1. Don’t Pounce On That Chocolate Cake!

After following so many dietary restrictions during your diet, your body has channeled the energy from Master Plants and you are brand new! To avoid shocking your new body, it is better to gradually reintroduce non-diet friendly foods back into your life. Foods containing oil, condiments, salt, sugar, dairy, meats, and cheese (hardest for us Frenchies!) need to be taken in slowly. This means that we must, must, must resist the appeal of delicious pastries and cakes, especially that chocolate cake that beckons you! Falling for the temptation prematurely will make you at risk of spending your next days on the toilet (you know what we are talking about…). If you have any doubts about food delays, click here to check for the post-diet suggestions. Like we mentioned, the work continues after the retreat and if not heeded, we may create an unintended food addiction. Besides, why not take advantage of the situation by introducing healthier eating habits? Hippocrates said it well when he said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

2. Don’t Bang that Man or Woman! Not Yet At Least!

Hearye, hearye! You are now an accomplished ascetic who heroically overcame the period of sexual deprivation during your retreat. Your shaman has duly warned you against all kinds of sexual practices when dieting your plants, and for good reason! Your vital energy is engaged on a higher level of vibrations and ignoring this prohibition can lead to very serious complications on both your physical and psychological levels. Your bodies remains extremely sensitive and vulnerable after your diet and it is therefore strongly advised to wait at least two weeks before engaging in any sexual practices (including masterbation), so that the energy has time to stabilize. Stay courageous and strong in your celibacy, and as we say at home: “The longer you wait, the better it gets!”

3. Let Pigs be the Plague That You Flee From

Before we dive into this sulphurous subject, allow us to clarify this point! There is no ethical, cultural, or religious reason behind the recommendation of banning the consumption of pig based foods from your meals. The Amazonian people will consume pigs but we challenge you to find a single vegetalist healer who eats pigs. Why? Simply because the ingestion of this particular meat is absolutely not compatible with traditional Amazonian medicine, this includes Ayahuasca and Master Plants. What do you risk by consuming pig meat? You may fall horribly sick with diarrhea, fever, nightmares, depression, madness. You may flip your diet and return back in an emergency to Peru to receive a cleaning by your shaman. Pig meat causes serious damage to diets. So serious in fact that those who work with medicines long term eventually learn to live without it.

4. Avoid Drugs or Alcohol

Alcohol and tobacco will acidify your body and their consumption long-term can be harmful to your health while your diet restores the acid-base balance and eliminates toxins from your body. Doesn’t it make sense to spend some time enjoying the fruits of your hard labor after intensely working on purifying yourself during your retreat without drugs and alcohol? Ayahuasca has putative effects in itself and acts on the digestive system to rid the body of microbial organisms and intestinal yeasts (see the ayahuasca effects). The DMT, also known as the spirit molecule, contained in Ayahuasca leads to a state of modified consciousness which allows one to observe their self-destructive, harmful, and limiting tendencies. When DMT is administered properly during a specific plant diet, it is very effective in helping you wean off of addictions (for example tobacco) and we don’t want to relapse into past habits! However if you must include these elements back into your life, wait at least two weeks after your diet and have a slow reintroduction in order to avoid shocking your vital energy.

5. For the Messiah That Can’t See You

As mentioned previously, it contains DMT and the visions provide foresight, spiritual connection, self-understanding, and inner dialogue… this is why Ayahuasca is referred to as a teaching plant. The provocation of mystical and spiritual experiences allows us to feel our connection with the Whole, with our inner divinity.

The caveat? When our consciousness widens and is released suddenly, the ego often comes with his two cents. Consider it the spiritual crisis that awaits us at the turn, a crisis that can be called the “messiah” or “savior” complex. Indeed it is that the mind tends to identify deeply with the experience. This phenomenal inflation of the ego is described by Carl Jung is characterized by the extension of your personality that exceeds its individual limitations. Jung says that the subject will identify with the qualities of the contents that are actually outside (refer to DSialectic of the Self and the Unconsciousness).

Let’s instead relax, go back down and breathe deeply. After all, give back to Caesar what beings to Caesar, and in this case – give back to God in all humility… Hallelujah!

6. Don’t Step Onto that Pedestal!

The border between spiritual awakening and fanaticism is sometimes very thin. After returning from an intense diet where you’ve traveled into the depths of the unconscious and cosmic abyss, there is that moment when we return to our family and social life. Rehabilitation during the retreat can be tough in the sense that we never return as the same person that left. When we see our loved ones, we are so eager to share extraordinary experiences but sometimes to the wrong audience. This kind of proselytism is likely to make you stand out (not always in a good way) and create a gap between you and those that you love. It also happens when you return and consider yourself to be more advanced and awake than others (ALERT: This is the inflation of the Ego!) 

Gradually, you’ll feel a sense of incomprehension, loneliness, and sadness. Remember that you are not the others and everyone has their own free will! Take a step back and it is your inner peace, joy, and ability to conscientiously share that will be the seduction point for others to become curious about your spiritual practice!

7. Don’t Run Away From Reality

There is a moment when you realize that there is a need to integrate the diet with other aspects of our life. You could be tempted to compartmentalizations or disassociate the two different worlds because it seems too hard! It is legitimate and normal to bend towards that state of liberation and well-being that results of the diet, but you might risk becoming too dependent on its practice as the sole provider or your happiness. Watch out for that! This state of being is real but believing that is it the only reality is the illusion! Creating a life where you are perpetually living on a diet often means that you’re escaping from your problems. Your family, friends, and community are also important and it is precisely by learning to live in your community while integrating your experience that allows for a harmonious and balanced life.

8. Feed From the Fruits of Your Diet

This command is a continuation of precedents. We saw the traps of the ego to avoid, phew saved! Good … what now?

This is the practical application. Let’s take this wonderful opportunity that has given us the medicine to integrate the changes. And for that nothing like daily exercises to reprogram itself to new habits more beneficial for oneself. Two slogans: self-discipline and mindfulness.

