Don Pedro, a child of the mystical Amazon

Don Pedro, the first born son of Don Jose Guerra, was taken to be a "child of power". At times of the new moon, he was regularly visited by the shamans of the Majorunas who gave him purifications with mysterious plant medicine. He was intended to become invincible and his instincts were to be sharpened. During new moon rituals the child was posed on a piece of petrified tree (the only stones to be found in the Amazon lowlands) and was given fresh Jaguar blood to drink. This ritual was intended to help Don Pedro’s natal magical capacities. Finally, the Majoruna did everything to convince Don Jose to let them take his son to their tribal community. Don Jose refused.

The ascetic path of becoming curandero

As a Peruvian citizen Don Pedro had to absolve military service. Among other things he learned to navigate warships on the Amazon. When Don Pedro was back from his service time though, it was clear to him that he must follow his vocation and become curandero. Following the council of his father he entered the jungle for two years of complete isolation. Following the ancient tradition of the "jungle school" of the curanderos he lived in complete solitude without any human contacts under extreme dietary restrictions. He tells that he has received his power from the Huairuru tree - one of the mighty jungle giants. For this reason he belongs to the "paleros" - the ones with the tree-knowledge, also known as tree-shamans. A palero has access to the spiritual healing powers at all times. His power is available to him through the Mariris - a special energy that manifests within the own chest and can become visible when it leaves the mouth as a transparent substance.

After two years he returned - emaciated and spiritually purified. With him he brought his "icaros" - his own personal healing songs that he had received from the spirits of nature. He had also received the capacity of undertaking pulse diagnostics - one of the diagnostical methods from a part of the foundation Amazon curanderos build on. Also, he had amplified his plant knowledge through profound introspection. From this point in time Don Pedro started working as a healer in his community. Since village life there is based on self-subsistence and money does not play a great role, his work was mostly free of charge. Don Pedro sustained his family through fishing and his agricultural labour.

Throughout one year Don Pedro was occupied as a curandero in the jungle camp of Don Augustin Rivas Vasquez (known through the film "On the way to new dimensions" who is a good acquaintance of his. Also, he has repeatedly been working in coordination with the doctors of the various hospitals in Tamishiyacu. This is the community where he lives, with his wife and eight children. Don Pedro has repeatedly been invited to the United States and to Europe. He has decidedly denied offers to move to the States and work for American universities. His camp in the rainforest is open to all people who want to visit him on account of spiritual matters of concern.