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Jason Grechanik
  • Podcast
  • Plant Dietas
  • Photography
  • Blog
  • Contact & Integration

Ep. 15 - Dr. Joe Tafur, MD - Integrative Family Physician, Curandero, Author and Speaker

YouTube version:

 

Audio version:

Hello everybody.  Episode 15 of the show is out.  In this show, I spoke with my friend Joe Tafur.  Joe and I met in the Amazon where we were both working at Shipibo plant-medicine centers, myself at the Temple of the Way of Light and Joe at Nihue Rao.  Joe is a medical doctor and was drawn to come to the Amazon to work with and learn from traditional Shipibo curanderismo.  Joe is a really interesting guy as he bridges the more ‘Western’ medical model with the more ‘traditional’ plant healing systems of the Amazon.  Joe has immersed himself deeply into both worlds and has the ability to speak to them both and how they relate to one another and how to bridge them together, respecting and learning from both systems.  I always enjoy speaking with Joe and I think you all will really enjoy this episode with him.  And starting in two episodes, I’ll begin releasing extended interviews exclusively on Patreon. So check out the information on that below. Cheers!

YouTube:  bit.ly/YouTubeUW

Apple  :  bit.ly/AppleUW

Spotify:  bit.ly/SpotifyUW

Google:  bit.ly/GoogPodUW

“Dr. Tafur has been an Integrative Medicine activist throughout his medical career, while in medical school at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, and during his Family Medicine Residency at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). After residency, Dr. Tafur completed a two-year Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at the UCSD Department of Psychiatry. After this research fellowship, Dr. Tafur continued work as a Family Physician in the U.S., and then eventually started his work in the Peruvian Amazon. In 2011, he helped to found Nihue Rao Centro Espiritual, a traditional healing center in the Peruvian Upper Amazon. At Nihue Rao, Dr. Tafur underwent traditional apprenticeship in Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicine and Shipibo curanderismo.

After years dedicated to his work in the forest, in 2017, Dr. Tafur stepped down as a business partner at Nihue Rao, in order to focus on new projects. In March of 2017, he published his book The Fellowship of the River: A Medical Doctor’s Exploration into Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicine about his unique journey into spiritual healing work.   

With his colleagues, he also started the nonprofit Modern Spirit, dedicated to demonstrating the value of spiritual healing in modern healthcare. In addition to education and community-building projects, Modern Spirit is currently focused on supporting the Modern Spirit Epigenetics Project, a groundbreaking substudy of the MAPS MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy research trial. 

In 2019, Dr. Tafur and his colleagues Dr. Amalia Baca ND and Ray Baca opened the Ocotillo Center for Integrative Medicine, an integrative clinic in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. The Ocotillo Center offers naturopathic medical Services, integrative medical consulting, counseling, health education and hands-on-healing.

Dr. Tafur continues to lead Journeys to Latin America to experience Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicine and Ayahuasca curanderismo. With his colleagues, he leads groups to Nihue Rao in Peru and elsewhere, guiding individuals through the process of spiritual healing and traditional education.

Dr. Tafur is very interested in education. At Nihue Rao, Dr. Tafur has supervised traditional learning opportunities for a number of U.S. medical students and therapists. Building upon ideas presented in his book, he has also developed several lectures and presentations. Working to bridge the worlds of modern science and traditional healing, he has been Speaking at a variety of conferences across the globe as well as at a number of medical schools, including the University of Arizona’s Center for Integrative Medicine, UCSD, Yale, Southwestern College of Naturopathic Medicine and the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. Dr. Tafur has also been the primary host of the Modern Spirit Podcast, exploring the intersection between biology, emotion and spirituality.”

To learn more about Joe and his work, visit https://www.drjoetafur.com and https://www.modernspirit.org

Joe’s book, Fellowship of the River can be found on Amazon at https://amzn.to/309k3lI

If you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth.  If you’re watching on YouTube if you could take a second and Subscribe to the channel and if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts to leave a starred rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!

If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.org    

And finally, with the pandemic, most people doing this work have been without access to work since March and the future is uncertain.  If you are able to and would like to donate to the show to help out with new content that would be deeply appreciated.  For just a few dollars a month you can subscribe through Patreon and it gives you some really nice added benefits like early access to shows, bonus episodes, and a chance to ask personalized questions.