In order to cultivate mindfulness one can draw inspiration from Eckart Tolle and his book the power of the present moment. This may be for example: observe our daily actions even the most insignificant in appearance to detect any unwanted conditionings. Example: “..this food is it good for me …” (mc donald’s does not belong to it) “..Do I eat boredom? To fill an emotional void? By habit, etc. “ It is not a question of depriving ourselves, but rather of being attentive to one’s real needs and taking care of oneself. Why not also start practicing or resume Yoga, sports, meditation, music, etc …Everyone has to find what suits them best according to their desires. Self-discipline and perseverance in regular practice help to overcome self-destructive behavior.

9. Don’t Be Paranoid!

This applies especially to long time dieters! After many diets, the medicine is part of our life and this impacts our daily lives (most of the time it is in a beneficial way). However, we’ve always observed some cases of paranoia. This practice is not intended to make you sectarian, it is quite the contrary! It is true that our sensitivity increases with the diet. We are becoming more open but also more vulnerable to the energy around and within us. This is also about finding the right balance so you don’t fall into these extremes: Rejection of others, isolation, food and behavioral fanaticism, deprivation… Don’t think that you will die if someone eats pork next to you! Developing a climate of mistrust only makes you weaker and that is not the purpose of the diet. Being responsible and respectful of your diet means that you are not scared or frustrated. Remember this quote from Buddha: “All happiness in this wold comes from the openness to others, all suffering comes from the confinement within oneself.”

10. Hakuna Matata!

Our favorite Disney “philosopher” Pumba once said, “Hakuna Matata!” This means in Swahili that everything is okay, no problem! The objective of a diet is to open the door to lasting liberation and making profound positive changes. It raises the level of consciousness in a powerful way and allows everyone to experience a larger of existence. How cool is that?! For some, dieting can cause a concrete change of life that is lived from within. A life of purification, liberation, regeneration, and awareness. This traditional medicine makes it possible to create the link between soul and body, the invisible and the visible, the feminine and masculine. It is an energetic care aimed at the overall well-being of the self on several levels: physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual. Thus, we come out from our diets stronger, more anchored, and more open. Remember that one essential gift of the diet is that it allows us choose to live a better and fuller life! The way of coasting through life events, subduing the mind, and avoiding pitfalls created by the Ego are all linked with having a better life. If the diet is a trigger, your joie de vivre and your inner well-being are cultivated daily with a lot of patience, attention, and love. To live fully in your incarnation and to be in harmony is to be human. HAKUNA MATATA FRIENDS!

Thanks Ting!

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It turns out that the dimethyltryptamine (DMT) substance contained in Ayahuasca is already on the list of the Dutch opium law. This problem had already been discussed in court with members of the Santo Daime church using a brew similar to Ayahuasca the “Daime” for their religious rituals.

Like the United States, Santo Daime has been officially recognized as a religion by the Netherlands. Therefore the use of the drink “Daime” was allowed in the strict context of their religious rituals in accordance with the European Convention of Human Rights. Several charges had been filed against members of Santo Daime but resulted always in an acquittal.

This is an appeal procedure brought by the prosecutor at the Amsterdam court which will perhaps put an end to this “preferential regime”. By verdict of 28 February 2018 the Amsterdam court includes Ayahuasca with the DMT, and according to the opium law it is declared a threat to public health and society in general. This decision, which did not take religious considerations into account, seems largely motivated by the explosion of the use of Ayahuasca in the Netherlands in recent years.

A glimmer of hope

This case nevertheless seems far from closed. The defense appealed to the Supreme Court in The Hague. This case may even go to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. That gives back some hope and also give to Santo Daimes a little respite since the decision of the Supreme Court of the Hague ruling on the judgment of the Amsterdam court will only be issued within one or two years.

Meanwhile a team of experts will be formed to counter the current decision of the Amsterdam court. An important argument could be made against the recent attachment of Ayahuasca to DMT. The International Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 outlawed dimethyltryptamine (DMT). But this does not apply to plants containing DMT. Therefore, preparations from such plants as Ayahuasca are not prohibited.

However, faced with the craze of Ayahuasca, cases will succeed and it’s a safe bet that the current “gray zone” in which is the Ayahuasca now can not survive as long as the absence of legal and therapeutic framework remains. In this regard, we invite you to consult our article on the latest researches on Ayahuasca and the project of its use in psychiatric institutions in Zurich.

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It is above all a powerful emetic acting on the stomach, the digestive system and the urinary system. It also helps to get rid of parasites and some microbial infections. Native Amazonians have been using Ayahuasca for millennia. In many tribes, especially in Brazil, it is consumed in a collective ritual where all members of the tribe (including children) are invited. This collective medicine can be compared to another Amazonian medicinal practice called “Kambo”, known as the forest vaccine. But Ayahuasca’s collective rituals often look more like a party than a mass vaccination campaign. Indeed, ayahuasca is not only an emetic but one of the most powerful natural antidepressants. Scientists are just beginning to measure its true potential. Meanwhile, Amazonian tribes far from wondering about the issue are just healing themselves by consuming and vomiting Ayahuasca and get drunk.

Another aspect of Ayahuasca is the effects and visions it causes. Many Westerners looking for a cure for various diseases such as psychological disorders have begun their initiation with this medicine. This growing phenomenon and some misusings have led Western countries to qualify Ayahuasca as a drug and prohibit it. Nevertheless, a growing number of Westerners continue to travel to Peru, “the mecca of Ayahuasca”. They sometimes stay for months in indigenous communities or in Ayahuasca centers, with generally positive results, especially in the case of psychological traumas. Scientists on their side did not remain inactive, and some of them took the risk of doing research on this controversial medicine.

It appears that ayahuasca, a mixture of two plants (Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis) has a great medicinal potential that is not limited to the treatment of psychological disorders, but may well help cure many modern degenerative diseases such as autoimmune diseases, certain cancers, neuropsychiatric diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, bipolar disorder, atherosclerosis, diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disorders… Click on this following link to read more about Ayahuasca chemistry . “We already knew it!” Would say the natives. It is deeply human to be wary of foreign medicine like Chinese one for example, just because it does not fit our way of thinking.

