The plant Dieta is an intimate journey of fostering and cultivating a bond with the natural world. By earnestly engaging in this process, we inevitably nurture a more profound connection with our inner selves. This intrinsic transformation has a ripple effect, enhancing the quality of all relationships in one’s life.

Embarking on this profound journey within the Shipibo Conibo traditions necessitates an initial step: the selection of the specific plant to be dieted. It’s not unusual for participants in an Ayahuasca ceremony to receive a visionary revelation, guiding them to their plant ally. For our learners, the Curandero or our adept team at Meraya may offer their insights, tapping into their wisdom to discern the most resonant plant for your path.

We also empower our students to lean into their personal discernment; after acquainting themselves with the various plants available for Dieta, we encourage them to trust their intuition. Our philosophy embraces the diversity of journeys, acknowledging that while there are many roads one can traverse, each choice made in pursuit of personal growth is inherently without fault.

Upon selecting the plant, the next critical phase is the formulation of the Dieta contract, skillfully orchestrated by the curandero. For those with experience, there lies the opportunity to negotiate terms directly. The plant itself communicates its requirements—dietary restrictions, periods of silence, and the intensity of the Dieta—all of which are amenable to discussion. An example might be starting with one meal a day, then adjusting to include a period of silence in exchange for an additional meal, striking a delicate balance to unlock the plant’s full offerings.

Other stipulations typically include sexual abstinence and maintaining mental clarity, steering clear of desires such as those for specific foods or other indulgences. The diet is intentionally simple: bland and boiled, free from oil, salt, spices, and any form of seasoning. Tradition prescribes a solitary meal comprising plantain, rice, and a modest portion of Boquichico—a native river fish.

Both the terms and duration of the Dieta are clearly outlined, with students having the prerogative to impose personal conditions to deepen their plant connection. Yet, adherence to these terms is paramount; any deviation may lead to repercussions that could potentially disrupt the burgeoning relationship with the plant. Fasting, embracing silence, or engaging in practices that enhance this relationship can all be incorporated into the terms at the discretion of the individual.

At our retreats, attendees receive comprehensive guidance through the entirety of this sacred pact; each aspect of the agreement and every detail and nuance is thoroughly explained. Our curandero, with profound expertise, will carefully set the terms with the Dieta plants for you, guaranteeing a journey that is both harmonious and deeply immersed in the sacred art of plant communion.

Prior to the commencement of the Dieta, it is advisable to begin transforming your dietary habits in advance. We suggest that, at a minimum of two weeks before starting, you should either reduce or eliminate the intake of caffeine and high-sugar foods. This proactive step helps mitigate any intense detoxification during the Dieta, which might otherwise divert your energy reserves—resources far better allocated to healing and forging a deep connection with the Dieta experience.

Our observations have led us to conclude that a ketogenic diet aligns most harmoniously with the principles of Dieta. Curanderos, who often undertake Dieta for a year or longer, consistently report an absence of hunger, maintaining nourishment on just one meal per day as their bodies enter a state of ketosis.

Take Mokan Ranco’s experience, for instance: he once embarked on a remarkable 73-day water fast, abstaining from all food. During this time, he encountered significant breakthroughs in his Dieta connection, gaining insights into how sugars can energize one’s shadow side and pose obstacles to the Dieta journey.

The initiation commences once the terms are established. A plant-based purgative is administered to cleanse the body of toxins and parasites, preparing a pure vessel for the Dieta plant to assimilate. The ceremonial opening of the Dieta occurs within an Ayahuasca ceremony, conducted by the Curandero. It is a tradition for the Curandero to impart a fragment of their own Dieta experience to you, effectively planting the seed for your own journey. This sacred exchange is then fortified with an Arcana, a form of spiritual armor drawn from the collective potency of the Curandero’s numerous Dietas.

Such spiritual empowerment is rooted deeply in their family lineage—the wisdom of plant Dietas cultivated throughout their apprenticeship and handed down from generation to generation, from father to son or grandfather to grandson. The Curanderos carry a profound vibrational knowledge of the plants; by sharing this with us, they facilitate an amplified connection that far transcends what one might achieve independently or under the guidance of a novice with only a tenuous link to such traditions and lineage.

The ingestion of the Dieta plant follows the day after the ceremony and is typically taken on days without ceremonial activities. Many Maestros advise either fasting or consuming the plant late in the evening, when tranquility reigns supreme, to ensure the most conducive environment for absorption and reflection.

