Some video testimonials
What some of our retreat participants say
Here we present some testimonies both in text and video
Still trying to find the words…
For the past 11 days, I’ve been completely immersed in the heart of the Colombian jungle — and in one of the most powerful experiences of my life. What began as an unexpected opportunity turned into a life-changing journey of healing, connection, and deep spiritual awakening.
Alongside a group of incredible fellow veterans from around the world, I traveled to a hidden oasis near San Rafael, Antioquia to take part in a Vedic-shamanic retreat at the breathtaking Shivas Temple. This was not just a retreat — it was a rebirth.
We practiced Hatha Yoga, walked barefoot across sacred lands, fasted with Shivambu Therapy (urine therapy), celebrated with a talented local band, and took part in a deeply moving sacred Jurema and Bufo ceremony. We detoxed our bodies and reconnected with ancient Hindu traditions that opened our eyes and hearts in ways I still can’t fully explain.
Guided by the wisdom of Guru G, Matta G, and their devoted disciple Javier, we found clarity, peace, and purpose through jungle hikes to hidden waterfalls and deep conversations under the stars. I’ve shed layers of pain I didn’t even realize I was still carrying
Kevin Gallegos
participant - war veteran
"I came here to heal, to shed everything that wasn’t truly me. The pain, the conditioning, the anger that had become part of my identity. I knew something had to change."
"Here, all the food is organic. You don't realize how much what you eat affects your mind and spirit until you start eating clean. I could feel the difference almost immediately."
"The bodywork was intense. They knew exactly where to press, where my pain, my trauma, my tension were stored. It was like unlocking memories buried in my muscles."
"I felt like I was returning to something ancestral. I could feel the medicine moving through me, pulling things out, helping me see the truth of my pain and where it was stored."
David Woody
Participant
"I spent years carrying the weight of my past, reacting to the world as if I were still in combat. Every interaction, every decision—everything revolved around survival. I came here hoping for a reset."
"Fasting was one of the hardest things I've ever done. No food, only water and tea. It stripped me of everything—my body, my mind, everything slowed down. It forced me to face myself."
Álvaro Drake Cortez
Participant
"Back home, I ate a lot of red meat, processed foods. Here, I started feeling lighter. Like I was not only feeding my body, but also my soul."
"I've done a lot of drugs in my life, but I had never taken Ancestral Medicine Jurema. The first ceremony was intense. I vomited so much—it felt like I was releasing years of trauma."
"The second time was harder. It felt like I was descending into a place I had avoided my whole life. But also, by touching that pain, I was able to start releasing it."
Héctor Barajas
Participant
"Blood therapy was powerful. Getting it all out with sweat and then shocking the body with cold water—it felt like a deep reset, something unlocked inside me."
Mike Manion
Participant
"I came here because I wanted to find a way to free myself from all the guilt, trauma, and pain. Jason Moon told me about this retreat, and something in my heart told me I had to be here."
"I had a pain I didn't even realize was there. They found it and released it. It was like breaking something that had been stuck inside me for years."
"The second time was harder. I had to go deeper. I faced things I had buried for years, things I didn’t even know were still inside me."
Ginger McDonald
Participant
"Many veterans arrive here with walls built around them. They think healing is about finding answers, but it's not—it's about letting go of what no longer serves them. To do that, they must surrender to the process."
"Food is medicine. When we eat without intention, we slowly poison ourselves. Here, every ingredient, every meal is designed to cleanse, rebuild, and nourish."
"Fasting is not just about eliminating food. It's about eliminating distractions. It's about silencing the noise so that you can finally hear what your soul has been trying to tell you."
"Some call it purging, but I call it liberation. It’s the way the body speaks. Every tear, every breath, every sound that comes out of you—it’s a piece of your past leaving."
Swami Shyamanand Saraswati
Director