Traditional Amazonian medicine is not just about Ayahuasca

Since their medicine has so much potential, it would be wise to learn and consider all of their healing process as a whole. And I have to apologize to the skeptic and Cartesian minds, but that also includes shamanism. Amazonian shamans call themselves vegetalists. This means they have a strong spiritual connection with medicinal plants called “master plants” acquired during a hard process of restrictions called “the diet” that one could compare to asceticism. These plants are their teachers and help shamans make a diagnosis to heal their patients. They also give shamans the power to heal by giving them medicine songs (ikaros) that they use in Ayahuasca rituals.

What can Amazonian shamans teach us about medicine? One of the most crucial aspects of healing is to fully engage in the process. And that may involve drastically changing our way of life to restore health and harmony within. All this is common sense you might say, and resembles the teachings of many Eastern philosophies. To be healthy or to heal we need to pay attention to what we eat, how we feel and what we think. Did not the father of Western medicine, Hypocrates, say, “Let your food be your medicine”. The well-known “mens sana corpore sano”, a healthy mind in a healthy body is still used today.

The origin of degenerative diseases

We knew this before, but it was before embracing our modern way of life. Junk food, stress, pollution, addictive behavior, all these factors seem to cause chronic inflammation at the base of modern degenerative diseases, as recent research suggests. Combined with cellular stressors, including cell suicide, a vicious cycle occurs, resulting in abnormal protein build-up, followed by complications. These chronic inflammations seem to have their origin in the microbial degradation of the intestines increasing the intestinal permeability.

So most modern diseases would have originated from the intestines… but it is precisely the favorite terrain of Ayahuasca! As stated before, it is an emetic, cleansing the digestive system of parasites and microbial infections. Since the DMT (psychoactive substance) contained in Ayahuasca is a serotonin agonist (capable of mimicking serotonin), it actually increases the level of serotonin but also increases the brain’s ability to capture it. This helps to gradually reduce stress and provide the patient with greater emotional stability.

But there is another neuro-receptor capable of capturing the DMT contained in Ayahuasca; the Sigma 1-R receptor. And it appears to play a major role in curing degenerative diseases. Recent research tends to prove that it prevents the accumulation of misfolded proteins, reduces the apostose cells (cell suicide) under stress as well as cellular stress. Other research reveals that Ayahuasca has anti-cancer potency. It destroys cancer cells, inhibits sugar consumption by cancer cells (warburg effect) and blocks their spread.

Is Ayahuasca an alternative to modern diseases?

Thus, Ayahuasca proves to be a potential alternative to cure most degenerative diseases. Some people have already taken the risk of healing with Ayahuasca and have gone to Peru to cure cancer for example. Some have healed, others have not. Like modern medicine, it is not 100% sure that you can cure yourself of serious diseases like cancer. It also depends on what type of illness you have and the level of its progression, but also consider that traditional Amazonian medicine can not be reduced simply to Ayahuasca. It is a medicinal science that combines hundreds of plants, and unfortunately we are sorely lacking in information about it … One or a few of these plants will be consumed by the patient during a process called “healing diet”. This is a very important process and much of the outcome will depend on how the patient gets involved in this process. Then there is also the power of the shaman. They know how to cure various diseases but sometimes their “diet” or their knowledge is not adapted to cure serious diseases. You would do well to choose the right one. Therefore, it is also difficult to speak with certainty about the effectiveness of a cure with traditional Amazonian medicine. So many factors are at stake.

Many Westerners have since experienced Ayahuasca during a retreat in Peru and spoke of it as a strong and unique experience. During the Ayahuasca sessions, they were able to see what was wrong in their lives, and during this emotional , spiritual and physical process they were able to see what needed to be changed in order to heal themselves and restore harmony. In many cases, it led to radical changes in addictions, spirituality, work, place of life and even relationships. It’s easy to advise to eat healthy and with plenty of fresh food, live close to nature away from stress and pollution; however, modern society is adapted to an urban lifestyle where most people live and work, and it’s even harder to consider when you have a serious illness. When we do become ill, we take pills and sometimes follow dietary restrictions in order to be operational again, but as soon as we feel better we return to our routine as if nothing had happened. Over time, inflammations and stress factors weaken our bodies while diseases become more severe and sometimes to the point where we can no longer be operational. We Westerners should really reconsider the concept of healing as a whole and admit the obvious. We are the master of our lives, and we have the choice to change for our well-being.

Warnings and therapeutic limits

Despite all this, and the extraordinary potential of Ayahuasca, it is necessary to approach this practice with great circumspection, especially in the case of serious illnesses. We advise people with serious illnesses not to take Ayahuasca without preparing themselves in advance. The acidity of Ayahuasca combined with acidity and weakness of the body could cause a devastating effect. As with many other diseases, the patient will have to undergo a cleansing process that can last one or two months as appropriate, before working with Ayahuasca. One must take care as well with serious psychological disorders such as psychosis or bipolar disorder.

Although Ayahuasca has proved very effective in dealing with psychological problems, we can not deny that the framework in which traditional Amazonian medicine is practiced does not offer the same level of security as modern psychiatric institutions. Several cases of suicide, psychosis and decompensation syndromes have been reported in some healing centers in Peru. This lack of framework is easily understandable since  traditionally, healers did not treat this type of modern psychological disorder in their own communities. Although they have sometimes had to deal with people who have “lost their minds” and are aware of Ayahuasca’s possible interactions with modern psychiatric treatments, they are not always prepared to respond to crises or regressive episodes. Some Western-run centers like Takiwasi based in Tarapoto, Peru, provide a safe framework for patients with psychological issues.

Legal use of Ayahuasca in western lands: dream or reality?

It seems that the great therapeutic potential of Ayahuasca no longer seems to be in doubt. But if we want to open the chapter of traditional Ayahuasca medicine to the Western world, we must take into account the needs of the modern world in order to practice Ayahuasca safely. Several so-called shamans organize Ayahuasca ceremonies in Western countries. These people who surf the “Ayahuasca business” without having received a reall “jungle training”, practice Ayahuasca out of traditional settings and often ignore the true potential of this medicine. This will not help Western countries to reconsider Ayahuasca as a serious therapeutic alternative. We recommend to people who want to heal with Ayahuasca to practice it in ceremony with serious shamans. If it is not possible for them to travel, at least choose qualified practitioners who have been “jungle trained” according to tradition, and whom have been really dedicated to this medicine. It would not occur to us to be operated on by an unskilled surgeon. It’s the same with Ayahuasca.

