Mother Ayahuasca or Father Ayahuasca? Does Ayahuasca Even Need a Gender?
By Christian Alfaro
Mother Ayahuasca. Madre Medicina. As I write this, I can feel the resistance bubble as I label something ineffable. Before I sat with Ayahuasca, I refused to speak of the medicine as 'Her.' What I noticed as I heard people share their Ayahuasca experiences, from Aubrey Marcus to Blu of Earth, Hamilton Souther, Deanna Rogers, Tony Moss, Kat Courtney, and many other upstanding, wise humans, was a perpetual reference to Her, to Mother Ayahuasca.
And while I didn't doubt there was something there, these were other people's experiences. And what I felt then echoes the best advice renowned maestro Alonso del Rio once received in a ceremony... "DOUBT. Do not believe things just like that. Experience it." I wanted to experience Ayahuasca for myself and then begin to build a relationship after that, and not before.
Shamans say the medicine is already working on someone once they say yes to their calling, nudge, or divine timing. And as I look back a year after first meeting the Spirit of Ayahuasca, I can see the little ways She, sometimes He, was quietly impacting certain experiences well before we officially met.
So for me, Ayahuasca is the Mother, the Father, the Child, the Elder, and God all at once. How the medicine chooses to present Her-His Self depends on the teaching, healing, or blessing that's coming through. The medicine will mold Itself into the shape - masculine, feminine, or essence beyond labels - that allows the message to come through as smoothly as possible. And by no means do the messages always come through smoothly.
I resonate with a Shipibo word for Ayahuasca. They call the medicine Oni (Ooo-knee). Oni means genderless wisdom. Because for this lineage, Ayahuasca can hold the polarity of the divine feminine and the divine masculine simultaneously and will do so to support the highest healing for an individual in a unique moment.
However, your relationship with Ayahuasca will be much different than mine, as it should be. Some only know Ayahuasca as a Mother, others as a Grandmother or GodMother. And while I haven't heard of many that call Ayahuasca a Father or Grandfather, there are indigenous people and tribes whose cosmovision is built on a masculine archetype of Ayahuasca rather than a feminine one.
And while our relationship will differ, there are some core principles to the feminine and masculine characteristics of Ayahuasca that can support you learning the language of one of humanity’s most potent Teachers.
A Tough Loving Mother
Ayahuasca's role as a mother and grandmother extends beyond nurturing and compassion. At times, the medicine is known to impart lessons through what can be described as "tough love." While Ayahuasca holds profound wisdom and healing potential, She doesn't always offer a gentle or comforting experience. Instead, the medicine challenges individuals to confront their deepest fears, limitations, and unresolved traumas, pushing them to grow and evolve.
In this aspect, Ayahuasca assumes the role of a stern yet loving matriarch, guiding individuals through difficult terrain to facilitate transformation and growth. This tough love approach can be seen as a form of divine discipline, where Ayahuasca gently but firmly dismantles the ego and strips away layers of conditioned patterns and attachments.
Ayahuasca's tough love approach is rooted in the understanding that personal growth often requires confronting and transcending limitations. Through this process, individuals can develop resilience and inner strength while gaining spiritual wisdom and greater self-awareness. The challenging lessons imparted by Ayahuasca serve as catalysts for profound change and transformation, guiding individuals toward a more authentic and fulfilling life.
It is important to note that Ayahuasca's tough love approach is not meant to cause harm or perpetuate suffering. The medicine isn't here to hurt or harm us, instead, the challenges can be reframed to support our healing and harmonizing. These tough loving experiences are guided by deep wisdom and compassion that seeks to facilitate healing and growth. Ayahuasca's role as a mother and grandmother encompasses both the gentle nurturing and the firm guidance required for individuals to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery.
A Personal Story on Navigating Ayahuasca’s Tough Love
At one point after coming out of a particularly challenging ceremonial episode, I had been drinking Ayahuasca thinking, "You know what, even though You [Ayahuasca] put me through the wringer, I've realized You never want to hurt or harm me. Even when it's painful or unsettling, all you're trying to do is heal and harmonize my sense of being."
And since that moment when the medicine gets HARD, I remember that, "What you're putting me through isn't meant to hurt or harm me, only heal and harmonize being." As Kat once shared, our mantras or a genuine Ayahuasca ritual in ceremonies can shed Light on the Darkest of episodes.
As Ayahuasca drinkers navigate the challenging lessons experienced in an Ayahuasca session, they often find that the medicine's tough love is rooted in a deep desire to support their healing, growth, and evolution. Through this profound connection, individuals develop a sense of reverence, gratitude, and deep trust in Ayahuasca's transformative power as a loving and wise matriarch.
Unveiling the Feminine Aspects of Mother Ayahuasca
The femininity of Ayahuasca lies in its nurturing and compassionate nature. She acts as a wise and gentle guide, providing support during the transformative journey of self-discovery. Mama Ayahuasca offers solace, healing, and insights akin to a loving maternal figure. Its feminine energy represents creation, fertility, and the nurturing aspects of existence.
Ayahuasca embodies several divine feminine characteristics, reflecting the sacred and nurturing aspects often associated with the feminine archetype. These characteristics include:
Wisdom and Intuition: Ayahuasca carries a profound wisdom that is often associated with the divine feminine. It is believed to hold ancient knowledge, cosmic insights, and intuitive guidance. Through the Ayahuasca experience, individuals can tap into this wisdom, gaining profound insights and a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Compassion and Healing: The divine feminine is often associated with compassion and nurturing, and Ayahuasca embodies these qualities. It holds a space of compassion and understanding, allowing individuals to confront and heal emotional wounds, traumas, and deep-seated pain. Ayahuasca's healing power stems from its ability to nurture and guide individuals through the process of transformation and self-discovery.
