Celia’s Numinous Ways
‘I began my journey with the master plants over twenty-five years ago, guided by Maestro Javier Arevalo. Through his teaching, I received seven different plants for deep dietas, each a journey of transformation. After completing one dieta, I would rest for a month to allow its teachings to settle before beginning the next.
Throughout this path, I came to know the spirits of Ayahuma, Chirisanango, Arrozacha, Chiwawako, and Chuchuhuasi—each offering unique challenges and profound healing. Some dietas were gentle; others were demanding, but all carried essential lessons for walking the path of medicine.
Today, I continue to work with these sacred plants and to share their wisdom. Together with my son Alessio, I conduct Ayahuasca ceremonies for Numinous Ways retreats in Peru, helping participants encounter the mystery and healing power of the Numinous through the traditional Shipibo ways.’
About Celia
Celia Panduro Huayta is an onanya—a traditional Shipibo healer and plant medicine maestra—specialising in Amazonian plant dietas, ayahuasca ceremonies, and the cosmology of the Shipibo people. Her path began in childhood and was shaped through lineage-based transmission and long-term apprenticeship, including training under respected Indigenous maestro Javier Arevalo, as well as guidance from other Shipibo elders.
Through years of disciplined dietas, Celia has developed deep working relationships with master plants such as Ayahuma, Chirisanango, Arrozacha, Chiwawako (Shihuahuaco), Chuchuhuasi, Bobinsana, Huayusa, and Niwe Rao, each approached through sustained practice, restraint, and learning in solitude. Her work reflects a detailed understanding of how these plants support physical, emotional, and perceptual processes within Shipibo healing practice.
At Numinous Ways, Celia and her son Alessio lead traditional ayahuasca ceremonies during retreats in Peru. Celia also teaches Shipibo cosmology and traditional ways of relating to the Numinous, offering participants an authentic and culturally grounded pathway into the sacred practices of the rainforest. Her approach is marked by discipline, continuity, and a strong commitment to preserving the integrity of the traditions she embodies.
