Maestro Guillermo Arevalo
Maestro Guillermo Arevalo Valera, also known as Kestembetsa — “Echo of the Universe” — is a renowned Shipibo healer from Peru who has dedicated his life to preserving and sharing the ancestral plant medicine of the Amazon. After studying nursing in Brazil, he chose the path of traditional healing, spending 18 months in isolation dieting master plants. Known as a “healer of healers,” he has founded healing centers, spoken at the United Nations, and leads ceremonies around the world, carrying the wisdom of his people to those seeking true healing.
Born of the Dieta
As a child, Maestro Guillermo Arevalo had seen his father, Dom Benito, taking part in the practice of plant dietas. At the time, the plant dieta his father was following was of Chullachaqui Caspi, also known as Acero Caspi. As a master plant, it has the power to deepen one’s connection with the ancient wisdom of the jungle, and it is known to have many spiritual and physical healing properties.
As a six-year-old, and wanting to follow his father, Guillermo began to secretly take the prepared plant medicine from him and drink it—without his father knowing.
After three months of secretly dieting from his father’s medicine, Maestro Guillermo was walking through the jungle when he came across a mysterious figure in the trees. Guillermo tells of how the person was very short, had ugly feet, and spoke to him in a calm voice.
As a six-year-old, and wanting to follow his father, Guillermo began to secretly take the prepared plant medicine from him and drink it—without his father knowing.
After three months of secretly dieting from his father’s medicine, Maestro Guillermo was walking through the jungle when he came across a mysterious figure in the trees. Guillermo tells of how the person was very short, had ugly feet, and spoke to him in a calm voice.
A Masters First Vision
As legend says, the Chullachaqui is a spirit guide, often in the form of a short person with strange-looking feet. In the Amazon, the Chullachaqui Caspi tree itself is named after this legend because of its notably twisted roots at the bottom—reminiscent of the spirit guide’s irregular feet.
As a spirit guardian, the Chullachaqui is one with the jungle and its inhabitants. As a guide, it is their role to protect the rainforest and its animals from outsiders or those with bad intentions.
If you have good intentions and respect the jungle, then the spirits of the land will help you—as was the case with Guillermo. However, if one is a threat and has any intent to harm the plants and animals, the Chullachaqui will bring bad fortune and may lead the person astray, deeper and deeper into the jungle—ultimately leaving them lost.
This story helps teach us about the deeper energies of the jungle, and how important it is to respect the life of the forest—because if you do, then it will respect you.
As a spirit guardian, the Chullachaqui is one with the jungle and its inhabitants. As a guide, it is their role to protect the rainforest and its animals from outsiders or those with bad intentions.
If you have good intentions and respect the jungle, then the spirits of the land will help you—as was the case with Guillermo. However, if one is a threat and has any intent to harm the plants and animals, the Chullachaqui will bring bad fortune and may lead the person astray, deeper and deeper into the jungle—ultimately leaving them lost.
This story helps teach us about the deeper energies of the jungle, and how important it is to respect the life of the forest—because if you do, then it will respect you.
“Hello, Kestembetsa,” the strange figure said. Kestembetsa meaning “echo of the universe.”
Guillermo, unsure of this little man, asked him, “Where did you come from?” And the little man replied, “I live right here, in this area.” He waved his hand toward the trees and plants behind him, explaining that he was the guardian of all the animals and nature surrounding that area. That this was his home, and he was there to protect it.
Then the strange man said, “And I know you are dieting with Chullachaqui.”
Guillermo, surprised by how he knew this, paused and then replied, “Oh… can we be friends then?”
And the Chullachaqui said to him, “Yes, we can be friends. Because I know you are dieting Chullachaqui, I am going to teach you, and I am going to take care of you.”
Guillermo, unsure of this little man, asked him, “Where did you come from?” And the little man replied, “I live right here, in this area.” He waved his hand toward the trees and plants behind him, explaining that he was the guardian of all the animals and nature surrounding that area. That this was his home, and he was there to protect it.
Then the strange man said, “And I know you are dieting with Chullachaqui.”
Guillermo, surprised by how he knew this, paused and then replied, “Oh… can we be friends then?”
And the Chullachaqui said to him, “Yes, we can be friends. Because I know you are dieting Chullachaqui, I am going to teach you, and I am going to take care of you.”