Retreats and Healing
  • AYAHUASCA
  • Retreats and Healing

AYAHUASCA

From the depths of the Amazon

  1. AYAHUASCA - RETREATS AND HEALING CEREMONIES


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    AYAHUASCA
    AYAHUASCA
    AYAHUASCA
    01 SAN PEDRO +
    01 SAN PEDRO +
    MANU NATIONAL PARK

     

    AYAHUASCA CEREMONY
     
    From the depths of the Amazon, the Ayahuasca is part of Peruvian Amazonian traditions; An ancient medicine, an ancient ritual that is capable of producing knowledge and healing for those who participate in it. An encounter with Ayahuasca, is without fear of exaggeration, the most enriching experience you have in life, is the re-initialization as a living being in this world. Ayahuasca is part of traditional Amazonian medicine and its use points to self-healing, since the indigenous tribes consider that the origin of the diseases lies in spiritual imbalance.

     

    What is ayahuasca?

    The term ayahuasca comes from the Quechua “ayawaska”, and can be translated as “vine of spirits”; “noose of spirits”, “noose of dead” or “noose of gods”; In other Latin American languages it is called caapi, nishi cobin, nixi pae, natem, shori and yagé. In the worldview of the native peoples, the ayahuasca liana or creeper is the rope that allows the spirit to leave the body without it dying.

     

    Ayahuasca is part of the so-called master or mother plants, because as a master or mother, she is tough with her teaching because she does it with love. Ayahuasca is an ancient concoction used ritually by shamans, healers or ayahuasque masters of the Amazonian ethnic groups (Shipibo, Matshiguenka, Yine among others) for more than five thousand years, as a path to obtain the expansion of consciousness.

     

    The ayahuasca brew is a drink that is made with the mixture of two plants native to the Amazon, which are crushed and cooked in water for up to 16 hours.: The stem of the ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi), which is a species vine (which does not create any psychedelic effect), and which contains alkaloids that inhibit the MAO enzyme; and the leaves of chacruna (Psychotria viridis), which is a shrub with elongated green leaves that contains a powerful hallucinogen called dimethyltryptamine (DMT - psychoactive factor). Hence, the effects of its consumption have often been associated with that of some psychedelic drugs. Our pineal gland naturally secretes small amounts of DMT, but when consuming ayahuasca its levels increase in the brain and an altered or expanded state of consciousness is generated, which favors the perception of visions; something similar to what is experienced in the dream phase, but in a waking state.

     

    The result of cooking the mixture of both plants with water for hours has been used for thousands of years by shamans of Amazonian tribes as a fundamental part of healing rituals, with the aim that the participants in the act find balance and achieve self-healing, since they considered that diseases had their origin in a spiritual imbalance, which could be corrected with this type of ceremonies, which are part of traditional Amazonian medicine. Many people who have consumed ayahuasca claim that it has helped them achieve a feeling of spiritual transcendence, in some cases maintained long after consumption.

     


     

    AYAHUASCA
    AYAHUASCA
    AYAHUASCA
    01 SAN PEDRO +
    01 SAN PEDRO +
    MANU NATIONAL PARK

     


     

    A MILLENNIAL RITE CONSECRATED BY SHAMANES
    Ayahuasca and San Pedro have been the answers to healing and spiritual life in the great Amazon basin and in the Andes respectively. Since time immemorial, shamans have been in charge of performing these ceremonies and thus achieving knowledge of wisdom and healing.

     

    HOW IS AYAHUASCA TAKEN?

    The use of Ayahuasca is involved in a controversial debate. Some people try Ayahuasca to experience their trips (these people probably won't take it again). A completely different and more acceptable approach is to try it in the wild where wisdom and answers are sought; The better the experience with Ayahuasca is, the more prepared and willing to open the doors of your spirituality you are.

     

    When patients take the plant, they need tranquility and little light since they are hypersensitive. One of the effects is that, hypersensitivity to light and sound, everything has to be very soft. The maluca fulfills the function of a temple, since that is where the ceremonies are performed. The essential thing is that it be a place isolated from noise and inopportune visitors, as well as having easy access to bathrooms, since vomiting or diarrhea can be frequent. The ritual consists of each person looking for their space, if possible as far away from each other as possible. The shaman or healer will begin to read the protocol of the ceremony and give the appropriate instructions, one of these is to maintain silence and not disturb others since it is a very strong personal introspective experience. From there, each member of the group will come to consume the concoction and in doing so will have to ask the plant for what they want to find.

