About Ayahuasca
Tradition, Safety, and Approach
Tradition & Facilitation
Our ceremonies will be held by a team of three facilitators led by José Antonio Ukumari, a Shipibo-trained medicine server who works with Ayahuasca through the traditional Amazonian framework of icaros — ancestral songs used to move, direct or calm the energetic field during ceremony.
While rooted in the Shipibo lineage, José integrates Andean, Hindu and Nordic musical traditions, creating a unique sonic landscape that supports:
Emotional movement
Energetic release
Grounding
Visionary clarity
Deep internal listening
The music is not decorative — it is an essential part of the therapeutic process.
What to Expect in Ceremony
Ceremonies are held at night in a contained and structured environment. Participants sit or lie down, supported by facilitators who maintain presence and safety throughout the experience.
You can expect:
Icaros and musical guidance to open, move, or settle internal processes
Energetic support when grounding or reassurance is needed
A silent, structured container for deep personal work
Continuous non-intrusive monitoring by the facilitators to ensure emotional and physical safety
A process oriented toward insight, healing, and integration, not spectacle
Preparation: Before the Retreat
Each participant receives clear preparation guidelines, including:
Dietary recommendations (la dieta)
Emotional and psychological readiness
Sexual abstinence before, during, and after the retreat
Medication and substance restrictions
Intention-setting framework
What to expect physically and psychologically
Integration: Making Meaning of the Experience
Integration is essential.
Daily group sessions during the retreat help you:
Understand your insights
Recognize themes and emotional patterns
Apply lessons to your everyday life
Ground your experience somatically and psychologically
We ensure no process is left floating or unsupported.
Medical & Psychological Screening
Ayahuasca is powerful and not appropriate for everyone.
Just as some medications or treatments cannot be combined, or should not be taken when certain health conditions are present, Ayahuasca also requires specific safety parameters to protect your wellbeing.
If you are currently taking any of the medications or substances listed below, you may still be eligible to participate if your prescribing physician approves and supervises a safe discontinuation. This tapering process must be completed at least 5 days before the retreat and can be combined with specific herbs to help cleanse the system.
We do not advise anyone to stop medication without medical supervision.
In addition to medication and substance safety, there are certain medical and psychological conditions that are not compatible with this work. For these reasons, individuals with the following conditions will not be able to participate:
-
SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs
Antipsychotics
Benzodiazepines
Amphetamines
MDMA
Cocaine
Ketamine (recent use)
Herbal supplements that interact with MAO inhibition
(Detailed list provided during screening)
-
Heart disease
Uncontrolled hypertension
Epilepsy or seizure history
Severe liver or kidney illness
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
-
Bipolar Disorder Type I
Schizophrenia or psychotic-spectrum disorders
Active suicidal ideation
Recent psychiatric hospitalization
Unstabilized severe trauma
All participants will complete a medical form and a personal conversation with Gabriel to assess readiness and safety.
Ethics & Boundaries
Our retreat is:
Non-religious
Non-sexual
Trauma-informed
Grounded in respect, confidentiality, and responsibility
Ayahuasca is approached as a serious spiritual and therapeutic practice — never recreational
Early Bird Discount in effect until Jan 1