Oscar Miro-Quesada’s apprenticeship in northern coastal huachuma curanderismo formally took place between the years 1969 and 1986. His first immersion into the living soul and mythic reality of Peruvian shamanism was under the uncompromising tutelage of the famed huachumero don Celso Rojas Palomino from Salas, accomplishing intensive training and becoming don Celso’s segundo de mando en banco (second in command for curing sessions).

Less than a month after don Celso’s passing, don Oscar found himself serendipitously involved in a less formal four-year shamanic apprenticeship in the southeastern Andean Paqo tradition with famed kuraq akulleq don Benito Corihuamán Vargas from the village of Wasao near Cusco. don Oscar received his musqochiwarqa qallariy transmission as altomisayoq from don Benito in November of 1985, barely seven months before this deeply revered elder made his earthly transition.