Healing Journeys & Future Projects
You’ve started taking hospitality professionals to Peru for healing journeys. What does that process look like, and why do you believe it’s important?
Yes, thank you for asking about this. The Tekmar Journeys. This is something very close to my heart and a very powerful experience, but it is not for everyone—only for those who are ready to truly heal, unlock their mystical abilities, and find purpose in their lives. It is time we heal the spirits of people dealing in spirits.
The ancient term for alcohol (Al-Kuhl in Arabic) has its roots in mysticism and esotericism, and means “body-eating spirit” or “spirit that consumes the body.” This is profound to think about in our dealings with the energies of ourselves when we consume, and the energies of others when we serve. Combined with the traumas of our outside lives and the inner turmoils of our psyche, hospitality professionals are extremely susceptible to quantum energies science cannot yet explain—and sometimes it takes natural and ancestral medicines to clear our minds, bodies, and spirits.
So after years of tracking and researching ancient beverages, rituals, medicines, etc., I believe I have found the points of origin and very ancient ceremonies and lineages of healers for two of the most important natural medicines in the world today: Wachuma (San Pedro) and Ayahuasca.
As well, my work with the Eagle and Condor has allowed me to form and develop very special relationships with sacred healers, spiritual leaders, and wisdom keepers of ancient tribes—such as Antaurko Patsakamaq, the Protector of the Inkan Sacred Legacy and the Keeper of the Solar Codes, or Wanka Inti, Kuraka of the Wanka Nation and Guardian of Quechua Wisdom.
So I have put together a special journey for hospitality professionals to travel together to heal in ancient ways—with ancient medicine, in ancient places, with ancient people, and through ancient ceremonies. When we travel, I have two indigenous spiritual facilitators of Quechua and Aymara blood who help guide, protect, and keep us balanced both in transit and in ceremony, as we visit each healer in their respective homes.
All across Peru—from the Incan point of origin deep in the chilly, magical Andes Mountains to the point of origin of Ayahuasca in the unyieldingly humid Amazon—what is being respected and honored by the spiritual leaders about what we are doing is this: we are combining the medicines in unison—the sacred masculine of the mountains through Wachuma, and the sacred feminine of the valleys through Ayahuasca—with the actual sacrificial journey it takes to get there.
These are two ancient medicines that were always meant to work together.
But the journey is just as important—and that’s what we’re doing. Not a retreat. Not just an experience. But an ancient journey of healing, commitment, and sacrifice—so that the medicines truly work.
Also worth noting: we use more than just Wachuma and Ayahuasca. While they are the apex medicines of the program, we also participate in Yape, Coca, Cacao, and sometimes Kambo (frog poison) ceremonies throughout the process.
Personally, these medicines have healed me in outrageous ways. After one particularly powerful Ayahuasca ceremony, I experienced profound healing and received messages from the universe. At the time, I was battling a mysterious illness, overweight, depressed, and at the end of my rope—but after that ceremony, something shifted in my mind, body, and spirit.
Without consciously deciding, I suddenly began fasting for 20 hours a day and exercising. I felt driven. Within six months, I was happy, healthy, 65 pounds lighter, and leading expeditions with Toltec councils to explore Atlantean sites.
But what truly excites me about this journey and the program I’ve created is seeing the transformation in the participants. Again, this isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking just to “get high,” it will be the worst experience of your life. But if you’re dedicated and ready for true change, this journey will create a revolution in your life—a liberation of your heart and soul.
Dean Serneels, the man who invented the FlairCo bottle, producer and star of the new documentary on flair, Shaken & Stirred, and founder of the Flair Bartenders Association (and a barman you should definitely interview), was a participant in the last journey I hosted this January.
He came to me months before, at the end of his own rope, seeking change and liberation in his life. He told me he wanted to understand what God was—and to feel again. Dean was the perfect participant. Watching his transformation, and his continued growth since, fills me with pride and joy.
During ceremony, I witnessed him come as close to God as he’s been in a very, very long time. I felt it. And he’s told me the same. These experiences are powerful and profound. And now that he’s begun to see his own light, he will soon assist in helping others find theirs—and eventually become a facilitator in ancient ceremonies himself.
