DOCUMENTARY FILM
WACHUMA Sacred Plant Medicine
A documentary film revealing the gifts of the Grandfather Wachuma — the ancient shamanic plant medicine used for over 4,000 years in the Andes to heal spiritual and physical ailments. Through the lives of Oswal and Joann Pomaquiza, the film portrays their spiritual journey honoring the ceremonial practices and teachings of their Taita Miguel.
Directed and Edited by Natalie Romero-Marx | Produced by Brian Sachson | Eclectic Productions | 2022
WATCH THE FILM
The Full Documentary
This film seeks to amplify the teachings of the grandfathers, the ancient wisdom that the plant provides, and what it takes to walk the path of the ancestors in harmony with Mother Nature.
A Film by Natalie Romero-Marx
Directed and edited by Natalie Romero-Marx. Shot by Brian Sachson and Natalie Romero-Marx. Produced by Brian Sachson. An Eclectic Productions film. Premiered June 7, 2022.
ABOUT THE FILM
Two Shamans, One Sacred Path
Through the lives of Oswal and Joann Pomaquiza — two shamans, immigrants, and spouses serving Wachuma medicine in South America and the United States — the documentary portrays their spiritual journey honoring the ceremonial practices and teachings of their Taita Miguel.
Oswal, who was born in Ecuador, immigrated to the United States as a teenager. Joann, who was born in Cuba and raised practicing Afro-diasporic spirituality with her mother — a healer — has been studious of many schools of thought including Tao and Buddhism. Together, they lead the New Jersey Chapter of the Oklevueha Native American Church, where both are now dedicated to serving Wachuma medicine.
The film includes powerful testimonies of the transformational effects of Wachuma in people's lives — from healing physical ailments and emotional trauma to finding inner peace and a profound connection to the universe.
Featured In the Film
Joann Pomaquiza
Shaman, ONAC NJ Chapter Leader
Oswal Pomaquiza
Shaman, Ceremonial Guide
Miguel Mendiburu Saavedra
Taita (Teacher), Shaman from Peru
Nolan Checo
Firekeeper
Jessann Marie
Spiritual Healer
4,000 Years of Sacred Medicine
Wachuma (Trichocereus/Echinopsis pachanoi), also known as San Pedro, has been used in the Andes for over four millennia. The Spanish colonizers named it "San Pedro" — after Saint Peter who holds the keys to heaven — for its extraordinary power to open the gates of perception and connect the human spirit to the divine.
The Creation Story of Wachuma
As shared by Taita Miguel Mendiburu Saavedra in the documentary:
Long ago, the spirits of the stars sent a compassionate spirit-deer down to Earth to teach humanity the ways of love, healing, and connection. This sacred deer walked among the people, showing them how to live in harmony with all of creation.
When the spirit-deer's time on Earth came to an end, from its blood grew the sacred Wachuma cactus — a living gift from the cosmos to humanity. The cactus carries within it the same compassion and healing wisdom that the spirit-deer brought from the stars.
To this day, when people drink the medicine of the Wachuma, they reconnect with that original gift — the remembrance that we are all part of one great family, connected to the stars, the earth, and each other.
FILMED ACROSS TWO CONTINENTS
Filming Locations
Andean Mountains, Ecuador
The ancestral homeland where Wachuma has been used for over 4,000 years
Azogues, Ecuador
Oswal's birthplace in the highlands of Cañar province
Sacred Valley, Peru
Ancient ceremonial grounds of the Inca civilization
New York, USA
Where Oswal and Joann serve their community today
FROM THE DOCUMENTARY
Voices of Healing
The documentary captures powerful testimonies from ceremony participants who experienced profound transformation through Wachuma medicine.
I found inner peace and a profound connection to myself and the universe through the ceremonies.
On healing through Wachuma
The plant helped me break free from illusions and reconnect with my true self.
On spiritual awakening
Healing comes from looking within, letting go of past pain, and remembering our connection to the one big family of all creation.
On the path of healing
A Tribute to Indigenous Wisdom
This film is a tribute to the Indigenous peoples who have preserved these sacred ceremonies for the healing of all. Their wisdom, passed down through countless generations, continues to light the way for those seeking truth, healing, and connection in the modern world.
"Destroying the illusion of separation that afflicts us today"
Ready to Begin Your Healing Journey?
If the documentary has moved you and you feel called to experience the sacred medicine, we invite you to reach out and learn more about our ceremonies.