An Encounter place:
With nature, spirituality and our innerself
Balancing deep listening with purposeful action, we developed a space dedicated to serving Mother Earth through regenerative work.
Our holistic and therapeutic practices are designed for self-discovery, offering a clear path toward human evolution.
At our core, we value the reclamation of living ancestral memory, which echoes in the voices of traditional peoples and cultures across our land and the world.
OUR STORY
The name Yary is inspired by the Cedro Rosa, a sacred tree to the Guarani people. According to their mythology, it was one of the first trees born of Creation, giving sustenance to the Earth.
Today, science confirms the wisdom of this ancient belief: the Cedro Rosa is a “mother tree,” sustaining its entire surrounding ecosystem with a vast root network that nourishes other trees. Possessing numerous medicinal and spiritual properties, it is a symbol of life.
After observing the majestic Cedro Rosa on this land, we felt a deep call to carry on its mission. Our intention is to revive the fundamental values that connect us to Mother Earth, just as the tree does for the forest.
Our space was born from a deep listening to the strength and spirit of the Earth upon which we live.
The wisdom of our founder, Giovanna Jaxuka, was forged through profound learnings from indigenous traditions, which taught her about the strength and mystery of Nature. That journey is reflected in the land she now nurtures, with its wisdom infused into the very structures and experiences of Oca Yary.
Oca Yary’s story began in 2016. Its first structure, a temazcal, was built to give sacred birth to all that was to come. Rooted in the traditions of peoples from North and Central America, the temazcal symbolizes the womb of Mother Earth—a return to our origin and the essence of who we truly are.
The Oca Xinguana, was built by the Amary family from the Alto Xingu, of the Yawalapiti and Kamayurá peoples. Under the wise guidance of elder, healer, and traditional architect Ayupu Kamayurá, the structure was raised with reverence for the spirits of the place and in harmony with nature, offering a profound sense of protection. Each member of the family left their special mark, with ancestral symbols and sacred graphics painted on the structure.
OUR MISSION
Our transformation transforms the world.
With the intention of being a truly regenerative space, we honor the reciprocal flow between nature, spirit, and our relationships.
This is a place of joyous celebration, a bridge connecting people, to each other, and to the living world around them.
At our core, we cultivate self-knowledge as a pathway to consciousness and practice a deep respect for all of life, recognizing our profound interconnection with the whole. Love is our guide on this journey.
With a holistic vision, we offer practices and experiences that embrace the entirety of the human being. We cultivate self-care, expansion, and self-knowledge as a pathway to consciousness, human evolution, and a culture of peace. We recognize the profound and interconnected relationship between the body, mind, emotions, and spirit.
With the goal of serving as a bridge between peoples, we also facilitate the sharing of traditional wisdom by learning from indigenous traditions. We host experiences with various native communities, allowing participants to learn through their own narratives and awaken the ancestral memories that live within each of us.
Like a portal opening, profound wisdom awakens in this communion between self and nature. We learn to listen, to preserve, and to respect all our relations—from the smallest beings to future generations—fostering a coexistence in harmony.
Here, we are continually awakened by the song of the birds, the vibrant colors of the garden, the blue of the sky, and the profound silence that arises from being in a place of peace, both within and without.
We are nourished by the presence of medicinal and ancestral trees, by the animals who visit and share their vitality, and by the abundant earth ready to aid our healing. Through our diverse somatic and artistic practices and experiences with other realities, we expand our field and are reminded by the songs we chant of what is truly essential.
our team
Giovanna Jaxuka
A Transpersonal Psychology postgraduate and Naturology graduate, Giovanna is also a certified KRI Yoga instructor. She skillfully offers therapies with floral essences, phytotherapy, temazcal, and meditation, guiding individuals to deepen their connection with their inner self and with nature.
Giovanna Jaxuka’s journey is a continuous quest for balance and the development of consciousness, driven by a deep intention to understand the wisdom of nature and the mystery inherent in the All. She is the founder and guardian of Oca Yary.
Tainara Takua
Tainara Takua is a singer and songwriter from the Guarani Mbya people. A third-generation spiritual leader and guardian of her culture, she learned traditional songs from an early age in her village.
Tainara creates a bridge between ancestral practices and the present day through her original songs, many of which feature the traditional Guarani guitar. You can find her music on Spotify and YouTube, where she shares her unique artistic and cultural voice.
Isadora
Producer for Oca Yary, coming directly from Rio de Janeiro. With her Carioca accent, she spreads harmony and a sense of lightness throughout the space.
ana castro
Ana Castro sees herself as an apprentice of the Earth. A biologist with a Master’s degree in Community Education, she works as a consultant for socio-environmental projects.
For 15 years, she has walked a path guided by ancestral wisdom, indigenous peoples, and the medicines of the forest. She works with Deep Ecology as a way to reconnect with our inner nature and reclaim the vital perception that we are an integrated part of the Cosmos.
In this integration, she identifies the path for the systemic regeneration of our relationships and of the Earth.
A´xuan Castro
Axuan’s journey with OCA Yary started when he arrived from Guatemala, sparking a beautiful friendship that has flourished ever since. This bond grew even stronger as he took the lead in creating our website and visual identity, a contribution where his vision and experience proved to be invaluable.
We are overjoyed to have him as an active part of our team, enriching our project each and every day.
“Deep ecology does not separate humans—or anything else—from the natural environment. It sees the world not as a collection of isolated objects, but as a network of phenomena that are fundamentally interconnected and interdependent. Deep ecology recognizes the intrinsic value of all living beings and views humans as just one particular strand in the web of life.”
— KEN WILBER