The Path of Curanderismo

When my path first crossed with Amazonian and Andean curanderismo, I had already spent many years walking the path of the healing arts. My foundation was built in Mediterranean traditions and later Eastern traditions, through energy medicine, sacred movement, and ancestral practices passed down through my lineage. At that time, I carried a strong connection to Central and South American culture. I had lived in Central America, spoke the language as fluently as my own, and raised my children immersed in the beauty of both Mediterranean and Central American worlds. The rhythms of the land, the traditions of the people, and the sacredness of daily life had already shaped my understanding of what it meant to walk with intention, heart, and care.

I had known of Ayahuasca for years, and long before fully walking this path, I experienced a sacred communion with the plant while visiting a friend in Peru, whose father was a traditional curandero and offered me the medicine during a ceremonial offering to the village community. That early encounter planted a seed deep within me, though at the time I could not yet see the full scope of what the path would become. Years later, the medicine and the journey itself found me, as if waiting for the perfect alignment of timing, readiness, and intention.

When I returned to the work, the process felt natural, subtle, and deeply profound. Memories that had been tucked away emerged, old wounds were gently revealed, and layers of personal healing and liberation unfolded. I found myself awakening to parts of my being that had been forgotten; love, wisdom, clarity, and connection that seemed to have always been inside me, quietly waiting to be remembered.

I spoke to the earth and to the medicine: if I am to walk this path, to honor these ancient traditions while holding my own integrity, I must be guided by someone whose teaching comes from lived example, aligned with my values, and with a deep understanding of the medicine; not from force, expectation, or ego. The universe responded. At the precise moment of readiness, a mentorship opened with a traditional Ayahuascero, and I began learning the ways of the medicine path.

Through this mentorship, I immersed myself in Amazonian and Andean practices, learning not only the ceremonies themselves but the philosophy, ethics, and spiritual framework that have guided generations of curanderas. I began to understand the medicine not just as a plant, but as a teacher, a mirror, and a guide that works in harmony with the earth, with community, and with the divine rhythms of life. Each ceremony, each dieta, each preparation, each moment of reflection became part of a larger tapestry, weaving together my personal history, cultural understanding, and spiritual awakening.

Today, my path continues with humility, curiosity, and devotion. Curanderismo has shown me that healing is not about perfection, achievement, or control. It is about remembering, aligning, and walking gently alongside the wisdom of the plants, the land, and the ancestors. Through this work, I am continually reminded of the responsibility, the depth, and the beauty of carrying these sacred teachings, and I am honored to share them with those who feel called to this journey of remembrance and healing.

I will always consider myself a student of life. On this path, I continue to learn, grow, and expand. I am deeply grateful for the teachers who have appeared at the right moments and for the beautiful journey that has unfolded, guiding me toward healing, wisdom, and remembrance.

-Alyssa Gutierrez