Deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, hidden among the towering canopies, is a tree like no other - the legendary guardian - Noya Rao. Described as the tree of God, or second to God, Noya Rao is imbued with mystical wisdom. This sacred Tree of Light holds deep significance to the Shipibo-Conibo people as a profound spiritual teacher and bridge between the physical and ethereal realms. Revered for its myth and symbolism, its luminous leaves and profound spiritual benefits, Noya Rao is said to illuminate the path of healing and of the healer, to guide us towards our truth, and lead us by light.

The Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Noya Rao

Noya Rao can easily and/or often conflate with Nihue Rao, a botanically unrelated tree with similar attributes of bioluminescent leaves as they come in contact with the jungle floor. Yes - cue the visuals of Avatar’s bioluminescent tree - rumored to have inspired James Cameron via the myths of Noya Rao. The actual existence of Noya Rao is highly debated, even amongst the Shipbo-Conibo peoples along the Ucayali River - where the cultural roots and connection to Noya Rao are heavily steeped.

For some time it was considered the tree had been lost, obscured from our world. Then, presumed due to the need for its profound and potent medicine, a few trees deep in the forest cover were purportedly discovered. In the last several years, a couple more are believed to have been found. Yet even amongst the Mahuas, the historical lineage and most notable carriers of Noya Rao for nearly 100 years, are uncertain of the validity of all these trees as Noya Rao. What seemingly is held as a truth for many is “the real one lives in the sky.“

This God-like tree in the sky holds this revered essence two-fold. Firstly, folklore of Noya Rao passed on in the Pahoyan community tells tales of fish transforming into birds, or young children and whole villages flying away to another dimension after coming in contact with the tree. Earning Noya Rao’s name; Noya meaning ‘flying,’ Rao meaning ‘plant spirit,’ an allegory demonstrating the plant spirit's capacity for transformation and a closeness to God. And secondly without question, the omnipresent, omnipotent essence of Noya Rao in sama, or diet, which is utterly divine beyond words. As Michael Sung lovingly describes, “Noya Rao is a word to describe grace,“ a surrender to the grace of God. It is in this way, that the mysticism surrounding Noya Rao’s existence, serves almost as a sacred veil of love and devoted protection, touching into our world and bridging to beyond.

Noya’s Role in Traditional Healing Practices

Noya Rao is considered to illuminate the path of healing and of the healer. Traditionally, it is the last plant dieted on the onanya path, and is often regarded as a hard diet, as are most tree master plant dietas. Obviously all samas, have their challenges, however I have come to significantly appreciate the words of Don Moises Llerena, where it is customary for dieteros to begin their path with water-loving plants, such as bobinsana, to help us to heal our watery-world of emotions, preparing us for the work of trees later on. Noya Rao can manifest in a way that enhances what is present, and can elevate all previous diets in a cumulative synergy of medicinal gifts. And as such, it is an established Shipibo-Conibo belief, that there is no need to diet other plants after Noya Rao; rather continue to cultivate your plant relations through song, prayer and devotion. It is for such a reason, as a final, culminating diet, it is common to hear it is best not to diet other plants after dieting Noya Rao. If there are other plants you feel called to work with on your healing journey, this might be of consideration.

Lineage and Personal Connections to Noya Rao

There are many folks who have gone to Peru and have experienced incredible diets and connections with Noya Rao. I myself can speak to my own relationship to this magnificent tree. And amongst dieteros, there is a significant alliance to sit with descendents of the Mahua family. Virgilio Saldana was the first to pass along the diet of Noya Rao to the Mahua family; brothers Papa Gilberto, Papa Pascual, Papa Manuel, and Papa Benjamin. All who became carriers of what is revered as “the wind of Noya Rao,” as well as Mahua sons, daughters, nieces, grandsons; ancestrally passing on nearly a century of sacred communing with the luminous Noya Rao.

To diet Noya Rao, it is common to drink tea made from the bark, singing your prayers to its essence, forming a connection and relationship to the plant spirit. And those who may have had the opportunity to sit with respected meraya’s, exalted healers with abilities to communicate through dimensions, may receive ‘the wind of Noya Rao’ through energetic chips from their maestro/a, without consuming the tree at all. A beautiful intentional practice to connect with Noya Rao during or after your diet, is to smoke tobacco through a pipe made from the wood of Noya Rao. Benjamin Mahua is known to have said, “smoke tobacco in a pipe for 8 days, blowing smoke all over your body” [to connect with the Noya’s spirit]. As someone who has experienced the deep reverence in this process, I can say in awe how profound it is to connect to Noya through your pipe and tobacco prayers.

The Symbolism of Light in Its Teachings

Noya Rao is described as el camino de la verdad, or the path of truth. It embodies light and clarity; illuminating our subconscious patterns to live with greater integrity and alignment of one’s core self. An aspect perhaps not often discussed however; is that to be in our light, shadows that mask our truth are prone to being revealed. Highlighting, navigating and processing shadows can be quite uncomfortable and uneasy, yet another reason Noya Rao can be a challenging diet. And, even still, the gifts Noya Rao is wholly of the light, offering the ability to perceive better in the darkness; like a beacon that shines a guiding light in the buried burdens of our past, showing the next step forward.

