EVENTS
HUNI KUIN
A Deep immersion in Amazonian spirituality
May 2 0 2 4
1 0th - 17 th
ALDEIA AKASHA- ITAIPAVA
RIO DE JANEIRO
BRAZIL
B L U F F
HEALING
EXPERIENCE
We are so excited and honored to invite you to the Bluff Healing Experience program to be led by Jimmy Bluff together with spiritual leaders from the Lakota and Huni Kuin nation uniting the medicines of North and South American native peoples in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro-Brazil, at Akasha Retreat Center.
In the Bluff Healing Experience you will have the unique chance to experience Jimmy Bluff's Surgery Without The Knife- Bluff Technique and take the physical healing to the emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies with traditional indigenous medicines in ceremonies led by the original guardians Ninawa Pai da Mata and its relatives of the Huni Kuin nation. You will also have the privilege of having ceremonies of the Lakota nation tradition led by Wakia Un Manee and Adriana Ocelot.
The program includes activities that provide a deeper experience of the Huni Kuin culture and spirituality, with three Ayahuasca ceremonies, traditional activities such as body painting, singing circles, story telling, hapé - tobacco snuff, sanaga circles, teachings on Huni Kuin spirituality and one Inipi (sweat Lodge) in the Lakota tradition. All of this is more held in the stunning valley surrounded by the beautiful Itaipava mountains, in upstate Rio de Janeiro where the Akasha Retreat Center is located.
Bluff Technique”/Advanced Muscle Reconstruction(AMR) was developed through 20 years of professional massage and fitness industry experience. A lifelong athlete himself, Jimmy grew up playing competitive basketball, football skiing, and snowboarding in his hometown of Honesdale, PA.
He’s familiar with the pain of sports injuries and the toll intense physical activity can have on the human body.
Jimmy earned his certifications at the University of Utah and the Utah College of Massage Therapy. His love of working with people to reach their fitness goals was found to be more gratifying and led him in the direction of pain relief, rehabilitation, and the art of healing. The Bluff Technique is Jimmy’s form of holistic healing. With his unique techniques, he removes lifelong pain and injuries in a way that no one else can.
EXPLORE AKASHA
In this rainforest paradise, you will be safe and comfortable to dive deep in all dimensions of your healing journey.
Akasha retreat center offers accommodations in group bungalows, herbal sauna, water fall in the property and natural pools.
All meals are included and made of fresh, organic and healthy ingredients.
IN THE MOUNTAINS OF ITAIPAVA, LESS THAN 2 HOURS AWAY FROM RIO DE JANEIRO’S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AKASHA RETREAT CENTER IS THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR DEEP HEALING IMMERSIONS WITH INDIGENOUS LEADERS AND PLANT MEDICINES. THE SPACES ESPECIALLY BUILT FOR OUR SPIRITUAL RETREATS INTEGRATE BEAUTIFULLY WITH IT’S LUSH VEGETATION, RIVERS, NATURAL POOLS AND WATERFALLS. ALL FACILITIES ON THE LAND FOLLOW PRINCIPLES OF BIOCONSTRUCTION, FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND INTEGRATION WITH NATURE, AND SACRED GEOMETRY, TO POTENTIALIZE ENERGETIC FLOW.
OUR BUNGALOWS OFFER THE COMFORT OF AN ECO-RESORT, AND THE SPACE ALSO INCLUDES AN HERBAL STEAM SAUNA WITH NATURAL ORGANIC HERBS FROM AKASHA’S OWN GARDEN.
COMMON AREAS INCLUDE:
KUPIXAWÁ (CEREMONIAL CENTER) - GEODESIC DOME - WATERFALLS - NATURAL POOLS - HERBAL SAUNA - DINING HALL - BUNGALOWS
HUNI KUIN PEOPLE
THE HUNI KUIN PEOPLE, OR “TRUE PEOPLE,” AS THEY CALL THEMSELVES, INHABIT MOSTLY BRAZILIAN LANDS IN THE TROPICAL AMAZON, BUT THEIR LANDS EXTEND TO THE FOOT OF THE ANDES IN EASTERN PERU. THE HUNI KUIN ARE THE LARGEST INDIGENOUS POPULATION IN THE BRAZILIAN STATE OF ACRE, CURRENTLY LIVING IN TWELVE INDIGENOUS LANDS ALONG SEVEN DIFFERENT RIVERS: PURUS, ENVIRA, MURÚ, HUMAITÁ, TARAUACÁ, BREU AND JORDÃO.
THEY HAD RELATIVELY LATE CONTACT WITH THE WESTERN WORLD, AND EVEN AFTER DECADES OF PERSECUTION, MANAGED TO KEEP THEIR TRADITIONS ALIVE. THEY SPEAK HATXA KUIN (“TRUE LANGUAGE”) AND LIVE IN A BILINGUAL REALITY, WHERE IN MOST VILLAGES THEY CAN ALSO COMMUNICATE IN PORTUGUESE. THEY CONTINUE TO PRACTICE SACRED RITUALS WITH THEIR TRADITIONAL MEDICINE, PERFORMING THE TRADITIONAL BAPTISM OF THE CHILDREN AND CELEBRATING THE HARVEST AND FERTILITY FESTIVALS KNOWN AS “KATXANAWA”. THE TRADITIONAL MEDICINES OF THE HUNI KUI PEOPLE ARE OF IMMENSE IMPORTANCE TO THEIR WORLDVIEW, AND THE COLLECTIVE USE OF AYAHUASCA (“NIXI PAE”) HAS A PROMINENT PLACE IN THEIR SPIRITUAL PRACTICE.