Switzerland new eldorado?

How could we consider the legal therapeutic use of Ayahuasca in Western countries? There have been some precedents with LSD for example. Stanislav Groff treated his patients with LSD in a psychiatric hospital and had good results, but when LSD was banned he had to stop his research.

In Switzerland, however, the country of A.Hoffman who invented of LSD, research on psychedelic therapies never really stopped. In Zurich, several psychiatrists including Dr Franz X. Vollenweider or Dr Milan Scheidegger to name a few are working on protocols for the therapeutic use of psychedelics such as hallucinogenic mushrooms in the treatment of psychological disorders. A Swiss citizen recently told me that Ayahuasca was of great interest to the medical authorities and that they were in the process of reconsidering the use of Ayahuasca for therapeutic purposes. If it’s true it truly is a big step for humanity, but a small step for the recognition of native peoples. Do doctors have the qualifications to know how to practice this medicine in its true potential as shamans do? Obviously not.

However in the same country, a collaborative project was born, with the aim of legally practicing Ayahuasca traditional medicine in Switzerland in collaboration with ashaninca shamans from Brazil. We wish them a lot of success and hope that this project will help create a synergistic model combining modern medicine and traditional Ayahuasca medicine for the benefit of all.

Sources: 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4773875/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4687784/

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This is the case in Dinamarca where nearly 3000 cuts of Ayahuasca were planted two years ago. Historically, inter-tribal exchanges have greatly eased the transmission of medicinal plants and their presence in the various communities testifies to this practice.

Today it is for the members of the association Isa weni de la Amazonia to perpetuate their heritage by adding a note of modernism, to create a large medicinal garden bringing together their most remarkable plants. This in order to provide local populations and westerners patients with the remedies that are often lacking. Safeguarding species and knowledge is the key word of this initiative that began almost two years ago, when the same association planted 800 cuts of ayahuasca. Today they are growing in one hectare different species like piñon blanco, ayahuasca or planta de la vida. The initial project was 12 hectares when it was launched in 2012 under the leadership of an NGO. Things have changed since then, but their will remains intact. We invite you to watch this video about this medicinal garden.

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Ayahuasca-retreats.info invites you to participate in a retreat of Ayahuasca in the shipibo community of Dinamarca, near the city of Pucallpa in Peru. These stays in immersion of a minimum of twelve days to one month take place in a family of healers, under the guidance of two accomplished maestros with more than twenty years of experience in the medicine. You will be welcomed upon your arrival in Pucallpa. Two apprentices will participate as organizers and facilitators to ensure the logistics of your stay, providing translation services (French, English, Spanish, German), and psychological support.

Healing Center in Dinamarca

Situated on shipibo-conibo's land, the community of Dinamarca is one of the cradles of traditional amazonian medicine.

Why taking  Ayahuasca during a Retreat ?

Concerning the question of knowing the value of taking a trip to Peru to participate in a retreat with Ayahuasca, there is another question that might be worthwhile. Why spend in an Ayahuasca retreat in Peru when you can find Ayahuasca in your own country? It is quite plausible that by simply taking Ayahuasca, one can achieve visions, and perhaps even teachings. However, this quest for vision could also be done with other psychotropic drugs such as hallucinogenic mushrooms or LSD. Why then want to experience Ayahuasca by far the most unpleasant psychotropic, if not for the purpose of initiation? And how can one come to learn Ayahuasca without guides, referents or therapeutic framework? One needs to understand that Ayahuasca is not just a strico-senso simple beverage. It is a medicine belonging to a coherent whole, bringing together the ancestral knowledge of the healers, their connections to the spiritual worlds of the master plants, and their knowledge of the medicinal plants. Thus, to truly live this experience and fully benefit from its therapeutic potential, it seems essential to approach this medicine in a traditional context. This is what an Ayahuasca retreat can offer.

First it offers a therapeutic and safe environment under the guidance of traditional healers. Their knowledge of medicine and the spiritual worlds associated with them are accompanied by a protocol which is the pathway to the introduction to the medicine of master plants. By connecting to the master plants, the patient initiates a dialogue with their spiritual world, the purpose of which is to reconnect with oneself, to measure one’s true potential, and the path that will have to do to make this vision a reality. Finally, undertaking this journey of initiation is to give real value to his experience, so that these few weeks are dedicated to him entirely. To implement the conditions conducive to its evolution is already the first step required for all changes.

What is included in these retreats ?

How can I book for this retreat ?

To validate your subscription to one of our retreats, you will be asked to pay a deposit by bank transfer of a minimum of 50 % of total amount. As soon as the transfer is done, your participation for the retreat is confirmed. Otherwise, your booking may be denied. The deposit can not be refunded. On the other hand, if you are unable to participate in the retreat, this amount will be provisioned for a later date. The balance has to be paid before the beginning of the retreat in cash (USD or EUROS). Banknotes must be intact. Precision for dollars, we do not accept banknotes whose numbers begin with the letters CB. Regarding the payment of your stay, if you didn’t pay in advance, we advise you to come with cash. Some credit cards are not functioning in Peru. Also, Peruvian banks put also daily & monthly limits on foreign cards. You might not be able to pay for your stay.

How to contact us ?

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Can I take Ayahuasca ?

Regarding your physical or psychological state, the healers can reserve themselves the right not to give Ayahuasca to a patient if they feel that his physical or mental health could be compromised. But this does not prevent anybody who seeks for healing to receive a treatment. It is not necessary to take Ayahuasca to be healed. Traditionally only the healer drinks Ayahuasca in order to see what type of energy or misbalance of energy is affecting the patient. Traditional amazonian medicine doesn’t resume itself with Ayahuasca. For amazonian people, the most important part of the healing is the Diet. We invite you to see if you’re able or not to consume Ayahuasca by reading the chapter speaking about contraindications related with the consumption of Ayahuasca.

