To the rhythm of fire, songs, and silence emerges the wisdom of Ayahuasca, the one called the grandmother of the sacred Amazonian plants. Given the growing interest in these ceremonies, you may wonder how a traditional ritual unfolds and what effects Ayahuasca allows one to feel. Let’s explore the mysteries of this ancestral medicinal drink that has guided Amazonian communities through knowledge and healing for generations.
A master plant at the heart of indigenous traditions
A living knowledge carried by the Amazonian peoples
Archaeological research associated with Ayahuasca rituals estimates its use at 2400 BC. However, it was not until 1851 that scientific studies took an interest, thanks to the English ethnobotanist Richard Spruce who was invited to participate in a ritual by the indigenous Tukano community.
For millennia, Ayahuasca has been at the heart of the spiritual life of Amazonian peoples. While the word ayahuasca comes from the Quechua language, "aya" meaning soul or spirit and "waska" meaning vine, each community uses its own name. Among the Yawanawa of Brazil, it is commonly called "Uni," the Huni Kuin and Shipibo call it "Nixi Pae," while in Colombia, among the Siona and Cofan, this ancestral medicine is called "Yagé."
Thus called "the vine of souls," Ayahuasca has the ability to open the spirit world in Amazonian traditions. Through its peoples, it represents the symbol of a heritage and living wisdom as a resistance against the oppression these communities have experienced and continue to face in their cultural expression.
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Banisteriopsis caapi: the mother vine and its allied plants
Ayahuasca is prepared by infusing the Caapi vine with leaves for a minimum of 8 hours. The most common and traditional preparation is made with Chacruna leaves (Psychotria viridis). Chagropanga (Diplopterys cabrerana) is also used according to traditions. Finally, shamans may also add plants they are accustomed to working with, such as Toé (Brugmansia suaveolens), Jurema, Chiric Sanango or even the Noya Rao among the Shipibos.
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Banisteriopsis caapi contains alkaloids (harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine) classified as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI). This action of the mother vine allows the allied plants included in the Ayahuasca preparation to express their potential.
Both Chacruna and Chagropanga are rich in DMT, a tryptamine naturally inactive orally without the presence of an MAOI. DMT, the active principle of Ayahuasca, has been studied by scientific research having observed similarities between some of its effects and near-death experiences.
Inner preparation and the ritual setting
A clear intention for increased presence
An Ayahuasca ceremony should not be approached as a psychedelic experience, but as a unique encounter with ancestral rituals, that is, with respect and humility. This approach will greatly condition your experience as well as the teachings you will receive.
That is why the preparatory phase, in the days or even weeks preceding the ritual, is essential. According to traditions and your lifestyle, you will be led to purify your body and mind, as well as clarify your intention in order to create a space of optimal receptivity.
A setting that influences the effects felt
The environment in which you experience a ceremony also plays a direct role in how the effects of Ayahuasca manifest and affect your experience.
The ritual thus represents a structure allowing dialogue with the plants and creating a space of protection. Among the Shipibos, twilight or total darkness promotes inner refocusing, while among the Huni Kuin, Yawanawá, or Cofan, the presence of fire creates a focal point as well as a light that guides the inner journey. Similarly, according to the traditional understanding of Amazonian peoples, medicinal chants correspond to prayers born from communication with the master plants.
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The role of the healer
Commonly called shaman in the West, this word comes from Siberia and designates one who communicates with the spirit world. Amazonian peoples, for their part, use the words curandero, maestro, or ayahuasquero.
A shamanic path consists of rigorous initiations composed of long diets in solitude in the forest. Healers are chosen, trained, and tested. They commit to serving others as well as the invisible world and to honoring their traditions, ancestors, and master plants. In Amazonian traditions, it is believed that the curandero of an Ayahuasca ceremony enters an expanded state of consciousness allowing communication with the plant and maintaining the balance of the ritual.
Choosing carefully who will guide your journey is essential. Trust the recommendations of more experienced and trustworthy people and, if possible, meet them beforehand.
The effects of Ayahuasca during the ceremony
Bodily effects: physiological activation and purge
From the first hour, the nervous system is activated by the action of the plants. You may feel the first effects of Ayahuasca as a sensation of warmth, even sweating. Subsequently, the onset of nausea is common, which may lead to vomiting.
According to Amazonian traditions, the purge is interpreted as a symbolic process of physical, emotional, and energetic cleansing.
Emotional effects: introspection and opening of the heart
Alongside nausea, participants are most often subject to an emotional intensity stemming from unexpressed emotions or memories that Ayahuasca seeks to release through the discomfort it causes.
It is during this period of internal tension that the environment will be of utmost importance to maintain a safe framework. Furthermore, your ability to cultivate awareness and the observation of your sensations, as well as your ability to let go, will greatly facilitate your experience.
The purge may alternatively occur through tears expressing the same release. In any case, by allowing you to free yourself from your resistances, Ayahuasca encourages you to create space to regain your natural alignment and support a feeling of emotional openness.
Perceptual effects: an expanded consciousness
The effects felt during an Ayahuasca ritual also include a heightened sensitivity. While they can manifest as visions related to Amazonian symbolism, this is not necessarily the case.
You will be able, for example, to notice:
● a change in the perception of time,
● an increased awareness of the space around you,
● a feeling of connection with the other participants,
● a better understanding of your inner world or the events of your life,
● a strengthened spiritual connection and trust.
