Preparing for a yagé or ayahuasca retreat

How to prepare for a yagé (ayahuasca) retreat

Traditional ayahuasca ceremony in Colombia is a unique experience. Here is everything you need to know to prepare properly so you can have a great experience with the medicine on your yagé (ayahuasca) retreat.

A clean diet in advance will greatly enhance your experience with the medicine

A yagé or ayahuasca retreat is not about escapism — it’s about profound change. The kind of change you get when you prepare properly, take your self and your journey seriously, and do your best to set intentions in your life.

Intentions are not only about words, they are also about actions. Here are some great actions you can take so your retreat is amazing, and helps you reach your goals.

These instructions might not make a lot of sense in your culture before you experience the medicine, but they are there to help you have the best experience possible.

Life is one, before a yagé or ayahuasca retreat

Our sacred existence, is a great gift. Recognizing that, can sometimes take time. That is why the human being has gone through the ages in search of something more.

These bodies and everything that makes us up, are a perfect weaving intertwined with everything that exists.  Because of our human experience, we are full of sensations and emotions, some that feel good and others that make us uncomfortable. But all of that is part of the path, the way to connect with who we really are, with our true essence and to truly live.

This is why preparation for any master plant ceremony is important and begins with intention and cleansing in your regular life, this includes the body, the mind, and the spirit.

Our body is the vessel and the diet or ‘dieta’ helps to keep your ceremony safe and comfortable and show intent for a clear and healing process.

Preparing diet before a yagé or ayahuasca retreat

The yage or ayahuasca diet is sometimes called a dieta. Ideally you begin your dieta one week prior to the ceremony. But at minimum you should follow these eating and lifestyle recommendations for a minimum three days prior, and twenty-four hours afterward. We’ve given you a longer article about diet (and why it’s so important) but in short there are foods you should eat on a yagé or ayahuasca diet, and foods to avoid before ceremony.

Do try to choose plant-based foods that are organic and as natural as possible. Foods that are preferable include fish, eggs, vegetables, lentils, soups, rice, beans, and fruits.

Avoid foods such as red meat, pork, dairy, spicy foods, garlic, citrus, and dark drinks (coffee, chocolate and sodas), ice cream, ice cold drinks, and alcohol.

There is lots more an you can read our extended article to help you with diet both before and after the ceremony, but trust us if you actually follow the diet in advance, you’ll be really, really, happy you did. If you’re having trouble finding good foods before ceremony, don’t worry we’ve got your back and we’ll have the right foods on site the whole time with a special cook who knows exactly how to cook properly for medicine and sources foods ethically and sustainably.

Preparing intentions before a yagé or ayahuasca retreat

Having an intention helps you to build a relationship with the sacred plants with a clear and cleansed mind. 

Some things that help to clear the mind before the retreat is to try to refrain from social media, and television. Instead substitute these with activities like meditation, journaling, and gratitude practices. These will help with creating clear intentions in our mind as our mindset plays an important role in the relationship with these sacred plants. 

It is also very important to refrain from sexual activity and other forms of sexual release for at least three days prior to the retreat to conserve vital energy for the ceremony itself.

Why prepare before a yagé or ayahuasca retreat

Our guests always say the one of the best things about ZiruYai retreats is the food. But in reality, for us, diet extends far beyond a retreat, and is part of a conscious lifestyle. How we grow, consume, and plan for the foods in our lives and the lives of our community is one thing the medicine is great at teaching.

Putting in the effort to prepare for your retreat will help you have the best experience possible.

We will be happy to assist you in your preparation process, contact us!.