Ayahuasca Preparation

Preparing for Ayahuasca

Embarking on an Ayahuasca journey is a profound decision that can lead to transformative spiritual and personal growth. Ayahuasca is a sacred brew with deep cultural and spiritual roots in Amazonian traditions. Indigenous tribes have used it for centuries for healing and visionary quests.

The psychedelic brew consists of two main ingredients: the ayahuasca vine, Banisteriopis cappi,  and the chacruna leaf, Psychotria virdis.  The chacruna leaf contains the psychoactive chemical N-N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and the ayahuasca vine contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). The MAOIs enable the DMT to be experienced in a long-lasting psychedelic journey that can last from four to eight plus hours.

Preparing to engage with Ayahuasca is as crucial as the journey itself. It sets the stage for a transformative encounter with profound insights and healing. Setting intentions, preparing the mind, body, and spirit, understanding how to talk to others about your experience, and choosing the right retreat center to mitigate potential risks are all important aspects of being well prepared to engage with the medicine.

Setting Intentions

The journey begins before the Ayahuasca retreat, with the setting of clear, heartfelt intentions. Spending time reflecting deeply on your motivations and what you hope to gain or understand through this experience is foundational. Working with Ayahuasca is akin to engaging in a profound dialogue with your innermost self and the universe; thus, clarity and honesty in your intentions serve as the guiding light for this journey.  This is an opportunity to consider what you want to create in your life.

Some examples of intentions:

• Teach me about forgiveness
• Teach me how to be of service to others
• Show me how to let go of what no longer serves me
• Show me how to cultivate a strong relationship with Ayahuasca
• Help me develop a deeper connection with the Earth
• Help me bring balance and harmony into my life

Although it’s essential to consider your intentions for why you’re working with ayahuasca, it’s also okay if you don’t have 100% clarity. Approaching Ayahuasca with more general intentions can lead to incredibly powerful experiences. For example, entering the ceremony with the mindset of a humble student ready to learn can put you in an ideal state to have a meaningful experience, and teach you about an aspect of self that was lying dormant within. 

Pre-Retreat Guidelines

Preparation for working with the medicine includes a set of dietary and other guidelines designed to purify the body, mind and spirit. This involves avoiding certain foods and substances, such as processed foods, alcohol, and caffeine, to ensure a clean system that enhances the spiritual encounter. La Medicina recommends stepping away from not just physical toxins but also digital ones—like television, news, and social media. Additionally, it’s critical to be aware of medication contraindications, as some substances can adversely interact with Ayahuasca.

You should avoid the following for four weeks before your retreat:

• Avoid all pork and related products, including broths.
• Refrain from using psychedelic or psychoactive substances, such as cannabis, MDMA, ketamine, and/or other psychedelics.
• Steer clear of recreational substances, including alcohol.
• Limit the use of pharmaceutical or over-the-counter drugs, subject to detailed discussion with our intake support team.
• For medications, particularly SSRIs, a discontinuation period longer than four weeks may be necessary (under the guidance of a licensed professional). Report all medication use during intake.
• Our approach to SSRIs and other drugs considers pharmacological, psychological, and energetic aspects, including and not limited to all medications and supplements are evaluated individually, so full disclosure in your intake form is crucial.

You should avoid the following for two weeks before your retreat:

• Refrain from sexual and sensual activities, whether alone or with others.
• Do not engage with other healers or energetic practitioners.
• Reduce consumption of highly processed foods.
• Limit salt and high-salt foods.
• Cut back on foods rich in sugars.
• Reduce intake of foods high in oils and animal fats.
• Avoid spicy foods.
• Do not consume blue cheese.
• Steer clear of peanuts, soy, and fava beans.

You should avoid the following for one week before your retreat:

• Avoid caffeine.
• Avoid refined sugars.
• Avoid pickled, fermented, and smoked foods.
• Avoid overly ripe fruits.
• Avoid dairy products.
• Avoid red meat.

