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New Participant’s Guide (RdA)

 

 

 

About this guide

The guide you have in front of you has been written with the purpose of orienting people with no previous experience and/or who want to participate in ayahuasca sessions that are geographically outside the Amazonian context.

Here you will find information about what ayahuasca is, its effects, benefits and risks, and the particularities of the session in which you are going to participate.

You will also read about contraindications, ethical considerations, rights and duties of the participants, as well as recommendations before, during and after the session.

We recommend that you read this guide twice, once before the session to prepare yourself, and again a few days later, to help you interpret the experience.

 

About Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca is prepared through a decoction of different plants of Amazonian origin. For centuries, different inhabitants of the Amazon have used this drink as part of their traditional medicine, as well as in spiritual rituals.

In recent years its use has been expanding, globalizing and reaching people in other countries who approach it as a tool for personal or spiritual development, or with therapeutic purposes. Ayahuasca is consumed in sessions that are guided by a facilitator or guide; a person with experience in these processes, who serves ayahuasca and accompanies and attends the participants.

 

Composition

Ayahuasca is prepared by cooking together two plants, the ayahuasca vine (banisteriopsis caapi), and the leaves of Chacruna (psychotria viridis). Although this is the most widespread formula, it can also be prepared with other plants such as Chagropanga (diplopterys cabrerana, to make the Colombian «yagé»).

In our sessions the drink is composed of ayahuasca liana (banisteriopsis caapi), and the leaves of Chacruna (psychotria viridis).

 

 

Effects

After drinking ayahuasca, the effects begin to be felt between the first 15 to 60 minutes, and last between 2 and 5 hours. Ayahuasca induces an expanded state of consciousness where it is common to have visions and alterations in the way of thinking and perceiving reality. Memories of the past often emerge and emotions may surface, which are experienced more intensely than normal.

Many consider ayahuasca as a kind of mirror of one’s inner world, where one can better see inner conflicts, fears or difficult emotions, but also wonderful and positive parts of one’s life. Experiences with the plant are not repeated, each time a person takes it the experience is different, just as it is different for each person.

The plant often brings out deep material from the unconscious and can open very deep processes of personal work that in some cases require a long time to be properly elaborated and completed.

Its ingestion can cause vomiting and diarrhea, both temporary and not pathological. In Amazonian traditions both are interpreted as «purge work», a form of emotional, physical and energetic cleansing.

Due to the profound impact that taking Ayahuasca can have on a person’s life, many guides suggest that no one should recommend to another person wether to take it or not, as this is a highly personal decision and should never be induced. The medium and long term effects that ayahuasca has on each person are unpredictable and vary from group to group and from person to person, but it can be said that sometimes it brings very profound changes in people’s lives, and this is something that those interested in taking it should take into account.

Ayahuasca is sometimes presented as a panacea. However, it is only a tool, which in case of being well used, can act as a catalyst for a therapeutic process, generating greater awareness, and in case of inappropriate and irresponsible use, can worsen certain problems or even generate new ones.

 

 

Benefits

Some academics believe that ayahuasca acts as an adaptogen, helping people find a better fit with themselves and their environment, there are many reports of people who after a process with ayahuasca say they received a clear benefit both personally and for their immediate environment.

Depending on the situation of each person the effects vary, but there are reports of therapeutic results for people with a range of problems ranging from depression, burn-out, grief, compulsive drug use, guilt, emotional pain, childhood trauma and acceptance of death, to more everyday issues such as life direction, problems in the professional field, relationship problems, etc. The spectrum is wide, however, what seems to be established is that although ayahuasca can help a lot, in general it is not enough just to take ayahuasca.

In order to produce a therapeutic benefit that is sustained over time, a more extensive therapeutic work is necessary, before and after taking ayahuasca. Ayahuasca is not a magic wand that will solve or heal everything in one night, it is not infallible, nor is it a shortcut in the difficult process of personal growth that can offer great results without any additional effort.

Personal processes of deep transformation require a lot of work, time, dedication and often the intervention of professionals from various disciplines such as psychotherapists, psychocorporal therapists, and support from one’s family and/or support network.