I love Dean with all my heart, and I’m proud to call him a brother. Dean is a Jaguar Warrior, and now… he knows it. This is the way of the ancient medicines—and of the Eagle and Condor.
Now, I’m looking for those in the hospitality industry who are ready to heal, raise their vibration and awareness, and learn the ancient sciences and mysteries the Indigenous are ready to share. Those who feel called to become bridges and guides in humanity’s transcendence.
We can do this—by utilizing the very skills we’ve developed as hospitality professionals and bartenders—to become true alchemists of reality.
This is the Great Work.
And the Tekmar Journey is ready to assist.
What’s next for you—any projects, collaborations, or appearances you can share?
The universe is being very kind to me, and I feel incredibly blessed with some fascinating projects currently in the works and others on the horizon. That said, I’m still 100% looking to fill my time with even more collaborations—projects driven by people who know they’re here to change or even save the world through the hospitality and beverage industry.
So consider this my open call for meaningful partnerships and visionary ideas.
Honestly? I need to make some money right now to continue fueling my philanthropic efforts. Let’s build something together that matters.
But currently, I have some really cool stuff in the works. The main ones include:
TV Show – I’m collaborating with the same producer I worked with on Bar Rescue and Drink Masters on a new show concept I created. It blends international native beverages with social impact issues and explores humanity’s cultural unification. Think of it as an Anthony Bourdain-style journey, but through the lens of drinks, rituals, and the deeper meaning behind them. I’ll be hosting, and we’re currently shopping it to networks and sponsors.
Bartender Competition – I’m partnering with the historic Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, to host a national bartending competition focused on storytelling. This isn’t just about technique—it’s about finding the best bartender/mixologist in the West who can craft an unforgettable experience through their drinks and the stories behind them.
Project in Sicily – This year, I’ve made some truly incredible friends in Sicily, and I’ll be working with them to reprogram and refresh a bar concept in Catania. But that’s just the beginning. We have other special plans for the area, and we’re looking at ways to evolve mixology there in a way that honors both tradition and innovation.
Expedition in Mexico – Philanthropy and service to greater causes, mainly the Eagle and Condor Prophecy, remain the most important part of my life. So, every project I take on in hospitality, beverages, or television is ultimately a means to continue my mission to help protect and preserve sacred knowledge.
For the past few years, I’ve been working behind the scenes, recovering ancient, secret, sacred, and archaeological sites of knowledge for indigenous leaders. In October 2023, I led an expedition and excavation of an ancient site—one that the Toltec believe to be Atlantean—and what we discovered there was beyond anything we expected. Now, I need to raise funds and lead the next expeditions to return and secure the ancient entrances to what we found.
Consulting, Creating, and Collaborating Company
Hit me up!
Immersive Experiences – Adventure/Immersive Tourism is a growing trend, and I realize that my past experiences and connections through my travels and work—whether for research, business, or in service—have become a very valuable commodity to expand upon in this sector. And I can do them in ways that give back to the local communities, support much-needed philanthropic efforts or causes, or put money directly back into the hands of the indigenous leaders who really need it right now to protect their communities and unite the world while introducing and educating outsiders about other cultures.
So, on top of the healing journey in Peru, you will find me hosting immersive beverage experiences with the indigenous in Costa Rica (and soon Kenya), and next I’ll be announcing a mixology experience across Sicily with my new partners there.
Check out my social media for announcements of what we are doing if you’re interested in coming. Some are geared toward hospitality professionals, while others are for those who just want to enjoy themselves and are fans of beverages, spirituality, and/or culture.
Mamos to France – I have been entrusted by the sacred Mamos, the Indigenous leaders of the Arhuaco community of Colombia, to help them get to France on a mission to activate a mystical location we’ve helped them identify—one they say has a direct, secret connection to a sacred site and intersection in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I’m hoping I can facilitate this assistance with the help of the beverage industry and its brands. Let’s see if it works. I have high hopes.
Warriors of the Rainbow 3.5 – Last year, I had the absolute honor of speaking at the United Nations’ University of Peace Earth Charter Conference. The subject of my speech was an Indigenous prophecy called the Warriors of the Rainbow, which works in alignment with the Eagle and Condor prophecy. It speaks of a time when the world would be sick and dying—requiring mystic people from the colors and corners of the earth to rise up and assist Indigenous communities in bringing back the ancient mystical ways that can help unite humanity.
