Diet for taking ayahuasca is an essential element in the preparation for a retreat with medicinal plants. Before consuming ayahuasca, each participant should follow specific guidelines that facilitate both physical and mental preparation. This ensures that the experience is safer, deeper and more transformative.
At Ayahuasca Retreat Cusco, we understand that there is no standard ayahuasca diet, as each healer has their own recommendations based on their knowledge and beliefs. However, we offer clear guidelines to prepare the body and mind properly.
For this reason our diet focuses on a clean and light diet, because it helps to purify the body, while a clear mind allows a deeper connection with the medicine and with oneself.
By following these guidelines, we guarantee that participants arrive at the retreat prepared, both physically and emotionally, to live a healing and transformative experience. Diet plays a crucial role in this integral preparation, favoring a more harmonious connection with ayahuasca.
Well then you may wonder, how far in advance should.
I start the diet before participating in an ayahuasca retreat? Actually, 2 to 1 week before is much better.
Before participating in an ayahuasca retreat, it is essential that the person is properly prepared physically, mentally and, especially, in terms of food. Following the previous diet correctly not only honors the ancestral tradition of this medicine, but also helps to avoid possible physical, emotional or energetic complications during the ceremony.
This dietary preparation usually includes the elimination of certain foods, substances and habits that may interfere with the effects of ayahuasca or generate adverse reactions. In addition, an attitude of introspection, openness and respect is recommended, allowing the person to connect more deeply and safely with the experience.
For a deeper and safer ayahuasca experience, it is recommended to follow a diet based on fresh, natural and easy to digest foods. Here we share with you a list of ideal options:
Mental and spiritual preparation is essential to get the most out of an ayahuasca retreat. It helps to clarify intentions, reduce fears, balance emotions and foster a deep connection with oneself and the medicine. Being prepared creates a safe and receptive space, facilitating a transformative and healing experience.
Recommended practices:
It is essential to continue with the ayahuasca diet for three days after the end of the retreat to integrate the lessons and knowledge acquired. Maintaining a clean and healthy diet during this time supports the healing process, reinforces the transformative effects of the experience and facilitates the assimilation of the changes experienced during the ayahuasca journey.
Wachuma and Ayahuasca are two master plants native to South America, widely recognized for their therapeutic, spiritual, and consciousness-expanding properties. Despite their differences in composition, effects, and ceremonial uses, both have been used for centuries by indigenous cultures as tools for deep healing and connection with the transcendental.
In many cases, those who have explored one of these plants eventually feel the need to explore the other as part of a broader process of personal and spiritual development.
Ayahuasca, composed of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the Psychotria viridis leaf, is known to induce intense experiences of introspection, symbolic visions, and confrontation with deep aspects of the unconscious. It is commonly used in nocturnal ceremonial contexts and is associated with processes of emotional, physical, and spiritual purging.
Wachuma, on the other hand, is a cactus that contains mescaline as its main active ingredient. Its effect is generally milder, longer-lasting, and oriented toward heart expansion, mental clarity, and connection with nature and the environment. Ceremonies are usually performed during the day, in open spaces, and promote a heightened perception of reality from a place of serenity and emotional openness.
These two medicines act differently but can be complementary. While Ayahuasca allows for deep inner work, facilitating the recognition and integration of traumas or limiting patterns, Wachuma helps integrate these revelations from a state of presence and love, promoting a more harmonious relationship with oneself and one's environment.
The San Pedro cactus is a powerful medicine that works gently, helping to heal on an emotional and spiritual level while promoting clarity and inner well-being.
Yes, it's completely normal to feel fear before an ayahuasca ceremony. This fear is often related to the intensity of the experience and the possibility of facing deep emotions or difficult memories. Since ayahuasca works on emotional, physical, and spiritual levels, it's common to build up expectations, anxiety, or nervousness beforehand. However, good preparation, clear intention, and a safe environment significantly help you navigate this moment with greater peace of mind.
First, it facilitates access to deeper levels of consciousness, allowing the participant to experience a direct connection with their inner self, with nature, and even with what some traditions call "the spirit" or "the divine."
Second, it allows for the release of emotional and energetic blockages, the understanding of behavioral patterns, and the healing of past wounds.
Third, ayahuasca is considered a tool for spiritual awakening and inner transformation.
First and foremost, it's important to learn about their experience, training, and background. Ideally, they should be someone with in-depth knowledge of the medicine, who works with integrity, and who inspires trust.