Physical Preparation

Physical readiness is another critical aspect of preparation. While Ayahuasca requires no peak physical condition, being in good health can significantly impact your experience. Activities that overly stimulate or exhaust the body, such as intense exercise, should be foregone the week before you go on retreat. Opt for more mild exercises in the week leading up to the retreat, such as walking, hiking, and yoga. You should also avoid adrenaline-inducing activities such as extreme sports, skydiving, and getting a tattoo. The objective is to maintain stable energy levels and avoid peaks and drops in adrenaline before attending the retreat.

Another critical element to physical preparedness is ensuring you get restful sleep in the weeks leading up to the retreat. The amount of sleep we get directly impacts the way we feel in our bodies and minds. Going into the medicine space being well rested will help you feel more at ease about embarking on such an intense psychedelic experience.

Some find it beneficial to spend time in the sauna or steam room before leaving for retreat. Heat exposure can release toxins through sweat, and it can be a meditative experience, beneficial for your body and mind.  This activity is encouraged, up until a few days prior.

The aim is to arrive at the ceremony in a balanced state of being to the best of your ability. Of course, seeking a more balanced state may be one of your reasons for working with Ayahuasca, so don’t feel pressured to be in perfect alignment before you start working with the medicine. Do your best to be physically open and receptive to the journey, and Aya will work with you as you are.

Mental and Emotional Preparation

Mental and emotional readiness is important in preparing for your edperience. Letting go of expectations and cultivating a mindset of mindfulness, acceptance, and self-awareness prepares the ground for a more profound experience. Remember that things will unfold how they are meant to.  Trust in the process.

It’s natural to encounter fears and anxieties leading up to your retreat; acknowledging these feelings as part of the process is crucial. Practices such as meditation, yoga, and journaling can help you navigate these emotions and foster a deeper connection with yourself.

It’s also important to remember that healing and coming to a peaceful state of mind will be a gradual process. Letting go of expectations that all your problems will be solved or that you will be healed entirely will help prepare you mentally and emotionally for the experience that you end up having with Ayahuasca.

Working with Ayahuasca can bring up shadows, deep seeded trauma and heavy energies. Difficult ceremonies are not uncommon. Resisting and trying to control the experience is counterproductive to achieving deep healing. On the other hand, letting go and surrendering is a pathway to expanded awareness where the potential for all healing exists.

Cultivating a mindfulness practice before you start working with Ayahuasca can be extremely helpful. It’s normal for fear, sadness, and other heavy emotions to arise during a ceremony. If you’ve cultivated a mindfulness practice before retreat, you will potentially be able to bring this into your experience with Ayahuasca if and when you find that you’re encountering heavy emotions. Being able to surrender to your feelings will open up the medicine space for you. Immerse yourself in your feelings before the retreat, and you will have a solid foundation to take that practice into your experience with the medicine.

Spiritual Practices for Preparation

Incorporating spiritual practices or rituals as part of your preparation enhances your receptivity and connection to Ayahuasca. Meditation, prayer, and yoga can help cultivate inner stillness while journaling and artistic expression offers avenues for setting intentions and exploring your inner landscape.

Making music, creating art, writing poetry, and pursuing other creative endeavors can help connect you to higher consciousness and open up the connection between you, your higher self, and the medicine. You might find that your creative output intensifies in the weeks leading up to and after the retreat.

Practicing gratitude, forgiveness, and loving-kindness can connect you to your heart center and help you open up to the medicine.  Learning to cultivate a daily or weekly practice that inspires can allow not only a deeper connection with the medicine, but to your inner self.

Commune with Nature

Spending time in nature is a beautiful way to connect with the essence of Ayahuasca, which is nature in the form of a psychedelic brew. A connection with nature fosters a sense of reciprocity with the Earth and attunes your energies to the rhythms of the natural world, enhancing your preparedness to sit with Ayahuasca.

Take time to go hiking in the mountains, walk alongside the river, swim in a waterfall pool, or meditate underneath a tree in the park or the forest. As you spend more time in nature and cultivate inner stillness, you can tune in to a greater sense of peace and harmony.

