We are now offering a Work Exchange Program for people who are interested in combining a longer stay at the Temple, multiple healing workshops with the Maestras and Maestros of the Temple and helping to develop our permaculture projects as well as assisting to ensure the smooth running of main guest workshops.

In exchange for your hard work, we offer a reduction in the price of attending 3 x 12 day healing workshops.

This is an opportunity to work deeply over an extended time with ayahuasca and our Shipibo healers achieving profound and generally life changing transformation whilst “giving back” through working with us to help us to develop the Temple.

Permaculture at the Temple of the Way of Light

Our permaculture project is currently in its early stages of development having begun in December 2009 and our goal as a community is to become completely self-sustainable by 2018. In addition to sourcing produce from local farmers, we are building vegetable and botanical gardens, are planting fruit trees throughout the property and will eventually implement educational projects on sustainable development & agriculture partnering with local communities.  We are slowly transforming the Temple grounds and intend to cover our land throughout 2012 also with thousands of flowers, fish farms, more bridges, new pathways, as well installing a running water system, water wells, sustainable technologies, and further develop our existing resource management system.

The permaculture program is currently focused on cultivating fertile soil, building swales and terraces, mulching existing gardens, building more banana circles, starting seedlings, establishing a worm farm and managing and building new compost piles.  We are purchasing most of our produce but are actively working towards self-sustainability. We also hope to implement a biodynamic farming project at the beginning of 2012.

Please note that due to accommodation space, work exchange places are limited to 12 per month and the minimum stay is for 3 months. Some of the work would include:

• Developing the soil management program (composting, mulching, building swales, etc).
• Seeding, sowing and planting.
• Helping with the waste management system.
• Building pathways and fencing. Woodwork and help with construction of new buildings.
• Cleaning and sweeping the grounds.
• Generally helping out to also ensure smooth running of guest workshops (link between kitchen and guests, handing out plant remedies prepared by the healers).
• If you have sufficient experience working with ayahuasca, then we may ask you to assist during ceremonies (i.e. helping people to the bathroom and back to their places).

A positive outlook, commitment to healing with the Master plants and dedication to working effectively at the Temple are the main requirements for joining our Work Exchange Program.

Cost of the Healing and Work Exchange Program:

The cost of the program is 3,000 Peruvian Soles per month (apprx. $1,100).

The minimum stay is 3 months so the total cost for a 3 month program is 9,000 Peruvian Soles (apprx $3,300).

What’s included:

In exchange for your hard work and the cost above, we offer the following:

• One 12 day ayahuasca workshop each month.
• Accommodation: 
  • Working periods – Individual bedroom in one of the main accommodation buildings
  • First workshop - Individual tambo (private hut)
  • 2nd and 3rd workshops – Individual bedroom in the new “Casa Grande” next to the 2nd maloka
• All food and drink
• Transport to and from the Temple from Iquitos.
• Full healing service with the Maestra/os during healing workshop.
• Full laundry service.
• One trip to Iquitos during the month to connect with family and friends.

Monthly Schedule

Work Program (14 days per month):

• Full time grounds work - 9am to 4pm, 6 hours per day, 6 days per week. When assisting with workshops, hours will change according to your role within workshop and helping out the facilitator.
• Breakfast – 8am to 9am, lunch - 1pm to 2pm, dinner – 7pm
• No ceremonies / healing services.

Workshop Period (12 days per month):

• No work required during workshop period.
• 7 ceremonies over 12 days.
• Full healing services from the Maestra/os inc consultations, floral baths, steam baths, vomitivos, plant remedies (where necessary), etc.
• First workshop is the main (21 people ) workshop and then moving to 2 x more intimate workshops with only 8 ’work exchange participants’ and 2 or 3 healers.

• 4 or 5 days off per month

Program Dates

Work exchange participants will start on the first main workshop of your volunteer period (3rd to the 14th of the month you join). You would attend this workshop with guests and then afterwards, work for 2 weeks.

Then the subsequent 2 workshops will be the more intimate retreats in the Temple’s new maloka with 2 or 3 healers / 8 work exchange participants.

You would then finish your program 3 months after your start date (the date of your first workshop).

How to apply?

Please contact us at info at templeofthewayoflight.org (or via the contact page) for an application form if you would like to apply for a place on the program. 

We have a lot of work to do! This is a wonderful opportunity to be part of a growing eco-community working spiritually and physically with the land and the sacred medicinal plants of the Amazon Rainforest as well as building relationships and learning from the Maestras and Maestros at the Temple.

Notes:

• Please be prepared for high humidity, heat, seasonal bugs, strong sun, occasionally carrying heavy objects, amplified energies due to the deep healing you will be going through, etc.
• It is important to understand that this program is “work exchange” – in exchange for working, we considerably reduce the price of the workshops you attend and offer two more intimate workshops (only for work exchange participants) where you can move even deeper into your healing experience and have more time with the healers. It is essential to ensure that this energetic contract is fulfilled please!
• We are really looking for people who are deeply committed to making a change, who are willing to focus on the job at hand and help to create something truly wonderful at the Temple. There is also the possibility to join our community later in 2012 on a longer term basis when we develop our infrastructure and eventually build an eco-village for permanent living.

Experts in Permaculture

We are very keen to develop relationships with Permaculture experts, designers, and green technology specialists (longer term volunteering and/or the possibility of full time paid position – please contact us for specific details).