At Ayahuasca Retreat Cusco, we have the best shamans specialized in traditional and ancestral ceremonies with master plants such as ayahuasca and wachuma (San Pedro). Our spiritual shamans combine decades of experience with an authentic connection, offering safe, healing, and deeply transformative ceremonies.
Ayahuasca is traditionally consumed in a ceremonial setting guided by shamans. Its purpose is healing, introspection, and spiritual expansion. In short, ayahuasca is a sacred medicine with a specific function within Amazonian indigenous traditions.
It's possible to have a challenging or uncomfortable experience with ayahuasca, especially if you're not emotionally, mentally, or physically prepared. Therefore, it's very important to follow the dietary recommendations beforehand, as this can help you have a more positive and safe experience during the ayahuasca ceremony.
The term comes from the noun shaman (the one who knows) in Tungusic (Siberian) languages, and the latter from the verb shahia (to know).
The shaman is an intermediary between the physical and spiritual worlds. He communicates with spirits, heals illnesses, and spiritually guides his community. He uses techniques such as trance, sacred plants, songs, and dances to access knowledge and energies that balance people.
A shamanic journey begins with sounds and visions that envelop you. Bright colors appear, revealing a wonderful world where you float over rainbows and sail among clouds, while music protects you from the spirits and dark beings lurking in the tunnel.
Throughout the journey, animals such as eagles, tigers, monkeys, bears, and snakes appear, speaking to you, guiding you, or, in some cases, devouring you.
You must learn to interpret and control these symbols to access profound knowledge and confront arcane forces or impressive landscapes like volcanic craters.
During the journey, you observe millions of birds transforming into humans and giant bats the size of airplanes, some with the heads of crocodiles. This world is full of surprises and mysteries to discover.
Before embarking on the shamanic path, you will face caverns where spirits will attempt to possess you. It is vital to purify yourself with tobacco smoke before using the plant. During the journey, you will feel the proximity of panthers or tigers, and the fear of death will be present.
The new shaman who has followed his diets and fasts will no longer need to take the plant in the future; he will have developed a spirit without its help.
The mission of shamans varies according to lineage. Some focus on the well-being of humanity, seeking its spiritual progress. However, in general, their role is to heal and help resolve problems, whether physical, psychological, or spiritual.
The shaman acts as a bridge between two realities. Residents turn to them for explanations, guidance, and help with issues they perceive as problems linked to this alternative reality.
The shaman plays a crucial role during the ayahuasca ceremony. The shaman is responsible for preparing a sacred and safe environment, ensuring that participants feel protected. They also guide each person throughout the experience, facilitating the healing process and helping to integrate the teachings that emerge during the journey.
Characteristics:
Ayahuasca Traditional Medicine is a profound experience that can be especially valuable for intellectuals interested in exploring how their mind works, and especially the essence of their soul.
In fact, ayahuasca is considered a very powerful therapy for many, as it has the ability to transform lives by helping to solve both personal and work-related problems, as well as problems related to emotional issues or addictions. To take ayahuasca, you must have a purpose, a goal; curiosity alone is not enough.
It is a plant used in traditional and ancestral medicine.The result of combining chacruna and ayahuasca, resulting in a brew derived from two Quechua words: "aya," meaning "dead," and "huasca," meaning "rope." This is why it is known as “the rope of the dead” or “the vine of souls.”
For this reason, it is also considered a plant of power.
Ayahuasca traditional medicine is a vine that can grow massively, wrapping a tree up to 10 to 15 meters tall. Its stem has a tendency to coil around itself, joining with sister stems, thus forming a kind of braided rope that sometimes reaches a diameter of 10 to 15 cm.
The ayahuasca bark is smooth and greenish-brown, and its leaves are lanceolate, 15 to 20 cm long by 4 to 7 cm wide. Its flowers, rarely solitary, open in pink or lilac clusters. The five petals are characterized by being concave and having serrated edges. The fruit is a small winged nut (botanists call it a samara) 2 to 3 cm long.
The ayahuasca ritual is a spiritual and therapeutic ceremony, which will be led by a shaman, who will both begin and conclude the ceremony. Keep in mind that the shaman will guide all participants throughout the ayahuasca session.
Let's look at the preparation process for this magnificent ayahuasca medicinal plant:
1. First, the ayahuasca stems will be cut, removing the leaves into small pieces.
2. Second, in a pot, place a layer of chacruna leaves without stems at the bottom. Meanwhile, the ayahuasca pieces will be crushed with stones, and then a layer of these will be placed on top of the chacruna, covering it completely.
