What is Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is a powerful medicine from the Amazon basin for the body and soul. It is a healing resource. It is not about having a ‘new experience’ or some kind of entertainment. It is about meditation and Shamanic healing.
Ayahuasca has been used by indigenous communities for centuries in sacred rituals, and it is considered to be a master teacher plant. She is the sacred ‘gatekeeper’ that exposes the wisdom of the natural world and spirit realms.
The Ayahuasca brew in most tribes of the jungle is made primarily from two plants that grow in the Amazon Jungle: the Ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis Caapi) and the Chacruna leaves (Psychotria Virdis). The Chacruna leaves contain the psychoactive compound DMT (N,N- dimethyltryptamine), and the Ayahuasca vine contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), which allow your body to activate the DMT when taken orally.
Ayahuasca is a medicine that is taken in doses and that like any therapy, requires several sessions. This requires commitment, willpower, and real changes to be made in your daily life.
If it’s your first time sitting with Ayahuasca medicine, it’s common to feel the anticipation and want to understand what to expect. You may want to research and read in a desire to know, to foresee. Just take into consideration that everything you hear or read is based on subjective experiences. Feeling fear or nervousness is completely normal. These are emotions arising from daring to take the decisive step to embark on your journey with the Ayahuasca retreat in South America. Psychologically, there is no “being ready” apart from “being willing”.
Choose an Intention
Whether you are seeking spiritual deepening and understanding of one's self, or overcoming a disease or addiction, everything starts with energy. This energy lies deeply within our cells and the memories of our bodies. Ayahuasca helps one access subconscious patterns and repressed memories in order to release the energy. This ongoing process requires our own will and discipline to continue to do the work and integrate it into our lives. Hence, it is critical to choose an intention with positivity, commitment, and a clear direction of what you want to achieve.
In recent years in South America, Ayahuasca has become widely considered to be a helpful tool to treat many psychological, physiological, and spiritual maladies, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, addiction, and trauma recovery. Many studies show evidence that Ayahuasca has profound success in treating various forms of mental illness, especially when combined with other forms of therapy.
Why Choose Vikara?
Vikara is the only plant medicine retreat center right on the water in Ecuador, South America. Here, drinking Ayahuasca by the huge and soothing spirit of the ocean is a truly unique experience, where the healing properties of the water bolster your journey of growth and evolution. Our facilities are modern and luxurious, providing you with a cozy and comfortable home away from home during your retreat experience.
Unlike many other retreat centers which host 20-30 participants in one ceremony, Vikara groups are kept to a small size (maximum 10) in order to ensure intimacy, trust, and safety. Here we believe in treating each participant with individualized attention, and also to facilitate a space of openness and bonding within the small group.
For each person who receives the calling of Ayahuasca, at the end of day they will find themselves where they are meant to be.
