Who Are We?
We are a combination of a retreat, an institute of healing and research, a community and a farm. We will support you in your healing journey, discovering your purpose and integrating what you have learned so you can make better sense of the world around and within you.
Our Story
The RA Initiative was born out a the conversation, after an Ayahuasca ceremony, at the retreat next to RA, between the founder of RA (Keith) and the retreat owner, who was trying to raise the money to buy the neighbouring land, once part of the original retreat and home to the overgrown but cherished Medicinal Gardens. As a result of that conversation, and under the guidance of Ayahuasca, Keith decided to buy the land himself and work with the owner of the original retreat to restore the Medicinal Gardens, grow farm to table food and provide detox facilities for guests prior to their taking part in ceremonies at the retreat. This would enable the original retreat to continue as an Ayahuasca only facility and leave preparation and integration at the reborn Medicinal Gardens side of the original site.
Unfortunately, the retreat owner died later that year and The RA Initiative has had to continue without him.
Thus, the RA Initiative was developed to offer bespoke, medically focused services, with more luxurious accommodation and more integration time between ceremonies.
Why We're Different
As well as providing Ayahuasca retreats we aim to build a self-sufficient community that benefits the adjacent village, protects and restores the forest, and assists in the wellbeing of the world.
We bring together :-
Modern tools and ancient wisdom
Improvement of infrastructure and environmental stewardship
Healing practices and community living
Our current and future initiatives include:-
Expansion of the Medicinal Gardens.
Conservation and restoration of the rainforest.
Promotion of natural, sustainable agriculture, together with research into the use of new, and newly recovered, eco-friendly systems.
The breeding of resilient, free-foraging, hybrid chickens.
Cultivation of, and research into the medicinal benefits of plants , honey and food.
The involvement of local children in the achievement our aims.
Collaborating with institutions to bridge modern and traditional systems of medicine and cultivation.
We welcome individuals who:-
Seek spiritual growth or a fresh life perspective.
Are healing from addiction, trauma, or long-term health challenges.
Want to contribute skills to a regenerative, intentional community.
Have academic/research interests related to plant medicine, sustainability and healing.
Want to observe nature or work creatively in a peaceful setting
Whether you are looking to heal, help, explore or research - There could be a place for you.
What We Offer
Therapeutic Options:-
Ayahuasca ceremonies
Kambo ceremonies by individual arrangement (traditional frog medicine detox)
Nutraceuticals, plant medicine, crystal medicine (basic).
Personalised healing programs, with discounts for long stays
Guided meditations with breath work preparation and visualisation
Planned future therapies: ( booked when specialist therapists are available)
Psychologist consultations,
Advanced crystal Medicine
Cymatherapy (sound therapy), colour therapy, therapeutic massage, breathwork
Yogic practices,
Homeopathy,
Traditional Chinese Medicine and therapies
Please note: We do not promise cures or recommend abandoning conventional medicine.
Activities
Orientation tour of the RA site
A visit to a local village
Rainforest treks
River trips, (one by night), with the chance to see Amazon dolphins.
Practical learning about Ayahuasca cultivation and preparation.
A visit from local craftsmen and the opportunity to purchase their goods
Fishing
Swimming in the river (at own risk)
Birdwatching.
Astronomy.
The opportunity to observe the flora and fauna of the forest.
Health and Wellbeing
We all have the genetic information to attain full health from almost any disease if we allow ourselves to utilise our inherent reparative mechanisms.
We use the principle of synergy to bring together different, mutually supportive, health creating methods.
The site is designed to harmonise ambient and internal energies to work together to help you heal yourself of whatever ails your mind, body and spirit.
Food and drink are fundamental - you will drink naturally energised water from rain (sky) and aquifer (earth), both double filtered and boiled, and eat food grown in our gardens or sourced locally which, according to your needs, may be used as part of a personalised diet.
The casitas and the Maloca are designed using the principles of sacred geometry in order to provide beneficial energies.
Fitness - Yoga, swimming, (in river, at own risk), and trekking.
