Ya'Acov & Susannah Darling Khan & Catherine Gray bring you their most powerful offering yet built on years of deep partnership with the Pachamama Alliance. Dancing With the Heart of the World moves toward the most in-depth Amazonian offering to our founding Achuar and Sápara partners. This intensive journey, working with a variety of shamanic, movement, and creative processes, will be highly participatory, appropriate for those who have both experiences with inner personal work and a commitment to being part of the solution in these critical times.   

Susannah and Ya'Acov Darling Khan are the founders of Movement Medicine, a contemporary movement meditation practice grounded in an engaged shamanic approach intended to be accessible to all. They have been teaching internationally since 1989 and are two of the most experienced teachers of embodied wisdom on the planet. They have also led many journeys to the Amazon for the Pachamama Alliance and are deep allies of the forest and its peoples. 

Co-leader Catherine Gray.  Catherine has devoted her life to personal and organizational transformation.  For more than 25 years she has worked with some of the world's largest and most consequential organizations helping them transform the way they do business.  From developing sustainability programs to creating cultures that are more conscious, to supporting leaders to connect with their deeper purpose and lead in new ways, Catherine has worked to help bring forward new paradigms to people and the planet.  She started her career working with The Nature Conservancy, served on numerous conservations boards, was Executive Director of the Natural Step (A pioneer in working with corporations in the early days of sustainability), and most recently has been a Managing Partner at the Trium Group where she works with CEO's and founders to ensure their teams are aligned behind powerful visions, strategies, and conscious cultures.  Finally, Catherine also serves as an Executive Coach to many CEO's and founders using traditional as well as experiential and nature-based approaches to help them arrive home in themselves, their deeper purpose, and new levels of impact for themselves, their teams, and the planet. 

Given the depth and intensity of this experience, it is important that we learn more about you to see if there is an appropriate match between you and this particular journey. To register for the application click on the select button above and you will be prompted through the process.

It is important that you know before you decide to commit to this journey that this is a deep immersion. We go to the forest, not as tourists, but as allies and we are welcomed there as such because of the 25 years of building trust and relationship that is the ground of the Pachamama Alliance. The trip covers the cost of hosting us for the indigenous communities and provides a source of revenue that enables them to stay away from logging and oil extraction. At the same time, the Pachamama Alliance exists because of the support of people like you. people who understand that the forest and its peoples must stand for the health of the whole biosphere. For that reason, we want you to know that at the end of the trip, we will be asking you to become long-term financial supporters of the Pachamama Alliance and it is our sincere hope that the journey will make it clear why this is such a good investment for the generations to come. Thank you. 

 Group meets at 5 pm at the historic Quito hotel, Cultura Manor, for a welcome and orientation followed by a group dinner together. Accommodations at Cultura Manor. 

 After a gourmet breakfast and an orientation meeting at Cultura Manor, we’ll head south on a beautiful drive descending the Andes through the Avenue of the Volcanoes stopping in the town of Salasaca for a traditional Andean meal with our indigenous hosts and a purification ritual with a Salasacan elder. Continue through the waterfall-laden Pastaza River canyon to the gateway to the Amazon rainforest. Dinner and evening discussion about entering the rainforest and the Achuar and Sápara territories at a cozy boutique hotel at the edge of the rainforest.

Following breakfast, we will head to the nearby town of Shell where we will take a flight to the Sápara village of Llanchamacocha. Receive a warm welcome with smiles, embraces, followed by an individualized purification ritual. We’ll get settled into our village encampment which we’ll stay at for the next three nights on the banks of the Conambo river. We’ll spend time with the leaders and elder grandmother discussing their history, customs, and vision for defending their forest for future generations of all life.  After an introduction and orientation to the Naku project and the inspiring vision the Sápara have for the future, we’ll take a refreshing swim in the Conambo river and settle into their community lodge. 