It is more useful to understand the plant as a flashlight, which helps to illuminate parts of people’s lives that are unclear, rather than as a medicine that «heals» problems just by taking it.

 

Risks

During the intake, ayahuasca can have potent effects, which may involve certain dangers, especially if the person is not well cared for. For example, it can cause dizziness and in sporadic cases fainting. With proper care these episodes can be prevented or resolved well, but without care they have additional risks, such as falls or vomiting with choking. The key in these cases is the quality of care and the safety measures taken by the organizers.

There are also situations that occur very infrequently, but involve other dangers. It can happen that after taking ayahuasca the effects are maintained longer than normal. There have also been very rare cases where psychotic outbreaks are triggered that need medication to subside, or even continued treatment. In many of these cases there was a prior psychiatric condition, or a family history of psychological problems, but in other cases these were people with no known history and who have then gone through these types of experiences.

In general, a pre-selection by the organizers, which evaluates the possibility of suffering from some of the pathologies mentioned, a psychological preparation of who is going to take and a controlled context of the intake, added to an adequate integration of the experience, are key to reduce the risks related to the use of ayahuasca.

Additionally, a series of more subtle risks can be found, which appear after the session, even long after, and which have to do with dangerous interpretations of the contents that have emerged during the session. For example, people may feel that ayahuasca has «told» them that their job or their partner does not suit them, that they have been abused, or that they are destined to be shamans. Sometimes these messages, rather than literal truths, are expressions of the unconscious dimension of the person themselves. Before deciding what they really mean, it is advisable to act with prudence and to work out the interpretation properly with trained people.

Finally, there are a series of risks widely recognized by Amazonian cultures and traditions. In their cosmovision, taking ayahuasca produces a «spiritual opening» that implies being exposed to forces of energetic origin, which can be positive or negative for the participants. According to the view of these traditions, the people who guide sessions must undergo a long training of many years, to learn how to care for and assist the participants adequately through different knowledge and techniques. Depending on the training of each guide, this vision may be more or less present in the session in which you participate.

 

 

 

When not to take Ayahuasca: Safety and exclusion criteria

Physical contraindications: 

Ayahuasca is not recommended for people with severe cardiovascular problems (ayahuasca slightly increases cardiovascular parameters), glaucoma, retinal detachment, severe hypertension, fractures or recent surgeries, acute infectious diseases, tuberculosis, epilepsy, seizures, stroke, severe liver, gallbladder, kidney or pancreas diseases, certain cases of gastroduodenal ulcer or gastritis or digestive bleeding.

It is also not recommended for pregnant or lactating women or people with vomiting problems.

Psychological contraindications:

Ayahuasca is not indicated in people with panic crisis, some serious psychiatric pathologies such as bipolar, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, etc. If the person has had a history of severe depression, suicide attempts or self-harm, it is important to inform the guide.

Pharmacological contraindications:

The use of ayahuasca together with drugs or monoamine oxidase inhibitor substances (MAOIs), drugs or medications with effect on the serotonergic system is not indicated, as well as with several antidepressants and psychotropic drugs. If the person is taking drugs of this type, it is important to inform the guide.

Incompatible psychoactive substances:

There are substances such as cocaine, amphetamines or MDMA that can interact negatively with ayahuasca, so their combination is not recommended. The effects can result in hypertensive crises.

Iboga, cocaine and amphetamines should be discontinued at least 72 hours before the ceremony, MDMA 96 hours before and other opioids at least 120 hours before.

Ayahuasca is not and should not be used as a substitute for psychotherapy or medical care.

One of the major contraindications of ayahuasca is simply not wanting to take ayahuasca. This means that the decision to participate in a session must always be made by the person him/herself; it should not be induced by others. The decision has to be based on a clear idea of potential effects, risks, benefits and contraindications in relation to medical history, mental health and general state of mind. You should never take ayahuasca if you do not really want to.