I am a Warrior of the Rainbow.
At the conference, I had the privilege of meeting best-selling author Grian Cutanda, who has developed a powerful and detailed plan to unite the Warriors of the Rainbow and help shift the collective consciousness of the world. His strategy is rooted in the idea that if 3.5% of a population participates in a protest or movement, it is guaranteed to bring about social or political change.
We plan to use this to peacefully address economic, ecological, environmental, and extinction-level threats.
We are currently uniting people across the globe, and I will be starting the first Hospitality Tribe of the Warriors of the Rainbow next month. If this speaks to you—you know where to find me.
Lastly, I think it may be time for a book
If you could give one piece of advice to bartenders looking for deeper meaning in their craft, what would it be?
I am gonna take the liberty to give three pieces of advice.
First, study intention and recognize that it is the key to every action. Impact matters, but there is no impact that isn’t shaped by intention.
Many years ago, Japanese mixologists came to the United States, not just to showcase their technical precision and the heart-shaped shake, but to share deeper, ancient sciences of hospitality. However, I believe the most profound lesson they brought with them was the same one found in The Hidden Messages in
Water by Masaru Emoto. His studies had a lasting impact on how Japanese mixologists viewed and explained their philosophy on ice.
Emoto was a Japanese researcher who explored how human consciousness affects water. His work suggests that water molecules change their structure based on words, emotions, and intentions. In Masaru Emoto’s ice experiment, water that was exposed to positive words, prayers, and harmonious music formed intricate, symmetrical, and aesthetically beautiful ice crystals when frozen. In contrast, water exposed to negative words, insults, or discordant music formed irregular, chaotic, and fractured crystals. His findings suggested that water—being a fundamental element of life—responds to human consciousness, intention, and energy, reinforcing the idea that our thoughts and emotions can physically influence the world around us. While controversial in the scientific world, his ideas align with ancient wisdom—suggesting that water, the essence of life, holds memory and responds to energy. Whether science backs it or not, it’s a powerful metaphor for how intention shapes reality. He also did the same type of experiments with rice and fermentation, in which he showed that the control that was ignored—meaning no energy was directed to it—became more putrid than the rest.
But unfortunately, he was laughed at by mainstream science. Scientists demanded to see the experiments done in the same room as Emoto, not understanding that it was his balanced Taoist philosophy that allowed him to do the experiments—and that even others being in the same room, with their own energies and intentions, would affect the controls and the results.
Now apply this same ancient, misunderstood quantum science to the indigenous tribes of the world—like the rainmakers of Mexico or, for example, the Mamos of the Kogi and Arhuaco of Colombia. Some of these sacred classes of people are chosen at birth and raised in caves for the first dozen or so years of their lives, never seeing light so that the pineal glands of their brains grow larger than any other humans. They are only visited by their mothers to be fed, and by other Mamos to be trained. When they are finally brought out of the cave, it is only at night—and only while blindfolded—to bathe.
They say when these people see the light for the first time and witness the world around them at the end of their training, they are filled with the purest love for everything they see, leading them to carry the purest intentions any human can have.
The rainmakers of Mexico train in much the same way.
And here’s the quantum science of it all: when you gather wisdom keepers and elders of people like this together and unite their pineal glands through ancient ritual—through music or medicine—and then direct their intention toward something like a cloud, they can affect the water in that cloud’s vapor and its fractalization, actually causing it to rain.
Raindances work—with the right intention.
So do not deny how much your intention can affect the water and all liquids that you, as a bartender, mixologist, or other hospitality professional—and your tools—handle. And the quantum reverberations your intentions can have on others as preparers and servers of drinks that our guests put into their bodies. This is sacred quantum science just now beginning to be understood, but never forgotten by the indigenous and spiritual leaders of the world.
