Maestro Rider Arevalo

Rider is the founder and director of Amazonia Moyano Ayahuasca Healing Center and has very deep roots in Shipibo curanderismo. His ancestors were some of the most powerful and knowledgeable healers in the region. His Shipibo name Sanken means "the sun", and Barri means "when the first rays of light touch the earth". He began dieting at the age of 5 with his grandmother Maria Arevalo, when curiosity took hold as he witnessed many educated people from around the globe, including medical doctors, seeking his grandmother for help. He wanted to know what it was they were seeking.

He continued dieting with his grandmother throughout the course of his childhood, and by the age of 14, began holding Ayahuasca ceremonies alone. His first ceremonies were healing only women and children, because their energies are typically less intense, but as his knowledge and strength grew, he began to treat men, women, and children from all over the globe.

Rider's motivation and dedication to the medicine has always been to help people heal, and over the years, has gained valuable experience working with people from different backgrounds all over the world, which has helped to tremendously broaden his life perspective and to keep an open mind. He has a passion for sharing knowledge about his rich and ancient culture, as well as learning from the people he helps. He believes that the most important part of the process for people coming to sit with the medicine is to explain to them in detail about Ayahuasca, plant dietas, and how it all works, so that there is a thorough understanding of the process. For people coming to the medicine for their first time, he says it is not always necessary to drink right away, but only to participate in ceremonies to observe and receive the icaros (healing songs). During the first night of ceremony, Rider will look into a person's mind, spirit, and body to gain a better understanding of what they need in the moment, and whether or not they are ready for the medicine, or if deeper cleansing and purification is needed in order to better prepare a person’s body and mind. He says that a person must feel deeply called to drink Ayahuasca and it must be a conscious choice, with intention, and not something someone decides to do "for fun" as this is not an easy path and must be entered into with respect and a certain level of commitment, however for those who feel the call, the healings and transformations can be profound, and he is always happy to help support through the process every step of the way.