Visions, Somatic Healing, and Divine Communion

It is important to mention, Noya Rao, while in concert with Ayahuasca, flourishes gloriously with one another, it is not essential to work with Noya Rao with DMT. That said, those that have dieted Noya Rao in conjunction with an ayahuasca ceremony, often witness the plant's essence as visions of bright white light or intricate light patterns, offering guidance and teachings in the journey. Emotional, somatic and trauma release may be a part of a Noya Rao dieta as a way of cleansing and reconnecting one’s heart, to their truth. Healing on a deep-soul level, Noya Rao ultimately opens a sense of dimensionality far beyond our consciousness, and taps us into the divinely sacred.

Many who have communed with this great tree’s essence, likely would align a symbolic representation or experience to the essence of God or Divinity. As someone who has experienced Ayahuasca and Bufo, both known for connecting us to something greater in consciousness and the universe, Noya Rao personally aligns for me as a holy dimension different than either. Noya Rao is a purity of love and all existence, it is Christ Consciousness, the Divine, without form. Words from Manuela Mahua, Papa Manuel’s daughter, “Noya Rao wants you to be a practitioner of love, a ‘noimis,’ everything you must think and do must come from love,” (noi means love, mis means one who habitually), suggests similarly moving from a pure heart.

Personal Musings On My Noya Rao Relationship

As mentioned before, typically, Noya Rao is the last plant diet of a maestro/a in the Shipibo-Conibo tradition, for a myriad of very wise and intentional reasons. However, in its own unfolding, Noya Rao was my first plant dieta, which personally, made for both a divine and, if I’m honest, quite a discombobulating experience.

Beginning the journey of dietas, and the learnings of a plant spirit in its own right is an experience with much to witness, be present to, and tend in integration. Finding myself at a calling beyond my comprehension to connect with Noya Rao was truly

sitting at the base of a giant. One that opened with lovingly deep insights, and imparted the sense of the dimensional magnitude in which Noya Rao held.

My introduction to this flying tree, with visuals and somatic healings I hold too dear and sacred to cast unto the internet, I can say, is the most true and deep sense of ‘love and light,’ I could ever fathom. And not the casual love and light we throw around, yet the viscerally real, embodied, full gravity of love and light consciousness that liberates your every atom.

Beyond Noya Rao revealing itself through ceremony, Noya Rao began illuminating my life in the aftermath through shadow. In similarity with many-a-plant communication styles; I had to laugh at myself, because at the time, it was unexpected, and yet it made such sense. Of course, ‘lighting your path’ would entail shining a light on patterns, behaviors, traumas, and non-truths. Of course, it would reveal all the spaces and places in which I was not in touch, attuned, or living with my most honest self.

It’s been nearly six years since my last Noya Rao dieta, and I can firmly say, I still witness deep somatic shadows sifting to the surface, and lovingly-albeit sometimes challenging-encouraging me to walk my path of truth. Integration, and staying devoted to our plants is undoubtedly key. The gratitude I carry for Noya Rao as a significant ally will forever be unending. And while there are endless paths in our journeys, all unique to the beholder, in retrospect, I personally wish I had formulated bonds with more plant allies before I embarked with Noya Rao. As an act of respect to the indigenous wisdom of the elders and carriers of this sacred medicine, and as greater energetic and spiritual scaffolding to support the transformation Noya Rao brings.

Move in Grace and Embody Truth

The magic and mystery of Noya Rao continues to inspire seekers of knowledge, healing, and light. Its teachings invite us to step into deeper truth, balance, and connection with the world around us. For anyone yearning to unravel life’s mysteries, to heal old wounds, or move in more grace in embodying their truth, the Tree of Light extends an invitation to walk its illuminated path.

"A maestro of Noya Rao once told me: "At the end of the day, the only true cura (healing) is the love of God. We suffer by being away from Spirit. But the path of loving God, being in love with God, is open to anyone, at anytime, in any form." ~ A student of the late Shipibo Maestro Pascual Mahu

Do you want to learn more about your embodied truth? Let’s connect. I’d be honored to guide you!

About the Author

Faegann Harlow bridges body-based therapies in their integrative role of mind-body reciprocity. Through curiosity and embodied practices, Faegann finds space in each being to anchor the insights received from our allies, increasing our capacity in receiving, healing, transmuting, creating.... being. Integration at a somatic level serves as an act of assimilation; honoring our role with our relations; nature, self and beyond. With 20+ years in the somatic field of touch, movement and psychology, and 10+ years in plant spaces, Faegann humbly holds Noya Rao, Mugwort and Thyme dietas, as trusted allies in her heart-centered and nurturing therapeutic approach. Trauma-informed through physiological and psychological lenses, Faegann invite science and spirit into a space. The symbiotic nature of our body, psyche and universe want to reveal the mysteries of our own personal magic & medicine. Faegann serves to support and encourage your innate self, whole and perfect.

The Magic and Mystery of Noya Rao: The Tree of Light