I’m a Medicine Woman, proud to be a Shipiba from the Peruvian Amazon jungle.

`With the support of all those who make up this Steemit social network, we are going to make known the greatness of our Amazonian culture.`

Before starting an Ayahuasca ceremony

My name is Mercedez Karina García Ríos, “Ayahuasca Noma is my spiritual name. I came back to this world on December 31, 1984 in a native community called Caco Macaya, located in the Iparia district, Coronel Portillo province, Ucayali, Peru.

I spent most of my childhood with my parents and siblings in my community and at that age my grandparents instilled on us principles and values rooted in our own cosmovision.

I studied in my native community (Caco Macaya) at elementary level and I attended Yarinacocha National School for my secondary studies. I studied computerized accounting at Instituto Superior Tecnologico TOKIO. All of these institutions are located in Coronel Portillo in Ucayali, Peru.

After some time, I started my apprenticeship in Shipibo Conibo Indigenous Traditional Medicine as I experienced myself real and positive outcomes with the use of Ayahuasca, our medicinal plant. My 8-year preparation resulted in a Master’s in the application and management of our sacred plant under the guidance of my master Antonio Muñoz Burga, who is an Onanya—title granted to him as an eminence in traditional indigenous medicine.

At 18 I was consecrated in the Traditional Indigenous Medicine and at 26 I was consecrated as a Medicine Woman. I have been serving my patients for 7 years

Currently I work as a Medicine Woman using our sacred plant in a spiritual context inherited from our ancestors.

Knowledge and mastery in the use of powerful plants happen during our spiritual retreats

I learned about Steemit thanks to the work @acostaeladio does through social media. I would love to keep on learning about this kind of social media to spread the word within my community. Internet is limited though I am able to connect whenever I am in the city.

Sailing with my cousins, nieces, and nephews along the Yarinacocha river, 10 minutes away from my home

Once again, thanks for the opportunity Steemit offers to teach about our world, our community, and our ancestral culture.