What Happens in a Peruvian Ayahuasca Ceremony | The Respectful Truth

Let's address this right up front: ayahuasca has become trendy, and that's complicated.

What was once a sacred plant medicine used by indigenous Amazonian communities for spiritual healing and connection has been discovered by Westerners seeking enlightenment, healing trauma, or just looking for their next experience to post about. 

But here's the thing. Beneath the wellness tourism and the Instagram shamans, there's a real, profound, ancient practice that has helped indigenous communities for thousands of years.

If you're going to participate in an ayahuasca ceremony, you owe it to the culture, the plant, and yourself to understand what you're actually doing and why. 

This isn't a judgment. This is context. And context matters. 

Ayahuasca plant medicine

ayahuasca ritual

Ayahuasca plant medicine

What Ayahuasca Actually Is 

Ayahuasca is a brew made from two plants: the ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and leaves usually from the chacruna plant (Psychotria viridis).

The combination creates a powerful psychoactive experience that indigenous shamans have used for healing, divination, and spiritual connection for generations. 

The Shipibo, Asháninka, and other Amazonian tribes consider ayahuasca a sacred medicine.

It's not recreational. It's not entertainment. It's a tool for deep psychological and spiritual work, administered by trained curanderos (healers) who've spent years, sometimes decades, learning the traditions, the songs (icaros), and the preparation. 

When you drink ayahuasca, you're drinking something that DMT-containing plants create when combined with MAO inhibitors.

This matters because your body usually breaks down DMT before it can affect you. The ayahuasca vine allows the DMT to work, creating an experience that typically lasts 4-6 hours and can be intensely visual, emotional, and physically challenging. 

Inside a Peruvian Ayahuasca Ceremony: What Really Happens

If you’ve ever wondered what happens in a Peruvian ayahuasca ceremony, the truth is more complex and more sacred than most realize.

Before attending, research deeply into what happens in a Peruvian ayahuasca ceremony so you can approach it with humility and preparation.

A traditional ceremony usually happens at night in a maloca (ceremonial house) or outdoor space in the jungle.

You'll be with a group, though experiences are deeply personal.

The shaman prepares the space, blesses the medicine, and then participants drink a small cup of the brew, which tastes absolutely terrible. Like dirt and bitterness had a baby. 

Then you wait. Maybe 20-40 minutes. Some people feel effects quickly, others take longer.

The shaman will sing icaros, traditional healing songs that guide the ceremony and are believed to direct the medicine's work. 

The experience itself varies wildly.

Some people have profound visions, geometric patterns, encounters with what feel like entities or ancestors. Others experience deep emotional releases, crying, processing trauma.

Many people purge, which means vomiting (there's a bucket for this), and sometimes other forms of purging. This isn't a side effect, it's considered part of the healing process, releasing what you no longer need. 

It can be beautiful. It can be terrifying. Sometimes it's both in the same night.

You might confront difficult truths about yourself, your relationships, your life choices. You might feel profound love and connection. You might spend hours in the bathroom.

All of this is considered normal. 

The shaman monitors everyone, sometimes giving additional doses if needed, continuing to sing, managing the energy of the space.

This is why the quality and training of your shaman matters enormously. 

The Cultural Theft Problem 

Here's where we need to talk about something uncomfortable.

Ayahuasca tourism is a multi-million dollar industry now, and not all of it is ethical.

There are fake shamans running ceremonies who have minimal training. There are "retreat centers" that are basically psychedelic resorts with indigenous aesthetic but no actual cultural knowledge.

There are people who took one workshop and now call themselves facilitators. 

This is cultural appropriation in action, and it's harmful.

It takes a sacred practice, strips it of context, and sells it to Westerners looking for healing or adventure. Meanwhile, the indigenous communities who've protected this knowledge for generations often see little benefit and watch their traditions get watered down or misrepresented. 

If you're going to participate in ayahuasca, you have a responsibility to do it with a legitimate curandero who's actually from the tradition, at a center that respects the cultural roots, and with proper preparation.

This isn't about being politically correct, it's about not being part of the problem. 

