1. Purpose of This Guide
This guide has been created to help you prepare for your participation in an ayahuasca or other entheogenic retreat within the context of Transcendent Psychology Retreats. It integrates the minimum safety standards developed by ICEERS Ayasafety with the integrative and psychotherapeutic approach that defines our work.
The purpose is to offer clear information about:
- What ayahuasca is and what to expect.
- Preparation and contraindications.
- Safety and ethics in the ceremonial space.
- Your rights and responsibilities as a participant.
- Guidelines for integration after the experience.
We recommend reading this guide carefully before the retreat and again after the experience to support your process of understanding and integration.
2. About Ayahuasca and Other Medicines
Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian brew made by combining Banisteriopsis caapi vine and Psychotria viridis leaves. It has been used for centuries for healing, spiritual, and communal purposes.
In recent decades, ayahuasca has expanded globally as a tool for inner growth, healing trauma, and spiritual development. Our retreats integrate this traditional wisdom with principles of modern psychology, presence, and therapeutic support.
Each person’s experience is unique. Ayahuasca can bring visions, emotional release, or deep introspection. It often acts as a “mirror” to your inner self, revealing both light and shadow aspects of your psyche.
Vomiting and diarrhea are common effects interpreted as physical and emotional cleansing rather than illness.
3. Benefits and Therapeutic Context
Ayahuasca can serve as a catalyst for psychological and spiritual transformation when approached responsibly. Participants often report increased clarity, emotional release, and insight into personal patterns or relationships.
However, ayahuasca is not a cure or a substitute for therapy. The most meaningful transformations come from continued integration and conscious application of insights after the retreat. The brew can illuminate, but your ongoing commitment is what brings real change.
4. Risks and Contraindications
While many people experience benefits, ayahuasca is a powerful substance that carries physical and psychological risks.
Contraindications include:
- Severe heart, liver, kidney, or pancreatic conditions.
- Glaucoma, epilepsy, or recent surgeries.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Severe mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, or current psychosis.
- Use of medications affecting serotonin (MAOIs, SSRIs, MDMA, amphetamines, etc.) .
If you have any doubts or are on medication, consult your doctor and inform the facilitators. Never stop prescribed medication without medical supervision.
5. Preparation Before the Ceremony
Your preparation influences your experience.
- Diet: Avoid alcohol, pork, strong spices, fried or heavy food for 2–3 days before. Stop eating at least 6 hours before the ceremony.
- Mindset: Reflect on your intention — why are you coming? What are you seeking?
- Rest: Sleep well and hydrate before arrival.
- Abstinence: Avoid sexual activity, recreational drugs, and stimulants the day before and after .
6. The Ceremony
The session will be facilitated by trained guides with medical screening, safety protocols, and ethical guidelines. During the ceremony:
- Remain in the designated space.
- Communicate with facilitators if you need help.
- Respect the silence and personal space of others.
- Allow the process to unfold without judgment or resistance.
You may experience joy, fear, sadness, or physical purging. Trust the process — all emotions have value and meaning in this context.
7. Safety and Emergencies
Our team follows the ICEERS Emergency Protocols (AyaSafe5) to ensure safety throughout the process.
We maintain a first-aid trained assistant, an emergency contact system, and clear procedures for fainting, anxiety attacks, dissociative episodes, or medical situations.
Please inform the team immediately if you feel unwell, disoriented, or emotionally overwhelmed.
8. Ethical Commitment: The Honor Pledge
Our retreats follow an ethical framework that defines the responsibilities of both facilitators and participants:
- Mutual respect and confidentiality.
- No emotional, sexual, or economic exploitation.
- Participants commit not to interfere with others’ processes.
- Facilitators commit to presence, safety, and follow-up support.
Participants are asked to sign this agreement as a gesture of mutual trust and responsibility.
9. After the Ceremony: Integration
The days following the ceremony are as important as the ceremony itself.
We facilitate sharing circles to help participants verbalize, process, and contextualize their experiences in a safe and supportive group environment.
Integration involves:
- Reflecting on insights and applying them to daily life.
- Allowing emotions to settle without rushing to conclusions.
- Avoiding drastic life changes immediately after.
- Seeking therapeutic or peer support if needed.
Common pitfalls include believing that the plant “gave orders” (e.g., to quit a job or end a relationship), or confusing symbolic visions with literal truths. Integration helps transform symbolic messages into practical wisdom .
10. Confidentiality and Respect
Everything shared during the retreat — in ceremonies, circles, or personal conversations — is confidential. Please do not share personal stories of others without explicit permission.
11. Participant Responsibilities
By joining, you agree to:
- Provide accurate health information.
- Follow all preparatory guidelines.
- Respect others and the ceremonial space.
- Avoid influencing or “guiding” other participants.
- Seek integration support after the retreat.
12. Facilitator Responsibilities
Our facilitators are committed to:
- Upholding high ethical and therapeutic standards.
- Providing a safe physical and emotional environment.
- Offering post-retreat follow-up and integration support.
- Maintaining confidentiality and non-directive presence.
13. Final Notes
Ayahuasca and other entheogenic practices can catalyze profound transformation. However, the true integration of what you experience depends on your openness, humility, and willingness to embody change in your daily life.
This retreat is an invitation to engage consciously with your healing process — with respect for the medicine, for yourself, and for the community.