Who or what is Ayahuasca?

The what is easy. It’s a brew made from vine (banistopseris caapi) and leaf (Chacruna vidria) both native to the Amazon and also able to grow in tropical regions of the planet. There can be additions to these two base ingredients but the brew of Ayahuasca is made from vine and leaf. It is then drank normally in a ceremonial context and imparts upon the drinker teachings and often times profound insights and healing.

Studies on this brew are numerous and various international studies have shown Ayahuasca promotes neurogenesis - the regeneration of neural pathways and networks.

It’s growth and popularity began to skyrocket at the turn of the century and the brew is now widespread and well known with many celebrities sharing their Ayahuasca experiences.

The who? Is a much more difficult answer. From a materialist perspective there is no who, however from a shamanic or indeed from a growing scientific consensus, there is a sentience to the plant world we are yet to fully discover or understand as modern humans. A sentience that tribes who have maintained their indigenous roots know much more closely.

Mother I Feel You

In the context of Ayahuasca and her many names the term Mother Ayahuasca has become commonplace. Anecdotal reports align to a feminine energy, maternal in nature that guides and communicates with them throughout the process. In some instances even appearing through the visions induced by the Ayahuasca brew as a female energy.

This naming or labelling of sex has been disputed by some, particularly those following indigenous lineages who view Ayahuasca as masculine or neither masculine or feminine. The name Mother Ayahuasca being critiqued as a projection of the civilised mind rather than a true representation.

At Sowa Soma we refer to Ayahuasca as being feminine as that is our current level of truth, with some important points and caveats to note. 

There have certainly been experiences where Ayahuasca has appeared and been felt as a feminine presence.

There have also been visions in which ayahuasca has been masculine or unzipped between masculine and feminine forms in a demonstration of neither being fixed. 

It’s also scientifically true that the majority of plants and trees are not a fixed sex being monoecious (having both male and female structures), yet many that work with them closely for spiritual purposes will label them as him or her, masculine or feminine.

We’re not claiming an absolute truth, we’re simply observing what we experience.

Why the mother or grandmother archetype?

A complex question and one we can only theorise with. We would certainly agree with the idea of projection, and projecting our needs onto the plants and the experience of communing with them.

It certainly makes sense that collectively, humanity is in need of a mother archetype. One that wraps them up in love and tells them everything will be ok, whilst simultaneously shaking down their misgivings and misbehaviours. Shining a light on the childish, immature and harmful traits we carry and impose on others.

These course corrections are often done with love and carry a sense that, however challenging and uncomfortable they may be, ultimately they are in our best interests.

Finding balance

As many first world peoples enter the space of Ayahuasca, they bring with them the baggage of living in what is often described as a patriarchal society. 

A yang or masculine environment, carrying all the traits of a logical materialist and reductionist mindset. An imbalanced worldview that is sorely lacking the feminine touch, the true female voice of yin, a greater connection to emotions and the unforeseen consequences of emotional repression.

Even from a scientific perspective our bodies are always striving to achieve a state of homeostasis or balance. Is it too far reaching to say that energetically we are also striving for balance as humans and as a society?

A balance in which both the strengths and weaknesses of the masculine and the feminine are recognised so that they can be harmonised. A balance in which the differences can be honoured so that both are given the correct time and space to express their unique qualities. 

As we lean in further to the balancing of the two sexes I feel it important to not underestimate its importance. As sex is the conduit through which creation manifests we can see it is not only a portal but the process itself by which creation is occurring.

As creation occurs through sex, the conjoining of the masculine and feminine we see clearly how creation as it appears now is a result of the balance or imbalance in relationship between masculine and feminine. Both in the individual, the partnership and in wider society.

Where this balance is misaligned or worse corrupted, the results are spoken and seen in the world around us as a consequence.

We’ve digressed but hopefully you can see that it’s not without good reason. For whatever reason, Ayahuasca is widely reported as a female, and we would hypothesise that this appearance comes through the necessity for balance, which at present would mean a rising of the yin or feminine to counterbalance the yang or masculine. Particularly within what we call the modern world.

This is not just seen in our politics, workplaces and homes, but in our relationship with the environment and our bodies. In our relationship with life and death, with light and dark.

The feminine is what is needed and so Ayahuasca appears as feminine for many. It is potentially a case of necessity rather than projection or misunderstanding. Esoterically speaking a need to return from all knowing to being at home with the mystery. A humbling of the mind and an opening of the heart.

And yet still we know nothing for certain, this is certainly an open topic. Let us know what your thoughts are, we’d love to hear from you.