PAKARINA WISDOM
a collaboration for the preservation
of indigenous memory
A Week with the Elders of Q’eros Nation, Peru
The Families in the Mountains
KARPAY + WISDOM TEACHINGS + SACRED SITE VISITS + MESA PRACTICE + CEREMONY
April 6 - 13, 2025
Lenoir, North Carolina
This spring, for the first time ever, Pampamesayok Don Agustín Machacca Flores and his son Santos Machacca Apaza will journey to the United States to offer their generations-old wisdom, and we will hold our annual retreat and pilgrimage in the ancient mountains of Western North Carolina, rather than Peru. Many years, prayers and ceremonies have held the seeds of this possibility, and the apus (mountain spirits) of Appalachia have finally said YES! to hosting these Q’ero wisdomkeepers in their folds. Richard Willis and the Pakarina Wisdom US team, invite you to a week-long immersion into the ancient Andean medicines that hold the capacity to plant seeds of awakening right here, in the heart of Turtle Island.
PAKARINA WISDOM
invites you to
The Families in the Mountains
This spring, join us for a week immersion in
Western North Carolina
As we weave the Grandfathers of the Andes
with the Grandmothers of Appalachia
The Families in the Mountains Immersion Trajectory
SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS SPIRIT GUIDES
The CHAKANA is the Andean Cross— a primordial energetic tool, map and blueprint for the flow of aliveness and reciprocity through the human body, Earth and Her communities. This week-long immersion will open, download and integrate the chakana teachings as deep medicine for all who come to recieve. It is open to both advanced and beginner practitioners, as different pathways and workshops will be available, depending on skill and depth of path integration.
In the Andean path, as in many mystery schools, the right and left hands of the body weave together to integrate the depths of personal healing with the service-oriented action towards planetary awakening. Over the course of immersion, we will explore the ways that the principles of the Andean cross move through our subtle bodies and radiate out as medicine to humanity and Earth alike.
This retreat revealed itself as medicine, too, that weaves the power and youth of the Andean Apus (mountain spirits) with the ancient Grandmother spirits of the Nustas in Appalachia. It is our hope and our prayer that our time together is not only in the service of our own depths as humans and skills as practitioners, but also as a great act of service to Appalachia— and that our entire retreat kawsay (life force) supports the reorganization of the natural forces of Western North Carolina, and re-seeds the consciousness of the land with rainbow light. A portion of the proceeds of our retreat will go directly to the active re-building of the lands around Moon Rising Retreat.
Together, we will deepen our skills in mesa healing work, despacho, personal and planetary blessings, song channeling, plant-supported dreamwork, and the ceremonial arts. Together, we will remember that our own pakarinas (birth places) need our tending and care, and that staying close to the land, right action, and ayni in community, is our greatest resource for Life.
Our time together will include visits to waterfalls, mountains and springs near Blowing Rock, as well as plant-supported dreamwork, sweat lodge ceremonies, fire medicine (and much more) to support our transformational processes and the integration of the Andean Cross into our subtle bodies. This is deep, rich medicine planted in our bodies as medicine for the next 7 generations. SUMAQ SAMINCHAY!
Remember your power to serve the wild forces of Earth with skillful prayer and timeless energy medicine
MOON RISING
RETREAT CENTER
Moon Rising is a sacred nature immersion and healing space nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, near Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
The medicine of this potent space is felt upon entering the gates and exploring the 22 acres. The land is full of spaces intentionally created and maintained with love. From the crystal-powered Chakra Garden overflowing with vegetables, herbs, and wild flowers, serenity at Spirit Spot, cold water immersion at Buddha's Beach, silence at Moss Point, grounding at Big Rock, exploring at Opportunity Bridge, and going inward at Kunda's Cave, there is no shortage of dedicated spaces to be in presence and peace.
Guest rooms (single + doubles) are simple, cozy, and inspiring. All rooms are provided with 100% organic cotton sheets, indoor and outdoor towels, luggage racks, hangers, and small dressers. The meals served are nourishing, vegetarian, and an experience themselves. Your taste buds will travel across the globe and your eyes will ignite from the colors and plating. The abundance of love from Chef Bond Trisansri and the team at Moon Rising will truly be felt when gathering at the table.
Our Retreat Immersion Includes:
A sacred space in which to meet, deepen and remember your own innate human capacity to commune with the forces of Earth for personal and planetary awakening
An entire week of intimate (18 participants, max) transmissions and teachings (including karpay) from Don Augustin and Santos, alongside translation, integration, and larger cultural & psychological context from Richy and the Pakarina Wisdom team
Attuned and lovingly-held workshop spaces to deepen your skill in mesa healing work, dream work, song medicine, plant medicine, Earth communion, despacho and the ceremonial arts
Two Pakarina Sweat Lodges, designed to support your personal transformation, alongside your integration of the chakana teachings from the Andes
Off-site visits (and ground transportation) to sacred mountains, waterfalls and springs in the surrounding areas of Appalachia, to give + receive despacho and other offerings as you reconnect to and deepen your own relationship with the living forces of Earth
7 days and 7 nights at Moon Rising Retreat in Lenoir, NC, including a beautiful shared or private room, as well as two full meals, hearty snacks and tea every day
NOTE: This retreat includes advanced mesa practice for experienced practitioners, and also includes a session in beginning mesa building, for all new students. All who are called to join are welcome + supported.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
DON AGUSTIN MACHACCA FLOREZ
Don Agustín began his studies at the age of 16 when his grandfather, Altomesayok Manuel Machacca had a dream that the lineage would be passed on to him. At this time, Don Agustín had fallen ill and the coca leaves foretold that he would become strong again as soon as he entered into formal service to Pacha Mama.