 Early morning dream-sharing, and purification ceremony using time-tested ancient techniques. After breakfast, we’ll hike through the primary forest to learn about the Sápara’s unique physical and spiritual connection to the rainforest, visiting a medicinal plant garden in the primary forest followed by a sacred tobacco ritual and solo meditation in preparation for the evening ceremony. 

After Debriefing the ceremony with the Shaman we will enjoy a restful morning. Followed by lunch then a  river swim before sharing intimate conversation with our Sapara friends, partaking in traditional foods, music, and experiencing Sumak Kawsay (Good Living) together. 

 After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll prepare our belongings and return to the community to say our farewells. Take a 40-minute flight deeper into the Amazon rainforest to the Achuar village of Sharamentsa. 

Early morning dream sharing ritual with Achuar families followed by a hike with our Achuar guide to learn about the extensive flora and fauna of this pristine rainforest. Witness how the Achuar live in an interconnected way with their environment, including the use of medicinal plants, natural building materials, and small-scale, sustainable farming. We’ll visit a sacred waterfall and learn about the Achuar cosmo-vision and spiritual practices. Here we will enjoy some quiet and contemplative time to connect with the forest and ourselves, taking in the innumerable forms of life all around us. Gentle Movement Medicine session, followed by an evening shamanic ceremony 

Morning debrief session with the shaman. Time for rest in the hammocks, journaling, reflection, etc. After a siesta, we’ll have a movement session and then have the chance to float on balsa rafts, taking in the magnificence of the rainforest. In the evening we’ll exchange songs, chants, and dances and enjoy an Achuar feast with locally grown foods. 

After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll prepare our belongings and return to the community to say our farewells and take a beautiful canoe ride down the mighty Pastaza River and up the Capahauri River to the Achuar village of Wayunsentsa.  

Upon arrival, we will receive a traditional welcome then settle into our encampment. The Shaman will take us to a sacred waterfall for a purification ceremony before inviting us to participate in an ancient ritual that evening.    

Time in the community before breakfast and sharing with elder about the prior evening's ceremony. We will canoe further up the Capahauri River to visit a remote Achuar village.  After a traditional Achuar greeting and meal,  we will be invited to participate in cultural practices, including weaving, ceramic bowl making, blowgun practice,  exchange of songs, and dances (bring a small instrument!).   

In the afternoon we will canoe down the Capahuari river for a beautiful ride to the acclaimed, Achuar-owned and operated, Kapawi Ecolodge.  

Early morning bird and animal watching.  After breakfast, we’ll set out on a hike to learn more about medicinal plants, Achuar spirituality followed by solo meditation around the massive grandfather Kapok Tree. Afternoon movement medicine session followed by rest and relaxation in preparation for the evening ceremony.  

This evening an elder will invite us to participate in an ancient ceremony he has been conducting for over 50 years. 

 Debrief sharing with the shaman and quiet time to reflect and take in the forest surrounding the Kapawi Lodge. After lunch movement medicine session followed by a leisurely afternoon of swimming, hiking, and lounging around the area.   After dinner, we’ll set out on a nighttime walk to witness the incredible nocturnal life of the forest.   

After breakfast, we’ll canoe up the Capahuari river to a local Achuar community for a 60-minute flight to the small town of Shell, where our bus will take us to Papallacta Hot Springs high in the lush, beautiful cloud forest of the Andes. Rest & relaxation in the Hot Springs surrounded by verdant mountain slopes, hummingbirds, and tropical flowers.

Later in the evening, we’ll take time to celebrate with a powerful inquiry and discussion that will deepen the context and meaning of our journey, having just been with the indigenous people who inspired the work of the Pachamama Alliance.  

 After breakfast, our group departs by charter bus for Quito. Check-in at the Cultura Manor.  A day of completion, commitments, and celebration! Time on the land for a completion circle and ritual. Evening celebration dinner. 

 After breakfast and our final goodbyes group departs.