Onanya means “one who knows” that there is so much more to learn…

Caw kaw! I’m Nicho Nutu (Rey Rao), a traditionally trained Onanya (curandero). I am also a musician, song carrier, story teller, fire keeper, forager, gardener, and naturalist wilderness guide. Raised in “the land of the blue hills” of Massachusetts my upbringing was marked by fort building, biking, skiing, camping, and fishing, which cultivated a great love for the outdoors. I graduated from the University of Arizona, but instead of being inspired about life I felt completely confused, sad, and mad about my path forward, which led me to the jungles of Peru. My first trip to the Amazon rainforest in 2012 changed my life in such a miraculous way I didn’t realize was possible for which I am forever grateful and feel obligated to pay homage to.

Since then I’ve studied extensively with Shipibo Onanyabo and many mestizo and indigenous Curanderos who were immensely crucial for my healing journey bringing me a peace of mind and a true love for life. I’ve also received sacred transmissions from Lakota Sundancers, Navajo Diné Roadmen, Wixárika (Huichol) Mara’akames, and a late Native American Káruk Doctor of Northern California named Bobby “Grizzly Bear” Lake-Thom, who was the son of the well respected Charlie “Red Hawk” Thom. After a decade of training in a Traditional Amazonian Medicine apprenticeship by completing many master plant dietas, I was bestowed the blessing of becoming an Onanya, which in Shipibo means, “one who knows the plants”. In Spanish this would be known as a Maestro Curandero or Medico. I earned this initiation from my main Shipiba teacher the renowned Maestra Estela Pangoza (Sankenwesna) and her family of six Maestros of Aya Madre Healing Center, which was a huge honor and dream come true. The spiritual contract that was given to me to uphold as an Onanya is to love everyone no matter what and to do no harm. Maestra Estela’s Shipibo name Sankenwesna means “beautiful one who shares” and the name she gifted me Rey Rao means “one who has acquired medicine from the plants to help those in need”.

Over the years I’ve had many other blessings to learn from a vast variety of other tribal native healers such as Taita’s of Colombia and Pajé’s of Brazil from which I’ve crafted my own unique practice or as I like to call it my wildflower honey blend. From the Native American Church beauty way inside the Tipi and Inipi purification lodge to fasting and questing “up on a hill crying for a vision,” I’ve been rewarded with experiencing vastly different yet magically similar ways of ancient wisdom. In the more modern world I’ve also worked for multiple outdoor organizations, organic farms, and for health food companies. Despite many amazing experiences it’s been a tricky path full of hurdles for me as I’ve had to overcome a handful of troubling addictions and some seriously challenging health issues throughout the years with one test after another to persevere. As my Scottish Hanna clan’s latin motto says “Per Ardua Ad Alta” which means “through arduous work, great heights are reached” or as I like to say hell before heaven. The one thing I know for sure is there is so much more to learn from our mystical wild world. As Rumi writes wisely “recognize that unlearning is the highest form of learning”. Through these teachings I’m here to offer my heart and soul dharma in my wild walks and sound healing meditations to help us reconnect to nature.

“I, Forager ~~ Finding Goodness in the Ground” an article I wrote for Common Ground magazine on page 34 ~~

Turn your face toward the light and the shadows will fall behind you ~~ Maori proverb