Recommendations

In order to guarantee a suitable environment for all the participants during the retreat, it is asked to respect certain instructions. The retreat is a moment of introspection for everyone, dedicated for a therapeutic work. It is important to respect this framework as well as the rules of community life. Each participant will be into a process that can lead to emotional instability. These transition phases are completely normal. Nevertheless, everyone has the right to live this experience serenely. It is important to ensure that everyone’s space of tranquility is respected, especially in the rooms. Dining room or maloca on the other hand are spaces dedicated for sharing and communication.

During the ceremonies, it is asked to come to Maloca ( house where ceremonies are taking place) 20 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony, in order to prepare and focus on your intention. During the ceremony, there may be difficult times. The healers are there for you and will take care of all the participants. However, do not hesitate to call on the facilitators who are there to accompany you and to help you if necessary. Maloca is a sacred space. We ask you to respect the workspace of the healers, and to remain silent as much as possible until the end of the ceremony. For your safety, we ask every participants to stay near the maloca during the ceremony, until the effects of Ayahuasca vanish.

By joining this retreat, each participant commits himself to respect the therapeutic protocol established by the healers including the respect of the diet.If a patient violates these prerogatives, he may compromise his own safety and the safety of other patients.

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PASSPORT AND VISAS

No need to apply for a visa at the Peruvian Embassy to enter Peru. A tourist visa of 3 to 6 months will be granted upon your arrival at the airport of Lima. Check that your passport is valid on the date of your return.

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS IN PERU

We advice you to plan sufficient time with your connecting flights inside Peru, the safest would be to spend a night in Lima, and leave the next day. Due to several delays and flight cancellations from Star Peru and Peruvian Airlines, we discourage you to travel with low cost companies. Better use the services of Latam which is a bit more expensive but more serious. 

INSURANCES

We strongly advise you to take a travel insurance including repatriation. If you pay for your trip to Peru by credit card, it is possible that your card offers a range of insurance. This travel insurance generally covers risks for a maximum of three months. Please inquire with your bank or insurer.

YOUR MONEY

The national currency in Peru is Nuevo Sol (PEN), but US dollars are also in circulation. They can also be used to pay for hotel nights, for example. The average rate is 3 soles per dollar. You can easily change your US dollars or euros with banks or exchange offices. Note that foreign exchange commissions are often more important when it comes to changing euros. Your tickets must be in good condition if you wish to change them. Money changers no longer accept US dollars whose serial number begins with CB.

CREDIT CARDS AND ATMS

It is very strongly advised to inform your bank before your departure so that your card is not blocked during your first withdrawal in case of suspicion of fraud. ATMs accept Visa and Mastercard. Preferably use ATMs attached to a bank branch in case your card is swallowed. Prefer partner banks from your own bank to limit commission costs. Withdrawals are mostly limited to 500 soles / day. It is nevertheless possible to renew the operation in banks like Interbank (800 USD/day with a gold) but the commission costs are high. We advise you to pay your stay in advance or to come with your cash. The credit card can also be used to pay for certain expenses, such as hotel fees or some restaurants. These commission fees are lower than for a cash withdrawal.

AMAZONIAN WEATHER

Temperatures in Amazonia can vary between 68 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity can vary between 70 and 90%. It rains very often in the Amazon even during the “dry” season. The rainy season begins in December and ends in June varying the level of rivers and rivers.

WHAT CLOTHES DO I BRING ?

Plan for quick drying summer clothes and rain gear (K-way, rain cape). An ample and covering outfit type shirt with long sleeves, trousers will be used to protect you from mosquitoes. We also recommend some warm clothes type tracksuit, evenings can be cool, especially after a day of showers. Take a pair of bare feet with closed shoes and a bath towel that is easy to dry. Do not forget a hat or a cap, the sun beats hard in these latitudes.

WHAT TO PUT IN MY SUITCASE ?

• Summer clothes, rain, hot etc… (see above)
• Cocoon silk travel sheet
• Light sleeping bag
• mosquito repellent (spray & coils, tiger balm (very effective to calm insect bites!) 
• headlamp
• Water bottle
• Ear plugs (peruvian cities are noisy)
• A universal adapter for connecting your electronics devices (electrical tension in peru is 220 volts)
• Books, coloring, creative material or plastic art to keep you calm
• If you have room in your suitcase, you can bring back sweets, notebooks, school supplies and used clothes. They will be very appreciated by the children and will help to help the community.

DO NOT PUT IN YOUR SUITCASE !!!

The safety regulations at airports are becoming more stringent and the list of prohibited articles is growing … Any potentially flammable or potentially explosive objects such as lighters or lithium batteries (electronic cigarette, powerbank), must be placed in your carry-on. In Peru, you risk seeing your baggage stuck and missing your flight.

MOSQUITOS

Mosquitos are of course very present in the Amazon because of the tropical climate. It is advisable to bring a mosquito repellent product for “tropical zones”. There is also a specific spray for impregnating clothes (DEET-based). In most Ayahuasca centers, beds are equipped with mosquito nets. Remember to take anti-mosquito spirals. To calm the bites of insects, you can use according to your preference tiger balm, aloe vera, essential oil of lavender aspic, or buy on the spot of Copaïba oil, beware of cortisone! ! There are areas of malaria in the Amazon particularly around Iquitos. Most of the centers at risk of malaria perform regular fumigations. It is not recommended to mix anti-malaria drugs and Ayahuasca. It is better not to put mosquito repellent during Ayahuasca ceremonies. The smell tends to disturb the participants.

PERFUMES AND COSMETICS

During a diet or Ayahuasca retreat, it is best to use natural products and avoid soaps or shampoos containing chemicals. Also avoid conventional perfumes. Instead, opt for organic herbal cosmetics and neutral scents.

OTHERS QUESTIONS ?

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As the diet progresses, the relationship between the patient and the spirit of his diet plant intensifies. Gradually, the teaching delivered by the master plant helps the patient to understand the true meaning of his disease, promoting a real awareness. In parallel with this work of acceptance, the plant acts directly on the vital energy of the patient and administers to him his healing power. The goal of this treatment is the renovation and harmonization of the various energies that constitute the patient, be they physical, psychical or spiritual. There are two types of Diet, the Healing Diet and the Learning Diet. The Healing Diet is the initial step in making the changes necessary for any future learning.

