Meet The Crew – Celestial Ark Retreat – Church of the Celestial Heart

About Arca da Montanha Azul

Arca da Montanha Azul, founded by Philppe Bandiera de Melo is a multi-faith, multi disciplinary esoteric school of mystery. It is by far the most advanced and elevated group of practitioners working with our sacred sacrament that I have ever encountered in all my years of combined spiritual practice. The methodology of Arca and the depth of its study has been fueling and inspiring the development of Celestial Heart in the last few years. As an initiate of this school, I am privileged to continue my studies here and have access to a vast body of knowledge and truly inspiring teachers.

The ceremonies at Arca cover a wide range of traditions, religious practices and truly infinite esoteric wisdom. It is the first school where I found a beautiful integration between the development of the social-spiritual and therapeutic aspects of this work.

There are a few foundational principles to Arca and its methodology. The first is deep respect and honoring of all traditions and all faiths. This means that within one night the songs and prayers come from many sources, acknowledging the different traditions and different masters. The second, is relating to every participant as a sovereign being, seeing the master in everyone.

There is a profound and harmonious blend in Arca between the practice of mediumship, artistic expression, philosophical study and incredible, live music. Every ceremony is themed differently, exploring the multitude aspects of the relationship between the Divine and its expression within an embodied presence.

I am so excited we have this opportunity to share in ceremony and spend time together with the Arcansis, hiking, studying, dancing and celebrating the beauty of Rio de Janiero together.

Meet the Founder

Philippe Bandeira de Mello

Philippe Bandeira de Mello – Jungian and Transpersonal Therapist (with a degree in Psychology); Former Technical Director and Supervisor of ‘Casa das Palmeiras’, the psychiatric clinic founded by Dr. Nise da Silveira, with a book published alongside her; Teacher; Clinical Supervisor; Transdisciplinary Researcher in Religious Science and Esotericism; Studied Past Lives Therapy with Roger Woogler; Author of the book “A Nova Aurora de uma Antiga Manhã – Surprising differences between the Sacred Plants and drugs – the mysterious properties of the Entheogens”; Founder and orienteer of the Holistic Circle Ark of Blue Mountain – a space for multi-religious research, dialogue and coexistence between different religions and sacred traditions, using Ayahuasca ceremonially as a sacrament; Initiated and Priest by OMR – Mystical Order of Regeneration (Initiatic School).

Philippe has founded and directed, alongside Marília Mello, the first Barquinha church outside the Brazilian state of Acre from 1989 until 1995. Arca was founded right after, officially in 1997.
Philippe has been working with Ayahuasca since 1986 and has been serving the sacrament since 1989.

He has traveled to many places and is a member of the Conselho Interamericano Sobre la Espiritualidade Indígena (CISEI). Philippe has accumulated years of study about the sacred drink, having participated in several round tables and congress about the theme alongside renowned researchers from around the globe.

Meet the Crew

Robson Madredeus

Robson Madredeus Carvalho

Robson Madredeus – Bachelor in Social Communications, scholar of Runemal (art of Rune magic), master in Reiki, crystal and herbal therapist. Robson conducts sessions of rune, gypsy tarot and aura readings, as well as Rune Healing, Pleiadian Stellar Therapy, Chakra Alignment and Herbal therapy treatments.

Robson has been a Rune Scholar for 15 years, ministers Rune, Reiki, and spiritual and energetic harmonization techniques based on holistic therapy and natural witchcraft which he himself has been practicing and studying for 17 years.

Marcelo Galvan

Marcelo Galvan is a teacher, a self proclaimed universalist, spiritualist, independent researcher and practitioner of Astral Projection. Marcelo has been claiming to have found in this tool a path to achieve lucidity (Within and Without the body).

Marcelo Galvan

Bruno Balthazar

Bruno Balthazar has a Bachelor in Theater by Uni-Rio and teaches arts and media classes since 2001. Bruno was initiated in the Afro-Brazilian traditions since 4 years old when he was baptized in Umbanda. At the age of 16, he was initiated in Candomblé and by 32 with the Ifá tradition. Bruno is an independent researcher with roots in the culture of the Terreiros and orality.

In the present day, Bruno integrates the “Solar dos Abacaxis” at the Arts and Education Institution and teaches Afro-Brazilian mythologies at Parque Lage’s School of Visual Arts.

Carlos Pinheiro

Carlos has been studying music for over 12 years, he is a music therapist graduated from the Brazilian Conservatory of Music. As an artist/therapist Carlos Pinheiro specializes in a study of different sounds and tones related to health, well-being, mindfulness and serenity of spirit.

He is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, his experience is guided by various meditative and ethnic instruments from different parts of the world, configuring an interior journey aided by various sounds.

Carlos Pinheiro

Luciana Amorim

Luciana Amorim has finished her studies in the Terrapia Living Food for Health Promotion in the Public Health National School (ENSP) and works with conscious and natural food for health and well being promotion since 2014. As a teacher, she facilitates workshops and free classes about living food in order to promote it’s practice.

As a cook, Luciana has worked for the top vegetarian restaurants in Rio and nowadays leads Sabor Solar, her vegetarian and vegan cuizine which serves frozen meals in Rio de Janeiro.

Maíra Luz

Maíra Luz, initiated in Arca da Montanha Azul where she practices and develops her mediumship and attendance skills. Maíra is our official coordinator for this retreat.

She has an undergraduate degree in Physical Therapy, and is initiated in Reiki and works with Auriculotherapy and energy alignment with crystals.

Maíra Luz

Raquel Salomão

Raquel Salomão has been a Yoga teacher since 2002 with degrees in Hatha Yoga, Restorative/Regenerative,
Yoga-therapy and Yoga for children. She is an Ayurvedic therapist, masseuse and student since 2004, she also fascilitates Reiki and Prana-therapy sessions.

Raquel is also a Crystal therapist and aromatherapist since the age of 9 years old, when a fascination and passion for crystals, herbs and magical practices bloomed like a flower in her life, never stopping the study and practice of magic, nature and dreams.