     

    When taking the concoction, it goes through the bloodstream looking for points that need healing, then it focuses on the stomach and from there that chemical component is slowly released to the brain, which directs it to the pineal and pituitary glands and activates these glands to secrete hormones. such as dopamine, serotonin and melatonin that allow us to have memories, visions, dreams, emotions. Ayahuasca begins to take effect around 1 hour after ingestion (Some people vomit, others cry and some sleep), and alters consciousness, increasing visual, olfactory and tactile sensitivity. Anxiety and fear progressively decrease, and a deep state of relaxation is reached, where the individual experiences tranquility and emotional balance.

     

    Music is the central element of any spiritual ceremony, because it helps you concentrate and achieve the right state of mind. The type of music commonly used in ayahuasca ceremonies is called icaro. Icaros are spiritual songs used by shamans for different purposes. They may be composed by the shaman himself, or may have been transmitted by other people. The word ícaro belongs to the Quechua language and is a colloquialism used to describe magic, alchemy and other similar processes. There are many icaros, all of them designed with different purposes and carefully selected based on the purpose of each ceremony. Choosing appropriate music for a ceremony will depend on the knowledge of the shaman.

     

    BEFORE TAKING AYAHUASCA:

    The preparation of ayahuasca does not take place on the same day as the ceremony; it is preferable to have followed a diet beforehand so that the plant can do its job when the time comes and you do not have a bad time. This prior preparation consists of eating a basic diet: no red meat or processed foods; no alcohol or recreational or pharmaceutical drugs and avoid eating any animal for the last three days; It is preferable to first follow a diet based on vegetables and fruits. After the ceremony, the diet will continue for the next three days.

     

    Following the diet is vital and even fasting on the day of the ceremony since the concoction has a very bitter and acidic taste that purges and cleanses you, and for many people it causes nausea and vomiting, and the more contaminated your body is, the more you will feel the jolt of the purge; The objective of the diet is that the purification process that your body will undergo is less stormy in terms of the physical blow that you will feel. It is also advisable to meditate beforehand to come to the experience with a calm mind.

     

    EFFECTS OF AYAHUASCA:

    The DMT molecule causes, according to people who have consumed it, feelings of euphoria accompanied by dynamic hallucinations. These are characterized above all by the presence of geometric shapes and their transcendental character; in many cases they include perceptions of deities of a collective consciousness of Earth beings, etc. Many people who have tried this substance claim that it has helped them achieve spiritual revelations regarding themselves or their relationship with the environment, including the cosmos. In some cases the accounts of these experiences include supernatural phenomena such as travel to other dimensions and contact with beneficial spirits.

     

    The physical effects produced by Ayahuasca depend on the composition of the mixture and the dose ingested. Normally the user is first affected by a wave of nausea that can cause vomiting, and sometimes even mild diarrhea, the indigenous people consider this a cleansing effect to achieve a state of purity before encountering the spirits or gods of nature. Furthermore, parasites such as worms are expelled from the body, which frees it from any distractions of the old reality and the body can absorb the active substances more easily.

     

    Other physical effects may include a slight ringing in the ear, tremors, chills, intense sweating, and a slight increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Allergic reactions to the substances cannot be ruled out. But as a general rule, if you overdose on Ayahuasca, you will most likely simply pass out and ruin the experience, nothing more.

     

    According to experts, ayahuasca can be enormously beneficial, however, it should not be treated as a cure-all but as a tool that can complement other healing modalities. It is of great importance to perform the ceremony with an expert plant facilitator or a shaman, since the wrong dosage and orientation can be catastrophic. Excessive consumption can cause serotonin syndrome, which is characterized by the appearance of tremors, spasms, hyperthermia and sweating and can lead to death.

