Our retreat offerings are thoughtfully curated, ensuring each ceremony is held by highly experienced Shipibo Conibo Curanderos. For instance, if your retreat includes 6 ceremonies, rest assured that each will be conducted under the seasoned guidance of Shipibo Conibo healers.

While the core program is rich in tradition, we also recognize the value of diversity in the healing journey. Therefore, we may introduce additional ceremonies at times, facilitated by our own dedicated team. Each ceremony within our fold, whether traditional or contemporary, is thoughtfully optional. This flexibility allows participants to engage fully or observe as they feel called, even providing the choice to partake without the ingestion of Ayahuasca.

The facilitator-led ceremonies often present a unique occasion for attendees to explore and refine a variety of shamanic skills—a chance to practice and integrate learned wisdom in both profound and playful exchanges with spirit.

Mindful preparation is key to the ceremonial experience. From lunchtime on days of ceremony, a fast is observed, complemented by ceasing water intake 1 hour before the ceremony begins. This practice primes body and spirit for the evening’s work. Upon completion of the ceremony, participants are welcome to hydrate and re-engage with their physical needs by drinking water once again.

Our ceremonies unfold within the veil of complete darkness, an environment designed to deepen the inward journey and heighten sensory perception. We invite you to arrive 30 minutes prior to the commencement of the ceremony, providing you with a crucial window to prepare for the ceremonial experience.

In this preparatory phase, you’ll be immersed in the ancient art of working with Mapacho and Agua Florida, two potent tools for personal and spatial empowerment. Additionally, our guidance will support you in the critical process of intention setting, a cornerstone in optimizing the transformative potential of the experience.

As the anticipation gently rises, 30 minutes after your arrival, the Curandero graces the space. They commence their sacred duties by energetically purifying both space and medicine, establishing a sanctuary for spiritual work. The moment then arrives to serve the Ayahuasca—you may exercise your preference regarding dosage, or trust in the Curandero’s discernment to guide your journey.

Following a passage of hours steeped in introspection and discovery, we will tenderly offer a check-in, gauging whether any participant feels called to receive another serving of Ayahuasca. This thoughtful touch ensures that each individual’s experience is honored and tailored to their unique path of exploration.

Upon the ceremonial intake of Ayahuasca, we embrace a collective silence for 20 – 30 minutes, allowing the medicine to gently ripple through our being. As the medicine commences its work, the Curandero ushers in the sacred space with the soul-stirring melodies of Icaros—a profound tradition where the healer sings to both the collective and to each individual. There may be moments when the Curandero approaches and sits before your mat, and in these instances, you’ll be encouraged to sit up to fully receive the Icaro’s vibrational healing. Once concluded, the Curandero will often seal in the healing with either purifying Mapacho smoke or a refreshing spritz of Agua Florida.

The Ayahuasca’s effects can ascend within as little as ten minutes or up to one hour, depending on one’s personal constitution, and may weave its journey anywhere from two to six hours—or sometimes even longer. Each batch of Ayahuasca is unique, much like a fingerprint, and our receptivity to its flow can expand with each ceremony. Consequently, both the duration and intensity of the experience can oscillate significantly from one session to another, influenced by myriad factors including the specific preparation of the brew and our own energetic readiness at that point in time.

At Meraya, our potion is a harmonious admixture of Ayahuasca and Chucruna, with the occasional inclusion of Challiponga for an enriched tapestry of experience. Novices to our retreat are met with a compassionate approach—we often start with modest doses, allowing a gentle introduction to the medicine’s embrace before venturing into higher dosages.

The Ayahuasca experience ushers in a profound shift in perception, unveiling a reality that is more vivid, awash with vibrant colors and resplendent with patterns of luminous energetic vibration. The journey typically begins with an unmistakable transformation, perceivable whether one’s eyes are sealed shut or wide open—the very textures of reality take on an extraordinary quality.

An auditory signal often accompanies the visual shift—a buzzing in the ears—heralding the onset of the psychological effects. With eyes closed, one might find the experience amplifies, each sensation magnified, compared to the more subdued state that prevails when eyes are open. Indeed, should the intensity become overwhelming, a simple act of opening one’s eyes can temper the sensations. And should you need further grounding, we stand ready to assist—with offerings of water or the soothing melodies of Icaros to modulate your experience. This tailored approach ensures a supportive space where you can navigate the depths of Ayahuasca’s transformative power with reassurance and grace.

Throughout the tapestry of the experience, one may encounter a kaleidoscope of visions—from abstract motifs to razor-sharp, clearly identifiable images. Emotions reveal themselves with newfound depth, unearthing forgotten memories nestled in the corners of consciousness. It’s not uncommon for participants to report sensations akin to paranormal phenomena, such as telepathy or precognition. While the objective reality of these effects is up for debate, they are undeniably woven into the subjective fabric of the experience.

It’s also possible that fears or challenging emotions emerge, sometimes manifesting as physical blockages (pains, tension, etc.). In these moments of intensity, the wisest recourse is to anchor oneself with slow, deep breathing, align with the guiding rhythm of the Icaros, and trust in the transformative process ushered in by both Ayahuasca and the Curandero’s watchful presence.

