Katie

Katie is the facilitator and organizer for Allpa Mama Retreats. She is from Chicago, USA, and has lived in Ecuador for 5 years, assisting in Ayahuasca, San Pedro and Wilka ceremonies. She works with San Pedro and gives limpias (energetic cleansings), and does cleansing rituals without medicine as well. She is a student of Mama Mercedes (bio below) and is also a sundancer, having attended several Sundances in Wisconsin with an Ojibwe elder. She is honored to be able to work with these sacred plants, and believes they are here to help us heal, grow, remember the ancient ways of living and connect us with Spirit. These medicines have helped her greatly with her mental health and continue to bring magic to her life daily.

Taita Miguel

Taita Miguel was born in Cuenca, Ecuador and at an early age his perception of spirits and energies were awakened. Since he was 20 years old, he began helping taitas in ceremonies, and some time later he began to perform his own ceremonies. He credits San Pedro to saving his life. 

He first learned to work with Huachuma (San Pedro) from taitas of the Andes. After this he was introduced to Mama Wilka by a shaman from the North of Bolivia, and was initiated in this almost-lost Inkan tradition. He learned to work with Ayahuasca from several respected Shuar shamans in the jungle of Gualaquiza.

Miguel has a unique ability of being able to feel the pains of other people, just upon meeting them. This helps him give excellent cleansings, which can take away physical, mental and spiritual pains and illnesses. 

Madleen 

Madleen Alsabbah is the first American-born Palestinian in her family and a passionate devoted yoga facilitator whose journey began in 2013 when she discovered the transformative power of yoga for healing and self-discovery. Growing up with the echoes of war and the impact it had on her family, Madleen was deeply shaped by these experiences, which sparked a desire to create spaces for healing, unity, and community. Her passion for serving cacao developed after seeing the impact it made on her through generational and trauma healing. It has inspired her to feel compassion, forgiveness and love for herself and others. She believes her mission on earth is to inspire those around her to express their authentic self and believes cacao and yoga are wonderful tools in allowing the space and vulnerability in doing so.