Returning to the Reason We Started

What Experience Has Taught Us

Looking back, I've realised that growth isn't always about doing more. Sometimes it's about becoming clearer on why you started in the first place. It's about stripping away what isn't essential, reconnecting with your purpose and allowing that to guide the decisions you make.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that depth is often more valuable than variety.

That understanding has shaped almost every decision we've made over the past few years. Looking back, I can see that none of these decisions happened in isolation. They all grew from the same realisation: that doing fewer things with greater care is often more valuable than trying to do more.

We've chosen to dedicate ourselves fully to Huachuma, keep our retreat groups intentionally small, and place just as much importance on preparation and lifetime integration as we do on the ceremonies themselves. At the same time, we've continued building a retreat space that reflects the way we believe this work should be held; slowly, thoughtfully and with intention.

Choosing to Go Deeper

Perhaps the clearest reflection of that has been our decision to no longer offer Kambo.

This wasn't a decision made out of doubt or a lack of respect for the medicine. Kambo has played an important role in my own journey, and I'm grateful for everything it has taught me and the role it has played over the years. But over time it became increasingly clear that my path, and the future of The Huachuma Project, lies in dedicating ourselves fully to Huachuma.

Over time, it became increasingly clear that my path, and the future of The Huachuma Project, lies in dedicating ourselves fully to Huachuma. We've chosen to focus our attention on one medicine, believing there is something deeply valuable about developing a long-term relationship with it and allowing that relationship to mature over time.

The People We Welcome Matter

That same clarity has also influenced the way we welcome people into our retreats.

We believe the people who gather around the medicine shape the experience just as much as the medicine itself. Every individual contributes to the atmosphere of the group, and the group, in turn, influences each person's experience. Creating the right environment begins long before the first ceremony.

That's why every retreat at The Huachuma Project begins with a conversation.

It's an opportunity to get to know one another, understand what has brought someone here and explore whether joining a retreat feels like the right next step. Just as importantly, it's part of the responsibility we carry as facilitators. Safeguarding the space we hold isn't only about what happens during ceremony - it's also about the people we invite into it.

At a time when it's easier than ever to market retreats or present yourself as a facilitator online, we've chosen a different approach. Our aim has never been to fill every retreat or welcome as many people as possible. Instead, we seek to create small groups of people who are genuinely ready to approach the medicine with sincerity, respect and personal responsibility. We believe that benefits not only each individual but the group as a whole.

A More Intentional Way of Working

Keeping our retreats small has become an important part of that philosophy. With a maximum of twelve participants, we're able to offer a more personal experience from the very first conversation through to preparation, the retreat itself and the integration that follows.

We've also come to recognise that the work doesn't end when someone leaves the valley. In many ways, that's where it truly begins. That's why lifetime integration support has become just as important to us as the ceremonies themselves. A retreat may only last a few days, but the lessons, questions and changes that follow often continue unfolding for months or even years.

Looking Ahead

If you've been following The Huachuma Project for a while, you may notice that some things have changed. Those changes haven't happened because we've been chasing something new. They've come from experience, reflection and a growing understanding of what we're here to do.

For those discovering us for the first time, welcome.

And for those who have been walking alongside us over the years, thank you. Thank you for your trust, your support and for being part of this journey.

When I first stood in this valley, I couldn't have imagined exactly where the journey would lead. Looking back, I'm grateful it didn't unfold exactly as I expected. Experience has a way of refining your vision if you're willing to listen. Some of the ideas I held onto became stronger, while others quietly fell away.

If there's one thing this journey has taught me, it's that depth is often more valuable than variety. I believe that's true not only in our work with Huachuma, but in the way we choose to build, to serve and to hold space for others.

The Huachuma Project will continue to evolve, just as we do. But whatever changes the future brings, our commitment remains the same: to keep returning to the reason we started.