How to Approach This Respectfully

 

First, examine your intentions.

Why do you want to do this? "Because it sounds cool" is not a good reason. "Because a celebrity talked about it" is not a good reason.

Healing trauma, seeking spiritual growth, connecting with something larger than yourself—these are legitimate reasons, but they require you to take this seriously. 

Second, do your research. Look for retreat centers that are run by or in partnership with indigenous communities. Ask about the shaman's training and lineage. How long have they been working with the medicine? Who trained them?

Red flags include anyone promising specific results, anyone mixing ayahuasca with other substances, or anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable. 

Third, prepare properly. Most legitimate centers require a diet before ceremony, avoiding certain foods, alcohol, drugs, and even some medications. This isn't arbitrary, it's for your safety.

Follow the guidelines. Be honest about your medical and mental health history. Ayahuasca isn't for everyone, and there are legitimate contraindications. 

Fourth, respect the ceremony. Dress modestly. Follow the shaman's instructions.

Don't take photos. Don't record the icaros without permission. Don't treat this like a party or an Instagram opportunity.

You're participating in a sacred ritual, act accordingly. 

The Safety Reality 

Let's be direct: ayahuasca is not risk-free.

People with certain heart conditions shouldn't take it. People on SSRIs or MAO inhibitors shouldn't take it. People with certain mental health conditions, particularly schizophrenia or psychosis, should absolutely not take it. 

The physical experience can be intense. Vomiting is common. Diarrhea happens.

Some people have challenging psychological experiences that can be temporarily distressing.

A good shaman will help you through this, but you need to be prepared. 

The bigger safety issue is choosing the right place. Unethical operators cut corners on screening, on medicine preparation, on safety protocols.

There have been deaths in ayahuasca ceremonies, almost always when proper protocols weren't followed or when unqualified people were running the ceremony. 

This is why choosing a reputable center with trained practitioners is non-negotiable. Your safety depends on it. 

What People Actually Get From This 

When done right, ayahuasca can be profoundly healing.

People report processing trauma they couldn't access through traditional therapy. Others find clarity about life decisions, relationships, or their purpose.

Some experience a sense of connection to nature, to the universe, to something beyond their normal perception that changes how they live. 

But here's the truth that the wellness industry doesn't always mention: ayahuasca is not a magic bullet. It's a tool. The real work happens after the ceremony, integrating what you learned, making actual changes in your life.

Some people have powerful ceremonies and then go home and change nothing. The medicine can show you things, but you have to do the work. 

Also, not everyone has a profound experience. Some ceremonies are mild or confusing or just strange. That's okay.

The medicine gives you what you need, not necessarily what you want. 

After the Ceremony 

Integration is crucial.

Many good retreat centers offer integration sessions where you process what happened. Some people work with therapists trained in psychedelic integration when they return home.

The days and weeks after ceremony can be emotionally raw, and you'll want support. 

Respect what you experienced by honoring it with action. If you gained insights, apply them.

If you healed something, protect that healing. If you made commitments to yourself or the universe, keep them. 

The Bigger Picture 

Ayahuasca is getting attention because people are desperate for healing, for meaning, for connection.

That's not wrong. But it's important to understand that this is one path among many, and it comes with cultural weight and responsibility. 

If you're called to this experience, approach it with humility, respect, and seriousness.

Find legitimate practitioners. Prepare properly. Go with the right intentions. And understand that you're touching something ancient and sacred that doesn't belong to you but is being shared with you. 

Making It Happen Right 

Finding authentic, ethical ayahuasca experiences requires research and cultural sensitivity.

You want retreat centers that work directly with indigenous communities, employ traditional shamans, and prioritize safety and cultural respect over profit. 

This isn't something to book on a whim. It requires preparation, the right timing, and honest self-assessment about whether you're ready for this level of experience. 

Whether you want guidance on finding reputable centers, understanding what to expect, or incorporating transformative experiences into a broader cultural journey, working with someone who understands both the travel and the cultural context makes a difference. 

Because experiences this profound deserve to be approached with wisdom, respect, and care. 

Your journey matters. Make sure it's done right.