In 2008, the Peruvian government declared Ayahuasca’s traditional knowledge and uses as Cultural Heritage due to the fact that it represented one of the basic pillars of the identity of the native Amazonian communities. Despite some controversy regarding its hallucinogenic effects, Ayahuasca Retreat is only legally allowed in Peru as long as it is used as part of a spiritual ceremony and is under the strict supervision of a shaman.
What is it?
The Ayahuasca brew is obtained by mixing two or more plants: the ayahuasca liana found in the Amazonian rainforest and a bush called Chacruna, which contains the hallucinogenic dimethyltryptamine, also known as DMT. This hallucinogen is responsible for REM sleep dreams, or also the fifth stage, where dreams in general are full of intense emotions and follow a determined story. It is thanks to the components of the ayahuasca liana that the DMT (psychedelic element) can be ingested and take effect on our body. Both plants must be ground and boiled in boiling water for 16 hours, the taste obtained is usually bitter and acidic.
Ritual and preparation In Peru
We can find the largest number of retreat centers in Iquitos (capital of the department of Loreto) and Cusco. In the jungle, each healer attends at his home, where he has a maloca to receive patients. This maloca has a circular structure that serves as a temple, since it is there where the ceremonies are performed. In the city they usually meet in the rooms of some house, although we can also find a healer who is traveling through the city making a home visit for a more reserved meeting. The essential thing here is that it is a place isolated from noise and unwanted visits in addition to having easy access to the bathrooms, since vomiting or diarrhea may be frequent after ingestion. In the state in which patients are seen when taking the plant, they need calm and little light since they are ultra sensitive. One of the effects is that, hypersensitivity to light and sound, everything has to be very soft. As for the healer, it is essential that it be an experienced and recommended teacher by someone of our trust so as not to harm the emotions of the patients. The ritual consists mainly in that each person seeks their space, if possible the farthest from the other. The shaman or healer will begin to read the protocol of the ceremony and to give the indications of the case, one of these is to keep silence and not to disturb the neighbor since it is a very strong personal introspective experience. From there, each member of the group will approach to ingest the brew and when doing it will have to ask the plant what he wants to find. Some individuals vomit, others cry and some sleep. The most important instrument during the session is the «ícaro», a kind of mantra or medicine song that the healer performs, this ayahuasca song is a connection with the participants and guides them towards a learning and healing process.
Ayahuasca can be an excellent alternative for detoxing from other drugs. With caution in recommending alternative medicine, we have received reports of some retreat centers that welcome foreigners with drug problems to help them in their dependence.
We recommend:
The Kawsay Ayahuasca Retreat spiritual retreat center offers Ayahuasca and transpersonal experiences in the same Amazon rainforest. Ayahuasca retreats have a maximum capacity of 12 participants. It is the most serious and recommended Ayahuasca retreat center specialized and personalized in Peru and in the world(according to tripadvisor), you can visit it at www.kawsayretreat.com for more information.