Second piece of advice: understand your importance as a bartender, mixologist, or other hospitality professional to society. Throughout history, this was a sacred job. The bar was the BARricade in the pub or public house, which would also be known as a church, temple, or courtroom. Churches call the bar an altar and the barback an acolyte. In many cultures and spiritualities, there is very little difference between a bartender and a priest, by gathering people in mass, as we spoke of before. Hemingway was right.
But bars have also always been important places of balance and peace during times of war. Years ago, I was working on a show concept called The Most Dangerous Bars in the World. It took me down a rabbit hole of studying a place called the Locked and Loaded Bar at the Baghdad Country Club, in the Safe Zone of Iraq during the war. (Check out my Instagram Instagram if you want to see a photo of one of the hats of the bar that I secured from the security detail of Biden when he was Vice President and visited the location for negotiations.)
Throughout time, every war had secret bars in the center of the warzones, in safe zones. Bars for peace—where borders didn’t matter. Places where any politician, spy, mercenary, spiritual leader, etc., could go without weapons and be protected. Where the true negotiations of war and peace happened.
And the bar keepers of these bars for peace have been so important throughout time—sought after to be manipulated and controlled by outside sources. The barkeepers could send messages in drinks, like the ale flips with their loggerheads used as weapons, and secret coded recipes that could activate secret societies to fight one another and turn the tides of war. So the intention of the barkeeper, combined with an ancient duty, makes this job very, very sacred—and so are our spirits.
Understand the importance of spirit and the energy of our intentions. They are sacred. And so can our jobs be, as hospitality professionals, if we treat them as such.
Lastly, please, for the love of all that is holy, ask why? Asking why will help you know how to wade through the bullshit, regulate yourself, and stay humble by not letting yourself drink your own Kool-Aid, therefore keeping your ego in check. You will have to trust me on these things. I made the mistakes. I drank my own Kool-Aid while riding the gravy train the world was feeding me, and I became a cocky asshole, something that I spent many years to retroact so that I could return to the hospitality industry in humility. But when we honestly ask ourselves why about the situations and truths being presented to us and/or to our own thoughts and actions of the world around us, and answer it honestly, we gain a much better alignment and understanding of our environment mixed with a truer acknowledgment of self.
But let me give you one major example of a reason we should always ask why? This is something I have researched and fought for in various ways for years, and upon my return to the industry, it has become my personal mission to work with leaders of the original people of the world to change something that has been in front of our eyes for centuries—something that needs to be stopped immediately. For the energy of our industry, for humanity, and for the world.
By the way, if these words speak to you and this is a project you would like to be a part of, please reach out to me at [email protected].
Here it is…
What is the symbol of hospitality?
The pineapple.
Why?
The answer isn’t as sweet as the fruit itself.
In fact, it’s very, very bitter.
The pineapple became the symbol of hospitality not because it inherently represented welcome, generosity, or care—but because it was a colonial trophy and a symbol of conquest.
Historically, the pineapple is indigenous to Central and South America, cultivated and revered by native communities for centuries before European colonizers arrived. But when Europeans first encountered the pineapple, they didn’t see a cultural staple—they saw wealth, control, and exclusivity. It became a status symbol of power, flaunted by aristocrats, often never consumed, just displayed to showcase dominion over land, trade, and people.
Fast forward to today, and pineapples are still linked to exploitation. Many modern plantations sit on stolen indigenous land, poisoning rivers, displacing communities, and even threatening the lives of activists fighting for their ancestral rights.
Yet, the hospitality industry has embraced the pineapple as its symbol—slapping it on logos, menus, tiki mugs, and tattoos without questioning its true legacy.
That’s why this conversation is too big to fit into one interview.
➡ A full article breaking down the history, the ongoing impact, and what we as an industry can do will be published soon.
Because if hospitality is truly about welcome and care, then it’s time to ask ourselves: Are we honoring that meaning—or blindly upholding a relic of conquest?
(Stay tuned for the full article!)
Finally, what does the name “WISHKA” mean to you?
It’s crazy to think that Wishka is the only name I have heard or gone by for the past three years, even though it was given to me six years ago. People have told me lately that sometimes I don’t even answer to Russell anymore. It has been surreal hearing my real name again in conversations with old friends, fans, and colleagues I’ve finally reconnected with—some don’t even know what to call me anymore.