Education
Visitors and local people can learn from each other, and we promote an atmosphere conducive to teaching and learning.
We aim, in the future, to collaborate with the local school to show the children the medicinal plants and some of the artefacts built by their ancestors. with the aim of strengthening their links to their history and heritage and encouraging their participation in our aims.
Research
The Ra site is a perfect location for scientists in fields such as ecology, etymology, ornithology, human geography, anthropology, sustainable agriculture/food, forests etc.
Farming
We have two fish farms (piscigranas) and multiple chacras (traditional small fields for growing edible plants).
We use regenerative methods - with particular emphasis on soil improvement.
Rare plants
Any rare plants are found and cultivated, particularly wild varieties of commercial food plants like Cacao.
Bird watching
We have several very rare species of birds and plan to build some hides in 2026.
Logging & hunting are not allowed on the site.
Meet the Team
Keith
CEO - Director
Androcles
Curandero - Shaman -
Mariela
Secretary and Logistics
Aurora
Cook and Gardener
Tedy
Foreman
Manuel
Head Gardener
Keith
Keith is the owner and director of The RA Initiative. A dentist for 36 years during which he travelled extensively, meeting people and gaining different perspectives on life. He has always had an interest in nutraceuticals, homeopathy, ancient history, psychology and much else and became very interested in the less mainstream approaches to these, and many other, subjects. Accordingly, he has taken a deeper look at many subjects, for example, taking energy medicine courses from the Vesica Institute for Holistic Studies. He has always been interested in psychology and medicine but felt that neither was on the right track. He feels humanity is at a cross roads and the 'right path' is apparent and immanent. Having reached retirement age, he has no intention of retiring, saying, . "The RA Initiative is my life path, and I will continue to play my part in creating a beautiful place and assisting those who wish to work towards a better world. In the future, Homo Sapiens will become Homo Spiritualis, and the vital balance between the Sacred Feminine, Sacred Masculine, the Celestial and Terrestrial will be achieved."
Androcles
At 30 years old, Androcles (Andro) is young for a shaman though this age hides his experience, talent and lineage. He started shamanic training in his late teens and has studied under several highly respected colleagues, the first of which was a famous Brazilian who has been followed by experienced locally based Shamen since. He has undergone Dietas with a number of Medicinal Plants and has reached "Curandero" ( curer ) status already. Amongst his many talents is the ability to speak excellent English and his degree makes him an official wildlife guide . His in depth knowledge of Medicinal Plants, Birds, Insects and animal life in general is astonishing. On top of all that this writer knows him as a wonderfully caring human being and views him as a highly valued human asset at The RA Initiative. He is also in charge of the Melipona Bee project and indeed the whole project when the Director is away.
One of his two main colleagues will be joining us for specific purposes or when more than 6 people will attend a ceremony.
Mariela
Mariela, based in Iquitos, is the administrator and secretary. She deals with ordering and shipping goods not available in or around RA and may well be the one who meets you at the airport and facilitates your onward journey to RA.
Aurora
Aurora is an excellent cook, proficient in preparing specialist / bespoke diets for visitors with particular needs. It is said that the spirit and attitude of the cook is more important than the ingredients, making her food even more therapeutic than usual!
Teddy
Teddy is the Foreman in charge of the building and maintenance aspects of RA including the drinking and irrigation water and visitors houses. He has been at RA from the start.
Manuel
As the head gardener Manuel can grow just about anything. He loves plants and they love him! The plant spirits tend to flock around him during Ayahuasca ceremonies. He is very spiritual and interested in continuing his spiritual practices to the extent that he might undergo formal shamanic training.
Other team members
We are seriously blessed with people who believe in this marvellous project.
Neri- Orthopedic Joint Manipulation.- Neri will visit when needed. She is a natural, and talented , curandera. (Her services will incur an extra fee as she is not employed by RA )
Emanuel - electrician and general works.
Columbiano- chainsaw specialist, general works.
Jose - upstream farm , citrus plantation, main medicinal plant farm, first fish farm, chicken project (his photograph and biography to follow).