A 6-day encounter with the profound spirituality of the ancients…
birthing a new time.
July 23rd-July 30th
With great honor and respect, we invite you to a sacred gathering in the Motherland of Bahia, Brazil.
We will come together with Yawanawá spiritual leaders—keepers of ancient wisdom—who have forged a new path for themselves, their people, and all those seeking deeper spiritual understanding and connection.
At the heart of this gathering is Hushahu Yawanawá, the first woman of the Yawanawá people to embark on the spiritual path. By the time we meet, she will have completed two sacred diets, deepening her journey as a healer and wisdom keeper.
She will be joined by members of her Yawanawá family, many of whom are walking the healer’s path, completing powerful year-long initiations.
This is a rare and blessed moment—a gathering of leaders, united in the spirit of renewal, to share their ancestral wisdom, strength, and guidance.
This event is an opportunity to step away from the confines of modern life and reconnect with the ancient ways and the deep connection that unites us all.
This is not just any retreat; it is a transformative week dedicated to the spiritual practices of the Yawanawá people.
You will be immersed in the essence of a Yawanawá spiritual diet, beginning with the sacred healing of the Vekuxi. Through this prayer, we will open the door to studying the ancient chants, stories, and medicines of the Yawanawá, allowing for a profound experience of their wisdom.
We are calling to leaders, caretakers, parents, and change-makers—those ready to receive the healing power of nature, the support of a like-minded community, and the restoration that allows you to continue giving from an overflowing cup.
This event is designed to help us dive deep into the ancient ways of the forest, so we can return to our lives feeling vibrant, inspired, and rejuvenated.
WE’VE ALWAYS KNOWN WE JUST HAVE TO REMEMBER
-NAIWENI (first female chief of the Yawanawá people)
JOIN US FOR A 6 DAY LIVED EXPERIENCE IN
BAHIA, BRAZIL
During this spiritual immersion and sacred study, you will have the opportunity to receive:
Yawanawá Vekuxi Healings
3 traditional ceremonies
Guidance and understanding of the Sacred Medicines of the Forest
Shenipahu – Ancient Yawanawá wisdom stories
Healing plant baths & medicinal plant treatments
Voice and traditional Saiti (ancient chants) lessons
Detoxifying Indigenous Clay Baths
Kambo Treatments
Tribal Body Painting
Healthy, nature-based, traditional, and local food made with love
Lush forests, lakes, waterfalls, and beach
MEET THE HEART OF TRANSFORMATION
Guided by the feminine force of Hushahu Yawanawá, we will come together as she completes her yearlong diet of Xinã Runua, a powerful spiritual study that she is the first and only woman to have undertaken and completed.
Joining her will be Kenewma and Pekunti Yawanawá who are also the owners of the sanctuary where this event will take place. In addition the force of Shavorã- Hukena and Nawaema, alongside Yawavana, Rume and Ushu.
To be with the Yawanawá is to be embraced as family. Their way honors all—men and women alike—offering a rare opportunity to become part of something greater. This is more than a gathering; it is a return to belonging, a reconnection with the force that gives life not only to the forest but to the entire world. The forest is not just trees—it is energy, breath, and spirit.
Hushahu Yawanawá
In 2005, Hushahu became the first woman of her people—and of other tribes in the region—to undergo a spiritual study, spending over a year in Samakẽi, an isolated retreat in the rainforest. There, she discovered the world of the Pajés as a woman, bringing a female voice to traditionally masculine songs through her art and voice.
Her return inspired her people, fostering equality between men and women, and reigniting a connection to their traditions.
As a spiritual leader, Hushahu has guided many, and her visionary artwork is embraced by various tribes in Brazil. In May 2024, she entered a deeper spiritual retreat, Runua Xinã, becoming the first person since her father’s passing to do so.
She has since been in isolation, deepening her studies to better serve those who seek her guidance. Known for her strong, gentle presence, Hushahu shares the love and wisdom gained from her life’s journey.
Kenewma Yawanawá
Kenewma Yawanawá is a spiritual leader, artist, and cultural guardian of the Yawanawá people, carrying the legacy of a powerful matriarchal lineage.
She was the first youth and only the third woman of her nation to complete the sacred Muká diet, a profound spiritual initiation traditionally reserved for elders. This historic path positioned her as a pioneer in the resurgence of feminine spiritual leadership within her culture.
Kenewma is the co-founder of the Ni Yuxî Retreat Center in Bahia, where she develops initiatives rooted in indigenous spirituality, healing, and the arts. Through her online work, she has guided hundreds of women around the world in reconnecting with their inner strength, ancestral wisdom, and the sacred feminine.
Pekunti Jordão
Jordão de Souza has been immersed in Amazonian spirituality since childhood, as the grandson of Santo Daime leader Padrinho Sebastião Mota de Melo.
In 2009, he began his deep journey with the Yawanawá people, becoming the last student of the revered healer Pajé Tata and dedicating himself to the study of ancestral plant medicine and indigenous wisdom.
He is the co-founder of the Ni Yuxî Healing Center in Bahia and has been leading and co-creating initiatives that support the preservation, revitalization, and global expansion of Yawanawá culture and spirituality. Through his work, Jordão bridges traditions and modernity, helping to amplify indigenous voices and strengthen intercultural dialogue.
Hukena & Dominique Nãwãma Yawanawá
Shavorã (feminine force) is the manifestation of the union of Hukena Yawanawa and Dominique Nãwãma, who come together to carry out spiritual work in line with the Yawanawa tradition and Afro-Brazilian influences from Nãwãma's lineage, with the aim of gaining autonomy and empowerment for themselves and other indigenous women. They fight for a voice and respect for differences, for women and for the LGBTQIAPN+ community, honoring healthy ancestral roots while seeking to break with sexist structures.
