USMC, PTSD, Spiritual Journey & More: Two Part Series feat Luke Jensen

Jessie Virga
Jul 6
6 min read

Part 1

What do combat training and sacred plant medicine have in common? According to Marine Corps and National Guard veteran Luke Jensen, the answer is simple: healing.

In the latest episode of the Dr. Virga Podcast, I sat down with Luke, co-founder of Tiwaz Awakening—a one-of-a-kind spiritual retreat in the Peruvian Andes that combines ancient shamanic practices with modern healing modalities like neurofeedback, brain mapping, and jiu jitsu. And let me tell you, this conversation took us from warrior wounds to soul medicine.

The Warrior’s Awakening

Luke’s journey began like many veterans’—with silence. After his deployment to Afghanistan, Luke returned home to Omaha, Nebraska, struggling with undiagnosed PTSD and the emotional dissonance so many of our service members face. Conventional approaches weren’t cutting it. That’s when he discovered ayahuasca.

This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Luke did the work. He read the books. He meditated. He prepared his body, abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, and even sex—because, as he says, “anything that’s too stimulating affects you in certain ways.” You are preparing your body to be a vessel for something sacred.

His experience at a retreat in South America blew his worldview wide open. As he describes it, the ceremony shattered the barriers in his mind and gave him a glimpse of what Carl Jung might’ve called the “soul.” That moment became the catalyst for Tiwaz Awakening.

What Makes Tiwaz Different?

Tiwaz Awakening isn’t your trendy, influencer-led, California-based spiritual weekend. It’s not a backyard ceremony with a Spotify playlist and some incense.

This is a nine-day immersive retreat set in remote regions of Peru, combining:

Three Ayahuasca ceremonies
One Wachuma ceremony
Adventure hiking to sacred mountains like Ausangate
Jiu jitsu sessions
Yoga, acupuncture, neurofeedback, and brain training

It’s as much about inner exploration as it is about physical grounding. Participants interact with local communities, experience Andean culture firsthand, and challenge themselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Luke calls it “a return to original shamanism.” It’s tough love. It’s boot camp for the soul. And it’s not meant to be comfortable—it’s meant to evolve you.

Jiu Jitsu: Medicine in Motion

One of the most unique elements of Tiwaz is the inclusion of martial arts. And at first glance, it might seem like an odd pairing. But for Luke—and for many participants—it’s a crucial piece of the healing journey.

“There’s something primal, something honest about jiu jitsu,” he explained. “It forces you to be present. You can’t be in your head. You can’t lie to yourself. You have to feel.”

I know this firsthand. I came from a Krav Maga background, thinking I was ready. And then I got humbled by a 13-year-old girl who spider-monkeyed her way onto my back and taught me the kind of lesson you never forget.

Luke shared that this humility—that daily practice of surrender and presence—makes martial arts a form of spiritual training. Like ayahuasca, it challenges the ego and reminds you: You are not in control.

Sacred, Not Trendy

We spent a lot of time talking about the difference between a spiritual path and a spiritual aesthetic. Luke doesn’t hold back his concerns about the New Age movement and how it’s diluted the sacredness of ceremonies like ayahuasca. TikTok shamans. Celebrity retreats. Trendy rituals with no intention.

Ayahuasca, he reminds us, is not a fad. It’s not a party drug. It’s not a shortcut. It’s a sacred plant spirit medicine with deep cultural, historical, and spiritual roots. And it should be approached with humility, respect, and preparation.

As Luke said, “Buying the plane ticket is part of the process. So is the spiritual detox beforehand. You're showing the universe you're serious.”

Start with the Calling

Not everyone is ready. And that’s okay. As someone exploring this path myself, I can say: the calling isn’t just curiosity. It’s deeper than that. It's a whisper from the soul—a nudge that grows over time. And until you hear it, you’re not supposed to rush the process.

Luke’s advice? Meditate. Reflect. Set your intentions. Honor the sacred. And when you’re ready, do the research. Ask questions. Find practitioners who’ve lived this path—not just marketed it.

And if ayahuasca isn’t the right medicine for you, perhaps neurofeedback is. Luke also runs NeuroEnlightenment, where he offers remote brain training and healing tools that don’t require international travel or plant medicine.

Final Thoughts: Bring Back the Sacred

This episode wasn’t just a conversation about ceremonies and retreats. It was a call to remember that everything—from the mountains we hike to the gnats we swat—is sacred.

