A Journey from Schumacher College to the Amazon
A Documentary About the Healing Potential of Indigenous Medicine
A mini-documentary from the Temple of the Way of Light highlighting the importance of personal healing for Western healthcare practitioners. In 2019, the Temple held a 12-day retreat for healthcare professionals, with renowned physician, speaker and best-selling author Dr. Gabor Maté. This ground-breaking 12-day ayahuasca retreat in the Amazon is focused on ‘healing the healers’. We aim to bring deep healing to individuals working in Western healthcare and, thus, to the systems they serve. We see the profound potential of transformed and awakened healthcare practitioners to impact those they serve: their patients, colleagues, institutions, and communities.
"Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity" – Hippocrates
In 2023, I started a BSc in Regenerative Food and Farming at Schumacher College. I was originally enrolled at Kent for Graphic design. However, I transferred to Schumacher one week before the academic year started. The catalyst for this was my time in Peru just months before. After one retreat at The Temple of the Way of Light, I realized that I wanted to live a life of service and alignment with nature.
Just one month before the start of the course, my family and facilitator from the retreat recommended that I look at Schumacher, and it lit me up like a Christmas tree. A university that acknowledged our connection to nature and held a beautiful community of students who were passionate about protecting it. It was perfect.
Throughout my year at Schumacher, my course inspired me profoundly. Regenerative farming is not only a state of reciprocity to the planet, but it also deeply connects us with it. However, what impacted me the most was the community. While studying at Schumacher, I met some incredible and inspiring people who have permanently changed how I see the world.
After Schumacher closed in August 2023, I flew to Peru to deepen my connection with the Shipibo healing and wisdom traditions. During the four months I spent in the Amazon, I was fortunate to participate in several ayahuasca retreats and carried out a Master Plant Dieta in December.
I worked with the Temple on videography during this time and supported the ongoing ayahuasca retreats. After months of recording, we created two short documentaries. The most recent one is called ‘For the Love of Medicine,' which I will share now.
This short film features the perspectives of Western medical practitioners receiving spiritual healing in the Amazon rainforest. It highlights the importance of self-care as the root of proper healthcare. Through the wisdom tradition of the Shipibos, it is possible to provide deep healing to Western medical practitioners, which enables them to improve their practice significantly and care for their patients by focusing on the root cause of trauma instead of addressing the symptoms. This is not only a profound experience for the individual on retreat but also improves the systems they serve within.
Many have received this film very well, bringing considerable attention to the unique work of the Temple of the Way of Light. I look forward to continuing this work and supporting their upcoming Healthcare Practitioners retreat in April 2025.