To the Tsimari Cabécar of Costa Rica, who call themselves the first people, the name Wishka means “Cat.” It was given to me because I had the first blue eyes the children there had ever seen and because, when I walk through the rainforest, I go barefoot. My pinky toe moves a bit differently than most people’s—anyone I’ve met or can find, actually. It pivots and helps me balance, especially on wet ground, which they also thought made me look like a cat when I walked.
So the children and the community started calling me the Cabécar word for cat—Wishka—while I was there studying ancient drinking culture. That work turned into service, including helping to build a bridge over dangerous waters in the rainforest and aiding in the delivery of necessary vaccines, both done in an effort to save the lives of the children of the tribe. At great risk, I helped pressure the government to deliver those vaccines, and I personally helped walk the doctors and supplies out myself.
The white man with blue eyes they call Cat.
On my last night in Tsimari, I heard growling under my mattress pad while sleeping in a hut near the village school.I jumped up, thinking it was a jaguar—but it was actually a pregnant cat that had climbed next to me for warmth. She had two baby kittens while I was sleeping. I had to leave at sunrise for the dangerous trek through the jungle back to civilization before the children saw the kittens and knew what had happened. But later, the local teacher told me that the children all believe I am a magical entity now—and they named the two kittens Russell and Davis. That was six years ago.
To me, the name Wishka is a symbol of my transcendence and evolution. It’s funny—Russell is a very hard name for many indigenous people around the world, from Africa to Asia, to pronounce correctly. Russell. And maybe it was the universe speaking through their voices, but as I was working with these first original people of the world, deep in the rainforest and jungles, when they tried to say Russell, somehow it always sounded like Asshole.
That had to be the universe, right?
So I welcomed the name Wishka—at the same time that the spiritual leaders of the world embraced me, the rest of the world was crucifying Russell. And it fit. Because when I introduce myself as Wishka, people always say, “Like whiskey?!” I laugh and give them a slick Texan cowboy wink as my answer, in the style only a charming bartender could pull off.
I was always more of a dog person anyway.
The name Wishka has also become a personal auspice—a sign from the universe that I’m on the right path. It has guided me to ancient secrets and places, including indigenous lineages connected to the original alchemists who created the water of life for ancient tribes—people who worked in alignment with the Pleiades.
There are actually significant secrets tied to this name and my mission—connections between Wishka, the real ‘stinky waters’ of whiskey, and the word ‘uisge.’ But I don’t have the time or space to explain it all in this interview, so I digress.
Recently, the sacred Maestro Flores of the Shipibo-Conibo people of Peru elevated my name to Whiskamby, which means “Man Who Has Traveled Far.” I find it funny that I received this name in the same time frame that I’ve been returning to being Russell as well. And, mysteriously, it sounds like “uisge beatha.”
Gifts from the universe.
We always return to origin. Always.
And it is how I fuse who I was and who I have become that will define what I do for the world (and the hospitality, beverage, and bar industry) next.
The man who has traveled far returns to his roots.
But now, I am changed.
I am trained, cleansed, blessed, initiated, and ready.
I have truly served, and I live in true service.
I am Wishka.
And also Russell.
And yes, sometimes, I can be an asshole too.
But most of all, I am here to be a beacon of light in dark places,
To raise the vibration of humankind,
And to be a bridge to healing and transcendence
Through empathy, courage, and love.
Feel free to call me whatever you like.
I am here. And that’s the way it is.
Kjamadi.
Halli!
“Success is never final and failure never fatal. It’s courage that counts.”
— George F. Tilton
I dedicate this interview to Ancient Shinto Master Ken “Masaaki Nagai” Kitatani and Toltec Ceremonial Master Mindahi Crescencio Bastida, both esteemed members of the Grand Council of Earth Elders of the Eagle and Condor. Most importantly, I also dedicate it to “The Mermaid,” my Muse. Without your love, support, and light, I would not have found the strength or inspiration to answer these questions.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and personal experiences expressed in this interview are solely those of Russell Davis, also known as Wishka. They do not necessarily reflect the views, beliefs, or positions of this publication or its editorial team. This content is shared as part of an open and honest dialogue intended for informational and storytelling purposes only.
