse performing arts social enterprise in her hometown of Shoreditch, London, she supports strategic development of the company and charity. Suya lives in San Diego, California, and is an avid hiker and reader on a wide range of subjects. She particularly enjoys classic English, French and Russian literature, researching ancient civilizations, the journey of life after death and writing poetry.

Of Irish Celtic origin, Ciaran hails from a lineage of diviners and souls who harness the power of the hands. Growing up in Ireland, Ciaran experienced a culture that had lost touch with its true essence, which left him feeling out of harmony and at odds with the prevailing western mentality. In those formative years, conformity seemed safer, leading to a silence that permeated his world, repeating the cycles of his community's past. However, everything changed when the call to the divine mother, master teacher plant medicine, Ayahuasca, beckoned Ciaran. This transformative journey began to cleanse him of attachments and conditioning that had been deeply ingrained since childhood. Ayahuasca revealed the divine power within and the boundless nature of unconditional love. It ignited a profound internal shift, setting the stage for a complete life transformation. Through numerous Ayahuasca sessions, visions emerged, guiding Ciaran to work with the frog medicine, Kambo, and shortly thereafter he completed his Kambo facilitator training earning certification from the International Association of Kambo Practitioners. Ciaran further experienced a powerful calling to work with Bufo Alvarius, the sacred medicine of the toad. Drawn to Mexico, the home of this healing spirit, Ciaran sought guidance from an esteemed teacher to deepen his connection with this medicine. Following this intensive training, he has since passionately guided many through profound Bufo ceremonies, which he combines with the heart-opening properties of cacao medicine. Ciaran creates a space of ease and grace with his calm and harmonious presence. He holds a heart centered intention for his students to embark on their healing journeys and to allow the medicine to weave its beautiful magic. Ciaran strongly believes in the transformative potential of Bufo, allowing individuals to be reborn, shedding societal masks and embracing a path of pure love and authenticity. He tailors his treatments with the utmost care and attention to address the unique needs of each person, guiding them to access their true potential and navigate the spirit world. To support integration, Ciaran is an accredited life coach, skilled in guiding individuals towards their best lives by helping them release what no longer serves them and adopt new empowering habits. Further, he is a Reiki practitioner and utilizes the four elements and spirit to facilitate energy shifts, often incorporating the use of crystals to amplify the session's power. Exploring the mechanics of the world provides Ciaran with great enjoyment. He is passionate about working with frequency and vibrations through sound therapy, harnessing its ability to dissolve energetic blocks and harmonize the body and mind to connect with spirit. Ciaran is deeply grateful for the tools that have facilitated his personal transformation. He remains open-hearted in sharing his own story and supporting others to overcome attachments and conditions that hinder their pursuit of a fulfilling life. Ciaran encourages individuals to set their inner selves free, allowing their spirits to roam and flourish. Ciaran holds a Master's in Engineering and a Bachelor's degree in Science. He is an experienced qualified Planning Engineer who has primarily worked across Europe over the past eight years.

Lena's profound and urgent calling to explore her heart led her to a five-month stay at a Thai monastery, where she immersed herself in intensive meditation practices, including vipassana. It was during this period that Lena experienced a remarkable level of awareness and inner peace. During her first seven years as a spiritual seeker, Lena passionately pursued various healing arts and esoteric practices, qualifying as a yoga teacher in Hatha and Ariel, and earning certifications in modalities such as Theta Healing and accessing the Akashic Records. ​Lena's sacred medicine path began with a life changing series of five consecutive Ayahuasca ceremonies. The journey provided her with profound experiences encompassing both light and darkness, as well as a direct transmission of unity consciousness and unconditional love. Her healing journey continued across Europe, South America, and Central America, exploring ancient practices and participating in Ayahuasca, Kambo, San Pedro, and Bufo ceremonies. ​As a trained Bufo medicine facilitator, initially spending three intense months in Mexico receiving instruction from a well respected medicine man, Lena provides a safe and healing container for all her students. She holds a compassionate and loving space for the medicine to work its magic, and delivers a high quality level of attention to all in entrusted in her care. Under the guidance of Modern Ancient Co-Founder and Retreat Director, Ama-ra Sen, Lena works with the spirit of Iboga to travel deeply into her higher heart. She microdoses with this sacred wood to maintain balance, elevate her consciousness and receive guidance for practical solutions to everyday issues. ​Lena's expertise in fasting was born after completion of a traditional plant dieta in Peru at Modern Ancient, where she further remained for 24 days without food and water. Today, Lena regularly engages in both dry and water fasts to access a higher level of healing and connect to her lightbody. Her personal practice, combined with her certification as a freediver, fuels her passion for teaching others to heal the mind and body through the life-sustaining power of pranic energy and breathwork techniques. ​Deeply grateful for her transformative sacred medicine experiences, Lena is dedicated to supporting others in overcoming grief, loss and tragedy while embracing unity with the Divine that resides within each individual. ​Lena holds a Master's in Art and a Bachelor’s degree in business administration of real estate and construction. Prior to her spiritual journey, Lena had a successful 15-year corporate career as a project manager in commercial construction in Germany. Outside of her spiritual pursuits, she enjoys spending time in nature, honing her free diving skills, and connecting with sacred medicine. Fluent in German, English, and Russian, Lena eagerly anticipates adding Spanish to her language repertoire.