Finally, in case of having any kind of illness or using chronic medication (including herbal ones) the participant should consult with the person responsible for the session beforehand.

 

 

Before the session

Recommendations before ayahuasca

 

Preparation – In general it is considered that a good ayahuasca session begins in the preparation and ends in the integration. The commitment that each participant assumes in the previous week or weeks and in the proper later integration of the material will greatly impact the quality of the experience.

A good physical condition will help to have a smoother and perhaps safer ayahuasca experience.

Likewise, it is advisable to bring comfortable and warm clothes.

Meals – Participants can prepare for the session by eating healthy and light meals.

For these sessions it is recommended not to eat fried, heavy or fatty foods two or three days before. It is commonly advised that the last meal should be eaten about 6 hours before the session.

It is also important to keep the body hydrated, to go to the ceremony having previously rested, to avoid the consumption of alcohol, stimulants, opiates and other drugs in the week prior to the intake.

Different indigenous ethnic groups have variations regarding their preparation recommendations, but in general from their point of view it is advisable to at least abstain from consuming pork, spicy food, alcohol, and strong condiments.

Reduce expectations – There are people who after an ayahuasca ceremony acquire new perspectives about themselves, others and relationships. Some people feel a remarkable therapeutic power, a series of constructive changes from the experience. But this cannot be predicted, the experience for everyone is unique and different. There are also people who feel nothing, or feel a barely perceptible effect, they need additional internal work before they manage to generate changes, which can be due to many factors. It is therefore very important to reduce expectations as far as possible before the intake, avoiding unrealistic or fanciful expectations that lead to disappointment or frustration later on.

Give space for the experience – Experiences with ayahuasca can be very deep, so it is good to create space for the experience, for example to be free of work the day before and the day after the session.

Practices that promote relaxation, self-connection and concentration before and after the experience can also help.

Adequate preparation and a respectful attitude contribute to the smooth running of a session.

 

Recommendations during the Ayahuasca session

 

Start with caution – Each participant contributes to the smooth running of the session. It is recommended that those taking ayahuasca for the first time, start with a low dose, so that they become familiar with the effects of ayahuasca.

Establish purpose or intention – Before taking it is useful to establish a definite intention that will give direction to the intake, which is realistic and can be stated in words. Once the intention is established, it is recommended to surrender to the experience, not to resist it and to trust the process.

In case of little effect – Ayahuasca is a powerful plant, it is important to take it with respect. Although sometimes it may not seem to be having any effect, it is often enough to stand up and try to walk to the bathroom to realize the potency of the effects. Other times the effects are quite subtle and require patience.

Too much effect – Other times the effects can be very intense. One option for difficult moments is to breathe slowly and deeply from the stomach, focus on the music, let yourself be carried away by the effects, and have confidence in the ayahuasca process and the person guiding the session.

If necessary, do not hesitate to ask for support. The people guiding are there to attend these difficulties, it is part of their job and they should be trained to support anyone who needs it.

Staying in the enclosure – During the session it is not advisable to leave the area where you are without informing the guide, at the end of the session it is essential to stay in the place for a few hours to rest properly before driving vehicles or going out into the outside world.

Posture – Some guides recommend maintaining an upright posture (without lying down) which allows for a greater sense of inner axis. However, people with a very strong need for control may become obsessed with this, for these people the opposite may be appropriate, i.e., lying down and relaxing.

Behavior – As far as possible it is important not to interfere with the processes of the other participants or to make noises or interruptions on the ceremony, except in case of asking for support. Interrupting other participants with questions, noises or comments is distracting and disruptive to one’s own experience and others’.

It is also relevant to consider that each person is in his or her own process and to behave in a respectful manner, understanding that the freedom of each one ends where the freedom of the other begins and that -no matter how much a person is in his or her process- he or she should try not to affect the process of the others. In summary, given that the experience is usually very personal, intimate and often characterized by deep contact with the inner world, for the good of oneself and others it is desirable to maintain discretion, silence and concentration throughout the experience.

For similar reasons, some guides ask that participants who are partners, family members or friends don’t sit together, but rather apart, so that they can concentrate on their own process and not interrupt each other.

