Sacred Bridge: Uniting the Heart of the Amazon and the Peaks of the Himalayas - Sunday Private Night
With Hushahu Yawanawá, Matsini Yawanawá & Family, Kenewma Yawanawá, Jordão Souza, Tsela Zoksang, Dechen Kelden, Khenzom Alling and Dr. Jetsun Cheme
October 5 - 6, 2025
There was once a time, deep in the Amazon rainforest, when the great keepers of wisdom—guardians of plants, prayer, and profound spiritual connection—held their knowledge close.
For centuries, the sacred teachings of Tibetan Buddhism were also hidden, veiled high in the Himalayas and passed down through silence, meditation, and ceremony.
Now, the time foretold has arrived. These two ancient lineages—of forest and mountain—are being called to share their sacred knowledge with one another at Menla. A prophecy begins to unfold.
This October, we invite you to Sacred Bridge—a historic convergence of two great wisdom traditions. For the first time ever, nine Yawanawá leaders will journey beyond the rainforest to join Tibetan leaders in shared prayer, ritual, and celebration. Together, they will offer their culture through sacred song, dance, teachings, and the living memory of a way of life rooted in spirit.
Throughout the weekend, you will experience:
- Traditional music and dance
- Sacred singing and fire ceremonies
- Prayer and ritual
- Sweat lodge ceremony
- Cultural sharing and ancestral storytelling
- Discussions on medicinal plants and healing traditions
- Artwork and vibrant body and face painting
- Environmental preservation teachings and earth-honoring practices
These traditions—shaped by exile, resilience, and deep reverence—come together not as a performance, but as a prayer. A prayer for the Earth. A prayer for our future. A call to remember what it means to live in balance with nature and spirit—and how we might protect the planet for generations to come by walking this sacred bridge together.
Join us for a transformative weekend of cultural exchange and collective awakening. This family-friendly gathering welcomes all who feel called to walk in harmony, open their hearts, and help weave a living tapestry of remembrance, joy, and connection.
This is a private Sunday might only booking page. Note that commuter rates for this evening do not include meals.
Schedule
Sunday, October 1
- 3 – 6 pm Arrival & Check-in for Over Night Guests
- If you are on site for the weekend event and have booked additional nights no check-in is necessary.
- 6 – 7 pm Dinner for on site guests only
- 8 pm Arrival Time for Commuter Guests
- 9 pm Ceremony
*Please note that check-out of rooms is 7 – 11 am Monday, October 6th. Breakfast and Lunch are included in the over night rate.
About the Leaders

Hushahu Yawanawá
In 2005, Hushahu became the first Yawanawá woman to enter a spiritual study, spending over a year in deep isolation in Samakẽi, where she discovered the world of the Pajés as a woman. She expressed this awakening through her art and voice, bringing a female presence to the traditionally male songs of her people. Her […]
Learn more about Hushahu Yawanawá
Matsini Yawanawá & Family
Matsini Yawanawá, chief and spiritual leader of Mutum village, descends from an unbroken lineage of Pajés (master shamans) and trained under the legendary Pajé Tata, who helped restore Yawanawá traditions after years of suppression. The Yawanawá, native to Acre, Brazil, have long safeguarded their land and spiritual heritage despite near extinction following early contact with […]
Learn more about Matsini Yawanawá & Family
Kenewma Yawanawá
A descendant of strong leaders, Kenewma is the daughter of Chief Biraci Nixiwaka and Chief Naiweni Mariazinha, the first female leader of the Yawanawá. She was the first youth and third woman in Yawanawá history to enter the powerful Muka diet, an intense spiritual study. Deeply committed to the well-being of her people, she supports […]
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Jordão Souza
Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1993, Jordão Souza was immersed in Amazonian spirituality from a young age as the grandson of Padrinho Sebastião Mota de Melo, a Santo Daime leader. His journey led him to the Yawanawá in 2009, where he studied their medicinal plant knowledge and spirituality, becoming the final apprentice of Pajé Tata. Committed […]
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Tsela Zoksang
Tsela Zoksang is a Tibetan human rights and climate activist. As Campaigns Coordinator at Students for a Free Tibet, she works to amplify the voices of Tibetans inside Chinese-occupied Tibet. She works with Tibetan communities in exile and global stakeholders to mobilize support for strategic campaigns that push for Tibetans’ fundamental right to freedom. Because […]
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Dechen Kelden
Dechen Kelden is a Tibetan and Kalmyk Mongolian storyteller whose work reflects themes of identity, memory, and belonging. Her stories draw from her roots- her father, a former monk of Nechung Monastery, revered as the seat of the State Oracle of Tibet, and her mother, a Kalmyk American whose family was among the first Kalmyks […]
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Khenzom Alling
Khenzom is a Tibetan artist based in Brooklyn. Her paintings weave together human and natural elements, centering themes of interdependence, ecofeminism, and sovereignty. By envisioning a homeland untouched by violence and environmental harm, her art challenges colonial narratives of Tibet and imagines futures where the deep harmony between Tibetan people and their land is fully […]
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Dr. Jetsun Cheme
Dr. Jetsun Cheme is a traditional Tibetan medicine doctor and yoga instructor in New York. She has studied Tibetan Buddhist philosophy since she was eight years old. She graduated from Mentsee Khang, Dharamsala, India, in 1998 with a degree in Tibetan medicine. After graduation, she made several medical tours to Nepal, Brazil, and India, serving […]
Learn more about Dr. Jetsun ChemeCategories : Menla Co-Sponsor, Menla Retreat (all retreats)