Each journey is unique and varies greatly depending on the person, the moment in your life, your preparation, and your environment.
The effects after the ritual and integration
The integration phase following an Ayahuasca ceremony is essential to continue creating space for the plant medicine and its teachings to mature within you.
For this, seek to:
● Incorporate spaces of calm, rest, and silence into your schedule;
● Connect with nature as much as possible;
● Engage in creative or introspective activities (writing, painting, conscious movement, etc.);
● Continue a healthy and light diet.
This post-ritual period will offer you moments of increased clarity and inner peace. It is also possible that you may experience some confusion after your ceremony; in this case, be kind to yourself and let clarity gradually settle in.
In the weeks following a ceremony, some people still notice subtle changes: a finer emotional perception, a different daily attention, or a new approach to certain situations.
Respect, caution, and ethics around Ayahuasca
Risks and contraindications: listen to your body and its limits
Let us remember that Ayahuasca is not suitable for everyone and that one of the fundamental teachings of the master plants is to know how to take personal responsibility. In general, cultivate self-awareness and respect your limits, especially if you are going through a fragile period.
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Make sure to follow the recommended diet before and after the ceremony and be aware of potentially dangerous drug interactions. Some molecules may interact with Ayahuasca, so it is essential to consult a competent healthcare professional.
Participate with discernment and choose ethical guidance
As ceremonies multiply outside the Amazon, learn to distinguish serious practices from improvised offers. And, of course, only participate in a ceremony in a country where its practice is legal.
Amazonian curanderos receive long training based on learning about plants, chants, and energetic responsibilities. Participating in a ceremony under the guidance of an untrained person or someone not connected to a lineage carries risks, both emotionally and physically.
An ethical framework involves:
● transparency about the lineage,
● respect for the tradition and the peoples of origin,
● an absence of pressure or promises.
Protecting indigenous communities in the face of growing demand
The popularity of Ayahuasca today puts certain communities under pressure, and indigenous communities warn about the overexploitation of Banisteriopsis caapi as well as the loss of control over rituals when taken out of their traditional context.
When you choose to participate in an Ayahuasca ceremony, also choose to protect the peoples who are its guardians. Value their knowledge, support respectful local initiatives, reject extractivist approaches, and respect the cultural rights of the peoples who have passed down this knowledge. Choose to cultivate, with the peoples as with the plants, a relationship of respect, reciprocity, and awareness.
Beyond visions and sensory perceptions, an Ayahuasca ceremony is above all a meeting: that of a master plant, a people, a ritual, and an intention. Each experience is unique, shaped by your history, preparation, and the respect you have for this ancestral tradition. Whether it opens understandings or invites silence, Ayahuasca continues to teach long after the night of the ritual, at the pace each person is ready to receive.
Key points to remember:
● Ayahuasca is a master plant at the heart of the spiritual traditions of many Amazonian peoples.
● Its effects vary depending on the individual, intention, preparation, and ritual setting.
● Sensations can be physical, emotional, or perceptual, and manifest uniquely in each person.
● The integration following the ceremony is fully part of the process and can reveal progressive insights.
● Approaching this practice requires respect, discernment, and a clear understanding of its cultural and legal framework.
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FAQ Ayahuasca Effects
What are the effects of Ayahuasca?
Effects vary depending on the person, intention, preparation, and ritual setting. They can include sensory changes, emotional intensity, visions, or a more developed inner perception.
How long do the effects of Ayahuasca last?
A ceremony lasts several hours, often all night, but some subtle sensations can continue in the days and weeks that follow.
Does Ayahuasca always cause visions?
No. Some people have symbolic visions, others do not: each experience manifests differently. The experience depends on many factors, including preparation, context, and individual sensitivity.
Is Ayahuasca legal?
Legality varies from country to country. It is important to get informed and only participate in a ceremony in a country where the practice is authorized.
Can the experience one will have be predicted?
No. Each ceremony is unique and depends on many elements: the participant's state, their intention, the setting, the support, and the moment in their life.
Why is preparation important?
In Amazonian traditions, the preparation (diet, rest, intention) promotes a better reception of the ritual and helps create a clear and respectful inner framework.
Bibliography:
Ruffell, S. G. D., Crosland‐Wood, M., Palmer, R., Netzband, N., Tsang, W., Weiss, B., Gandy, S., Cowley‐Court, T., Halman, A., McHerron, D., Jong, A., Kennedy, T., White, E., Perkins, D., Terhune, D. B., & Sarris, J. (2023). Ayahuasca: A review of historical, pharmacological, and therapeutic aspects. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports, 2(4), e146. https://doi.org/10.1002/pcn5.146
Estrella-Parra, E. A., Almanza-Pérez, J. C., & Alarcón-Aguilar, F. J. (2019). Ayahuasca: uses, phytochemical and biological activities. Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 9(4), 251–265. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13659-019-0210-5
Timmermann, C., Roseman, L., Williams, L., Erritzoe, D., Martial, C., Cassol, H., Laureys, S., Nutt, D., & Carhart-Harris, R. (2018). DMT models the Near-Death experience. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1424. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01424
Malcolm, B., Spirit Pharmacist LLC, & Kaivalya Kollectiv. (2023). Ayahuasca and drug interaction: the good, the bad, and the soul. https://pharmacy.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2740/2022/01/HO-2-slides-per-page-Ayahuosca-1.pdf