Plant Medicine: Ethics and Safety

At our retreats, we prioritize your safety and well-being. Our approach is rooted in a deep respect for both the plants and the individuals who journey with us. We’re committed to creating a space where ethics and legality are at the forefront, ensuring that your experience with plant medicine is not only transformative but also secure and informed.

Ethical Psychedelic Retreats: Safety, Legality & Core Values

At Vine of the Soul Retreats, we believe every individual transformation ripples outward to change the world. Our pop-up retreats in Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands are crafted with love, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to safety and empowerment. Unlike psychedelic tourism or guru-led models, we offer trauma-informed, professional journeys that prioritize lasting mental health and spiritual growth.

Our Core Values

  • 🌿 Safety First: Rigorous screening, sober facilitators, and advanced tools like AEDs and blood pressure monitors.
  • 🤝 Integrity Over Authority: Humble guidance, rejecting dogma and guru projections.
  • 💡 Empowerment: Ayahuasca and truffles are optional; retreats are complemented by hypnotherapy, yoga, and integration.
  • 📚 Continuous Learning: Ongoing training and community feedback keep our work cutting-edge.
  • 🕊️ Respect Without Dogma: Sacredness honored, personal beliefs respected.
  • 🌍 Sustainability: Ethical sourcing supports indigenous Ecuadorian communities and Mother Earth.
  • 👥 Community Connection: Pre/post calls, WhatsApp groups, and monthly circles foster a family bond.
  • 🔍 Transparency: Clear about risks and how we mitigate them.
  • 🧠 Holistic Healing: Blending hypnotherapy, psychoanalysis, Belief Coding, and somatic tools.
  • ❤️ Compassion: Every retreat held with genuine care and belief in global healing through individual growth.

The BioPsyche Renewal Protocol

Our retreats are part of the BioPsyche Renewal Protocol, a three-phase methodology developed over years of experience. This framework enhances safety, integration, and long-term results by guiding you before, during, and after the retreat:

  • 🔹 Stabilize (6 weeks before): Health screening, nervous system regulation, lifestyle guidance, psychoeducation, and 1:1 preparation calls. This phase reduces medical risk and builds resilience.
  • 🔹 Illuminate (the retreat week): Ceremonies with ayahuasca (Spain/Portugal) or truffles (Netherlands), combined with breathwork, yoga, bodywork, and daily sharing circles. Somatic tools support challenging emotions.
  • 🔹 Embody (6 weeks after): Integration calls, community sharing circles, and biohacking practices to anchor insights into everyday life.

Guests who complete all three phases consistently report safer journeys and more sustainable transformation. This protocol transforms the retreat from a one-off event into a lasting cycle of growth.

Safety Measures

  • Comprehensive Health Screening: Intake forms assess heart health, blood pressure, mental health history, and medications. Contraindications are carefully managed.
  • Emergency Preparedness: Sober facilitators, nearby hospitals, blood pressure monitoring, and strict safety protocols.
  • Dietary Guidelines: Two-week and three-day restrictions to prevent interactions and support the medicine process.

Legality: Spain, Portugal & Netherlands

  • 🇪🇸 Spain: Personal/private ayahuasca use is decriminalized. Private venues ensure guest risk is virtually zero.
  • 🇵🇹 Portugal: Law 30/2000 decriminalizes personal use. Screening and private venues maintain guest safety.
  • 🇳🇱 Netherlands: Ayahuasca is not permitted, but psilocybin truffles are fully legal. This allows us to offer safe, compliant psychedelic retreats in a regulated context.

We consult with legal experts regularly, use ethically sourced plants, and design our retreats around personal transformation rather than spiritual tourism.

Integration & Community

Integration is the bridge between insight and real change. Each retreat includes daily sharing circles, a final integration meeting, and a follow-up call 2–3 weeks later during the brain’s neuroplastic window. WhatsApp groups, monthly Zoom circles, and occasional in-person meetups create a lifelong support network.

“I arrived nervous and unsure if I was ready. From the first moment, the team created a safe, compassionate space. The ceremonies helped me face fears and find self-acceptance, while the integration calls afterward made all the difference. This was more than a retreat—it was a life-changing journey.”
— Alumni Participant, UK, 2024

Why Choose Our Integration-Focused Retreats

  • 🌐 Holistic Transformation: Psychedelics are optional, complemented by hypnotherapy, yoga, and belief coding.
  • 🛡️ Trauma-Informed Care: Experienced facilitators ensure emotional safety.
  • 🔗 Integration Focus: Pre-retreat videos, post-retreat calls, and alumni community make insights actionable.
  • 🌱 Ethical Sourcing: Long-term partnerships with Ecuadorian communities ensure sustainability and respect.

Ready to begin your journey? Discover our methodology and join a retreat designed for safety, integrity, and authentic transformation.

Common Questions

Your safety is our priority. Here are some common concerns addressed.
Have questions? Ask.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tap to expand. These answers mirror the content on this page for clarity and SEO.

Is ayahuasca legal in Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands?

In Spain and Portugal, personal/private ayahuasca use is decriminalized; we work in private venues to minimize guest risk. In the Netherlands, ayahuasca is prohibited, but psilocybin truffles are legal, so we host compliant truffle retreats there.

What makes Vine of the Soul retreats different?

Small groups, sober professional facilitators, and a trauma-informed approach. Our BioPsyche Renewal Protocol (Stabilize → Illuminate → Embody) wraps your experience with preparation, supported ceremony, and structured integration for safer, longer-lasting results.

Do I have to drink ayahuasca to join?

No. Psychedelics are optional. You can lean into hypnotherapy, breathwork, meditation, or yoga. Many guests find these equally transformative—especially when combined with integration.

How safe are your retreats?

Safety is our foundation: comprehensive health screening, clear medication/diet guidelines, sober staff, monitoring (e.g., blood pressure), private venues, and nearby medical access.

How many people attend each retreat?

We keep groups intentionally intimate—typically 8–12 participants—with a high facilitator-to-guest ratio for personalized support.

What happens after the retreat?

Integration is built-in: a follow-up call 2–3 weeks later (neuroplastic window), monthly sharing circles, and WhatsApp community support to translate insights into daily life.

Do you accept international guests?

Yes. We welcome guests from the UK, Europe, North America, Australia, and beyond. Our multilingual team (English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, and more) ensures clear communication and cultural sensitivity.

Where do you hold retreats and why pop-up locations?

We host in Spain and Portugal for ayahuasca (private, decriminalized settings) and in the Netherlands for legal psilocybin truffles. Pop-up venues let us prioritize discretion, safety, and the right container for each group.

Reach Out to Us Today

If you have questions or need support, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re here to listen and help you navigate your journey towards mental wellbeing.