Yawavana Yawanawá
Yawavãná, raised by Naiwēni who was the first female leader of a Yawanawá village. From a young age she studied with Hushahu & Pajé Tatá before he passed away.
Yawa is currently in retreat by entering into the diet of Muká on the same day Hushahu entered her retreat of Runua Xinã.
Yawa has a powerful voice and is especially talented in her art, painting traditionally in the form of Kenē on the face or body but also on canvas, Very humble in her heart, Yawá brings the feminine strength of her people with great responsibility and love.
Naiweni Yawanawá
Nãiwẽni Yawanawá, daughter of Hushahu, was immersed in her mother’s spirituality from birth, joining her in retreats and ceremonies. Despite her young age, she has undertaken spiritual studies and travels alongside Hushahu, deepening her connection to the work.
With a beautiful voice, she has composed interpretations of traditional songs and released her first EP, *Nãi Ãūnua Rẽwẽ*, with her mother. Her talent and inspiration continue to grow each year.
Rumê Yawanawá
Rumê, son of Hushahu Yawanawá is a husband and father to four children.
He is known for his profound ability to make the sacred tobacco snuff, a powerful medicine in the Yawanawá culture. He also studies the Nipei Medicinal Plants.
He recently completed a 3-month spiritual dieta in the same retreat center that his mom is completing her profound study.
JOIN US FOR A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE OF HEALING, TRANSFORMATION AND RECONNECTION
SITE OF THE EVENT:
Ni Yuxî
Ni Yuxi is a healing center in Bahia, Brazil focused on the intention of bridging indigenous knowledge with the tools and sciences of the modern world to bring healing to people and planet. This retreat center was founded by people of different spiritual lineages with the intention of reviving ancient knowledge of the plant kingdom. Here we study how the forest is a living pharmacy, and at the moment, the risk of destruction has never been higher. We intend to protect and provide assistance to ensure that this technology lives on through supporting healing centers, indigenous schooling, exchange programs, and reforestation. This center is located in Serra Grande, Ilheus, Bahia, Brazil.
Guardians
We are here to guide you on this journey to Brazil
To contact us please email: [email protected]
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Angelique (Txivã) Watson
Working with the Yawawaná for 12+ years. A bridge + liaison between the indigenous and the US. Co-founder of Spirit of the Forest.
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Shaina (Nai) Conners
She is the co-founder of Spirit of the Forest after working with the Yawanawá for 3 years. She has been helping uplift feminine voices through Global Sisterhood and her podcast Time of the Feminine.
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Alice Haibara
She is an anthropologist, visual artist and cultural producer, working with indigenous peoples in Brazil for 18 years. Founder and coordinator of Arte Amerindia, she works on cultural valorization projects, especially strengthening the work of indigenous women as political and spiritual leaders.
TO JOIN US ON THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL IMMERSION
Please fill out this form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also email us at [email protected]
We will share pricing information and will be able to answer any questions you have.
We look forward to seeing you in the Lucious lands of Bahia.
FAQs
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If you make a reservation and have an emergency, we are able to make a refund 30 days out from the retreat, after that, unfortunately we cannot make further accommodations. For questions please email [email protected]
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Arrival: July 23rd
Immersion: July 24th-29th
Departure: July 30th
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The price of the retreat is for shared occupancy. You will be sharing a one-bedroom with three other participants on the Ni Yuxî retreat grounds. Within each space there is three separate beds and an en-suite bathroom with a shower.
If you are interested in having your own space, we will likely not be able to accommodate you on the Ni Yuxî Sanctuary property. There is also the option of renting a home on the beach or lodging near by. . Renting a car, or sharing with other participants will be necessary to get back and forth.
For questions, please feel free to reach out at [email protected] ! -
The retreat price will include accommodations onsite, all food, ceremony, and other offerings.
We are able to organize transport to and from the airport; however, this will be a minimal additional cost. -
We recommend bringing clothes for warm weather since it will be the Summer Season in Bahia, Brazil. We recommend dresses, shorts and t-shirts, tanks and clothing for ceremony. It is also good to bring lightweight leggings, scarves, and lightweight jackets. We also recommend you bring a camping chair, water bottle, bug spray, rain jacket, flashlight / headlamp, and waterproof shoes.
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The airport you will want to travel to is Ilhéus, Brazil - Jorge Amado Airport. You will have to fly through another major airport in Brazil before getting a flight to this airport.
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A Day at ‘Heart of Transformation’
7-9 AM - Breakfast
Healthy breakfast wrapped within the Bahian Vibe
9:30-11:45 AM - Conversation Circle
- Speak about how the opening of the voice is linked to your healing
- Hear stories from the Indigenous women about their cultures practices, ancient stories and ways of relating to the voice + their personal expression through their ancient chants
12-1:30 PM - Hearty Lunch
2:00-5:00 PM - Healing Songs- The native guides will each present a healing song from their culture
Indigenous Singing Class
- An opportunity to gather together, learning a chant from each of the tribes
- Hear their personal suggestions on how to sing from the heart in order to connect with the song of your unique voice.
5:30-6:30 PM - Light Dinner
6:45-8:45 PM - Rest9:00 PM - Nighttime Ceremony
- An opportunity to connect together within a unified prayer.
- Celebrate through singing the chants on voice and also guitar of the different indigenous tribes present.
- Learn to dance in the various styles that the cultures practice.