PÁSSARO AZUL
Afro-Indigenous Encounter
11 Days of Ancestral Traditions, Pristine Nature & the Gathering of Different Nations
Tucked away in the heart of Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest, Pássaro Azul (Blue Bird) is for those who want to go beyond the everyday and explore different ways of living and relating to the land, to tradition, and to one another. It's about listening to voices that have long been silenced and coming together as a group to create change in these pivotal times.
Set beside a river in the rainforest and close to magnificent beaches, this immersion invites you into eleven days of presence, unlearning, learning, listening, ceremony, and celebration.
Guided by Marco and Lisa, alongside Indigenous leaders and Afro-Brazilian spiritual elders, we will explore ancestral knowledge, conversations around decolonization and cultural restoration, plant traditions, and the many ways humans, the intangible world,
and the realms of nature intertwine.
Beyond the knowledge that will be shared and the different people we will encounter, Pássaro Azul is about the living tissue of reality we weave along the way.
At its heart is the belief that meaningful change begins through encounter: by coming together across different backgrounds, sharing perspectives, challenging our assumptions, and discovering new possibilities through one another.
In a world that often pulls us apart, we believe there is something powerful about gathering in person, sharing meals, creating together, exchanging stories, and building relationships beyond the boundaries that usually define us. It is an opportunity to step outside familiar ways of thinking, embrace different perspectives, and find common ground
without losing sight of our differences.
Rather than escaping from the world, we come together to engage with it more consciously — carrying the experiences, questions, and connections we develop into our everyday lives.
Pássaro Azul is ultimately an invitation to be part of something collective: a space where different voices can meet, where new relationships can take root, and where we can continue imagining more conscious and harmonious ways of living together.
SCHEDULE
Ceremonies & Offerings
1 Ceremony with the Pataxó People
1 Pássaro Azul Ceremony (Umbandaime)
Herbal bath for energetic cleansing
Bonfire rituals and storytelling
Singing Circle & Voice Activation
Visit to Paraty’s historic colonial town
Conversations on decolonization, ancestral knowledge, and cultural continuity
Ancestral Wisdom & Cultural Exchange
Visit to Indigenous territories
Visit terreiro (Afro-Brazilian Temple)
Visit Quilombola community
Afro-Brazilian culture class with Mãe de Santo (priestess)
Lecture on Brazilian culture, history and spiritual traditions
Nature & Elements
Night swim with biolumniscent plankton
Island visit & boat excursion
Waterfall hikes & beach days
Body, Breath & Integration
Yoga classes
Integration Circle
Time for rest, reflection and connection
Everyday Life Together
Beyond the scheduled activities, meaningful moments happen in between: around the table, on a walk, beside the river, or in conversations that continue long after a gathering ends.
We will share daily meals inspired by Brazilian flavours, live together in a welcoming retreat setting, and make space for both collective experiences and individual needs. Our intention is to cultivate a community grounded in mutual respect, curiosity, care, and a willingness to learn from one another.
LOCATION
We will gather in Paraty, a UNESCO-listed colonial town located between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Surrounded by rich biodiversity, jungle, waterfalls, and more than 60 islands, this region offers a powerful backdrop for our time together.
Our home for the encounter is a Pousada, a guesthouse set by a river in the rainforest.
- Shared room (2-4 people) are included
- Private rooms are available upon request
- The center is a 15-minute drive from the beach and Paraty's historic town center.
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS
Marco
Marco is a philosopher, poet, researcher, medium and Sundancer with a strong pull to ritual traditions, ancestral knowledge, and creative expression. He studied Philosophy at the University of São Paulo (USP) and later completed a master's in the History of Religions in Lisbon, focusing on colonialism and the relationship between traditional worldviews and so-called Western thought. His work aims to bridge these worlds—bringing deeper cultural and historical context to conversations around healing, identity, and transformation.
For over 20 years, Marco has worked with sacred plant practices and has been involved in organizing and facilitating ceremonies across the Americas and Europe. For six of those years, he traveled extensively to learn from different communities and lineages in Acre, Brazil. In 2019, he published a book of poetry, "Canções de Medo e Coragem" (Songs of Fear and Courage), and received a personal hinário, or songbook, titled "Pássaro Azul" (Blue Bird), reflecting his journey through cultures, music and inner work.
In 2015, his exploration of energy work led him to develop practices in aura reading and crystal therapy, which inspired the founding of Blue Bird Crystals—a project offering ethically sourced crystals and encouraging thoughtful, respectful engagement with natural resources and healing tools.
Together with Lisa, he spent a year living in Paraty, Brazil, sharing life, music, and collaborative projects rooted in values of simplicity, cross-cultural respect, and personal inquiry.
Lisa
Lisa is an environmental scientist, musician, ecstatic dancer, DJ, ceremonialist, and bridge builder - a weaver of cultures, traditions, and sound. Deeply rooted in a life devoted to nature, music, and ancestral wisdom, her journey began early: at the age of 8, she started studying and playing instruments such as the piano, guitar, charango, and pandeiro, nurturing a profound musical sensitivity that would later expand into both ceremonial and contemporary realms.
At 18, she began traveling to indigenous communities around the world, immersing herself in nature-based teachings and ancestral traditions, particularly those of the Maya, Quechua, Huni Kuî, and in the spiritual paths of Santo Daime and Umbanda. Her university studies in Zurich focused on environmental science, botany, and sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on the influence of ethno-tourism and long-term collaborations with the Huni Kuî people of the Brazilian Amazon.
Lisa's musical devotion flows through traditions such as Santo Daime, Afro-Brazilian traditions, and both Brazilian and Southern Italian popular music. Her study of music extends beyond listening - into the exploration of intangible worlds where sound becomes a vehicle for healing, connection, and expanded consciousness. She has also been an ecstatic dancer and DJ for the past 8 years, blending movement and music to create immersive experiences.
Since 2024, Lisa has been working with Blue Bird Crystals, combining her scientific background and spiritual practice to support ethically sourced crystals and conscious energy work.
She has shared her work through concerts and ceremonial offerings in the United States, Guatemala, Switzerland, Brazil, and Germany, creating sacred spaces of deep listening and collective resonance. Through her path, Lisa continues to bridge worlds - honoring the Earth, ancestral wisdom, and the transformative power of music as a universal language.
She released her first EP „Mata Atlântica“ in December 2026.
EXCHANGE
Early Bird Rate 2300 US$
Available until December 31th.
Standard Rate 2500 US$
Payment Plan
We offer a flexible payment option allowing you to pay in 4 installments.
This includes
- Accomodation
- All activities, ceremonies,
all cultural experiences
- Daily meals
- All guided nature excursions
- Group travels
Discounts available for Brazilian residents and local participants.
What's not included
- Flights to and from Brasil
- Transport to and from the location
- Travel insurance
Contact & Questions
This retreat is a space for honoring ancestral knowledge and supporting Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian communities whose traditions and histories have often been overlooked or suppressed. If you have any questions or need more information, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We are here to support you as you engage respectfully with these living cultures and their enduring legacies.
We look forward to welcoming you to this meaningful experience of learning, connection, and remembrance. We will respond promptly and are happy to assist with any inquiries.