Leveraged Healing: Plant Spirit Medicine Retreat

The ancient curandismo tradition in the Amazon is alive and well. There are still beautiful, proficient, heartful men and women walking in the path of service, whose dharma is to help you with your healing, with finding and releasing old forms, old patterns of seeing and behaving, old boundaries of belief and wound. In August we took nine people with us to Peru, for 12 days in the rain forest, working with an indigenous curandero and with plant spirit medicine. It was wonderful!

The marvelous interplay that humans have with Mother Nature, and with the plants in particular, is front and center in our ayahuasca retreat.  What is striking is that, like everything in creation, medicine plants each have their own vibration, and when we are open and receptive, with clear intention, those finest-level vibrations come alive in us, and step forward to serve. 

We've posted a brief video here.

• Feb 15 Arrive in Iquitos  Those not already in Peru will need to first arrange travel to Lima, Peru and then another flight on to Iquitos. We will lodge overnight in the city of Iquitos, near the central plaza in the heart of the city. Meals are not included this day. We will gather together for a group dinner at one of our favorite restaurants
• Feb 16 After breakfast at the hotel (included), we will travel by taxi to the Hummingbird Retreat center.- about 1 hour drive from the city center of Iquitos.  After lunch at Hummingbird, we will settle in to our lodging and explore the grounds. Afternoon will include an orientation meeting. That evening we have our first  Ayahausca ceremony.
• Feb 17 morning circle meeting with ayahuascero to interpret and expand on ceremony's experience followed by rest and optional programs offered by retreat center. 3  meals. Individual treatments by ayahuascero.
• Feb 18 breakfast, lunch, individual treatments by ayahuascero, and evening Ayahausca ceremony #2
• Feb 19 morning circle meeting with ayahuascero to interpret and expand on ceremony's experience followed by rest and optional programs offered by retreat center. 3  meals. Individual treatments by ayahuascero.
• Feb 20 breakfast, lunch, individual treatments by ayahuascero, and evening Ayahausca ceremony #3
• Feb 21 morning circle meeting with ayahuascero to interpret and expand on ceremony's experience followed by rest and optional programs offered by retreat center. 3  meals. Individual treatments by ayahuascero
• Feb 22 breakfast, lunch, individual treatments by ayahuascero, and evening Ayahausca ceremony #4
• Feb 23 morning circle meeting with ayahuascero to interpret and expand on ceremony's experience followed by rest and optional programs offered by retreat center. 3  meals. Individual treatments by ayahuascero
• Feb 24 breakfast, lunch, individual treatments by ayahuascero, and evening Ayahausca ceremony #5
• Feb 25 morning circle meeting with ayahuascero to interpret and expand on ceremony's experience followed by rest and optional programs offered by retreat center. 3  meals. Individual treatments by ayahuascero
• Feb 26 breakfast at retreat center then leave for Iquitos city center. Spend day in Iquitos - lodge in Iquitos. Lunch and dinner not included
• Feb 27 Breakfast provided. Return home or continue exploring Peru at your desire

Fees
$1050: includes 

• transportation from Iquitos airport to hotel in city center, transportation to and from Iquitos city center and the Hummingbird Retreat Center
• lodging in Iquitos Feb 15 and Feb 27.
• lodging and meals at Hummingbird Retreat Center
• all ceremonies
• most optional programs at Hummingbird center. The center frequently makes available other services such as massage at an additional fee

instructions for remitting payment will be given upon registration

not included

• transportation to Peru and on to Iquitos
• meals not specified above.  Please note: dinner is not served and not recommended on ceremony nights.

Passport
US citizens need a current passport to travel to Peru.  A visa to enter Peru is not required

Precautions

Ayahuasca ( Banisteriopsis caapi ) contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the form of harmine and harmaline. We suggest, therefore, that you consult your medical advisor if you are taking medications which may affect your serotonin levels (known as serotonin selective re-uptake inhibitors or SSRIs) as the combination of MAOIs and SSRIs can lead to higher levels of serotonin in the body. SSRI medications generally require 6 weeks to clear the body and should be reduced gradually.

If you are taking antibiotics or anti-depressants or receiving other medical treatment it is also good practice to see your doctor and ask his or her advice about the effects of your medication in combination with ayahuasca. There may be no problem but it is best to check.

If you have had a concussion within the last year it is not advisable to drink ayahuasca. 

Non-prescription medicines such as antihistamines, dietary aids, amphetamines and their derivatives and some herbal remedies (e.g. those containing ephedrine, high levels of caffeine or other stimulants) should be discontinued for at least a week prior to and following work with ayahuasca. Please check with your herbalist or homeopath as even otherwise innocuous remedies like St John's Wort/hypericum may not be suitable in combination with ayahuasca.