In 4 weeks I’ll be going to Iquitos, Peru to try ayahuasca for the first time. As it continues to get closer, I couldn’t be more excited. A lot of people have been asking me why I decided to go on this journey, so it’s time to truly address that. I don’t have a very concise answer to that question other than “it sounds like a good time,” so I’m using this post to go deeper than that.
What is Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is a type of brew made from the Banisteriopsis caapi stem and Psychotria viridis leaves. The brew contains DMT, which is a psychedelic drug known for its incredible hallucinogenic properties. Historians believe that ayahuasca has been used for hundreds, if not thousands, of years by indigenous people in regions of South America for religious and ritualistic purposes.
From my own research, drinking ayahuasca is regarded as one of the most healing psychedelic experiences you can have. The experience lasts about 4 – 6 hours and helps heal deep-rooted trauma that other psychedelics can’t quite get to. Ayahuasca is also typically done in more ceremonial settings with a shaman or guide to help you through the journey. It’s not something you would casually do by yourself. That is why I’m traveling to Peru to do it in a traditional setting with the people who have passed down this medicine for generations.
Logistics
I’m going to a retreat center called Dreamglade. It’s located outside of Iquitos, Peru, which is in the Northeast region of Peru in the Amazon rainforest. I won’t know exactly how many others will be with me until I get there, but the retreat center doesn’t let more than 12 people stay there at a time. One of the reasons I chose Dreamglade was because of its smaller ceremony sizes compared to many other retreat centers. I’ll be staying there for a total of 6 days, arriving on a Monday and then leaving on Saturday. While I’m there, I’ll also be following a specific diet, called a plant dieta, to help nourish my body. This consists of lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, rice, noodles, eggs, but no salt, sugar, spices, oils, caffeine or processed foods of any kind.
There are going to be a total of 3 ceremonies during my time there that’ll happen on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday night. Shipibo shamans lead the ceremonies and help us integrate the experience afterwards.
Ayahuasca Preparation
Prep work starts about 4 weeks before the first ceremony in order to be in the right headspace. This starts with cutting out all recreational drugs, cannabis, and alcohol. 2 weeks before the ceremony, I’m supposed to cut out all red meat. At this time, I’ll also lower my sodium intake, stop eating spicy foods, and eat as little processed foods as possible. For me the hardest part is actually going to be cutting out spicy foods because I’m literally addicted to hot sauce. I’m not too worried about everything else. The idea is for my mind and body to be as pure as possible.
Before each ceremony, I’m supposed to set intentions for what I wish to accomplish. Some examples of intentions might be asking mother ayahuasca how to truly love myself or how to let go of the past. I can also go into the ceremony with an open mind and simply ask mother ayahuasca to guide me while keeping an open heart and mind. This sounds kind of crazy to someone who’s never experienced this before, but I trust these people know what they’re talking about. At this point, I don’t know for certain what my intentions will be for each night. For the first night I think I want my intention to be about feeling true self-love. As I get closer to the ceremony I’ll think about this more and try to solidify them.
Why I’m Actually Doing This
Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I don’t have a concise answer to this question. To most people, it sounds like I’m just travelling over 3,000 miles away to go do some crazy drugs. That’s not entirely false, but there is a true purpose behind it. It boils down to the fact that ever since I first tried psychedelics, I knew they had the potential to help me live a better life. Once I started doing research into psychedelics to truly understand why I felt that way, I discovered ayahuasca and felt called to it. It really is that simple. Trying ayahuasca is just another part of the journey to help me live my life to its fullest potential.
I’m not going to pretend like I’m not nervous though. What if the experience isn’t as life-changing as I think it’s going to be? I’ve built this up in my head to be such a crazy experience that I’m a little worried it won’t meet my expectations. What if the experience is too intense and I cant handle it? What if I come back as a different person? I’m not sure I’m fully prepared for that either. While nervous, I do want to clarify that I don’t feel anxious. I feel comfortable saying that I’m ready to accept whatever happens.
I’ve also never travelled outside the US by myself before, so this will be my first time doing that. There are definitely easier ways to do ayahuasca. But fuck it….if I’m going to do it, I’m might as well go all out. I’m also going to be spending time after the retreat travelling around Peru to Lima and Cusco.
Overall, I’m both excited and grateful that I even get to do this. I have enough money to afford this and I have a job that will let me take 2 weeks off. These are both things that most people my age don’t have. I realize how lucky I am to be in this position, and I never want to take that for granted. As I get closer to my departure date, I’m sure I’ll have more thoughts. Thank you to everyone who read this far and I can’t wait to share more.