Healing Diet

The cleansing or healing process is the longest phase and may not have any result at all. This is because different parts of our being are at stake, the physical body, the spiritual body and the mind. The majority of diseases reflect imbalances between these different forms of energy. It is necessary to clean and harmonize them so that the subject can increase his skills, his life force and find his center. The Diet initiates the necessary changes in the life of the subject, so that he raises his consciousness, develops his capacity for love and brings harmony into and around himself. For this it is necessary to obey certain rules of life and accept certain restrictions to find this balance:

Dietary Restrictions

The Diet period is mainly vegetarian with the exception of fish and chicken. The traditional Diet dish consists of grilled fish accompanied with boiled green bananas (boca chico platano). Red meat or pork are prohibited, as well as dairy products, fermented products, industrial foods, salt, hot peppers, sugar, spices, aromatic herbs, garlic, onion, shallot, oils, and most kinds of fruit. Quite simply, it is better to favor “neutral” and bland food such as starchy food, grains, boiled and raw vegetables. Meals are served once twice a day and in reasonable quantities. Sometimes even a period of fasting may be required, to leave the master plant a maximum amount of space. The food then becomes secondary and the patient is fully involved in his Diet process. This practice implicitly leads to overcoming his addictions and changing his relationship with food.

Behavioral restrictions

The use of alcohol and drugs of all kinds (with the exception of tobacco) is strictly forbidden because it can have dramatic consequences on the physical and mental health of the patient.

Medical restrictions

It is not possible to follow medical treatment when starting a diet. By this we mean both chemical drugs but also herbal medicines example St. John’s wort in the form of herbal medicine, or ingestion of aromatherapy etc. Their chemical composition of plants carries the risk of incompatibilities.

Social Restriction

It is strongly recommended during a diet process to isolate oneself as much as possible in a natural, calm, favorable place for self-examination and rest. By penetrating more deeply into his diet, the dieter will be more sensitive to the energies of others which may compromise its connection with his plant. Privileging moments of silence and meditation create conditions conducive to introspection. In the same way the consultation of media such as movies, books, social networks and internet are to be avoided as much as possible. These media, often marked by emotions or conflicting messages, have a potentially negative impact on the diet’s progress.

Sexual Restrictions

The channeling of sexual energy is a fundamental part of the Diet process. Like the tantric system, it is based on the sublimation of energy through its various centers (chakras). To work with the master plants it is essential to abstain from all sexual practices, including masturbation (avoid as much as possible any sexual thoughts). This ascetic approach is nevertheless a prerequisite for the healing energy and the teachings transmitted by the plants to become well rooted. Failure to comply with this rule nullifies all efforts made to date, but it is above all a real danger to the health of the patient. Indeed, the Diet engages our own physical and psychic energy in a subtle and sensitive process. Since we follow a treatment with the master plants, succumbing to a sexual act can destroy our psychic and physical balance, and lead us to madness or even death. Once the Diet is complete, it is “closed” by the healer. A new period of abstinence is also necessary (the post-diet).

THESE RESTRICTIONS MUST BE COMPLETED AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE STARTING A DIET PROCESS. PARALLEL, WE INVITE YOU TO CONSULT IN DETAIL FOOD AND MEDICINAL CONTRAINDICATIONS FROM AYAHUASCA CONSUMPTION.

Post Diet

Post-dieting is a necessary step in order to deeply assimilate teaching and / or healing. It is accompanied by less restrictive measures than the Diet and allows for a smoother transition into everyday life. In this way, energy channeled during the Diet or after work with Ayahuasca takes an active part in the patient’s life. It gives him the impetus to initiate the necessary changes. The duration of the post-dieting can range from one week to one year (in the Quechua tradition) and usually varies according to the type of Diet performed and its duration. In our Western societies, the social context can sometimes be a handicap and we may be tempted not to respect this so important post- dieting period. Keep in mind that this period demands very little compared to the effects that this work will have in your lives and those of your loved ones. Decisive changes that will make you more human than ever.

When we return to our life, relationships, or work, it is not uncommon to experience a shock. A period of rehabilitation will necessarily follow, which is why it is important to proceed in stages to integrate the work done. The goal is not to reproduce our former behavior or fall back into our harmful and limiting trends. The Diet offers us the opportunity to see profound changes in our lives so that they become part of our life. Respect of the post-diet is to take into account the efforts made to bring about a change and see its benefits come alive.

The integration stage begins with progressive rehabilitation. The following scale is given as an indication. It may vary according to the duration and type of diet performed and must be expressly established by the healer.

• As of day two:you can reintroduce a little salt, lemon, sugar and oils. The meal can be more varied with bread, fruit, vegetables, chicken or fish
• As of day four :condiments (peppers, garlic, onions, mustard, …), desserts, chocolate
• After a week:dairy products, fermented products (tofu, cheeses), cold drinks, ice, sorbets
• After two weeks:sexual activity of any kind including masturbation
• After one month:red meats, alcohol in moderation (avoid as much as possible the strong alcohols of the type whiskey, rum, cognac, etc…)
• After two months: pork. This is a special case. Its energy is incompatible with plants, so it is best to banish it completely from ones diet when considering other diets later.
• Taking drugs is strongly discouraged. Since alcohol is also a drug, it must be consumed in moderation.

Don’t forget to read our special chapter providing lots of hints on this subject 10 commitments after diet, retreat and spiritual workshop

Diet of Learning

To take the path of knowledge with a master plant is a way of life. This could be compared in intensity to friendship or even to a relationship. Thus along the path of the subject the relationship with ones master plant evolves as his consciousness and his relationship to the world changes. When the relationship is fulfilled, the presence of the master plant manifests itself as much at the physical, psychic and spiritual levels. It is the step of the stricter “Diet” where the initiate submits to a fast accompanied by meditation in isolation following his healing process. Traditionally apprentices isolated themselves in the forest for a year in a “tambo” (hut), without any contact with the outside, feeding on the bare minimum.