Concentration – Music and breathing can help focus. Usually «going inward» is encouraged and it is suggested to close your eyes during the experience and not to talk to anyone unless there is a real need.

Sometimes distractions or outside interventions can be a way of inappropriately dealing with an inner resistance to facing difficult emotional issues that are being avoided by distracting oneself and others.

In general during the session it is suggested to always move towards a posture of patience and calmness.

 

What will the day be like after the session in which you are going to participate?

 

Breakfast and then integration of 3 or 4 hours. Lunch and rest. We start the preparation again around 20:00.

 

Recommendations after Ayahuasca 

 

Contents of the session – The material that appears during the ceremony can take the form of visions, ideations and insights… Often the participants find that they have received lessons, indications or inspirations. Frequently, after an ayahuasca session, the person goes home with new perspectives on certain aspects of his or her life, sometimes also with the desire or intention to change certain things, adjust behaviors, give new impulses to relationships (or stop others), etc. Often, for this impulse to become sustained changes over time, more extensive therapeutic work is necessary, with integration, follow-up and persistence, otherwise it may not achieve the expected results.

Integration Process – In the medium term, in order to be able to interpret and process the material that has emerged, it is necessary to understand the way Ayahuasca works, and to know that it is often expressed through symbols, in a similar way to dreams. This processing of what has been experienced is much more fruitful when it occurs with the accompaniment of a person properly trained to help in the discernment and to take these lessons and learnings to daily life, so that they are not lost with the passing of the days. The best would be to have a psychologist or psychotherapist with knowledge of psychoactive plants and experience in integration. This elaboration also helps to prevent confusions in the interpretations, and to avoid certain «inflation of the ego» that not always, but sometimes is associated to substances that allow the expansion of consciousness.

Avoid important decisions in the heat of the moment – If the ayahuasca session leads a participant to consider major life changes, or to work on serious personal problems, it is very important not to make important decisions in the days or weeks following the session, at least for a couple of weeks (with the exception of decisions such as quitting drugs, or leaving abusive relationships, etc). For other types of decisions it is good to remember that ayahuasca does not give orders, ayahuasca does not tell you to quit your job, it is more accurate to understand that it tells you that you do not like your job at all. In any case it is not a good idea to leave your job «in the heat of the moment» from one day to the next (again unless there is mistreatment or danger for you). To change jobs, perhaps it is best to think it through carefully, make a transition plan, save some money, etc. And so with everything, over time what seemed very clear may come to seem the opposite, at the same time, if the message is important and true, it will still be true three weeks after taking ayahuasca. Understanding the need to make life changes can be one of the great gifts of ayahuasca, if well done it can be a step of personal evolution, if badly done it can lead to a very difficult period, that is why it is ideal to have the support of a therapist or a person trained to help in this phase.

Talking to others – It is also important to keep in mind that many of your acquaintances who have not had similar experiences may have difficulty understanding the ayahuasca experience. It is good advice, for others and for yourself, to understand that the best time to bring things out into the open is when you can tell them as your own decisions «I have decided x» rather than placing that responsibility on ayahuasca by saying «ayahuasca told me I had to X» as an explanation for a change, which is a way of avoiding personal responsibility.

The days after the session – It is recommended to be calm and not making big decisions (yet!).
You can go back to your normal diet and integrate what has happened with caution.

 

Questions

If after reading this you have any doubts, please write them down. There will be an interview before the session where you will be able to ask them.

If you have questions after the session you can contact us at any time.

 

When can i take ayahuasca again?

 

The frequency and recommended intensity varies greatly from one person to another and from one time of life to another.

To conclude

 

Taking into account these tips and safety recommendations, a proper and careful ayahuasca ceremony can be very beneficial and enriching for people’s lives.
We wish you a fertile process and good ceremony!

 

APPENDIX: Ethics, Rights and Duties of Guides and Participants

 

Much of what happens in an ayahuasca session may be completely new to the people who participate.