For those at the beginning of their journey with this medicine, it is perfectly normal to traverse a session without encountering visionary states. Each individual’s path to these experiences is unique; occasionally, it appears Ayahuasca requires a form of visual and cognitive acclimatization before unveiling its full visionary spectrum. Patience and openness remain your allies as you acquaint yourself with this profound journey.

Ayahuasca invites a departure from habitual ways of thinking. There may be moments where you perceive an absence of visionary encounters, leading to the assumption that you are untouched by the psychological effects. However, an external observer might discern these influences quite clearly. It’s crucial, therefore, not to prematurely exit a session under the false impression that you are unaffected. Your cognitive processes could very well be under subtle transformation—devoid of visions, perhaps, but not impact.

Once you’ve made the decision to walk the path with Ayahuasca, it’s imperative to honor that commitment. Remain in the session until formally discharged by our guides. There is greater wisdom in enduring moments of stillness than risking harm through an untimely departure. The impulse to leave before the session’s conclusion could lead not only to physical mishaps but also expose you to intense psychological effects while isolated—compromising your safety and well-being.

Approach Ayahuasca with the reverence it demands; its potency is not always immediately apparent. For some, the awakening comes gently, unfurling its effects with time.

This powerful plant is often revered as a mirror reflecting our innermost self—a conduit through which both our shadows and brilliance can surface. When these revelations tilt towards the latter, the experience can unfurl with an indescribable beauty, showcasing the most magnificent aspects of your essence and being.

During your journey with Ayahuasca, it’s not uncommon to navigate through periods of paranoia or heightened suspicion. The tapestry of the Ayahuasca experience is far from linear—it ebbs and flows through various phases, encompassing the spectrum of human emotion. From laughter to sorrow, euphoria to revelation, and even moments of ennui or disenchantment, the experience mirrors the myriad facets of life’s voyage.

Clinically, one may encounter symptoms reminiscent of mental health challenges, notably feelings of undue suspicion, paranoia, and intense self-referential thoughts (“everyone is watching me” or “I am the cause of this occurrence”). Rest assured that these sensations are both normal and transient within the context of the experience.

The emergence of these effects underscores a universal truth: such experiences touch each of us at some point in our lives, born from myriad circumstances. While they may bring discomfort, confronting and managing them can be a profound learning opportunity. Adopting a stance of resilience—welcoming whatever surfaces—is invaluable during an Ayahuasca session.

Above all, remember that support is at hand. Do not hesitate to seek assistance from your facilitators whenever it’s needed. We are here as your allies, to guide and support you every step of the way on this profound journey inward.

During your communion with Ayahuasca, you may find yourself delving into perinatal states, a concept elucidated by the astute minds in psychiatry. This term is tied to profound experiences linked to the birth process. Under Ayahuasca’s guidance, it’s possible to revisit the biological event of birth, a pivotal moment in human life.

These renowned psychiatrists, such as Grof, posited that our entry into the world serves as the inaugural traumatic event we encounter. He articulates this transformative occurrence in a framework known as the Basic Perinatal Matrices—a quartet of phases mirroring the distinct segments of labor. Perinatal journeys have the potential to be deeply intense, blending physical sensations like breathlessness, contractional pressure, and pain, with psychological motifs of death and rebirth, existential emptiness, and psycho-spiritual resurgence.

Such potent experiences serve as the foundation for numerous rites of passage within ancestral cultures, symbolizing transitions and transformations that are as timeless as they are profound.

The duration of the Ayahuasca experience typically spans between four to six hours, with the timeframe influenced by the quantity of your ingestions. Episodes of confusion, disorientation, or a sense of relinquishing control over the experience are generally fleeting, seldom extending beyond 30 minutes. Our presence is dedicated to fortifying you with efficacious tools and practices to regain your balance and composure during such transitory states.

It’s noteworthy, however, that under Ayahuasca’s influence, your usual perception of time can undergo significant alteration. The linear construct of time, as it unfolds in everyday life, may dissolve entirely, yielding to a highly personal and subjective temporal landscape that steers the journey. This shift underscores the importance of surrendering to the experience and trusting in the altered flow of time that Ayahuasca induces.

The sacredness of the ceremony is influenced by the presence of one or more Curanderos. Should there be multiple healers present, you may be enveloped in the harmonious interplay of their voices as they perform Icaros simultaneously.

After the Curandero has completed their ritualistic songs, the space becomes a nurturing environment for students to engage in their own practice—be it through singing Icaros, playing instruments, or sharing melodies that resonate with their spirit.

As the ceremony draws to a close, we come together to hydrate with water and exchange stories, weaving a tapestry of shared experiences. You’re invited to retire to your room or find rest within the sanctuary of the Maloka or Ayahuasca temple. Rest assured, the Curandero and facilitators will also remain within the Maloka, ensuring that support is within reach throughout the entirety of the night.