Discussing Your Plans

Sharing your decision to attend an Ayahuasca retreat can evoke varied reactions. While some may offer support, others may express concern. Being informed about the reputable nature of your retreat center and the research supporting Ayahuasca’s benefits can help reassure yourself and others.

Even if you’ve chosen a highly reputable center and have provided scientific references as to the healing benefits of Ayahuasca to those who have concerns, some might still express concern and encourage you not to go. Ultimately, some may never change their opinion, and that’s okay. If some don’t support you, you can still follow the plant medicine path and trust in your decision.

Potential Risks & Choosing the Right Setting

Many physical discomforts can arise during the ceremony.  It’s very common to vomit and have diarrhea; this is part of the purgative process and a good sign that you are releasing that which no longer serves you. Purging can also manifest as crying, shaking, laughing, cold sweats, blowing your nose, yawning, feeling feverish, and experiencing intense negative psychological states.

It’s reassuring to know that the purgative experience is temporary and will subside by the next day, for the most part. Some people still might experience upset stomachs, headaches, and negative emotions the day or several days after the ceremony.

Considering the intensity of the purgative state that Ayahuasca induces, choosing the right retreat center is critical to ensure you have a safe and meaningful experience.

The curanderos (traditional healers), environment, and facilitators play a critical role. A safe, respectful, and supportive setting, provided by reputable curanderos and skilled and experienced facilitators, ensures a space where participants can fully engage with their journey.

La Medicina works with trustworthy Shipibo Maestros, who have many years of experience with Ayahuasca and other Master Plant Teachers. Most facilitators working at La Medicina have ten plus years experience working with Ayahuasca and thousands of participants.

No one has ever died or been seriously harmed at La Medicina.

Additionally, it’s important to understand the legal and logistical aspects of attending a retreat to ensure a comfortable experience. Ayahuasca is legal in Peru, so there is no need to worry about the potential legal implications of working with the medicine if you choose to go on a  retreat at La Medicina.

Items to Bring

Packing for a retreat, especially in the Amazon Jungle, requires thoughtful consideration. 

Essentials include: 

• Comfortable clothing for your entire stay – no laundry service available
• One pair of swimming wear for flower baths
• Loose-fitting long pants and long-sleeved shirts
• Light-colored shirts for ceremonies
• Underwear
• One warm sweater or jacket
• One rain jacket or poncho (rainy season is December through May)
• One small foldable umbrella (rainy season is December through May)
• Hat or bandana to cover your head after the last ceremony/arcana
• Sneakers and socks
• One bright white flashlight or headlamp
• One dim only red light for ceremonies
• Lighter for Mapacho (sacred jungle tobacco)
• Personal watch – no phone use is highly recommended
• Deet-free insect repellent
• Biodegradable sunscreen (if you need)
• Journal and pens
• Reusable water bottle
• Travel insurance
• Natural organic biodegradable toiletries only

After booking your Ayahuasca retreat, you will receive an email with a comprehensive list of all items you need to bring and not bring.

Integration and Aftercare

The work continues long after the ceremony ends, with integration being vital in translating insights into lasting change. Supportive practices, such as therapy and support groups, can provide valuable spaces for processing and understanding the Ayahuasca experience.

It’s helpful to have an understanding support system that you know you can rely on when you return from your retreat. Working with Ayahuasca can lead to profound healing and transpersonal insights, and it can also be incredibly challenging, especially if you have faced trauma in your life. Generational trauma can also be brought to the surface in ceremony, which can be difficult and complex to navigate without a support system. Having a therapist or group who has experience with plant medicines, particularly with Ayahuasca, can be an invaluable aspect of your Ayahuasca integration process.

Conclusion

Preparing for an Ayahuasca ceremony is a multi-faceted process involving mental, emotional, physical, energetic, and spiritual readiness. Approaching this journey with openness, respect, humility, and a willingness to embrace transformation can lead to profound healing and insight.

At La Medicina, we honor the sacred tradition of Ayahuasca and support each participant through this transformative process, ensuring a journey of deep exploration and personal growth.