To embark on the path of learning is a decision that must be carefully thought out. The initiate who wishes to become a maestro (master / healer accomplished) must measure the sacrifices to which he will consent and the devotion he will have to fullfill all the rest of his life. To be a maestro is to be a medicine man, fully aware that being a healer implies the gift of self, a discipline of life, and respect for the diet. Non application of these rules will have the same consequences as when a diet process is not respected.The imbalance may be such that some maestros have abandoned their spiritual path or have had to restart from the beginning. Healers may also be confronted themselves with physical and psychological disorders that can lead to madness or even death.

The initiate who wishes to become a maestro will have to choose with care and discernment the referent maestro with whom he will carry out his apprenticeship. It is thanks to a relationship of mutual trust and a convergence of values that the referring maestro can transmit his knowledge in a positive way and guide his apprentice on the path of learning.

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Master Plants as Diet Plants

If we try to imagine the family of Amazonian master plants, we could find in the center Ayahuasca, Tobacco, Coca, Datura, which we can call “visionary plants”, and around these plants the extended family represented by master plants. master plants such as Piñon Blanco (Jatropha Curcas L.) or Ajo Sacha (Mansoa alliacea) are also visionary plants with teaching and healing qualities, but to access the visionary world of their medicine it is necessary at the beginning to use Ayahuasca or Tobacco. The patient will have to follow a Diet process if he(she) wants to connect with it. Master plants are no less powerful plants used to treat different diseases, help to rebalance energy, help the healer to make a diagnosis, and provide the patient with the clairvoyance that was lacking. However, when the patient’s state of health is of concern, the healer will first prescribe a treatment consisting of one or more medicinal plants. The patient will not be able to drink Ayahuasca as long as his health is threatened, but he will receive care during ceremonies. Later, when his strength is back, he will be able to drink Ayahuasca and connect to a master plant, to begin a deeper work.

Master Plants and Ceremonies of Ayahuasca

At a Ayahuasca ceremony, the healer will make a diagnosis of his patient and prescribe treatment. : the diet. The treatment may include one or more master plants and last longer or shorter depending on the purpose or complexity of the case to be treated. Supported by his icaros (sacred songs) and his knowledge, the healer will be able to identify the master plant that the patient will have to accompany the process of care. Once the master plant is identified, the healer opens the connection between the plant and the patient. By accumulating the energy of his master plant, the dietero (dieter) will gradually weave an intimate relationship with it, notably through the ceremonies of Ayahuasca, allowing him to feel better and to have visions of the spiritual world of his plant. Click on the following link to learn more about diets of master plants.

With regard to the master plants, we often hear that they modify or alter the consciousness. This is not correct. They have the capacity to change our perception of reality, the reality obviously remaining the same. This change in perspective highlights the shadows, it tells us the changes that must be made to bring love and unity back into our lives. On the other hand, it is the action of change that causes the modification of consciousness.

« ...sooner or later you're going to realize just as I did that there's a difference between knowing the path and walking the path. »

— Matrix

Ayahuasca and Tobacco

One of he master plant most unknown but most consumed in the world is undoubtedly Tobacco. If we approach the subject of Tobacco it is not to open a polemic on its current use but to observe it from the angle of the traditional medicine of Ayahuasca. Tobacco, as everyone knows, has been used for millennia by Native American communities. Appreciated for its qualities of mediator and amplifier, it facilitates reflection and communication with the spirits. In the Amazon, it is also used a lot especially during ceremonies. It is common for a healer to smoke tobacco, either because he wants to amplify his visions, or because he blows tobacco smoke on his patients to treat them. The strong smell of tobacco can indeed help a patient to vomit or allow him to concentrate when the drunkenness of Ayahuasca (mareacion) has given way to confusion and panic. Of course, the use of tobacco is not limited to that. There are also healers who work exclusively with Tobacco (Tabaqueros). The Tobacco diet can be very effective in treating cases of tobacco addiction.

Master Plants commonly used in Peru

Chiric Sanango (Brunflesia Grandiflora): A shrub with deep roots that grows naturally in the shade of dense Amazon forests. Its name means cold plant, because of the sensation of cold that it produces in the body after having ingested it. It actively works on the patient’s dreams. It is especially recommended for drug addicts, people with addictions, or those who lacked love during childhood. It is also prescribed by healers for elderly people with rheumatism and bone problems.

Ajo Sacha (Mansoa alliacea): Means wild garlic. Liana has thick leaves with a strong smell of garlic. It is widely used for all types of infections, and develops immune defenses. Ajo Sacha is a fire plant, producing a feeling of heat and muscle pain. Ajo Sacha acts on both the body and the mind. It is particularly present in dreams and helps the patient eliminate trauma and fear. It activates self- confidence and helps to recover faith in life. According to the healers, this plant is recommendable for people with lung problems, smokers, and immuno-deficiency.

Piñón Blanco (Jatropha Curcas L.): Tree with resinous leaves. Also produces seeds used as a purgative (see purge). It is prescribed in the case of patients looking for spiritual connection, loss of bearings or cut off from their feelings. It helps to connect with one’s soul and inner light, to soften angry and irascible temperaments, to facilitate the flow of energy through the chakras.

Marosa (Calathea allouia): a bushy plant recognized as the plant of the “heart”, it works on emotional wounds, trauma and sadness, cleaning up old memories that may include the genealogical line. This plant is suitable for depressed people. During a Diet, it fills one with joy and confidence and instills self-love. Allows refocusing on “oneself” and listening to one’s bodily feelings.

Master Plants and Perfumes

In Traditional Amazonian medicine, smells have the power to influence our emotional state. This is corroborated by studies demonstrating the scenting action of essential oils on certain brain receptors. Like tobacco, healers also use different perfume scents to treat their patients. To influence odors, the healer uses the fragrance of fragrant plants on his patients in the manner of Tobacco by blowing it on the head, on the hands, or on the body. For the composition of a perfume, the healer uses a base of cologne (the most common being the Agua de Florida) in which he can add master plants according to their specificities. The perfumes carry a healthy and positive energy, able to guide serenely the patient in his experience. We know the enchanting power of perfume, but at a ceremony in Ayahuasca, when the senses are awakened, this power is increased tenfold. This proves to be a particularly effective medicine to cure sentimental disappointments and self-destructive patterns, but it must be handled with caution. We are talking here about specific types of perfume. It is also recommended to arrive at an Ayahuasca ceremony showered with a neutral smell (avoid conventional perfumes).