To support this podcast on Patreon, visit: https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithin  

To donate directly with PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanik 

Another way you can support the show is if you are ordering anything from Amazon.com, and you use this link, the show will get a small commission with no additional cost to you: https://amzn.to/2Gw51PS

Music courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/  

And please leave any questions or comments in the comment section or email at:

https://www.UniverseWithinPodcast.com

This will help me with ideas for future shows.

Thanks and until the next episode!

https://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

https://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Source: https://www.universewithinpodcast.com
tags: Plants, plant medicine, spirituality, alternative medicine, wellness, religion, thankyouplantmedicine, curandero, curanderismo, sacred, ayahuasca, psychedelic, spirit, shipibo, healing, plant spirit, medicine, Peru, Amazon, Holistic, Holistic health, Universe Within Podcast, Universe Within, Podcast, Jason Grechanik, god, shaman, shamanism, chamanismo, Temple of the Way of Light, Nihue Rao, doctor, medical doctor, author, speaker
Wednesday 09.30.20
Posted by Jason Grechanik
 

Ep. 14 - Felix Durden- Plant Medicine Guide, Shipibo tradition, and the Journey of Apprenticeship

YouTube version:

 

Audio version:

Hey everybody! Episode 14 of the show is out. In this show, I spoke with my friend Felix Durden.  Felix and I met working together at the Amazonian plant medicine center The Temple of the Way of Light. Felix came to plant medicine in search of meaning and healing. And he has gone deep into the process of learning how to do this work, particularly in the Shipibo tradition. There aren’t many people from outside the Shipibo tradition that have gone this deeply into it. So he really has a deep knowledge of plants, of tradition, and the journey it takes to become a practitioner of this work. I always enjoy talking to Felix and I think you all will gain a lot of information and wisdom in this episode. And check out Patreon (see below) for access to the full episode. I hope you enjoy it!

YouTube:  bit.ly/YouTubeUW

Apple  :  bit.ly/AppleUW

Spotify:  bit.ly/SpotifyUW

Google:  bit.ly/GoogPodUW

“Felix (Soi Pino in Shipibo) first began his medicine journey attempting to heal from Lyme disease contracted in 2008.  At its worst, he experienced a wide array of symptoms: anxiety attacks, memory loss, brain fog, and organ failure. After little success with conventional treatment, his research led him to consider exploring ayahuasca as an alternative.  In 2013 Felix traveled to Peru to receive the medicine, and after experiencing relief from his symptoms, decided to stay on long term to learn more about traditional healing modalities.  Felix has spent the last five years working closely with the medicine and the Shipibo people. For the first two years of his apprenticeship Felix worked at well-established amazonian center assisting over 1000 people in ceremonies. Felix later left to go to Pucallpa receive more in depth healing and instruction with his maestro. Through the medicine he was able to find incredible healing and relief from the pains of Lyme. Through his maestro’s lineage, he has been given full permission from his teacher to serve medicine and to provide healing diets. With the blessing of his teacher Felix holds this medicine with great love and respect, and has a deep passion for service.” To learn more about the work Felix does, visit: https://bodyofprana.com/

For Felix’s podcast, called Beyond Words with Felix and Allen, visit: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-words-with-felix-and-al/id1524513312

If you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth.  If you’re watching on YouTube if you could take a second and Subscribe to the channel and if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts to leave a starred rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!

If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.org    

And finally, with the pandemic, most people doing this work have been without access to work since March and the future is uncertain.  If you are able to and would like to donate to the show to help out with new content that would be deeply appreciated.  For just a few dollars a month you can subscribe through Patreon and it gives you some really nice added benefits like early access to shows, bonus episodes, and a chance to ask personalized questions.

To support this podcast on Patreon, visit: https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithin  

To donate directly with PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanik 

Another way you can support the show is if you are ordering anything from Amazon.com, and you use this link, the show will get a small commission with no additional cost to you: https://amzn.to/2Gw51PS

Music courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/  

And please leave any questions or comments in the comment section or email at:

https://www.UniverseWithinPodcast.com

This will help me with ideas for future shows.

