WHY CHAKA RUNA
Our Approach
There are many traditions, cultures and approaches to working with Ayahuasca. At Chaka Runa, our approach is rooted in tradition, practical and centred on safety, while adapted to the needs of modern-day participants.
WHY CHAKA RUNA
Our Approach
There are many traditions and approaches to working with Ayahuasca. Our work draws on Andean and Amazonian traditions, with an emphasis on safety, personal guidance and the needs of people from different backgrounds.
OUR ROOTS
Rooted in the Amazon and Andes
Don Gino’s approach brings together Andean knowledge, the Mestizo tradition of the Peruvian Amazon, and Shipibo practices and Icaros. These influences shape his work with Master Plants and the way he guides ceremonies.
Meet Don Gino & Team →
BEFORE WE BEGIN
Prepared Before You Enter the Maloca
Preparation includes a personal conversation and a group introduction, so you understand the ceremonial framework and the support available.
A Personal Conversation
Each participant has a personal interview, either by video call before travelling or after arriving at the center. This is an opportunity to share your intentions, previous experience and concerns, and to ask questions.
Understanding the Ceremony
During the group introduction, we explain how the ceremony is structured, how to ask for support and how to approach moments that may feel challenging or unfamiliar.
CEREMONIAL FRAMEWORK
A Clear Framework for Inner Work
Each ceremony has a clear structure, with space for your individual experience and guidance when you need it.
From Inner Work to Shared Celebration
During the inward part of the ceremony, participants are invited to listen, focus on their own experience and do their inner work. Towards the end, the atmosphere becomes more celebratory. Medicine music invites you to open your heart, play your rattle, dance and share in the joy of the work you have done.
Safety Before Intensity
We do not use strong doses as a default or treat intensity as a measure of progress. Each person’s circumstances inform the guidance, with safety as a priority. There is no running in this work. Less is more!
Respect for Each Person’s Process
During the inward part of the ceremony, please remain quiet, sing only when invited, and avoid touching or disturbing others. Strong emotions may arise; the team is there to offer support.
Support When You Need It
We explain how to ask for help before the ceremony begins. If you feel overwhelmed or unsure, the team can offer practical guidance through the experience.
PERSONAL GUIDANCE
Personal Guidance
Throughout the Dieta
Don Gino welcomes people from different cultures with an open heart. His understanding of the expectations and perspectives Western participants bring into ceremony helps him adapt his guidance to each person’s background.
You can speak with him directly in fluent Spanish, English or Italian. This personal connection helps build trust, making it easier to lower your guard and open yourself to the work.
He approaches his work with honesty, passion, deep love and humility, with the intention of helping people heal and reconnect with their true inner being. Throughout the Dieta, he remains personally available to answer questions and discuss what you are experiencing.
The Three Worlds of the Andean Cosmovision
Don Gino draws on the Three Worlds of the Andean Cosmovision as a spiritual framework for his ceremonies. The descriptions below explain how he relates these worlds to the inner work.
HANAN PACHA
The Higher World (Condor)
Through the inner work, you may experience bliss, a deeper sense of connection, and moments of pure love and light.
KAY PACHA
The Earthly World
(Puma)
Here, you may explore your past, present and future, finding insights into who you truly are, what needs to change in your life and how to approach those changes.
UKHU PACHA
The Underworld
(Snake)
Here, you may face your shadows and come to understand the source of your wounds, opening the possibility to accept, forgive, heal and find your light.
ICAROS, MUSIC & JOY
Depth Does Not Exclude Joy
Icaros are an integral part of Don Gino’s ceremonial work. Sung in Spanish, Quechua and Shipibo, they accompany the different stages of the ceremony.
Don Gino also works with instruments, choosing their sounds with intention and responding to what unfolds during the ceremony.
Music supports inward listening and creates space for joy and connection. Deep inner work and joy belong together.
INTEGRATION
Bringing the Experience into Daily Life
BEFORE WE BEGIN
Prepared Before You Enter the Maloca
Preparation includes a personal conversation and a group introduction, so you understand the ceremonial framework and the support available.
A Personal Conversation
Each participant has a personal interview, either by video call before travelling or after arriving at the centre, depending on the participant’s availability and Don Gino’s schedule. This is an opportunity to share your intentions, previous experience and concerns, and to ask questions.
Understanding the Ceremony
During the group introduction, we explain how the ceremony is structured, how to ask for support and how to approach moments that may feel challenging or unfamiliar.
Read Our Preparation Guidelines →