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Preparation for the Ayahuasca Ceremony

Here are some important recommendations to follow before attending a ceremony. Like the Diet (see the diet of master plant chapter), it is important to follow certain rules in order to prepare for the care process and to ensure everyone’s safety. Like all energetic treatments, it is about preparing the body and mind for deep cleansing including some dietary and behavioral modifications. The work with Ayahusca begins with the implementation of these recommandations. It allows each patient to seriously consider this work and fully invest oneself, to ensure optimum results.

Process of an Ayahuasca Ceremony

An Ayahuasca ceremony lasts about 4 to 6 hours. It always takes place at night in an enclosed space, traditionally in a maloca (house of spirits). Each participant sits on his mattress and takes time to meditate on his intentions and the work he wants to accomplish during this ceremony. Then begins the distribution. In turn, the participants will come to sit in front of the healing maestro to receive Ayahuasca. Once the shot is drunk, the group waits in silence until the effects begin to be felt after about 40 minutes, sometimes less.

Culturally, only the healer drank Ayahuasca to diagnose and care for his patients. Participants are not required to drink Ayahuasca for treatment. It is a personal choice that must be decided according to its needs and objectives.

Ceremony opening

The healing maestro then begins the icaros, sacred songs to open the effects of Ayahuasca, the energy of his medicine, to allow all participants to enter a space of collective trance. After this step, the healer can work directly on the patients by providing them with specific care and make a diagnosis. This care can also be given in the form of massages. The healer also uses other tools such as chapaka (rattle), tobacco and perfumes, which he blows on the patient accompanied by the energy of his singing (soplada).

During the ceremony

During a ceremony, it is common to feel nauseous and experience vomiting and diarrhea. This process is a normal part of the purge and is often experienced as a release. This cleansing step resolves emotional, energetic, and physical blockages (see the chapter on the effects of Ayahuasca). The combination of the drink and the experience of the healer opens a space of trance punctuated with sensations, visions and introspection. Participants can see and experience all types of phenomena, meet animals, plants, observe geometric shapes, travel through space and time, … They can also receive help in the form of teachings, answers regarding their themes and initial intentions, in a process of healing and spiritual awakening. It would be tempting to summarize the Ayahuasca experience with mere hallucinations. It is only when one enters the world of Ayahuasca that one can really grasp the extent of it and begin to consider the extent of its possibilities.

End of the ceremony

The effects of Ayahuasca can last a good part of the night and sometimes until early morning. It is essential that the participant remains in the maloca or close to it until the effects dissipate. Once the effects are over they can go back to their room or sleep in the maloca. Sometimes the effects happen later. Should this be the case, do not hesitate to ask for help.

Food contraindications related to Ayahuasca

One week before the ceremony please refrain from consuming: 

• red meat (beef, lamb, veal, …)
• pork (ham and bacon included)
• seafood
• dairy products (yogurt, milk, cheese, butter, beurre, cream,…)
• fermented products (tofu, sauerkraut, soy sauce, niokmam, …)
• smoked products (dried fish, smoked salmon, …)
• protein extracts (steroids, liquids, …)
• canned soups, bouillon cubes
• dietary supplements (vitamins, hydrogenated foods, …)
• dried fruit (raisins, prunes)
• candied fruit
• dill seeds (in large quantities)
• Kombucha or other liquids from lacto-fermentation (in large quantities)
• caffeine, chocolate (in large quantities)
• aspartame
• hunger suppressant pills
• sodium glutamate (present in Chinese soups)
• As the ceremony approaches please reduce your consumption of oil, salt, pepper, condiments (peppers, mustard, vinaigrettes, pickles, Teriyaki sauce, …), sugar (sodas), pastries , biscuits.

Whenever possible, avoid eating industrially prepared meals. Instead, prefer healthy and natural food until the day of the ceremony.

Behavioral contraindications related to Ayahuasca

One week before the ceremony it is imperative to refrain from: 

• all sexual practices! (masturbation included)
• We also recommend that you avoid watching pornographic videos or horror movies. The content of these tend to cause interference in the visions and can disrupt the smooth running of the ceremony.

DRUGS: You must refrain from using drugs at least two weeks before the ceremony and two weeks after the ceremony (including alcohol, tobacco may be consumed).

Medical contraindications related to Ayahusca

If you are subject or have been subject to the following pathologies, the consumption of Ayahuasca is not recommended:

• cardiovascular illnesses
• hypertension, tachicardia stroke, hypotension
• stroke
• diabetes (serious)
• asthma (serious)
• Crohn disease, intestinal ulcers
• psychological disorders resulting in psychiatric treatment
• schizophrenic state
• bipolar disorders
• psychoses
• psychoses depression during treatment (use of anti-depressant drugs such as IRSS should be stopped at least one month before taking Ayahuasca)
• Cancer or any other autoimmune disease

If you are pregnant or if you are breastfeeding, it is strongly discouraged to take Ayahuasca.

Please refer to chapter speaking about drugs & active principles contraindicated with the taking of Ayahuasca

Warnings

Even when in good hands, sometimes the first experiences with Ayahuasca are difficult and even in some cases very unpleasant. These negative effects are in most cases inevitable. They translate the lack of clarity of our heart, our body, our mind, … and have the effect of plunging us into a great confusion. The same confusion that lies inside, we see it as a whole, it can be confusing or even discouraging. This helps us, however, to become aware of the extent of the path we will have to go through, as well as the invaluable help that the healer can give us throughout this process.

On the subject of visions: it is also necessary to take a step back. One can misunderstand the meaning of visions because they are primarily constructed from our own cognitive material. Only time allows us to have an overall vision, and as the process progresses, the understanding that integrates deeply gets rid of the confusion little by little.

Messiah complex: It is tempting to want to identify with symbolic phenomena and to feel as the new prophet with the teachings that we receive during experiences with Ayahuasca. Be careful not to fall into the trap of the ego! Keep your feet on the ground or you may miss out on your experience.

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