| Salary: | $100/year |
|---|---|
| Type: | Full Time |
My name is Marc. I’m a east coast American filmmaker and musician living in the Amazon Jungle in Peru. I’m in the middle of a most amazing healing adventure/process with Ayahuasca, which is known as the Mother of All Medicines (for good reason.) I’ve decided to build an international Ayahuasca retreat center here so that I may continue this journey, and do so within a community environment considerably more comfortable than what’s otherwise offered in this neck of the woods. For example: Mosquito-proof buildings, solar power, internet access, refrigeration, running water, and a ceremonial space that is most conducive to relaxation and so on. I won’t make a dime of profit from the enterprise, but rather money will go to a small core Peruvian staff , the local community (creating new charity and education organizations to use funds most beneficially), and putting money directly back into the operation for improvements/expansion. The core facilities should be available within a matter of months for particpants. It will not be difficult to get business going/growing, as Ayahuasca is a major boom industry, so to speak. As importantly (on this note), the shaman here is one of extremely very few master shamans, or “Maestros”, who deal directly with the medicine spirit of the plant, and is quite renown, respected, and in demand as such.
I suppose the job title “personal assistant” could be appropriate for what is needed, but you will have many more personal freedoms and responsibilities than what that title suggests. Spanish language skills would be needed in all matters of communications and translations for both logistical affairs (communication with hired help, haggling with suppliers of materials), but also within the ceremonial space, between shaman and participants. You will also be on assignment in Iquitos (the nearest city, a days’ boat trip away) , picking up many supplies (some basic physical strength required), as well as problem-solving, making decisions and taking actions big and small that will directly affect all life revolving around the place. He or she will also be relied upon and valued for their input and collaboration on a whole host of decisions practical or aesthetic in nature. In short, your job’s activities, freedoms, and responsibilities would only be limited by yourself, as long as they were in harmony with the centers’ purpose and functioning. You will wake up each morning and accomplish stuff. There will be plenty to do.
My Spanish is very limited, and in any case the project is more than I can accomplish myself. So this is who I need: a person who, first of all, is sufficiently bilingual. Additionally, this person is not programmed and can therefore think for themselves (and actually derives pleasure from the activity). You should have a certain depth of experience in cultivating/valuing human relationships (and compassion), be sufficiently comfortable/grounded in your own body, emotionally intelligent, and particularly open to and desirous of “personal growth”, “consciousness expansion”, or what Socrates referred to as “knowing thyself”. You should understand what people need in order to feel comfortable. An artist or artistically-inclined person (a lover of people and things) would be welcome. Ideally you are versed in third world travel, and aren’t afraid of living light (especially at first, before the center is complete). Any number of additional human skills or knowledge reserves could and would be appreciated and utilized, including but not limited to: web design, carpentry or architecture, cooking, yoga, wildlife, filmmaking, writing, thinking, talking, joke-telling, publicity, electricity, plumbing, tiling, gardening, farming, livestock, permaculture, rocket science, classic and modern literature and art, and icecream-making. The retreat place will be a center for Ayahuasca, yes, but will not be limited to that form of healing alone. It could have yoga, meditation, massage, sauna, a theatre and/or movie house, a culture-swapping program, writers’ groups or retreats, bake-offs, a store or school for traditional handicrafts, talent shows, lack of talent shows, puppet shows, costume parties, comedy nights, dance contests, staring contests, thumb wrestling, etc. You would be welcome to contribute any know-how to the community for such affairs.
Any and all creative input would be most welcome.
This job is really not about money at all. I am operating on a limited budget and definitely do not want someone to come here for money, but out of pure passion, desire for experience, interplay, growth, and perhaps most importantly: community. There is no official “payment” for this job. Instead, every last thing you need will be provided for you. This of course includes food, personal items, internet access, all travel expenses, Ayahuasca ceremonies, and all sudden and unexpected needs. You will be provided with ample money in advance of any need anticipated.
Some other job perks:
1) If you’re looking for purpose, you will certainly have it, in spades.
2) If you’re looking for Ayahuasca, you couldn’t find a better situation.
3) If you’re looking for sunsets, we have some drop-dead gorgeous ones here. Additionally, the village is situated right on the Amazon, with other smaller rivers to swim in. We will exist on the village’s edge, surrounded by jungle, and thus twenty-four hour lullabies sung by impossibly large frogs, beastly birds, and horny monkeys. The weather is a very steady eight seven degree average, except some welcome chilly nights.
On a different note, it should certainly be mentioned that you will be dealing with me, who is no doubt healing miraculously from a lifelong mental/emotional affliction via Ayahuasca, but everything takes time, and I am a work-in-progress. I’m sometimes prone to states so confounding, confusing, fearful, and disorienting, that speech becomes very difficult to execute, compounding the internal frustration. However, I’m a very good-natured person, and considerate enough to never let my difficult processes spill over onto other people unnecessarily. But I don’t deny it can be frustrating to try and understand and/or communicate with me sometimes. However, many other times I make up for this, having skill in the art of talking and listening. And luckily I am not insane. I know exactly what’s going on (more or less).
You should be healthy, both physically and emotionally. And available to fly to Peru more or less right away (this is important). If interested, email a resume and photo, but, more importantly, please send a personal letter describing yourself and interests and why the position appeals to you. Oh, and, I would be looking for an initial commitment of six months. A trial, if you please. I am not asking for a commitment beyond anything organically arrived at. And please only apply if you really, really think you’d be good for the job, and were serious about the prospect.
