Preparing for an ayahuasca ceremony

A Guide to Ayahuasca Safety and Readiness

Preparing for an ayahuasca ceremony is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure a safe, transformative, and deeply healing experience. At Vine of the Soul Retreats, we emphasize trauma-informed care, personalized support, and responsible preparation to help you fully receive the benefits of this powerful plant medicine. Below are key steps you can take to prepare—both physically and emotionally—for your upcoming journey.

🌿 Please note: these are general guidelines based on safety best practices. Always consult your facilitator for retreat-specific instructions.

1. Choose a Reputable and Trauma-Informed Retreat Center

Start by researching ayahuasca retreats that prioritize participant safety, medical screening, and integration support. Drinking Ayahuasca tends to bring up unprocessed trauma and emotions. Look for:

• Verified testimonials and independent reviews
• Facilitators trained in trauma-informed care and emergency preparedness
• Legal and ethical practices around sacred plant use

2. Disclose Health Conditions and Medications

Ayahuasca interacts with many prescription medications, especially SSRIs and MAOIs. Full transparency with your facilitator is essential. Be prepared to:

• Share your mental health history
• Disclose all current medications and supplements
• Discuss previous psychedelic or emotional experiences

3. Follow the Ayahuasca Diet (Dieta)

Dietary preparation plays a critical role in ensuring ayahuasca safety and effectiveness. Typically, this involves:

• Avoiding processed foods, red meat, alcohol, and caffeine
• Eliminating recreational substances, including cannabis
• Eating simple, clean meals that support clarity and sensitivity

👉 Read our full ayahuasca diet guidelines here

4. Clarify Your Intentions

While plant medicine has its own intelligence, setting clear personal intentions helps create emotional and spiritual focus. Ask yourself:

• What am I hoping to understand or release?
• What healing or growth am I open to receiving?

This simple act invites the medicine to meet you more directly.

5. Engage in Mental and Emotional Preparation

Ayahuasca can bring repressed emotions to the surface. To prepare:

• Meditate regularly or practice breathwork
• Journal about your hopes and fears
• Acknowledge any anxieties with compassion—not resistance

6. Know What to Bring

Pack with emotional safety and comfort in mind:

• Loose, comfortable clothing
• Water bottle, blanket or shawl
• Journal and pen
• Any small sacred objects that ground you

7. Understand Ceremony Etiquette

Every retreat has different protocols, but here’s what’s usually expected:

• Arrive on time and follow group guidelines
• Keep noise minimal unless invited to share
• Respect the sacredness of the container

Being informed helps reduce anxiety and supports group trust.

8. Surrender with Courage

Safety also means emotional openness. Ayahuasca requires a willingness to surrender—to let go of control, stories, and resistance. Know that:

• You are safe, held, and supported
• The medicine may bring discomfort to initiate healing
• Resistance increases difficulty—openness invites clarity

9. Trust the Facilitators and the Process

We understand that trust is earned, especially in vulnerable spaces. At Vine of the Soul, there are always sober facilitators available to attend to your needs. Our team maintains a high facilitator-to-guest ratio and will never pressure you into anything you're not ready for.

10. Plan for Integration

Your ceremony is just the beginning. True healing unfolds over time. We recommend:

• Joining post-retreat integration calls
• Attending our online community circles
• Continuing journaling, movement, or therapy to stay grounded

Integration is where transformation takes root.

Final Thoughts

At Vine of the Soul, we walk with you before, during, and long after your retreat. Preparing with care and consciousness sets the stage for a truly meaningful ayahuasca experience—one that’s not only mystical but safe, empowering, and deeply personal.

🌱 Need support? Reach out to us with questions, or explore our retreat offerings in Portugal and Spain.