Hi, vibr8! How exciting for you!!

I first heard of Alberto Villoldo when the Enchanted Gardener gave me a videotape titled "Healing the Luminous Body"; this must've been around 6 or 7 years ago, maybe more! I was so fascinated with it, having never heard of this information before, and had never really understood anything about shamanism. I went on to buy his book "Shaman, Healer, Sage", and read his other books about his adventures/spiritual journeying in Peru in "Island of the Sun" and "Dance of the Four Winds"---fascinating!!

I had a personal appointment with him one time, about 5-6 years ago, but I was rather disappointed, I'm afraid--he was very kind and skilled, but he was adhering to a strict 50 minute session, was seeing people back-to-back all day (this was in Santa Monica) and it was extremely expensive--$350.00 for 50 minutes!! I needed more follow-up but didn't go back because of the expense, and felt that a shamanic healer would do better not to work on such a constricted time schedule, like a regular psychologist (which I know was his original training).

Having said that, I still believe very much in the principles he uses to work with people, and I am grateful to him for opening my eyes to the power of shamanism and to the culture of the Inca people, who, I thought, were extinct! I have gone on to work with several other shamans since.

My concern is not so much with him or his organization but with the money-making aspect of it. How on earth can a person of modest means ever afford to receive healing at the rates they set? The organization did refer me to someone who had taken his trainings and left the organization because she, too, didn't feel comfortable with the money machinery of it. I worked with this healer for many months, and she was able to see me for $125 a session, and she used to work with me for over 2 hours each time! This was about 5 years ago.

This is my own issue, of course. Healers have to charge a fee, as they need to make a living, too, but the fees need to be reasonable and I firmly believe that people in need who have limited funds should be able to get a reduced rate or to barter something in trade for treatment. I think about the indigenous shamans whose knowledge and skills are now being used by Westerners; they are often times poor themselves, but I doubt very much if they'd turn anyone away who was in need of healing even if that person had no money to pay, and I also doubt they limit themselves to a certain length of clock-time per session. This is not a problem limited to Dr. Villoldo and his organization by any means, but is typical of how Westerners corrupt what the indigenous healers have been sharing with us.

Just my opinion!

Blessings, Liora Leah