OUR CEREMONIES
Held in Darkness.
Guided by Song.
Supported Through the Night.
A MERAYA ceremony is a held relationship between the participant, the plants, the Shipibo-Konibo curanderos and the group.
This page explains what happens before, during and after ceremony, how support is offered, and what is expected of you.
Read the journey before deciding whether this path is right for you.
Explore the journey below ↓
WHAT HOLDS THE CEREMONY
Icaro
An icaro is the sung transmission through which the curandero works with the plant relationship and directs healing toward the participant.
A plant remedy does not always need to be ingested for its teaching or healing intention to be carried through song.
Attunement
Attunement is careful listening.
The curandero responds to the participant, the ceremony, the group and the plant relationships present in the room.
Arcana
Arcana is the protective containment placed around the work.
It helps close the ceremony, seal what has been received and support the participant afterward.
BEFORE THE MEDICINE
Your Preparation and Choice
Traditional Shipibo-Konibo ceremonies form the core of our retreats and are held by experienced curanderos. If a program includes six ceremonies, each of those core ceremonies is held within that lineage.
Additional facilitator-led ceremonies may also be offered. They are optional. You may participate, observe or—in an agreed setting—take part without drinking Ayahuasca.
On ceremony days, participants usually fast from lunchtime and stop drinking water one hour before the ceremony. Water is available again after the ceremony. Individual medical guidance always takes priority.
Opening the Container
Ceremony takes place in complete darkness to reduce distraction and deepen inward attention.
You arrive approximately 30 minutes early. The team introduces the use of Mapacho and Agua Florida, supports intention setting and helps everyone settle.
The curandero then cleanses the space and medicine. You may discuss dosage or trust the curandero’s judgement. Later, the team checks whether anyone feels called to receive another serving.
“You Do Not Have to Force the Experience.
You Do Have to Stay in Relationship.”
ENTERING THE CEREMONY
The First Movement
After drinking, the group sits in silence for approximately 20–30 minutes while the medicine begins to move.
The curandero opens the work through icaros, singing to the group and then to individuals. When a curandero sits in front of your mat, you may be asked to sit up and receive the song directly.
The work may be sealed with Mapacho smoke or Agua Florida.
How the Experience May Unfold
Effects may begin within ten minutes or take up to an hour. They commonly last two to six hours and sometimes longer. Each brew and each person responds differently.
MERAYA traditionally works with Ayahuasca and Chacruna, with Challiponga included in some preparations. New participants are normally introduced through a modest dose before any increase is considered.
Perception may become more vivid. Colour, pattern, sound and bodily sensation can intensify. A buzzing sound is sometimes noticed as the experience begins. Closing the eyes may deepen the experience; opening them can help reduce intensity.
NAVIGATING THE EXPERIENCE
What May Arise
Visions can range from abstract patterns to clear imagery. Memories, grief, fear, laughter, beauty, suspicion, boredom and physical tension may all surface.
Some people describe telepathy, precognition or other unusual experiences. Their objective meaning may remain uncertain, but the subjective experience can feel real and significant.
Some participants enter intense states connected with birth, death or rebirth. Psychiatry has described related experiences through Stanislav Grof’s Basic Perinatal Matrices. These states may include pressure, pain, breathlessness, contraction, emptiness and renewal.
How to Respond
Slow the breath. Listen to the icaros. Open your eyes if that helps. Ask for water, grounding or direct support.
A ceremony without visions is still a ceremony. Effects may be emotional, physical or cognitive rather than visual. Do not assume nothing is happening and leave the space.
Once you have entered an Ayahuasca ceremony, remain inside the container until the guides formally discharge the group. Confusion and loss of control are often temporary, while the altered sense of time can make them feel much longer.
“Intensity Can Change.
Support Remains Available.”
CHOICE, BOUNDARIES & SUPPORT
Participation Remains a Choice
Every additional ceremony is optional. You may observe, participate without drinking where agreed, or choose the form of participation discussed with the team.
Choice continues until an Ayahuasca ceremony begins. After that point, remaining in the container is a safety requirement. If the experience feels delayed, subtle or difficult, speak with a facilitator rather than leaving alone.
The Ceremony Ends Carefully
Where several curanderos are present, their icaros may overlap and work together. After the traditional work closes, there may be space for students to sing, play instruments or practise what they are learning.
The group then hydrates and may share briefly. You can return to your room or rest in the maloka. The curandero and facilitators remain nearby through the night so support continues after the final song.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions About Ceremony
Clear expectations help people enter ceremony with greater steadiness.
The core Ayahuasca ceremonies are held by experienced Shipibo-Konibo curanderos, with the MERAYA team supporting the container.
No. Some ceremonies and healing work can be received without drinking Ayahuasca. Your participation is discussed in advance.
A non-visionary ceremony is still an experience. Effects may be emotional, physical, cognitive or subtle. Stay in the container and speak with a facilitator.
Yes. If fear, confusion, physical discomfort or suspicious thoughts arise, signal a facilitator immediately.
The medicine may be felt for several hours. Timing varies with dose, preparation and individual response. The team closes and discharges the ceremony formally.
The group hydrates, may share briefly, and rests in the maloka or their rooms. The curandero and facilitators remain nearby overnight.
Still Have Questions About Whether This Path Is Right for You?
EXPLORE THE PATH
Continue Your Understanding
Ceremony sits inside a wider path of preparation, plant relationship, safety and integration.
THE DEEPER JOURNEY
Enter the Jungle. Enter the Relationship.
MERAYA’s 14-Day Jungle Initiation brings plant dieta, Shipibo-Konibo ceremony, psychological understanding and practical integration into one held developmental journey.
The purpose is not cultural tourism or the pursuit of another peak experience.
It is an opportunity to enter relationship with preparation, humility and responsibility.
DISCOVERY CALL
For in-person Jungle Initiations, enrollment is available by Discovery Call only.
NOT SURE WHICH PATH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
You may be exploring personal healing, deeper shamanic development, online training, or an immersive journey into the Amazon.
You do not need to figure it all out alone.
Book a personal discovery call with MERAYA to ask your questions, explore the different ways to work with us, and understand which pathway may best support where you are now.
No pressure. Just a conversation, clarity, and a clear next step.
JOIN THE MERAYA COMMUNITY
JOIN THE MERAYA COMMUNITY
Stay connected to the teachings, trainings and conversations emerging from Meraya.
For now, join the community and receive our free Ayahuasca Masterclass video training, together with ongoing teachings on plant medicine, shamanic development, integration and walking the path with greater clarity.
Join a growing community of people committed to healing, development and living what they learn.
Walk The Shamanic Path With Clarity
GROW DEEP. SERVE WELL.