We’ve lost that reverence in the modern world. But we can get it back. Through jiu jitsu. Through plant medicine. Through mentors like Luke. Through the practice of being present. And most of all, through honoring the quiet voice inside that says: There’s more to this life. And I want to find it.

If you're feeling called, you can learn more about upcoming retreats at Tiwaz Awakening and check out brain-based healing options at Neuro Enlightenment.

Let this be your reminder: You are more than your trauma. More than your job. More than your conscious thoughts.

You are a soul.

And you’re allowed to seek healing.

Part 2

If Part 1 of my interview with Luke Jensen was a dive into the soul, Part 2 is a masterclass on the brain.

Picking up where we left off, Luke walks us through how his post-deployment healing journey was deeply transformed by brain mapping and neurofeedback—two scientific tools that are changing the way we understand trauma, especially in veterans. While the ayahuasca experience cracked his world open spiritually, brain imaging helped him see the impact of trauma in real-time—and more importantly, chart a path forward.

PTSD Isn’t Just Emotional—It’s Neurological

Luke describes how his first QEEG brain map revealed elevated beta wave activity in the posterior region of his brain—a known pattern associated with PTSD. Rather than being crushed by a diagnosis, this insight empowered him.

“It wasn’t just a psychological label,” he explained. “It was a brain pattern—and patterns can be trained.”

This is where neurofeedback comes in. Using non-invasive sensors and personalized feedback systems, Luke has not only retrained his own brain but now trains others—veterans, athletes, and even individuals with ADHD or depression—through his company, Neuro Enlightenment.

Healing Is Measurable

One of the most compelling aspects of Luke’s work is how Tiwaz Awakening now includes brain imaging before and after every retreat. It’s not just about how you feel—it’s about seeing changes in your neurological state, documented and validated by real data.

In one case, a Muay Thai fighter who had recently experienced a concussion showed significant improvements in her post-retreat brain map after just nine days of plant medicine, adventure hiking, neurofeedback, and jiu jitsu.

It’s a reminder: healing isn’t imaginary. It can be seen, measured, and replicated.

Neurofeedback: The Missing Piece in Mental Health?

Luke compares brain mapping and neurofeedback to going to the gym—but for your mind. His process identifies areas of dysfunction (disregulation) and creates training plans to strengthen them. And unlike pharmaceuticals, the goal is not dependency, but long-term neural rewiring.

He even noted how The Body Keeps the Score, a book many in trauma recovery reference, has new implications when you actually see the brain keep the score. Trauma, especially untreated emotional trauma, literally wears down the brain—something that can now be visualized and corrected through non-invasive means.

Merging Ancient Wisdom with Modern Tools

What makes Luke’s work so groundbreaking is that he doesn’t treat science and spirituality as rivals. At Tiwaz Awakening, plant medicine ceremonies and neural feedback aren’t separate—they are complementary.

Both methods utilize neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself. And when used together, they appear to accelerate healing. Whether someone is suffering from PTSD, ADHD, or just the burnout of modern life, this integrative approach provides a path to restoration—mentally, physically, and spiritually.

A New Frontier in Healing

Luke has already published studies on ayahuasca and San Pedro’s neurological effects (including what may be the first QEEG study of Wachuma). He’s now expanding into the study of coca leaf, and working on a meta-analysis using hundreds of brain maps from retreat participants.

And he’s not stopping there.

A retreat in Iceland is in the works, integrating Norse traditions, runes, and even the Icelandic mushroom.
His award-winning documentary, Cross Paths, captures a powerful reunion between two veterans—highlighting the fusion of ancient ritual and modern science.
And eventually, Luke hopes to bring Tiwaz-style retreats to the U.S., possibly starting in places like Wyoming or Colorado.

The Soul Still Speaks

As we closed out our conversation, Luke reflected on how these tools—ayahuasca, jiu jitsu, brain mapping—aren’t magic bullets. They’re mirrors.

They reflect back to us the pain we’ve buried, the power we’ve forgotten, and the potential waiting to be reclaimed.

The true journey is inward. The brain shows us the map. But it’s the soul that decides to walk the path.

If you haven’t yet, make sure to check out Part 1 of this blog (above) and listen to the full two-part podcast interview with Luke Jensen. You can also follow his work at:

🧠 neuroenlightenment.com – brain mapping and neurofeedback
🌿 twasawakening.com – Peru-based retreats
🎥 Keep an eye out for Cross Paths, premiering soon

Let this serve as your reminder that science, spirit, and healing can—and should—coexist.

We just have to be brave enough to look within.

Check out Luke's premiere in W3 Magazine!

www.thew3mag.com

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