     

    BENEFITS OF AYAHUASCA

    According to a considerable number of testimonies and certain research, medicinal Ayahuasca has proven to be effective in helping people suffering from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, among other conditions. Studies have analyzed ayahuasca's ability to regulate cortisol levels. This hormone is produced by the adrenal glands and helps modulate emotional and cognitive processes. It is estimated that cortisol levels play an important role in the development of depression. Similarly, researchers found that depression rates decreased for up to four weeks in patients who attended an ayahuasca ceremony.

     

    In terms of post-traumatic stress, studies have found that the effects of this drink allow us to recover repressed memories and traumas, making them easier to identify and cope with. Likewise, it has been shown that the benefits of ayahuasca can be useful in combating addictions to substances such as alcohol, cocaine and nicotine. Ayahuasca is credited with enlightening effects of purpose and direction on spiritual issues, consciousness and well-being.

     

    MEDITATION WITH AYAHUASCA

    It is important to remember that ayahuasca is used as a healing substance, and never as a recreational drug. Most people who seek to experiment with ayahuasca do so for spiritual purposes, such as someone who meditates or practices a religion. Traditionally, it is consumed as part of a ceremony, which in turn depends on the shaman who leads them. But the basic principles of these ceremonies are the same, and they focus on the unity between the shaman, the plants, and the people attending the ceremony.

     

    Some shamans simply let the participants sit in the dark while the ayahuasca begins to take effect, and watch over them. Others recite psalms, songs or whistle, or blow the smoke of a powerful Amazonian tobacco (known as Mapacho) throughout the area to clear the atmosphere. Others swing leaf fans or incorporate other accessories into rituals. Science has shown that ayahuasca produces effects in the brain similar to those achieved through efficient meditation. And it's no surprise, since ayahuasca has traditionally been used as a spiritual medicine designed to help people reconnect with themselves.

     

    HISTORICAL CONSUMPTION OF AYAHUASCA AMONG INDIGENOUS TRIBES

    Ayahuasca is the basis of traditional medicine for at least 75 different indigenous tribes of the Amazon region, but the history of Ayahuasca is relatively unknown. Due to a lack of data and evidence, no one knows where the use and preparation of Ayahuasca originated, although various archaeological finds such as ceramic vessels, figurines, trays and tubes, more or less indicate that hallucinogenic plants have been used in the Amazon from 1500 - 2000 BC There are no written records from that time and it is suspected that the Spanish conquistadors who invaded the Amazon region in the 16th century destroyed tons of evidence from indigenous tribes for its blasphemous content.

     

    The Jesuits who traveled through the Amazon were the first Europeans to mention Ayahuasca and in a report dating from 1737, it is described as an intoxicating potion that is ingested to contact the gods and other purposes, and that has the potential to disconnecting one from all their senses and sometimes even from their life.

     

    CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE PERUVIAN NATION

    In Peru, the traditional knowledge and uses of this plant were declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation, emphasizing that its effects are contrary to those produced by hallucinogens. The effects of its consumption constitute the entrance to the spiritual world and its secrets. A traditional Amazonian medicine has been structured around the ritual. Its use and its results are necessary for all members of Amazonian societies," they conclude (National Institute of Culture).

     


     

    PHOTOS - AYAHUASCA CEREMONY - PERU AMAZONICO

     

    1. san pedro or Wachuma
    2. san pedro or Wachuma
    3. san pedro or Wachuma
    4. san pedro or Wachuma
    5. san pedro or Wachuma
    6. san pedro or Wachuma
    7. limpieza energética

    DIET

     

    The first step to face this experience is to be willing and perceptive that the teaching will come from another side. Teaching begins before the night of the ceremony and medicine continues indefinitely in time. The previous teaching begins with the changes in eating habits (it is better to stick to the guidelines if you want to avoid a bad time with the plant in the ceremony). The common goal of the diet is to purify your body and that the physical shock of taking Ayahuasca is not so stormy. The concoction purges and cleanses you, so the more contaminated your body is, the more it will feel the jolt of the purge.

     

    The diet is basically the following: do not eat red meat and the last two days it is suggested to avoid the intake of derivatives of any animal, do not eat processed foods, or irritants such as spicy or coffee, no alcohol, no recreational or pharmaceutical drugs, no dairy , no sex, rest the three days before the ceremony and maintain the diet the three days after for best results.


     

    VIDEO - AYAHUASCA CEREMONY - PERU AMAZONICO