With the act of ingestion, the symbiosis between you and the plant commences, akin to the inception of new life. The care with which you nurture this burgeoning connection is akin to tending to a nascent being within. It is for this reason that such practices are often embraced in strict isolation—to safeguard the growth of your spiritual seedling from the inadvertent influence of others’ shadows.

In this delicate phase, it is understood that all plants, save for the singular Noyarao, possess a duality; negative energies and thoughts can draw out their more shadowy aspects. Here lies the pivotal role of the Curandero: to ceremonially open your Dieta and remain a steadfast beacon throughout, cleansing, aligning, attuning, and ensuring that the Dieta develops robustly. The Curandero also plays an instrumental role in facilitating healing transformations.

Traditionally, the ritualistic consumption of the plant is limited to four occasions. The substance used is often the root of the plant, meticulously extracted in water that has been charged under the nurturing glow of sunlight. In preparation for this process, it is not uncommon for the Maestro to undergo a fast and imbue the medicine with sacred songs, unlocking its mysteries so that you—the student—may fully assimilate its wisdom.

Upon reaching the culmination of the Dieta, the agreement is honored with a closing Ayahuasca ceremony. While not obligatory, ceremonies held during the Dieta significantly enhance the entire process. Within the sacred space of ceremony, you may receive profound gifts—rewards for your dedication and efforts—whereby numerous elements of the Dieta seamlessly converge.

The ceremony and Dieta journey conclude with an Arcana—a spiritual seal that not only marks the end of this transformative chapter but also readies you for reintegration. This rite prepares your being for the reintroduction of diverse foods and for re-engaging with external relationships that lie outside the previously set terms.

• Post-Dieta Reintegration: A mindful approach to reintroduce previously abstained foods and relationships following the completion of the Dieta terms.

• Curandero Protocol: A standard 30-day process is commonly adhered to by most Curanderos for post-Dieta reintegration.

• Individual Adaptation: Recognizing that each student’s journey is unique, Mokan Ranco tailors a generic post-Dieta guide based on the specific plants involved in the Dieta.

• Refined Sugar: A 7-day waiting period before consumption is recommended.

• Dairy Products: Gradual reintroduction over a span of 10 days.

• Spices: It is advised to wait 21 days before adding spices back into your diet.

• Sea Fish: Allowing a full 30 days before enjoying sea fish again.

• Red Meat: A recommended pause of 30 days to harmonize with the Dieta experience.

• Sexual Activity: Observing a period of celibacy for 30 days post-Dieta.

• Non-Ayahuasca Psychedelics: Suggesting a pause from other psychedelics for 30 days to honor the Dieta’s integrity.

• Pork Consumption: It is generally observed that pork does not resonate well with the plant spirits and is best avoided altogether.

• Noyarao Specifics: Adherence to even more stringent guidelines is necessary to preserve the full vibrational teachings of Noyarao.

The terms of your Dieta might reach their conclusion, but let’s be abundantly clear: the Dieta itself is an eternal companion. This isn’t some membership you can cancel or a subscription that expires. It’s a transformative relationship that continues to evolve and mature, much like a fine wine gaining complexity with age. A year after completion, it’s as if the Dieta kicks into a higher gear, its influence burgeoning within you, never ceasing to provide wisdom and growth.

And speaking of long-term effects, there’s something almost magical that happens at the five-year mark—an experience akin to an intricate tapestry finally revealing its grand design. Just imagine, as Mokan did with another Noyarao Dieta, how the threads of all your experiences over those years can suddenly coalesce, each one clicking into place to form a picture of understanding so complete, it illuminates the path that the Noyarao has been guiding you along.

It’s crucial to cultivate an open heart ready to receive the myriad gifts these plant teachers bestow. The depths of their offering might elude your immediate grasp during the Dieta phase—don’t fret over this. Your awareness of these gifts will emerge in divine timing, tailored impeccably to your individual path.

The generosity of these plants knows no ceiling; their offerings are limitless. Whether you seek healing melodies known as Icaros, profound shifts in your being, peace with haunting traumas, the dissolution of deep-rooted physical ailments, or liberation from the shackles of self-limiting beliefs, the plants stand ready to elevate you. They are poised to gift you a life brimming with deserved abundance and fulfillment.

So I implore you to consider: what is holding you back from claiming this power for yourself? Why delay in gifting yourself the resonating power and vibrations of these extraordinary plants? Embrace this opportunity; let it guide you towards a life of unfathomable richness and purpose.