To avoid common misunderstandings, this Annex complements the previous document, describing not what is going to happen, but the place, or posture, from which the session is structured.

 

 

Participant’s Rights

• The right to have a safe and constructive experience in an environment and with a guide they trust.
• The right to receive adequate and sufficient information about: ayahuasca, its indications, contraindications, the type of session to be performed, the experience, education and training of the guide, the exclusion criteria with which he/she works and if he/she follows a certain ethical code.
• The right to a preliminary interview (in the case of first-time users) and to fill out a health form.
• The right to have potential risks clearly explained by the organizers and to have a risk plan.
• The right to have the guide respect the integrity of the participants by maintaining appropriate boundaries to a caring relationship, including:
  • Maintaining the financial agreement initially established.
  • To have private data respected.
  • To be previously informed if in the session there is work by means of physical contact, of what type it is, and to give or not to give their consent.
  • That no sexual or emotional approach is made.
  • The right to be respected in their spiritual beliefs and not to have any dogma imposed on them.
• The right to have support personnel of the same gender during the session.
• The right to be offered a safe space to sleep or rest after the experience.
• The right to make further contact with the ceremony guide in the following days, weeks or months and receive support and/or referral if needed.
• The right to receive adequate integration and assimilation of the experience or to be referred to a professional to promote an adequate elaboration of the material.

 

Participan’ts Duties

• Duty to provide the guide with complete and truthful information about their present state of health, previous conditions, etc. without omitting or changing important data. Duty to consult any concerns in this regard and not to remain silent.
• Duty to properly follow the preparation indicated by the guide before and after the session.
• Duty to maintain an attitude of respect towards the session and its rules, the facilitators, and the other participants, behaving in an adult manner, understanding that one’s freedom ends where the freedom of others begins.
• Duty to avoid interfering in the processes of others, as well as to respect the secrecy and privacy of their experiences.
• Duty to remain in the space of the session until it ends, then for safety reasons not to leave the premises until the effects have completely disappeared and/or the guide authorizes it.

 

Duties of the guides

 

The person who serves ayahuasca takes on a number of basic responsibilities of care and attention for the participants.

Some minimum criteria that the person who guides must meet:

Before

• Must give detailed and objective information about ayahuasca, the type of ceremony, the components and origin of ayahuasca that he/she gives, if it is an analogue of ayahuasca (anahuasca), to interview the participants beforehand and give them the health form for them to fill out.
• He/she must not allow people with contraindications to participate (within its exclusion criteria.)

During

• He/she must work with small groups or have assistants to attend all the people who participate. The recommended ratio is one assistant for every five or six participants.

After

• He/she must provide a space where participants can sleep on site at the end of the session.
• Once the session is over, he/she must offer integration and the option of a follow-up.

Always

• Ayahuasca can lead people to have very powerful and transformative experiences, therefore the people who guide them must be properly trained and have extensive experience. Ethical principles must be followed.

 

Basically, the guide must take care of the assistants before, during and after the session.

 

What an ayahuasca guide is NOT:

• He or she is not a guru, nor a life teacher, nor (with a few exceptions) someone with the training of a coach, a doctor, a psychologist, or a psychiatrist. This means that if questions of this nature arise, the guide must remain within the limits of his or her knowledge, and direct the consultant to other experts in these areas of knowledge.
• It is not someone who can give guarantees about results or who should promise panaceas. No one who is guaranteeing any results with ayahuasca is being completely honest.
• The guide is there to serve others, not to serve himself or herself, neither economically nor emotionally.
• He or she should not be or become a romantic or sexual partner of the participants. Nor should he or she establish economic relationships with them other than those agreed upon prior to the session. If he does any of these things, he would be jeopardizing the effectiveness of his work, betraying his bond with the participant, and damaging the good process with the plant.

 

 

This guide has been created from many years of experience with the support and work of the scientific and ethnobotanical group ICEERS.

From Ayahuasca Retreats and its multidisciplinary team of psychologists,  therapists, facilitators and musicians we are waiting for you for a journey into the wholeness of your Nature.

 

 

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