Preparation is an important part of your retreat journey. It helps you approach the experience with greater awareness, emotional stability, and respect for your body and mind.
Taking time to prepare physically, mentally, and emotionally can help you feel more grounded and supported throughout the retreat.
Our intention is not to create strict expectations, but to help you arrive informed, prepared, and open to your own individual process.
Before the Retreat
Before your arrival, we will provide guidance to help you prepare for your stay.
This includes:
- Dietary preparation recommendations
- Important health and medication information
- Guidance on mental and emotional readiness
- Practical information about your retreat experience
- A confidential health and intake questionnaire
All participants are required to complete our health questionnaire before attending.
This information helps us identify potential contraindications and assess whether participation may be appropriate for you.
Because plant medicines can involve significant physical and psychological risks, additional medical evaluation may be necessary.
Dietary Preparation
We recommend following a light, balanced diet for approximately 5–7 days before your retreat.
The intention is to support your general well-being and establish a mindful routine before the experience.
Recommended:
- Fresh vegetables and fruits
- Rice, grains, and simple meals
- Light soups and nourishing foods
- Adequate hydration
We recommend avoiding or reducing:
- Alcohol
- Recreational drugs, including cannabis
- Heavy and highly processed foods
- Red meat and pork
- Excessive sugar
- Excessive caffeine
If you regularly consume caffeine, reducing it gradually may help prevent headaches or discomfort.
Dietary preparation does not eliminate the medical risks associated with plant medicines. Please inform us about any medical dietary requirements or health conditions that may affect your preparation.
Medications & Health Conditions
Your physical and mental health are essential considerations when preparing for a plant medicine retreat.
Certain medications and medical conditions may be incompatible with Ayahuasca or other medicines offered during the retreat.
These include, but are not limited to:
- Antidepressants, including SSRIs, SNRIs, and MAOIs
- Certain psychiatric medications
- Some medications that affect serotonin, blood pressure, or heart function
- Certain cardiovascular conditions
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- A history of psychosis, bipolar disorder, or other serious psychiatric conditions
- Pregnancy
Important: Never stop, reduce, or change prescribed medication on your own to attend a retreat.
If you are taking medication or have a relevant medical or psychiatric history, please inform us before booking.
Any medication changes must be discussed with your prescribing doctor or qualified healthcare professional.
Discontinuing medication can cause withdrawal symptoms, emotional instability, or a return of the condition being treated.
Being medication-free does not automatically mean that someone is medically or psychologically ready to participate.
We may request additional medical information or recommend postponing or declining participation when significant health concerns are identified.
Our health questionnaire and retreat screening do not replace an independent medical assessment.
Safety & Individual Readiness
Every person arrives with a different life story, emotional background, physical condition, and level of experience.
For this reason, we approach each participant individually.
Before and during the retreat, we consider:
- Physical health and medical history
- Mental and emotional well-being
- Current and previous medication use
- Personal readiness and individual needs
- Responses to previous ceremonies during the retreat
Not every medicine or ceremony is suitable for every participant.
Certain ceremonies may be optional or may not be offered to an individual if significant safety concerns arise.
Our priority is to approach each experience with care, responsibility, and respect for personal limits.
Voluntary Participation & Personal Choice
Participation in all plant medicine ceremonies and retreat activities is entirely voluntary.
We believe that meaningful personal work begins with honesty, trust, and respect for individual boundaries.
You are always free to express your feelings, ask questions, share concerns, or decide not to participate in a particular ceremony.
There is no obligation to take any medicine, and no participant should feel pressured to continue an experience they do not wish to undertake.
We encourage open communication throughout the retreat so that we can better understand your needs and support your individual process.
Each ceremony is approached separately, taking into consideration your physical condition, emotional state, personal readiness, and any relevant safety concerns.
Choosing not to participate in a ceremony is always respected.
Our retreats are offered as complete experiences that include accommodation, meals, preparation, guidance, group activities, and integration support.
Individual ceremonies are not priced separately within the retreat package. Voluntarily choosing not to participate in an available ceremony does not ordinarily entitle a guest to a partial refund.
This does not affect any refund rights that apply under our booking terms or applicable law, including situations where an advertised service is not provided by the organizer.
Understanding the Retreat Experience
Every retreat experience is unique.
Some participants arrive seeking clarity, emotional healing, personal growth, or a deeper connection with themselves.
Others may simply feel called to step away from their daily routines and explore their inner world.
Whatever brings you here, we encourage you to approach the experience with openness rather than fixed expectations.
Plant medicine experiences can be emotionally and physically intense. They may bring forward difficult feelings, memories, or unexpected reactions, and meaningful insights are not guaranteed.
There is no single way that a ceremony should unfold.
Some experiences may feel profound, while others may be subtle, challenging, or difficult to understand immediately.
A powerful experience is not necessarily a better experience.
We encourage participants to avoid comparing their journey with others or expecting a particular vision, sensation, or outcome.
Our role is to provide a respectful and supportive environment, not to promise specific experiences or results.
Mental & Emotional Preparation
Preparation is not only physical.
Taking time to slow down before your retreat can help you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and intentions.
We recommend:
- Allowing yourself time to rest before traveling
- Reducing unnecessary stress and stimulation
- Practicing gentle meditation or conscious breathing
- Spending time in nature
- Reflecting or journaling
- Setting a personal intention without becoming attached to a particular outcome
You do not need to arrive with all the answers.
It is enough to approach the retreat with honesty, curiosity, and a willingness to listen to yourself.
If you are experiencing significant emotional distress, severe anxiety, depression, or other mental health difficulties, please discuss your situation with a qualified healthcare professional before considering participation.
A plant medicine retreat is not a substitute for medical care, psychiatric treatment, or psychotherapy.
Flexibility & Respect for the Individual Process
Our retreat programs follow a thoughtfully designed structure that includes preparation, ceremonies, integration, rest, and time in nature.
However, we recognize that each participant responds differently.
The order or timing of certain activities may be adjusted according to individual readiness, health considerations, weather conditions, or the needs of the group.
Any significant changes will be communicated to participants.
Our intention is to maintain a balanced experience while respecting each person’s physical and emotional well-being.
Integration
The retreat experience does not end when a ceremony finishes.
Integration is the process of reflecting on what you have experienced and exploring how those experiences may relate to your everyday life.
During the retreat, we provide opportunities for:
- Personal reflection
- Group sharing and integration conversations
- Gentle movement, meditation, and breathwork
- Rest and time in nature
- Exploring how personal insights may be applied in daily life
Integration is an individual process, and it may continue long after you return home.
We encourage you to allow time for rest, reflection, and appropriate support following your retreat.
A Final Note
Preparation is not about perfection or following an endless list of rules.
It is about approaching yourself and the experience with care, honesty, and respect.
You do not need to arrive with fixed expectations or feel that you must experience something extraordinary.
Every person’s journey is different, and every experience deserves to be approached with patience and compassion.
Come with an open mind, respect your own boundaries, and allow yourself the freedom to experience your journey in your own way.