Thanks and until the next episode!

https://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

https://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Source: https://www.universewithinpodcast.com
tags: Plants, plant medicine, spirituality, alternative medicine, wellness, religion, thankyouplantmedicine, curandero, curandera, curanderismo, sacred, therapy, ayahuasca, psychedelic, spirit, shipibo, healing, plant spirit, medicine, retreats, Peru, Amazon, Holistic, Holistic health, Integration, Universe Within Podcast, Universe Within, Podcast, Jason Grechanik, divine, god, shaman, shamanism, chamanismo, psychology, psychotherapy, Temple of the Way of Light, guide, episode 14, Felix Durden, Body of Prana
Friday 09.25.20
Posted by Jason Grechanik
 

Ep. 13 - Allen Banick - Plant Medicine Facilitation and Space Holding

YouTube version:

 

Audio version:

Hey everybody! Episode 13 of the show is out. In this show, I spoke with my friend Allen Banick.  Allen and I have worked together for a number of years at the Amazonian plant medicine center The Temple of the Way of Light. Allen has worked there as a facilitator, essentially a bridge between the guests who come down and the indigenous doctors who work there. He has a wealth of experience in that field and has worked with a number of master plant medicines and really has a deep grasp on what this work is and how to express it in different ways. Allen and I have had many conversations over the years and it’s always a pleasure to sit down and speak with him. He has a lot to share and teach and I think you’ll get a lot out of this episode. Cheers!

YouTube:  bit.ly/YouTubeUW

Apple  :  bit.ly/AppleUW

Spotify:  bit.ly/SpotifyUW

Google:  bit.ly/GoogPodUW

“Allen is a plant medicine facilitator and space holder. He is the co-host of the Beyond Words with Felix and Allen podcast, available on iTunes and Spotify. He spent the past 6 years in Peru learning from various plant medicine traditions and facilitating retreats at the Temple of the Way of Light healing retreat center in the Amazon. He is fascinated by plant medicine traditions and initiation rituals. He also loves baseball. In his previous lives, amongst other things, Allen studied acting in New York City, he was a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon, and he was a bus driver in Colorado. He can be found at: https://www.albanick.com “

If you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth.  If you’re watching on YouTube if you could take a second and Subscribe to the channel and if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts to leave a starred rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!

If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.org    

And finally, with the pandemic, most people doing this work have been without access to work since March and the future is uncertain.  If you are able to and would like to donate to the show to help out with new content that would be deeply appreciated.  For just a few dollars a month you can subscribe through Patreon and it gives you some really nice added benefits like early access to shows, bonus episodes, and a chance to ask personalized questions.

To support this podcast on Patreon, visit: https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithin  

To donate directly with PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanik 

Another way you can support the show is if you are ordering anything from Amazon.com, and you use this link, the show will get a small commission with no additional cost to you: https://amzn.to/2Gw51PS

Music courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/  

And please leave any questions or comments in the comment section or email at:

https://www.UniverseWithinPodcast.com

This will help me with ideas for future shows.

Thanks and until the next episode!

https://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

https://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Source: https://www.universewithinpodcast.com
tags: Plants, plant medicine, spirituality, alternative medicine, wellness, religion, thankyouplantmedicine, curandero, curandera, curanderismo, sacred, sacred geometry, therapy, ayahuasca, psychedelic, spirit, shipibo, healing, plant spirit, medicine, retreats, Peru, Amazon, Holistic, Holistic health, Integration, Universe Within Podcast, Universe Within, Podcast, Jason Grechanik, divine, god, shaman, shamanism, chamanismo, episode 13, Allen Banick, Facilitator, psychology, psychotherapy, Temple of the Way of Light
Saturday 09.19.20
Posted by Jason Grechanik
 

Ep. 2 - Zuzana Valesova & Lacey Ann Luna - Amazon Plant Medicine Facilitator & Yoga Instructor

YouTube version:

 

Audio version:

**Note: the first 30 minutes it was raining so there is some background static but it stops after**

Welcome! In this show, I sat down with Zuzana and Lacey from the Temple of the Way of Light, an Amazonian plant healing center located near Iquitos, Peru. Zuzana facilitates ceremonies there and Lacey teaches yoga. We talked about their journeys that led them to plant medicine, plants, ceremonies, their work, and COVID. I enjoyed the conversation and I think you will too.

YouTube:  bit.ly/YouTubeUW

Apple  :  bit.ly/AppleUW

Spotify:  bit.ly/SpotifyUW

Google:  bit.ly/GoogPodUW


Bio Lacey: Originally from Las Vegas, Lacey is an international yoga teacher, and began working with plant medicines in 2010. After traveling to Peru in 2011 and 2012, she continued participating in ceremonies in the US, the UK, and Peru. Lacey believes yoga and ayahuasca are synergistic medicines, one enhances the other to deeper the healing process. Lacey started working at the Temple of the Way of Light in January 2019. When she is not in Peru, she continues to teach yoga and host retreats around the world.