TODAY HUNI KUIN SPIRITUALITY ECHOES THROUGH THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE WORLD. A MOVEMENT THAT BEGAN JUST OVER A DECADE AGO WITH THE ARRIVAL IN RIO DE JANEIRO OF YOUNG LEADERS TO LEAD CEREMONIES OUTSIDE OF THE VILLAGES, TODAY SEES SEVERAL HUNI KUIN SPIRITUAL LEADERS MAKING YEARLY MEDICINE TRIPS TO THE AMERICAS, EUROPE, AFRICA AND ASIA. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS EXHIBITIONS OF THIS RICH CULTURE IN SOME OF THE MAJOR MUSEUMS IN THE WORLD, AS WELL AS AWARD-WINNING FILMS AND BOOKS. THESE MESSENGERS OF THE FOREST BRING AN IMPORTANT AND POSITIVE MESSAGE THAT POINTS TO A NEW TIME, A TIME OF RECONCILIATION BETWEEN MEN AND WITH MOTHER NATURE.
ninawa PAI DA MATA
Ninawa Pai Da Mata is the Chief of the Novo futuro Village, of the Huni Kuin people in Acre, Brazil and comes from an unbroken lineage of powerful spiritual leaders. Ninawa is one of the main references of the Huni Kuin people due to the recognition in many countries of the world of his healing work through the medicine. He is also a superb musician, having composed very powerful medicine songs which he uses in his works as codes for assessing spiritual connections. As leader of his village Ninawa has been preparing the children to take on the role of representatives of his people, a few of his sons and daughters already conduct ceremonies with him.
TOME INKA BURU
Tume Inka Buru is the wife of Ninawa Pai Da Mata and is one of the leaders of women in the Huni Kuin Village Novo Futuro. Tume is a great artisan and master of the kenes of the Huni Kuin tradition and it is the first time that she is leaving the forest to share some of her knowledge with the world.
Shane
Eldest son of Ninawa Pai da Mata, he has accompanied his father in ceremonies and activities at Aldeia Novo Futuro. Since 2018 he has been traveling with his father in ceremonies in brazil and abroad. Shane is a musician recognized by the people and by those who have had contact with him.
Yube
Son of Ninawa pai da Mata, he has been practicing the knowledge of prayer with medicine accompanied by his father and older brother in the forest. For the fourth time he is leaving the forest with Ninawa's Huni Kuin group. Yube is a great youth artist from the Novo Futuro village.
MUKANI
Daughter of Ninawa, only 14 years old, she is already on the path of medicine and has suprised her father with her posture in rituals. Mukani is leaving the village for the second time to share her strength with the retreat participants.
BIRUANI SIRIANI
Biruani Siriani is a young Huni Kuin from Aldeia Novo Futuro and coordinator of the group of Txaná women (who sing sacred songs) called Siriani. She was initiated into the diets of sacred plants in the village by her grandmother and has taken her prayer to the world, such as some countries in Europe, India and also in some states of Brazil. Biruani is a young woman who sings traditional Huni Kuin songs and is a great musician.
Txana Nai
Txana Nui Huni Kuin is a young txaná (who sings the sacred songs) from Aldeia Novo Futuro. For the first time he is coming out of the forest to share his knowledge, prayers, traditional songs and songs with the instruments for the healing of humanity.
Wakia UN Manee
Wakia Un Manee is a full blooded Klamath/Modoc native of North America, medicine man, sundancer and leader of the Vision Quest and Inipi (Sweat Lodge) ceremony. From a young age he was brought up with the Lakota and Ojibway, so his work has been largely influencedby the traditions and culture of these two nations. Wakia graduated in psychology and political sciences and also studied theology. He founded and developed non-profit charitable organizations within various communities. As an activist, Wakia stood on the front lines, foughtand defended the rights of native peoples, as well as environmental and ecological issues. His work is focused on empowering people to recognize and understand their own capabilities.
Adriana
Ocelot
Adriana Ocelot is a medicine woman, sweat lodge leader, sun dancer in Tamoanchan – Mexico and Crow Dog’s Paradise – USA, leader of Vision Quest, moon dancer at Ollintlahuimeztli in Teotihuacan - México. Guardian of a RedMoon Temple for women’s retreat, healer in traditional native technique and in the use of medicinal plants.
HAVING EXPERIENCED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND PROFOUND HEALING EXPERIENCES IN HIS OWN JOURNEY IN THIS SACRED LAND UNDER THE CARE AND GUIDANCE OF THESE MEDICINES, JIMMY BLUFF FELT THE CALL TO COMBINE HIS UNIQUE HEALING TECHNIQUE WITH THE POWER OF THESE NATIVE RITUALS AND EARTH MEDICINES FOR A COMPLETE REALIGNMENT OF BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT.
What’s INCLUDED
Interview and integration with experienced specialized psychologists Land transportation from Rio de Janeiro to Akasha Retreat center in Itaipava on December 15th 2023.
7 nights accommodation in shared rooms at the Akasha Retreat Center (up to 3 people per room).
3 daily meals at Akasha retreat center.
1 hour of Bluff Technique - Surgery Without the Knife - With Jimmy Bluff at Akasha Retreat Center.
Participation in all medicine ceremonies, sweat lodges and cultural activities.
English/Portuguese translators during retreat.
Land transportation from Aldeia Akasha to Rio de Janeiro on December 22nd 2023
NOT INCLUDED:
Individual sessions with the indigenous leaders;
Add on sessions (after 1st hour included) of Bluff Technique with Jimmy Bluff.
Post-retreat follow up consultation with specialized psychologists.
EARLY BIRD PRICE (VALID FOR FIRST 15 REGISTRATIONS) - $3,000
PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE
CALL 570-228-9132