Our Story
The Story of Amaroo
A Bridge Between Two Worlds
Once, across the vast southern oceans, the Nyoongar people—the Traditional Custodians of the southwest of Australia—looked upon the earth and spoke the word Amaroo. To them, it meant a "beautiful place." It was a name reserved for land that felt like a sanctuary, a place of peace and belonging where the spirit of the earth could be felt in every leaf and stone. A place where the land was abundant and fresh water ran crystal clear.
Thousands of miles away, in the mist-covered peaks of the Andes and the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Kichwa people spoke of the Amaru. For them, the Amaru is the Sacred Serpent—the powerful deity of the underground waters and the guardian of life's vital energy. The Amaru represents the eternal cycle of transformation, the wisdom found in shedding the old skin to be reborn into a new way of being.
Today, here in the cloud forests of Ecuador, these two ancient lineages become one. We have created Amaroo Sanctuary: a "beautiful place" where the spirit of transformation lives. Just as the Nyoongar honored the harmony of the land, and the Kichwa honor the flow of the serpent, we invite you to reconnect with the soil, the water, and your own inner wisdom.
Meet the Amaroo Family
Amaroo is held by a small, devoted family of facilitators, stewards, and friends of the land — people who have chosen to live in service to a more conscious way of being.
We tend the gardens, keep the fires, and hold the space so that every soul who arrives feels welcomed, safe, and free to remember who they are.
The Hands That Hold Amaroo
Zai'Ra Paige
Co-Founder & Custodian
King Kanyini
Co-Founder
Jose Chaka Runa
Visionary Co-Founder, Medicine Holder & Temazcal Keeper
Maibe
Head of Sanctuary Operations
Danny
Our Master Chef
Reana (Olonana)
Participant Experience Coordinator & Integration Specialist
Jose Luis
Regenerative Land Steward, Fire Keeper & Animal Whisperer
Jenny
Angel of House Keeping
Support Our Mission
Endurance and longevity are the bedrock to any true endeavor; for what is worth creating if not something that breathes love into the world?
Amaroo was born from this knowing: to embody a life of bliss, to return us to the sovereign power that lives in our hearts.
We are not here to compete, to conquer, or to scale for the sake of greatness. We are here to hold a vibration so radiant that it ripples through lifetimes, weaving threads of harmony and hope for generations yet to come.
This dream of Amaroo was planted long ago, a seed gifted by the Rainbow Warriors, calling forth those who feel the hum of a new world awakening. This is not just our vision—it is yours too.
We invite you, beautiful soul, to step into this dream with us. To feel the spark that has always been stirring inside you, and to dream, build, and bloom together.
~ AMAROO RESERVE COLLECTIVE
In Gratitude
The Founders Circle
Before Amaroo had walls, before the new gardens bloomed or the first temezcal fire was lit, it had believers. The souls gathered here felt the pulse of this dream in its most fragile hour and met it with sacred action; anchoring their faith, their resources, and their wisdom into envisioning a new earth concept that became an embodiment.
Itzhak Beery
Elder, Shaman & Wisdom Keeper
For over three decades, Itzhak has walked as an elder shaman and wisdom keeper across Ecuador's sacred lands. A renowned author, speaker, trip leader, and host, he recognized in Amaroo's earliest spark something worth anchoring — and lent his decades of devotion to help it take root.
Benjamin Hoffman
Ally & Wisdom Keeper
Benjamin stood as a steadfast ally from the very beginning, believing in this dream before there was anything to see but soil and intention. His gift is relationship — weaving the web of trust and connection that helped Amaroo find its footing in the world.
Peter "Rumi" Babick
Wisdom Keeper & Healer
A healer and wisdom keeper who has long held group journeys throughout Ecuador, Peter — known to many as Rumi — carried this dream home with him, anchoring Amaroo's presence in the tri-state area and across new community.
Joe Taylor
Emerging Leader & Philanthropic Supporter
Joe stepped forward early as an emerging leader and generous philanthropic supporter, offering belief and resources in the moment when Amaroo was still only a seed. His generosity helped that seed find soil.
Adam Stenseth
Physician & Global Wisdom Keeper
A doctor and global wisdom keeper, Adam has spent two decades in devoted relationship with tribes and healing traditions around the world. He brought that lineage of trust and care to bear in service of Amaroo's earliest vision.
Shelley Clarke
Intuitive Guide & Team Support
Shelley's gift is intuition — a steady, quiet presence offering guidance and support to the Amaroo team through the sanctuary's tenderest beginnings. Her care has helped hold the space from the inside out.
Step Into the Dream
Whether you come to rest, to heal, or to hold space for others, there is a place for you here.