Shamanic Training

Santos’ journey to curanderismo

A Transformative Journey To Kea Santos

Daniel Santos is an Ayahuasca Shaman trained in the sacred traditions of the indigenous Shipibo Tribe, specifically the esteemed Lopez/Mahua lineage of the Peruvian Amazon. In the summer of 2023, he immersed himself in the tribe's customs and spiritual practices, living for two transformative months in the Shipibo village of Inkankena. There, he completed the Ayahuasca Foundation's Curandero Training Program under the guidance of Shipibo maestro and elder, Don Enrique Lopez-Fasanando.

During this profound apprenticeship, Santos was honored with the title of "don," receiving the indigenous blessing from Don Enrique to serve Ayahuasca. He was also granted special permissions from the tribe to share the sacred tools and ancestral teachings of the Shipibo people, bringing their powerful tradition of curanderismo and healing to the Western world.

Ayahuasca Background

Santos began his journey into Ayahuasca shamanism and plant medicine in 2019, studying under Shipibo maestra Nai Kaya of Santa Trinidad de Kaya in Oakland, CA. There, he sat in ceremony, immersed himself in the ancient Shipibo language and medicine songs known as icaros, and was introduced to the fundamental customs and traditions of the Shipibo Lopez/Mahua lineage.

After four years of study and completing five intensive plant medicine dietas with his teacher in Northern California, Nai Kaya deemed him ready to journey to the heart of the Amazon to live among the Shipibo Tribe. Following the path laid before him by Nai Kaya, his closest plant ally and dieta is Noya Rao, the bioluminescent tree of light and enlightenment.

The teachings and tools Santos received during his time in the Amazon have profoundly shaped his work as a curandero. This includes an in-depth understanding of the Shipibo icaros, extensive training in becoming a vegetalista, and the use of plant remedies and shamanic techniques for purifying the body and soul. Santos also learned how to prepare others for Ayahuasca ceremonies with integrity, ensuring a seamless and safe journey for participants from start to finish, with care and attention given before, during, and after the ceremony.

Shaman Training in Peru

In the summer of 2023, Santos was initiated into the Shipibo tradition, specifically through the Lopez/Mahua lineage. His training included an extensive education in the Shipibo language, a catalogue of shamanic icaros written by Don Enrique himself, and guidance on spiritually diagnosing, healing, and caring for patients. 

Under Don Enrique’s mentorship, Santos was honored with two shamanic names. The first name, Kea Santos (pronounced Keh-uh), reflects the spirit of the earth, encompassing the natural world—plants, rivers, animals, and landscapes. Kea represents the interconnectedness of nature, while "Santos" refers to the spirit world, the doctor plant spirits, extraterrestrial beings, and, through Santos' background in astrology, the planets and celestial bodies. The name Kea Santos symbolizes a bridge between heaven and earth, merging the physical with the spiritual and the cosmos with the natural world.

The second name, Soi Niwe (pronounced Sú-wee Nee-wuh), speaks to the magnificent energy Santos embodies in Ayahuasca ceremonies. Soi means excellence, greatness, and magnificence, while Niwe refers to spiritual energy and aura. According to Don Enrique, Soi Niwe specifically honors Santos' "excellent singing voice" and the purifying melodies he sings during ceremonies. His 3-octave range and powerful vibrato harmonize with the energy of the ceremony, healing and cleansing the space for all involved.

The Journey Of A Lifetime

During his time at the camp, under the supervision of Don Enrique, Santos undertook a powerful fasting process, lasting a total of 44 days—15 days in the first month and 29 days in the second month. During this period, he subsisted solely on plant medicines and water, shedding a total of 55 pounds while at Inkakena. This intensive detoxification of mind, body, and spirit was a transformative experience, and Santos completed two month-long plant dietas, including his second dieta with Noya Rao and a dieta with the enigmatic Chullachaqui tree.

Since returning from the Amazon, Santos' transformation has been nothing short of a metamorphosis. With the guidance of Chullachaqui's spirit, Santos has embraced and maintained a healthier lifestyle. This includes a balanced diet, daily weightlifting, breathwork and meditation, and a general focus on slowing down and nurturing his well-being. Santos' results are just one of the many success stories of the profound healing power of plant medicine.

Santos' Ayahuasca Approach

As a professional astrologer, spiritual life coach, and curandero through Ayahuasca shamanism, Santos offers a distinctive approach to leading ceremony—one that fuses magic, healing, and coaching. He prioritizes working with clients before, during, and after their plant medicine experience, ensuring a deeply integrated, ethical, and transformative healing journey.

Blending his expertise as a curandero and trauma-informed healer with his background in Reiki, sound healing, and astrology—what Santos refers to as The Medicine of The Cosmos—he prepares participants for plant medicine ceremonies through the enchantment of the zodiac. His ceremonies are grounded in healing and safety, with a particular focus on trauma. Santos specializes in supporting outsiders and underdogs, including individuals with complex trauma, minorities and people of color, neurodivergent individuals, veterans with PTSD, and survivors of human trafficking and sexual trauma.

In November 2024, Santos took a major step in fulfilling his life mission by registering his faith-based organization, Santos & The Crystal Visions. As a 501(c)(3) organization under the 508(c)(1)(a) filing, Santos founded his own church and religion, blending Ayahuasca shamanism, curanderismo, astrology, and ancient esoteric practices, with an emphasis on spiritual healing. His work as a sacred plant medicine shaman is postponed until further notice as Santos wants to operate with full integrity without breaking the law.