Choice criteria

The criteria for choosing a site for an experiment are critical and will determine the quality of one of the most beautiful and intense experiences of your life... It is worth spending the time it takes during your preparation on these different elements which we also used to collect the testimonies and set up the ratings of the different retirement places.

·       Safety: Unfortunately, many smaller retreat centers are unable to invest significantly in screening and safety. Even if you appear to be well, it is very important to do a real assessment beforehand and to ensure that no allergies or contraindications prevent you from this practice . We recommend choosing a retreat center that conducts a thorough conversational, medical and psychological examination to ensure your safety and well-being. apparently , it is very important to make a real assessment beforehand and to ensure that

·       Legality: Experienced practitioners who have dedicated their lives to herbal medicine generally live in places where the work is legal, so they do not have to live in a state of uncertainty about their work. We recommend traveling to legal places where you can benefit from legitimate healers who operate above the radar, so you can truly relax on the retreat.

·       Group size: It is common for retreats to bring together 20, 50, or even 100 people, which can be chaotic, to say the least. In such groups, you are less likely to receive sufficient attention from the facilitators. We recommend choosing a retreat with an intimate group, in the range of 8 to 15 people.

·       Length of retreat: Shorter retreats feel rushed, do not promote meaningful relationship building, and can limit what can be accomplished in the time allotted. We recommend dedicating at least a week to an ayahuasca retreat to give your mind, body, heart, and soul the attention they deserve.

·       Comfort: We recommend choosing a retreat where you're sure you'll be physically comfortable and have your own private room to decompress and integrate, especially if it's your first time. If you opt for total immersion in the jungle, be careful once again, ensure good practice and safety conditions.

·       Alignment: Choose a retreat that aligns with your values and allows your subjective experience to unfold naturally. There are many different worldviews and having another worldview imposed on you during the retreat may not be in your highest healing interests. This point is particularly important for people who are participating in a retreat for the first time.

·       Holistic Approach: Work with an organization that takes a holistic approach to working with medicinal plants and provides options to support and guide your mental and emotional growth during the retreat. If a provider suggests that "medicine will solve all your problems," be careful.

·       Service: Choose a retreat that you believe can meet your individual needs. Are you treated like a human being or like participant #22 who is on his fourth retirement this month? Ask yourself if they have taken the time to know and understand you, or if this is more of a take-it-or-leave-it retreat.‍

·       Reservation process: Take the time to speak with the service provider before finalizing your reservation. If the provider does not have a screening process in place during the booking process, anyone could be seated next to you during the ceremony. Some people are not able to work with these powerful medicinal plants , and it is the responsibility of the organizers to ensure that only people capable of handling ayahuasca are accepted into the retreat.

·       Expertise: Find an organization that focuses on healing and that you believe has the breadth and depth of expertise needed to guide your transformation. Look for facilitators and healers who have a lightness of spirit and a sparkle in their eyes. Healing work involves transmuting energy. So you look for people who have the energy you aspire to. If they are not able to conserve their energy, it says a lot about their situation and their abilities.

·       Reputation: At a minimum, Google the provider, you might be surprised by what you find. If there is not much information, it is also information. A reputable retreat center will have a professional online presence with testimonials from past retreat participants. It is essential that you know that this is a legitimate organization that you can trust to give you this powerful experience.

·       Volunteers: Please support the ethical work of plant medicine by choosing an organization that pays its team. Unfortunately, retreat centers have a habit of fielding young, enthusiastic, exhausted volunteers and/or not compensating healers fairly. If the people who support your retirement aren't living their best lives, they won't be able to lead you to yours. Don’t hesitate to ask this question directly when speaking to potential centers.

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WARNING: taking substances (entheogenic) can cause death