3. Then, everything is covered with a new layer of chacruna leaves, then water is added to cover the entire contents.
Boil for three hours, adding water as needed and taking care that the foam doesn't overflow and get lost.
5. Then, let it cool, the liquid is transferred, and the chacruna is discarded.
6. Finally, the ayahuasca pieces are crushed again and everything is boiled for two more hours, following the aforementioned cooking process.
1. Beginning of the Ceremony
The shaman stands in the middle of the room and prepares to begin the ceremony. He explains in very concrete detail what will happen throughout the ayahuasca ritual, mentioning what it will produce and the sensations they will experience when drinking the traditional ayahuasca medicinal concoction. He also gives instructions to help them stay calm and relaxed.
2. Harmal and the God Molecule
The first thing consumed is not the main concoction, but rather a drink made from the harmal or alharma plant (Peganum harmala).
This concoction is consumed because of its ability to block an enzyme in the human body that prevents the action of dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a psychoactive compound present in ayahuasca. DMT is known for its potential to induce intense and transcendental hallucinogenic experiences, which is why some refer to it as "the God molecule." Therefore, inhibiting this enzyme prevents the body from breaking down DMT immediately, thus facilitating a prolonged and profound experience during the ritual.
3. First Intake of Traditional Ayahuasca Medicine
The shamans turn off the lights and light candles, creating an intimate and sacred atmosphere. With the ayahuasca bottle in hand, the shaman lights a cigar made of natural tobacco and blows the smoke into the mouth of the bottle, as part of the purification ritual. They then stand and recite prayers while facing the specific cardinal points: South, North, and West. Once the prayers are completed, the effects of ayahuasca begin to manifest approximately 30 minutes after the ritual begins. At this point, participants begin to experience the physical and mental reactions of the plant, such as vomiting, dizziness, and hallucinogenic visions.
4. Second Intake of the Traditional Ayahuasca Medicine
The shaman will then use various musical instruments, such as drums or flutes, to intensify the ayahuasca ritual atmosphere and foster an atmosphere of introspection and reverence among the participants. During this phase, intense emotions such as fear, anxiety, sadness, or even euphoria commonly arise, as participants immerse themselves in the process of healing and self-discovery.
5. Closing of the Traditional Ayahuasca Medicine Ritual
Finally, after going through all these intense emotional experiences, a moment of serenity arrives, marking the close of the ceremony. The effects that follow this stage are also usually mild, comparable to the mild symptoms of a hangover, such as those experienced after consuming alcohol. In this way, the ritual concludes when all participants have reached a state of inner peace and harmony.
Due to its neuropsychological effects, here we tell you the main benefits of ayahuasca.
First, it treats depression, stress, and anxiety.
This is because ayahuasca increases serotonin levels in our body, which can improve our mood and therefore our overall well-being from the first day we consume this tea. Ayahuasca not only allows us to treat fears but also helps facilitate the grieving process in some situations.
Secondly, it helps in the treatment of addictions.
In this case, the use of ayahuasca can promote a sense of connection with oneself, with others, and with nature. This is why traditional ayahuasca medicine is so important, as it can reduce unhealthy behaviors in people with addictions.
Although rare, the possible risks of using ayahuasca are:
However, our agency, x travel Peru, offers you our 14 top-rated and authentic ayahuasca retreats, carefully designed to provide a transformative and unforgettable experience. With flexible and varied itineraries, we offer options to suit different needs, whether for a short experience or a deep immersion in ancestral wisdom. Our rituals take place in diverse and tranquil natural settings, from the Amazon rainforest to other sacred spaces, allowing our participants to connect deeply with the traditional medicine of ayahuasca in an environment conducive to a spiritual journey. Each ceremony is guided by experienced facilitators who respect the traditions, ensuring safe and respectful guidance throughout the process.
Kecizate Atahualpa Capac, the last great heir of the Inca lineage, a wise shaman whose blood carries the living memory of the ancients. His knowledge comes from generations of oral transmission. His connection with the plant is sacred, and each ceremony he participates is a portal to the wisdom of the ancestors, as he is the bearer of authentic, pure, and profound knowledge.
Receiving medicine from Atahualpa is a unique experience, an encounter with the very root of knowledge. His presence is medicine, his song is prayer, and his path is a living legacy of the ancients.
Ayahuasca is a profound experience for intellectual beings seeking to understand the development of their brain and the essence of their soul. It is a therapy capable of changing your life, whether it be business problems, emotional problems, or problems with any addiction.
