The Ayahuasca Journey
Engaging with Ayahuasca is a profound and serious experience—one that should never be approached lightly. This is not a journey for the sake of vivid colors or a fleeting "trip."
It is a deeply transformative process that impacts us on every level: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. The changes it initiates can resonate throughout your life in ways that are both powerful and lasting.
With this in mind, we highly encourage you to explore all the information provided on this page, as well as conduct your own research. The details shared here are just the beginning of your journey into understanding.
What is Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is a powerful, psychoactive brew originating from the Amazon basin, traditionally used in spiritual and healing ceremonies by indigenous tribes and shamans. Its name comes from the Quechua language, where "aya" means spirit or soul, and "huasca" means vine—together, they translate to "vine of the soul" or "vine of the dead."
This sacred medicine has long been revered for its ability to address a wide range of human challenges, offering profound healing and transformation, including:
Religious Trauma: Ayahuasca supports recovery by facilitating deep emotional release, inviting new perspectives, confronting fear-based beliefs, and fostering forgiveness and self-compassion. It often brings mystical experiences that help redefine our connection to spirituality.
Depression: Many participants report a sense of clarity and emotional release, along with a powerful shift in perspective on life.
Anxiety: The brew offers a unique opportunity to confront fears directly and can help reduce long-term anxiety.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Ayahuasca aids in the safe processing of traumatic memories, creating a space for healing and introspection.
Addiction: By addressing the root causes and promoting self-awareness, Ayahuasca has been integrated into addiction recovery programs, helping individuals break free from destructive patterns.
What To Expect...
The word "expect" is a tricky one when it comes to Ayahuasca. By its very nature, this medicine is known for offering experiences that are as unpredictable as they are profound.
Every person’s journey is unique, and each experience can be different every time. There is a common saying in the valley: “Ayahuasca may not always give us what we ask for, but it always gives us what we truly need.”
With that in mind, there are certain experiences and secondary effects that are commonly encountered.
The Psychedelic Experience
Drinking Ayahuasca induces a psychedelic effect that typically lasts between 4 to 6 hours, though it can vary depending on a range of factors. While under the influence of this medicine, you may experience some of the following:
-
Intense emotional release or catharsis
-
Audible hallucinations
-
Visual hallucinations
-
Deep introspection
-
Enhanced creativity
-
Connection to the spiritual realm
-
Heightened sense of purpose and meaning
-
Insights or “downloads” about the nature of your existence or the world around you
Physical Effects and Purging
Ayahuasca is also known for its common physical effects. While these may sound intimidating, they are often part of the healing process and can be viewed as purging mechanisms—tools for releasing stuck energy in the body, mind, and spirit as a result of trauma, programming, or negative thought patterns.
While engaging with the medicine, you may experience some of the following physical effects:
-
Nausea and vomiting
-
Diarrhea
-
Body temperature fluctuations
-
Increased heart rate or blood pressure
-
Shaking
-
Dizziness or fatigue
Safety and Precautions
Ayahuasca can produce intense experiences, but when proper precautions are taken—considering factors like set, setting, energy, and the competence of the ceremony leaders—it is a relatively safe medicine to work with.
However, while the risks are small, they are not nonexistent. We strongly encourage you to review the “risks” section to fully understand the potential challenges before engaging with this powerful medicine.
Preparation
Given the magnitude of the journey you are about to undertake, it is crucial to prepare thoroughly in the weeks leading up to the retreat.
If selected to participate, we will follow up with more detailed instructions—including emotional and mental preparations—but here are some general guidelines:
Dietary and Lifestyle Protocol
We recommend following a dietary and lifestyle protocol for at least 7–14 days prior to the ceremony, which includes:
-
Avoiding certain foods:
-
No red meat, pork, or processed foods.
-
Reduce or eliminate salt, sugar, and spicy foods.
-
Abstain from alcohol and limit caffeine intake.
-
Refrain from all recreational drugs.
-
At least 6 weeks without prescription medications that have dangerous interactions with Ayahuasca, such as MAOIs (e.g., SSRIs). Specific questions regarding your medications will be addressed during the interview process.
-
-
Favoring a clean diet:
-
Focus on fruits, vegetables, legumes, rice, and light proteins such as fish.
-
Post-Retreat Care
It is important to us that you feel held and supported as you make your way back home following the retreat. For this reason, we will be offering one on one calls and group calls over zoom to ensure a smooth transition. We will also be teaching a number of practices during the retreat which will help in this respect, as well as concentrated time to help you prepare.
Additionally, if you have capacity, it is highly encouraged that you plan to have a few days open following the retreat to properly process and integrate your experience. Depending on level of interest, we may offer any of the following at an additional cost:
-
extended stay at the retreat center for additional integration activities
-
A mountain hike with San Pedro (aka Huachuma), which is another, more gentle psychedelic medicine known for its capacity for connecting you with nature and further processing your retreat experience
Risks
Ayahuasca is not suitable for everyone. Specific risks include:
-
Medication Interactions: Particularly with antidepressants, SSRIs, or other drugs affecting serotonin levels, which can lead to serotonin syndrome (a potentially life-threatening condition). Participants will be screened to ensure none of their medications are contraindicated.
-
Heart Conditions: Ayahuasca increases heart rate and blood pressure, posing risks to those with cardiovascular issues.
-
Mental Health Conditions: People with a history of psychosis or schizophrenia may experience worsened symptoms and will not be accepted into this retreat. There are other kinds of MH conditions (such as persistent active suicidality) which will not be a good fit for this retreat, however, if you have doubts, we encourage you to apply and we can get a better sense of this during the screening interview.
-
Emotional Risks: Ayahuasca can induce challenging experiences including fear, anxiety, or distress. Provided you follow through on your commitment to complete the process and make use of the abundant support offered during and after the retreat, these experiences are part of the healing process and are fertile ground for transformative change.