Lacey can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @SerpentLacey

Bio Zuzana: Zuzana traveled to Peru in 2012 where she got introduced to plant medicine and started to train with one of the most well-known and respected tabaqueros in Peru. Since then she has completed an apprenticeship in Amazonian plants and has worked independently alongside with guiding people on their journey at the Temple as a facilitator.

Zuzana can be found facilitating retreats at The Temple of the Way of Light and at zuuvalesova@gmail.com

If you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth.  If you’re watching on YouTube if you could take a second and Subscribe to the channel and if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts to leave a starred rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!

If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.org    

And finally, with the pandemic, most people doing this work have been without access to work since March and the future is uncertain.  If you are able to and would like to donate to the show to help out with new content that would be deeply appreciated.  For just a few dollars a month you can subscribe through Patreon and it gives you some really nice added benefits like early access to shows, bonus episodes, and a chance to ask personalized questions.

To support this podcast on Patreon, visit: https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithin  

To donate directly with PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanik 

Another way you can support the show is if you are ordering anything from Amazon.com, and you use this link, the show will get a small commission with no additional cost to you: https://amzn.to/2Gw51PS

Music courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/  

And please leave any questions or comments in the comment section or email at:

https://www.UniverseWithinPodcast.com

This will help me with ideas for future shows.

Thanks and until the next episode!

https://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

https://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Source: https://www.universewithinpodcast.com
tags: Plants, plant medicine, spirituality, alternative medicine, wellness, religion, thankyouplantmedicine, curandero, sacred, sacred geometry, therapy, ayahuasca, psychedelic, spirit, shipibo, healing, plant spirit, medicine, retreats, Peru, Amazon, Holistic, Holistic health, Integration, Universe Within Podcast, Podcast, YouTube, Jason Grechanik, shaman, shamanism, Facilitator, psychology, psychotherapy, episode 2, Zuzana, Lacey, Zuzana Valesova, Lacey Ann Luna, yoga, Universe Within, Temple of the Way of Light
Thursday 07.16.20
Posted by Jason Grechanik
 

Ep. 1 - A Brief Introduction to Ayahuasca

YouTube version:

 

Audio Version:

Welcome to the first episode! In this show, I talk a bit about plant medicine and especially focus on one that has become quite popular, ayahuasca. I talk about its uses, its history, and how and why one could work with it. I hope you enjoy it.

YouTube:  bit.ly/YouTubeUW

Apple  :  bit.ly/AppleUW

Spotify:  bit.ly/SpotifyUW

Google:  bit.ly/GoogPodUW

If you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth.  If you’re watching on YouTube if you could take a second and Subscribe to the channel and if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts to leave a starred rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!

If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.org    

And finally, with the pandemic, most people doing this work have been without access to work since March and the future is uncertain.  If you are able to and would like to donate to the show to help out with new content that would be deeply appreciated.  For just a few dollars a month you can subscribe through Patreon and it gives you some really nice added benefits like early access to shows, bonus episodes, and a chance to ask personalized questions.

To support this podcast on Patreon, visit: https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithin  

To donate directly with PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanik 

Another way you can support the show is if you are ordering anything from Amazon.com, and you use this link, the show will get a small commission with no additional cost to you: https://amzn.to/2Gw51PS

Music courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/  

And please leave any questions or comments in the comment section or email at:

https://www.UniverseWithinPodcast.com

This will help me with ideas for future shows.

Thanks and until the next episode!

https://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

https://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Source: https://www.universewithinpodcast.com
tags: Plants, plant medicine, spirituality, alternative medicine, wellness, religion, thankyouplantmedicine, curandero, curandera, curanderismo, sacred, sacred geometry, therapy, ayahuasca, psychedelic, spirit, shipibo, healing, plant spirit, medicine, retreats, Peru, Amazon, Holistic, Holistic health, Integration, Universe Within Podcast, Universe Within, Podcast, YouTube, Jason Grechanik, divine, shaman, shamanism, Facilitator, psychology, psychotherapy, episode 1, Temple of the Way of Light, ceremony, ritual, god
Wednesday 07.15.20
Posted by Jason Grechanik
 
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