AYAHUASCA CEREMONY – Two Worlds Peru Tours

Ceremonia de AYAHUASCA

The Ayahuasca is a drink prepared with plants (Ayahuasca – Banisteriopsis caapi, and Chacruna – Psychotria viridis) by a Shipibo Conibo Shaman from the Peruvian Amazon, to help understand certain mysteries and give emotional and spiritual healing.

Meditation is an integral part of the retreat process and an essential part of the Ayahuasca ritual. Self-awareness and attention combine with the power of nature and the wisdom of the plant, which greatly enhances mental and spiritual growth.

The Ayahuasca Ceremonies in Cusco, Peru take place at night. People sit in a semicircle on either sides of the Shaman. Once everybody is ready, he rises, and begins the ceremony creating an energetic circle with the smoke of the Mapacho (pure tobacco cigar), to protect the place from negative energetic influences.

Once this is done, he takes the Ayahuasca and ceremonial objects and puts them on the floor, on a rug that will be the altar. He lights the mapacho again (it usually goes off if the Shaman does not puff steadily) and begins to sing an icaro.

Then, he takes the bottle of Ayahuasca and opens it. He takes smoke in his mouth and, pressing the bottle to his chest, repeatedly blows the smoke of the tobacco while capping the bottle with his hand so that it does not escape. He then closes the bottle again and leaves it on the floor. Participants drink the mystical liquid from their ceremonial cup; now it is necessary to wait in the darkness and extreme silence for the effects of Ayahuasca to appear.

They usually do within 20 minutes in the natives and about 45 minutes in white Westerners. This is called Mareación (Trance). The Shaman intervenes timidly during the first few minutes of the trance, where visions are still scarce.