He completed his aprenticeships at age 21 and has spent the last 30 + years in service as a Pampamesayok. He learned about the sacred feminine from his grandmother Manuela Mendoza, and continues to bring a balanced heart that radiates goodness through all of his offerings.
Long before he knew there would be a global interest in Andean wisdom teachings, Don Agustin received a message while in the company of Altomesayok, Andres Espinoza Qapac. It said that he would be sharing Andean wisdom with people from all over the world. He is thrilled to see such a vision come to fruition, and is honored to share this medicine with deep trust and gratitude.
Santos Machacca Apaza continues to study with his father Don Agustin, who is currently guiding him on a deep journey to step onto his path as Pampamesayok.
As the future lineage holder of the ancestral wisdom, he dedicates himself to Spanish and English translation to make these teachings more accessible to international students.
He has supported his father in sacred ceremony for many years and on multiple occasions traveled to Europe to share these teachings. He brings gentleness and laughter to our ceremonies and we are honored to have his support.
SANTOS MACHACCA APAZA
RICHARD WADE WILLIS
Richard Wade Willis is dedicated to helping his clients move through challenging spaces of addiction and psychological suffering toward liberation and well-being. He began working with plant medicines in the Peruvian Amazon in 2013, after recovering from many years of severe addiction, and found their capacities for healing to radically shift the course of his life. His subsequent commitment to plant dieta with Ayahuasca, and awakening to the vast healing potential of spirit medicine, reached new heights when he began his apprenticeship with Don Agustin Machacca Florez of Q’eros Nation in 2016. In recent years, he has committed to a long-term initiatory path with the Lakota people, and the Sundance. Each year, he teaches courses on dreamwork and Peruvian Shamanism that culminate in an in-person group journey to the high mountains of Peru or sacred location in the United States, and he consistently offers ceremonies, workshops and gatherings focused on supporting humans in returning to the life-nourishing gifts of Earth and her medicines.
JANE MAYER
Jane Mayer is a medicine woman, creative, doula, and guide to the unseen realms, who delights in supporting humans and Earth in coming fully alive. Alongside supporting private clients, she writes, records and performs music, and guides a school for creativity and awakening. A keeper of song and a lover of mythos, her practice is borne of the weaving of indigenous medicine from Peru (including Don Agustin + Santos), Hawaii and Ireland, the Christian mysticism of her home in the deep South, and a depth of knowledge in the nervous system, subtle body, and the somatic experience of awakening.
She holds deep trust in the wild intelligence of nature to guide all of Creation, and orients others to their deeper nature and innate gifts with sound, myth, dreams, plant, energy medicine and somatic integration.
To learn more, visit iamjanemayer.com. She is honored to support her husband Richy in this sacred work.
KATE VREDEVOOGD
Kate Vredevoogd is a published author, ceremonialist, medicine-maker, nature based ritualist, cacao medicine carrier, ceremonial photographer, and trauma-informed facilitator. Her journey with Andean wisdom began when she lived in Spain, but the teachers continued to find her as she moved to Washington, then Kaua'i, and ultimately they brought her to Peru to meet the Apus in person. Working with Don Agustín, Santos, Luís, and their families has been a blessing of the highest, and she is honored to be supporting them, and Richy, in making these teachings available to students around the world—teachings which continue to enrich her life and deepen her sense of connection. Filled with Munay, she gives gratitude and appreciation to all of the Earth Keepers walking this path home together.
INVESTMENT
There are many ways you can join us!
Explore room options + book your space below.
YES! I’M READY TO BOOK MY SPOT:
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SHARED ROOM + BATH ($2,295)
The all-inclusive investment for a SHARED room, shared bath, for 7 nights, including all teachings, workshops, meals, & ground transportation, once arrived at Moon Rising Retreat, in Lenoir, NC. A 50% non-refundable deposit saves your space, the balance is due March 15.
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SINGLE ROOM + SHARED BATH ($2.695)
The all-inclusive investment for a SINGLE room, shared bath, for 7 nights, including all teachings, workshops, meals, & ground transportation, once arrived at Moon Rising Retreat, in Lenoir, NC. A 50% non-refundable deposit saves your space, the balance is due March 15.
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KING SUITE + PRIVATE BATH ($2.850/3,250)
The all-inclusive investment for a King Suite room, with private bath, for 7 nights, including all teachings, workshops, meals, & ground transportation, once arrived at Moon Rising Retreat, in Lenoir, NC. $2850 if shared, $3,250 if solo. A 50% non-refundable deposit saves your space, the balance is due March 15.