Who Are We?
We are dedicated to supporting you in your healing journey, discovering your purpose and integrating what you have learned so when you leave you can make better sense of the world around and within you.
Our Story
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The RA Initiative idea was born in a conversation after an Ayahuasca ceremony at the retreat next to RA between the founder of RA (Keith) and the retreat owner (Kelly). Kelly was trying to buy the neighbouring land which was once part of the original retreat and home to the overgrown but cherished Medicinal Gardens but could not afford to buy it. Keith agreed to buy it and work with Kelly. The original idea was to restore the Medicinal Gardens, grow farm to table food and provide detox facilities for their guests prior to starting the ceremonies and integration facilities after the ceremonies. That would enable the original retreat to continue as an Ayahuasca only facility and leave preparation and integration (to someone with medical training) at the reborn Medicinal Gardens side of the original site. This idea came to Keith and Kelly as a spiritual download after the ceremony.
The sale was finalised in January 2020, shortly before Peru’s Covid-19 lockdown. Keith had to wait two years before returning to begin building the vision.
Unfortunately Kelly died later that year and The RA Initiative has continued without him. The idea is to still cooperate and thus we offer different levels and types of service. RA is offering a more bespoke Medically focused service with more luxurious accommodation and more integration time between ceremonies.
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Why We're Different
As well as providing Ayahuasca retreats we aim to also build a self-sufficient community that benefits the surrounding village, protects the forest, and indeed (by lessons learned and passed on) - the wider world.
We bring together
Modern tools and ancient wisdom
Spiritual growth and environmental stewardship
Healing practices and community living
Our current and future initiatives include
Expanding the Medicinal Gardens
Rainforest conservation and replanting
Natural, sustainable agriculture including biodynamics
Breeding resilient, free-foraging hybrid chickens
Cultivating and researching the medicinal benefits of plants , honey and food
Involving local children in cultural and environmental education
Collaborating with institutions to bridge modern and traditional medicine and cultivation
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We welcome individuals who
Seek spiritual growth or a fresh life perspective in a more luxurious situation than most retreats
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're here to heal, help, explore or research - There could be a place for you.
What We Offer
Therapeutic Options:
Ayahuasca ceremonies
Kambo ceremonies (traditional frog medicine detox)
Nutraceuticals, plant medicine, crystal medicine (basic), sacred geometry
Personalized healing programs, with discounts for long stays and volunteers
Guided meditations with breath work preparation and visualisation
Planned future therapies: ( booked when specialist therapists are available)
Psychologist consultations, advanced crystal Medecine
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 replacing conventional medicine without professional advice. Naturopathic healing is a journey that takes time, especially with advanced or chronic conditions. We should mention that there are techniques which once learned can produce instantaneous results - see Joe Dispenza's teachings for example.
Activities
Rainforest treks to view ancient trees
River and village boat trips, with the chance to see or swim with Amazon dolphins
Hands-on learning about Ayahuasca cultivation and preparation
Visits to the many parts of the project and local villages
Volunteer opportunities in land care, community support, and more
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 modalities.
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), combined with pure naturally grown food as part of a personalised diet.
The dwellings are designed using the principles of sacred geometry in order to provide beneficial energies, and the whole look and feel of the place is beautiful
Fitness - Yoga, swimming and trekking.
Education
Both visitors and local knowledge keepers can learn from each other depending on their education and life experience. The atmosphere is conducive to teach and learn from each other.
We also aim in future to collaborate with the local school to show the children the medicinal plants and some of the artefacts built by their ancestors. So many of the youth in the region have been infected with awful TV programs which has led to delinquency and a lack of appreciation of their history and amazing ancestral knowledge.
Self sufficiency in most food, water, natural medicines, energy , and the majority of construction materials
Research
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. Multiple Chacras (traditional small fields for growing edible plants).
Regenerative - with particular emphasis on soil improvement (bathrooms have humanure dry toilets).
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 plans to build some hides in 2026.
Logging & hunting are not allowed.
Meet the Team
Keith
CEO - Director
Androcles
Curandero - Shaman -
Mariela
Secretary and Logistics
Aurora
Cook and Gardener
Tedy
Foreman
Manuel
Head Gardener
Keith
I am Keith Tierney, the owner and director of The RA Initiative. I was a dentist for 36 years and spent many of those years travelling around the world meeting amazing people and gaining different perspectives. Before I 'woke up' I already had an interest in nutraceuticals, homeopathy, ancient history, psychology and much else. Since then I have taken a deep dive into many subjects and have been taking energy medicine courses from the excellent Vesica Institute for Holistic Studies. I have always been interested in psychology and medicine but felt that neither was on the right track. I believe humanity is at a cross roads and the 'right path' is apparent and immanent. Having reached retirement age I have no intention of retiring.The RA Initiative is my life path and I will continue to play my part in making a beautiful place and assisting those who wish to work towards a better world. Homo Sapiens will become Homo Spiritualis and the vital balance between the Sacred Feminine, Sacred Masculine, the Celestial and Terrestrial will be achieved.
Androcles
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Androcles at 30 years old 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. One of his two main colleagues will be joining us for specific purposes or when more than 6 people will attend a ceremony. 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.
Mariela
Mariela is another gem and basically keeps the project supplied with most of the materials needed which are not available in house . She is the administrator and secretary and does whatever else is needed in Iquitos including meeting visitors at the airport and ensuring the paperwork is correct. Mariela continues to run the Ayahuasca retreat next door as well as RA . Incidentally we supply them and others with fresh high quality organic produce from our farms.
Aurora
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Aurora is an excellent cook and proficient in preparing specialist / bespoke diets for visitors particular needs. It is said that the spirit and attitude of the cook is sometimes more important than the ingredients making it even more therapeutic than 'just' farm to table organic food.
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 and incidentally is the father of Androcles , the Shaman.
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. The Director hopes he will continue as head gardener as well as continuing his spiritual journey.
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Other team members
- We are seriously blessed with people who believe in this marvellous project. Everyone mucks in where needed and everyone is multi talented
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Neri- Orthopedic Joint Manipulation.- Neri is not on the full time staff but will visit when needed. She is a natural curandero and has some interesting abilities such as being able to put her hand on a pregnant woman's belly and tell the babies sex! She is also the mother of Androcles
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).
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