We seek the good of humanity. We perform this ritual or ceremony to help all people of different economic strata, and also to help them learn more about the Inca culture and understand themselves and their past.
We seek to restore the human identity of being one with nature. We work with respect for both the culture and traditions, as well as the respect for the retreat participants.
Ayahuasca awakens the neurons in the brain, helping you uncover more of your concerns or traumas. You review your past, forget the past, and recognize your present to improve in the future, embarking on a clear path within the light of consciousness, finding a life in harmony with yourself and those around you, avoiding mistakes and finding harmony with your own existence.
To take ayahuasca, you must have a purpose, a goal; curiosity alone is not enough.
It is recommended to do three doses of ayahuasca:
Arcana: Awakening and Securing the Aura
It is recommended to maintain the diet and restrictions at least one week before the ceremony and two days after.
Macrocosm: We are beings deeply connected to the energies of the universe. The rays of the sun, the vitality of Mother Earth, and elements such as water, earth, and fire work in harmony with our being. Our neurons resonate with the pulsations of the galaxies, and hair, as a natural antenna, helps us receive and channel these energies. Therefore, wearing long hair strengthens our connection with the universe.
The Inca high command was closely connected to the shamanic path, from the solar priests, the Willaq Umas, to the Inca himself. He had to know about the solar and lunar paths, this being a priority for him to administer the Tahuantinsuyu empire.
In the ceremony, the wheel of the sun is displayed with different cardinal points, which are:
SOUTH:
The south is the direction the sun follows, so important in the shamanic path because it is at 118 degrees of the wheel of harmonies, adapting to the southern hemisphere. The south is related to midday, summer, and the color red. It is also the time of youth. The element of the south is water, and its celestial body is the moon, queen of the seas. Its totem animal is the mouse, which may seem like a humble animal. However, all creatures have the same value; they have a message for us and qualities from which we can learn. With the mouse, we learn the importance of carefully observing who we truly are and where we are, something necessary for making intelligent decisions.
WEST:
Earth element direction Pachamama, autumn night. Its color is black, the home of all animals. Life is slow and silent. The human aspect is related to the physical body. We are associated with sensations as well as the use of the five senses. The west corresponds to the maturity of the time and motivates us to do things through its energy. and strength. Its totem animal is the Meni or Ukumari (grizzly bear), the strongest of all, who heals with herbs and has a great knowledge of the nature where it lives. It is also a great fisherman. Its celestial body is associated with the earth, and its enemy is a lack of strength.
NORTH:
Its color is snow white, its celestial body is the stars, its element is Wayra, the air, its strength is midnight, and it is associated with knowledge and wisdom, the function of thought in the animal kingdom. Its totem animal is the Kimari (Buffalo). It is very important to the indigenous peoples as they feed on its meat and make clothes and drums from its skin. It is one of the animals that has contact with the great spirit, that is, with Apu Huamani.
Goa: Earth energy that emerges from the depths, white energy that collides with the clouds.
Wampar Kurichi: The legend of the rainbows.
Chirapa mentions the circular rainbow that forms the appearance of a cat in the middle of the earth. Rainbows, in which if the cat sees you, you are completely petrified, then bleed and potentially die.
Small rainbows next to ants are powerful sources of energy from the universe that can harm you if they catch you, so you should retreat to the nearest shade so that the cat doesn't catch you and grab you.
Likewise, a torrential rain while fishing transforms the water with immense clarity, turning it into pristine water. Because of this, you can see rainbow-colored trout, which can be harmful.
The problems this energy can cause can make you swell with water and also give you pimples all over your body.
Huari is the mother of Apu Huamaní, the brightest rainbow in existence, which surrounds the entire city of Cusco. Apu Huamaní is the second rainbow seen below Huari, a more opaque rainbow. This rainbow gives fertility to the land of the Cusco Valley. It is responsible for agriculture and the maximum fertility of the valley. Therefore, Sacsayhuamán was built, a structure to satisfy Apu Huamaní. This structure was divided into two parts: one for the daughters of the moon, where they worked in fine arts, textiles, ceramics, and other arts, and the other part for the children of the sun, where they studied astronomy and medicine. Apu Huamaní's totem animal is the puma, and his bird is the Huamancha kestrel. Sacsayhuamán is divided into three levels: first, the serpent, which represents harmony and the energetic relationship of the earth; second, the puma, which represents cosmic harmony; and third, the condor, which represents cosmic force.
The Choquechinchay is an extinct animal in Cusco that is related to the rainbow; it represents water and has the shape of an otter.
