Drinking ayahuasca for the first time

It’s estimated that over four million people have now drunk the Amazonian brew, Ayahuasca, with many more curious about taking their first steps on a journey with plant medicine.

Since the late nineties the popularity of Ayahuasca has been slowly snowballing to where we are today, with numerous retreat centres around the world offering an experience with this miraculous medicine. The avalanche of anecdotal reports about Ayahuasca’s life changing potential is interspersed with stories of harm and tales of woe. If you’re looking to drink Ayahuasca for the first time, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction and research the subject impartially. 

Ayahuasca is no magic pill

It’s important to emphasise, Ayahuasca is no magic pill and whilst miraculous healings and revelations are commonplace , they are by no means to be expected. The best healing being slow and integrated over time. The Ayahuasca ceremony is a place where we come to see our work, to find what ails us and see what changes we need to make in our lives.

Nothing happens without our commitment to a process of continual learning with awareness and self responsibility.  Knowing this before you drink is helpful in more ways than one. It releases expectations which are never a good thing going into ceremony, and helps you to plan for the aftermath.  People sometimes come to Ayahuasca with the attitude of ‘I tried everything else and nothing’s worked so I’m taking my last roll of the dice with Ayahuasca. Fix me!’

That’s not how this medicine works, you fix you, in a sense. Ayahuasca just shows you the way.

Choose a retreat and space holder wisely

The wild and wonderful tales involving Ayahuasca can often lead to a great deal of apprehension. By nature the plant is otherworldly and every sit with her is a dance off into the unknown for everyone involved, including those serving. Always we are dealing with the unknown, which in a sense is no different to everyday life. We never know what’s going to happen,  or what’s around the corner.

We can control the odds and place them in  favour as much as we possibly can, and when choosing where to drink Ayahuasca, the responsibility lies squarely on our shoulders. There’s the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to offerings. Taking your safety seriously can save you a lot of heartache and pain. 

Group size, facilitator/curandero experience, preparation support, integration support, physical space, location and legality are all considerations to make. Most important of all is trusting your intuition and gut instincts. No single place is right for everyone. If it feels off or like it doesn’t fit what you’re looking for, then trust that. Be patient in your search for the right place. There’s no need to rush anything.

Prepare accordingly for an Ayahuasca ceremony

Most spaces will provide you with a list of restrictions on how to prepare for ceremony. Not doing so can be your first red flag. Being prepared as well as you can be creates a sense of safety for yourself in knowing you’ve greatly reduced the risk of complications occurring.

Sometimes the restrictions are negotiable and that can be discussed with the space holder. This is necessary as we are all different and all facing different challenges around our health, both physical and mental. Be sure to work with your space holder to adapt your preparation where necessary.

Preparing mentally by slowing life down and going inwards as ceremony draws near is also extremely important. Quite often the energy of Ayahuasca can be felt in your life long before ceremony begins.

Create a support resources net ahead of time

As much as possible have care in place following your ceremony or retreat. This can come organically in the form of family, community, friends. This can also be in a professional capacity in the form of a therapist, integration coach or other healthcare professionals.

Know where these resources lie before ceremony and have them ready to call upon. You may not need them. If you do, it’s far better to have them in place. To know where your help is coming from. 

Be aware that not everyone will understand or want to talk about your experiences. Some will actively invalidate or dismiss them which can feel harmful. Knowing who you can trust post ceremony and having discernment around who you share your experience with is important to your integration process 

Always remember this is about healing

Healing is not linear and not always an easy road. We may need to walk through our own personal version of hell to get there. It doesn’t always need to be so hard either. We can be gentle with ourselves and take things slowly.

When it comes to Ayahuasca, no matter how intense things get, remembering that your best interests are always at the centre, allows you to navigate the darkest and toughest of moments. It might not always be apparent in the moment, but with time comes clarity.

Artwork credit: Moises Llerena