What happens when a journey takes you somewhere you never intended to stay?

In this episode of Of Flesh And Stars, Mark Flaherty speaks with Mimi Buttacavoli, a shaman who has lived and worked in the Peruvian Amazon for more than 20 years.

Mimi's journey began as a traveller and neurology nurse from south London. A trip to Peru, an encounter with ayahuasca and a fascination with the spirits of the plants eventually led her into a lifelong path of shamanic apprenticeship.

From her home deep in the Amazon jungle, Mimi shares what it means to live between the physical and spiritual worlds, work with plant spirits, undertake shamanic dietas and learn the sacred songs known as Icaros.

It's also a deeply personal conversation about surrender, sacrifice, belonging and discovering the life you're meant to live.

IN THIS EPISODE

- Mimi's unexpected journey from south London to a life in the Amazon jungle


- Living between the physical and spiritual worlds


- Ayahuasca, plant spirits, dieta and the sacred Icaro


- The discipline of shamanic apprenticeship and the importance of spiritual lineage


- Why Mimi tried to leave the Amazon, and what called her back


- Building Puka Yaku and creating a different kind of retreat experience


- What it means to dedicate your life to a spiritual path

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introduction: Mimi live from the Amazon jungle

(01:54) How Mimi came to settle in the Amazon

(04:11) Living between the physical and spiritual worlds

(12:52) The spiritual world and the plants

(14:13) What is an Icaro?

(18:56) Learning the Icaros and working with plant spirits

(21:51) From neurology nurse to shamanic practitioner

(28:45) Mimi's first ayahuasca experiences

(32:35) Life in Iquitos and the Amazon

(45:32) Living in the jungle and the discipline of dieta

(49:48) Apprenticeship, maestros and spiritual knowledge

(55:31) The commitment of the shamanic path

(57:35) Surrender and being called back

(01:02:01) Building Puka Yaku

(01:07:54) Being a Western woman in the Amazon

(01:15:35) Mimi's maestro Mario and the lineage

(01:20:59) Why come all the way to the Amazon?

(01:27:17) Sacred Tree Essences and 21 years of friendship

ABOUT MIMI

Mimi Buttacavoli is a shaman who has lived in the Peruvian Amazon for more than 20 years.

Originally from south London and previously a neurology nurse, Mimi travelled to South America in her twenties and eventually found herself drawn into the world of Amazonian plants, shamanism and spiritual apprenticeship.

She now works from Puka Yaku, her retreat centre in the Amazon jungle, alongside her maestro Mario. Her work includes shamanic dietas, ayahuasca ceremonies and Amazonian plant essences infused with sacred songs.

Find out more about Mimi's work at Sacred Tree Essences: sacredtreeessences.com

ABOUT OF FLESH AND STARS

Conversations and stories on the beauty, pain and mystery of this astonishing human experience with astrologer Mark Flaherty.

In conversation with astrologers, shamans, healers and embodiment practitioners, we explore the profound mystery of being human, and the ways planetary symbolism, spiritual wisdom and embodied experience can help us discover and follow our own individual soul's calling.

Mark Flaherty Astrology

markflaherty.com

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