Guest Post, by Neil Kirwan
Co-Founder of Sowa Soman, Costa Rica
sowasoma.com
Working with a plant medicine as powerful as Ayahuasca is never something to be taken lightly. In short, you’re taking your soul for surgery, to be reweaved into coherence with your body. It’s energetically intensive work, though often one of the most rewarding things a person will ever experience in life. Preparing correctly for your journey is important, and can have a significant impact on the outcome. Once you’ve chosen a retreat, planning and preparation should be your first consideration.
Most reputable retreats will proactively guide this process, so it’s worth asking what kind of preparation support you’ll receive, before you book. Some people may feel inclined to enlist the support of a coach, if they’re working with particularly intense emotions or blockages around fear and shame. This can be very helpful for some people and allows them to work through feelings of fear and anxiety before they arrive to the retreat center. Emotions may become stronger as the retreat draws near.
You’re taking your soul for surgery to be reweaved into coherence with your body. It’s energetically intensive work, though ultimately possibly one of the most rewarding things people will ever experience in life.
One thing that is very commonly described by participants is the Ayahuasca journey beginning even before arriving to the retreat space. Often, once participants have booked, they will begin connecting with the medicine energetically, sometimes in dreams. The subconscious mind will also start to stir, with emotions and memories surfacing to be looked at and cleansed. This can sometimes feel disconcerting or overwhelming for people, as it gives a small taste of the power that these sacred plants contain. It is, however, completely normal in this mystical world and nothing to be concerned about.
Mother Aya arriving early can provide a strong reminder to take this work seriously and respectfully ahead of the retreat, by preparing well and engaging with support where needed.
Here we’ve broken down the key components to help you prepare for your retreat.
The Ayahuasca Dieta
Diet is probably the most discussed part of preparation and it’s important to be clear on this ahead of time. The length of time you may be asked to diet can vary greatly depending on who you choose to sit with, from one month to seven days. It’s important to note that different lineages and different retreat centres will have different specifications on what they ask for in terms of diet preparation.
Regardless of what you may read on the internet it is vital to follow the instructions given to you by the Ayahuasca retreat center you choose. By choosing them you have entered into a relationship with them and their medicine. All questions around diet should be directed to them as opposed to Google and Chat GPT.
For the most part, the diet is about preparing the body physically and spiritually for ceremony. Energetically it’s also a sign of respect and sacrifice to the plants you are about to work with. The diet is also about your safety as certain substances and compounds can have dangerous implications when paired with Ayahuasca. SSRI’s (antidepressants) being the most common substance known to cause potentially life-threatening complications. Likewise, alcohol, caffeine, red meat, etc. can all create challenges and difficulties that will hinder the quality of your experience.
There are of course exceptions and allowances that can be made depending on the circumstances of the individual. We all come to the medicine from different backgrounds and so a tailored approach agreed with your retreat guides is the best option.
Emotional Preparation
When we work with Ayahuasca we are working in the subconscious realms. The hidden realms that drive our every day decisions and reality. It’s common that once we make the commitment to participate in a retreat, the medicine will start to meet us before any Ayahuasca has been taken.
The week before a retreat especially can involve repressed memories and emotions surfacing. Parts of us that our mind has worked hard to protect us from are now coming forward and it can be extremely uncomfortable and confronting if we’re not expecting it. It can also happen at the most inopportune moments when our mind is otherwise occupied, such as when we’re driving.
These moments ask us to explore greater levels of compassion for ourselves. To feel without fear or shame and allow the emotions to be expressed and moved through. This is after all a large part of what we’ll be doing in the ceremony. We go to clean our internal energetics, such as memory and emotion, to bring forward new levels of clarity and alignment.
The more we experience ourselves with care and love, rather than shame and judgement, the more space we create for this clearing to happen. After all, when you clean the basement you still have to watch the junk going out the front door.
Spiritual Attunement
Spiritual preparation can differ greatly from person-to-person, and there is no right or wrong approach. Some people may already have a daily devotional practice such as yoga, meditation, or journaling. Others may have strong religious beliefs that give them spiritual fortitude through prayer. Ayahuasca does not discriminate against or differentiate towards religious beliefs. Whatever your spiritual practice, allow yourself to anchor into the energy of Ayahuasca in the weeks before your retreat.
1. Connect with the energy and introduce yourself and your intention.
2. Take note of your dreams.
3. Practice journaling your thoughts and emotions.
4. Try meditating each morning and evening. Even five minutes of quiet mindfulness can have huge benefits.
Travel Advice
Dial in with your travel, give yourself as much time and space as possible to allow for delays and cancellations. Have a very clear idea of time zones, flight schedules, arrival times, and transfers to-and-from your retreat center. Understand who will be meeting you and what you have to arrange for yourself. It sounds obvious, but book as far in advance as possible to avoid being squeezed into indirect routes and more expensive travel options.
Being well-prepared with your travel details reduces the stress in what may already be a potentially stressful experience for you. Be sure you have the contact details for your retreat center ahead of time, along with sufficient mobile data to contact them in the event of delays or complications. Be aware that you may already be feeling resistance before the retreat. A poor travel experience could easily lead to overwhelm. Better to arrive calm and relaxed than full of anxiety.
Some things will always be out for your control, but control what you can by being well organized. Prepare with snacks and food to bring, as airports and airplanes are some of the least Ayahuasca diet-friendly places around.
Spaciousness is key with travelling, the more time you can give yourself the better. This is definitely applicable to after the retreat too. Having a few days to rest, recuperate, and integrate before you return home is priceless.
Practical Packing
Your retreat center will usually send you a packing list before heading to the retreat. Essentials include:
2. Water bottle with an easy to drink mechanism
3. Journal & pen
4. Head torch (with red filter if possible) and flashlight
5. Blanket or shawl for warmth and familiar comfort
Have a clear idea of what your post ceremony support looks like before you might need it. Make decisions ahead of time with a clear mind. Know who you can call upon if you need support afterwards both from a professional and friendship capacity.
Keep your diary as clear as possible for a month after retreat, give yourself time to integrate back into daily life without pressure or overwhelm. The more spaciousness you can create, the better. You may not need it all but it’s good to have it if you do.
Working with Ayahuasca is a life changing experience. It’s big work, so give it the time and attention it needs. Be protective of what you’re creating and the work you’re undertaking. It all deserves to be respected.
