Everything That You Should Know About Ayahuasca Ceremony in Peru

You may have heard about people traveling to the Republic of Peru to get experience with ayahuasca. Such a trip seems to be adventurous and mysterious, and it really is! The use of ayahuasca, a proactive brew, has a long history covering thousands of years. After going through a special ritual with the tea, people get a new perception of self and the world. 

Some people come to an ayahuasca retreat center to get rid of pain, undesired traits, etc., while others are looking for a cure for their diseases. Even scientists have found long-term physical and mental benefits of drinking ayahuasca. So, if this topic seems to be interesting for you, find out helpful info about the ceremony. 

What Is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a brew prepared from different Amazonian plant medicines, including Psychotria Viridis, a perennial shrub, and B. caapi vine made from Banisteriopsis caapi, a liana growing in South America. This mixture has been used by shamans for more than 2,500 years. The vine is important to blend with plant leaves to create a powerful ayahuasca drink. Other plant medicines can be added as well, for instance, San Pedro. It is important that each plant medicine is chosen very carefully to ensure safety and effectiveness for a participant. 

The ayahuasca drink has been the main part of the spiritual traditions of the Amazonian tribes. It is important to note that there is no one correct recipe, and each culture prepares the ayahuasca tea in its own way. The medicine allows achieving physical and spiritual healing; therefore, it is often called “Mother Ayahuasca.” 

The tea is not suitable for recreational use. While it is even possible to purchase ayahuasca ingredients on the Internet, if you are looking for an authentic experience, you should go to «Moyano» Centre to take part in secret ceremonies. They are called “retiros de ayahuasca” in Spanish. 

The drink is definitely a precious gift from Mother Earth which you should try, but drinking it at home is not a good idea. Eventually, the ayahuasca drink is only part of the healing ritual, and a shaman (curandero) is necessary to lead the retreats.

Benefits of Ayahuasca

Why should someone go through the ayahuasca ritual? Lots of people who have taken the drink report positive changes in their lives. According to recent research, the drink may bring a range of health benefits, including the following:

• Improves brain health and psychological wellbeing;
• Manages addiction;
• Fights anxiety, depression, and other mental problems.

It was proven that ayahuasca stimulates the growth of neural cells.

Why Travel to the Republic?

Ayahuasca retreats are offered in different countries, but plenty of people prefer to travel to the Peruvian Republic for many good reasons. First of all, the natives of the Peruvian Amazon Basin have worked with the drink for centuries. You will find shamans with deep knowledge and secrets from several previous generations. It has most of the retreat centers, so you could make the right choice and enjoy the effects for a very, very long time. 

All the plant medicines necessary for ayahuasca grow in the Amazon jungles, so you will get tea made of fresh materials. It is also worth noting that the beauty of the country is breathtaking, and you can visit various amazing places such as Machu Picchu. The prices for the retreats are quite reasonable, and it is pretty cheap to travel to the area to have the ayahuasca drink.

Preparation for the Ritual

Before going to an ayahuasca ceremony, each participant should not use alcohol, tobacco products, and caffeine for a few days or even weeks. Also, it is not recommended to have sex during the preparation period for the ayahuasca ritual. Additionally, you should avoid eating meat for 2–4 weeks before going to a retreat, which is important to get rid of toxins in your body.

Remember that ayahuasca can interact with a range of medications, including the following:

• psychiatric meds;
• antidepressants;
• those managing Parkinson’s disease;
• weight loss meds, and some others.

Since the ayahuasca drink can increase your heart rate, it should be used carefully by people with heart diseases. Does this mean that people with these conditions should not take this drink? This means that you should not order ayahuasca ingredients online and prepare the tea at home.

If you wish to improve your health, it is essential to go to a professional retreat center that has qualified healthcare specialists to examine your condition, choose the right dosage for you, and monitor your condition during and after the use of the ayahuasca drink. Also, the healthcare professionals, as well as experienced shamans, will determine how many rituals you should go through. Before the healing ritual, it is recommended to spend time meditating and relaxing. Therefore, retreat centers often offer special yoga classes.

The Ceremony

Ayahuasca ceremonies are usually carried out at night, but sometime they may be carried out during the day. A group of 5-25 people is gathered for the ritual. There may be several healers working together.

The following are the stages of the healing ritual:

• The seating is prepared for the participants;
• The place is blessed by a shaman supervising the ceremony;
• The participants are given ayahuasca
• The shaman starts singing icaros;
• Most people begin experiencing the effects of ayahuasca within the next 20–60 minutes. The effects depend on the dose.

The journey may last for up to 8 hours. The following are the symptoms that the participants may have after drinking ayahuasca:

• vomiting;
• hallucinations;
• euphoria;
• diarrhea and others.

The healers connect to each of the quests to determine what work should be done. Drinking ayahuasca can possibly lead to a traumatic experience, and it is important to understand that it is a part of the purification procedure. However, some side effects may occur if the preparation for the ayahuasca ritual has not been done properly, for instance, if a participant has been taking other drugs interacting with some components of the tea. Therefore, it is essential to go to a reliable retreat center where you will be provided with all the important information.

It is crucial to provide the participants with the necessary assistance. That is why professional retreat centers have trained staff members who help people with everything they need during the ceremony. Particularly, they help the participants to go to/from a bathroom. There is also security staff ensuring full safety for the participants of the ayahuasca ritual.

Dosage

The dosage of ayahuasca is given individually, depending on various factors. Also, those who are about to have their first experience with the drink are given a smaller dosage. The dosage will be increased gradually with every ayahuasca ritual you go through. 

Important Stuff During the Ceremony

In order to ensure the maximum level of comfort during the ayahuasca ritual, you should be provided with all the necessary things:

• Water;
• A blanket;
• Matches;
• A cushion for meditation and others

Important Rules

To ensure that the ayahuasca ritual will allow obtaining the most effects, it is essential to stick to a range of rules, such as:

• Having the ritual in a sacred, quiet space;
• Do not record it;
• Stay in your place until the ceremony is over;
• Avoid dancing or singing during the ritual;
• Avoid interacting with other guests.

After the Ceremony

After having a good sleep, the participants gather together to share their experiences and impressions. Individual consultations with specialists are also provided to help the participants in interpreting their visions and feelings. Additionally, healing practices may be carried out during the day.

Conclusion

Going through an ayahuasca retreat might be something that you need to change your life for better. It is impossible to have an authentic ayahuasca experience at your home because it is not only about the drink, but also a sacred place, an experienced shaman, professional assistance, and more. Trying to conduct the ayahuasca ritual at home is like trying to lose your weight by watching fitness training on the TV. The purification is a complex process during which you will likely have altered states of consciousness, and it is essential to ensure your safety.

So, should you go through the healing ritual with the ayahuasca drink? If you are serious about improving your life, you should.