Icaros, or traditional ayahuasca chants, are sacred melodies from the Amazonian worldview that play a crucial role in healing ceremonies involving sacred plants. These chants are musical prayers that channel the energies of plant and animal spirits, deities, ancestors, and elemental forces. Through shamans, icaros become powerful healing tools, powerful spiritual weapons, or creators of ethereal realms.
The icaros can manifest either from a pre-established repertoire that the shaman can access or in the form of new melodies and lyrics revealed in real time by the spirits, adapting to the needs of the ceremony and the patient. Shamans achieve this altered state of consciousness using entheogens such as ayahuasca, tuning into the frequencies of the spiritual realms.
The Origin of the Icaros
Susana Bustos, a prominent transpersonal psychologist and expert in Peruvian vegetalism, dedicated her doctoral thesis to the study of the icaros, elucidating their origin and application. According to Bustos, shamans learn the icaros during years of training and communion with sacred plants, a process known as a "diet." This diet can last from several months to several years, during which the shamans isolate themselves from the community, following a basic diet and devoting time to connecting with the Master Plant.
Throughout this training, future shamans develop a deep connection with their plant masters, which translates into the reception of spiritual chants and songs that they use to call upon lost souls and strengthen the action of the plant spirits. Bustos relates that, according to shamans, the icaros initially reveal themselves as melodies that are later complemented by lyrics, which are memorized and sung repeatedly.
In addition to being learned directly, icaros can also be taught indirectly or even stolen. Malicious shamans may attend ceremonies in disguise to copy the songs, although these "stolen" icaros are often less powerful than the original ones.
Even without a formal diet, participants in ayahuasca ceremonies may spontaneously receive icaros if they require urgent healing, often channeled through improvisation during the ceremony.
How Icaros Work
Beyond being simple melodies, icaros represent an expression of otherworldly energy channeled by the recipient. The altered state of consciousness facilitated by ayahuasca or practices such as drumming and dancing allows the soul to connect with the beyond. In this state, shamans "hollow themselves out" to allow the spirits to take control and act through them, manifesting in the sound vibrations of the icaros.
These chants are not ordinary sounds; They possess spiritual content that resonates with the patient's energetic body. Thus, icaros can realign the soul and promote healing on an energetic level. They can be spontaneous and adaptive, ranging from the creation of spiritual realms to the stabilization of intense visions during the ceremony.
Icaro Applications
Icaros are versatile and are used for multiple purposes within ceremonies. Some of the most common applications include:
The icaros are an essential component of healing in ayahuasca ceremonies. Although their power is difficult to describe in words, their importance in the shaman's arsenal is indisputable. A better understanding of these chants and opening oneself to their influence can enhance their transformative and healing capacity.
An ayahuasca retreat is an immersive experience that combines guided ceremonies with ayahuasca, a medicinal plant from the Amazon, with spiritual, emotional and physical healing practices. These retreats are designed to help people reconnect with themselves, release emotional blockages, heal traumas and expand their consciousness. Each retreat is conducted in the presence of a knowledgeable and experienced ayahuasca shaman or spiritual guide.
Ayahuasca is an ancestral drink prepared from the mixture of two main Amazonian plants: Banisteriopsis caapi (the vine) and Psychotria viridis (the leaf containing DMT).
Together, they produce a profound psychoactive effect, which can generate visions, introspection, emotional release and heightened states of consciousness. It has been used for centuries by indigenous communities to heal the body, mind and spirit.
Retreats usually include:
Many people report benefits such as
Important: results vary according to each individual and the context of the retreat.
Look for the retreat to have:
Although rare, potential risks of using ayahuasca include:
Not everyone can undertake ayahuasca retreats.
However, our agency, X Travel Peru, offers 14 of the highest-rated and most authentic ayahuasca retreats, carefully designed to provide a transformative and unforgettable experience. With flexible and varied itineraries, we offer options that cater to different needs, whether for a short experience or a deep immersion into ancestral wisdom. Our rituals take place in various peaceful natural environments, from the Amazon jungle to other sacred spaces, allowing participants to deeply connect with the traditional ayahuasca medicine in an environment suited for the spiritual journey. Each ceremony is guided by experienced facilitators who respect traditions, ensuring safe and respectful support throughout the entire process.
CONTACT US
Email: info@ayahuascaretreatcusco.com
Mobile: (+51) 950 738 710
WhatsApp: (+51) 927 743 016
Address: Urb. Dolorespata S/N, Jr. Paititi
