Maestra Justina

With over 45 years of experience Maestra Justina is undoubtedly one of the most gifted healers of our generation. A direct descendant of a long line of Merayas, the Shipibo's highest ranked Shamans, she is the heiress of all of their ancestral knowledge and carries their tradition proudly. She was born in the quaint community of Vencedor, in the banks of the Pisqui River in the upper Ucayali. From an early age she was very intuitive and in touch with her dreams and the world of the Chaikunis, ascended spirits who are the guardians of the jungle; she felt a special connection with all plants and trees. Yet it wasn’t until her teenage years, that she answered this calling committing herself to the world of plant medicines under the guidance of her uncle, who taught her the traditional ways of the old world Shipibo Onanyas (Healers). Her first plant dieta consisted of a two year stint with Camalonga, the master plant that equipped her with the knowledge to perform Shamanic Surgeries on patients; an extremely rare skill she practices every week at Arkana. In the following years, she continued expanding her medicine chest dieting a wealth of over 50 plants and trees while working as the healer in her community.

As a true Amazonian Matriarch, Maestra Justina is a generous teacher, known for sharing her knowledge openly with all those that seek it, Shipibos and Westerners alike. She is also characterized by a motherly instinct that she uses to nurture and heal the sick with utmost care and compassion. Her powerful icaros are strong yet subtle enough to reach the heart of all our guests and provide real healing.

We are honored and feel privileged to have her lead our team of Shamans at Arkana. She is the living embodiment of all true virtues of the quintessential jungle healer.