Connection to Nature and Mother Earth: Ayahuasca is deeply connected to the natural world, reflecting the divine feminine's inherent bond with Mother Earth. It invites individuals to recognize their interconnectedness with nature, to honor the cycles of life, and to develop a greater respect and reverence for the Earth and its ecosystems.
Creativity and Expression: The divine feminine is often associated with creativity and artistic expression. Ayahuasca can unlock dormant creativity within individuals, inspiring them to explore their artistic talents, express their authentic selves, and tap into their creative potential. It encourages individuals to embrace their unique gifts and talents as a way of honoring their divine essence.
Transformation and Rebirth: Ayahuasca embodies the transformative power of the divine feminine. Through its visionary experiences and deep introspection, Ayahuasca guides individuals through a process of shedding old patterns, limiting beliefs, and attachments. It facilitates a rebirth, allowing individuals to step into a more authentic version of themselves and to align with their true purpose.
Unity and Interconnectedness: The divine feminine emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings, and Ayahuasca reflects this principle. The medicine can evoke a profound sense of unity, reminding individuals of their intrinsic connection to others and to the web of life. It helps dissolve boundaries and separations, fostering a sense of collective consciousness and empathy.
These divine feminine characteristics embodied by Ayahuasca make Her a powerful ally for individuals seeking healing, growth, and spiritual awakening. Through Ayahuasca’s nurturing guidance, profound wisdom, and transformative energy, the medicine supports individuals in embracing their divine feminine qualities, reconnecting with their innate wisdom, and honoring the sacred feminine within themselves and the world around them.
Embracing the Masculine Qualities of Ayahuasca
While Ayahuasca is typically associated with feminine energy, the medicine also embodies masculine qualities. Ayahuasca possesses strength, power, and assertiveness, challenging individuals to confront their darkest shadows and embark on a transformative journey. It helps individuals build resilience and navigate the often rugged terrain of self-exploration.
Even though Ayahuasca is often portrayed as the Mother, it's important to shine a light on the Fatherly ways Ayahuasca heals, challenges, transmutes and teaches us. Some traits of this Fatherly Wisdom could include:
Strength and Courage: Ayahuasca holds a powerful and transformative energy that requires individuals to summon inner strength and courage to face the challenges that may arise during the journey. It invites individuals to confront their fears, traumas, and shadows, empowering them to navigate the depths of their psyche and emerge stronger and more resilient.
Clarity and Focus: The divine masculine is often associated with clarity of thought and focused action. Ayahuasca facilitates a heightened state of awareness and introspection, allowing individuals to gain profound insights, clarity, and a deeper understanding of themselves and their life's path. It helps individuals develop a sense of purpose and direction, guiding them toward aligned and intentional actions.
Discernment and Boundaries: The sacred masculine carries the qualities of discernment and the ability to establish healthy boundaries. Ayahuasca teaches individuals to discern between helpful and unhelpful patterns, beliefs, and behaviors, empowering them to set boundaries and make choices that honor their well-being. It encourages individuals to take responsibility for their own healing and personal growth.
Structure and Order: Archetypal masculinity represents structure and order, providing a framework for growth and manifestation. Ayahuasca sessions often follow specific rituals and guidelines, creating a sacred container for the experience. This structure fosters a sense of safety, allowing individuals to surrender to the process and explore the depths of their being.
Action and Integration: The warrior spirit of Ayahuasca can emphasize the importance of taking action and integrating insights into daily life and the ordinary reality that's waiting for you outside the maloca or back at home. Ayahuasca experiences can be profound, but true transformation occurs when individuals integrate the lessons and insights gained during the journey into their everyday existence. Ayahuasca encourages individuals to take inspired action, embody their newfound wisdom, and make positive changes in their lives.
Protection and Guidance: This Yang energy often carries the role of protector and guide. Ayahuasca holds a similar role, offering protection and guidance during the journey. It creates a safe space for individuals to explore their inner world, providing support and insights to navigate the depths of the psyche.
By embodying these divine masculine characteristics, Ayahuasca complements its divine feminine qualities, creating a balanced and harmonious energy that supports individuals in their healing, growth, and spiritual evolution. It encourages individuals to embrace both their masculine and feminine aspects, fostering a greater sense of wholeness and integration.
Cultural Interpretations of Ayahuasca as the Mother and Father
Ayahuasca holds deep cultural significance across different traditions.
Matriarchal Cosmovisions with Ayahuasca
Some cultures view Ayahuasca as The Mother, like the Yawanawa, Shipibo-Conibo, and Ashaninka. While their creation stories or ayahuasca visions differ, some core principles remain as they relate to this Motherly archetype.
They see La Madre as a nurturing and wise spirit associated with the divine feminine. These cultures place great importance on the feminine qualities of Ayahuasca, emphasizing Her role in providing healing, guidance, and spiritual connection.
According to these worldviews, Ayahuasca is seen as a motherly figure that brings teachings, insights, and support to individuals during their ayahuasca ceremony. These gatekeepers believe that Ayahuasca communicates with them, offers protection, and assists in healing emotional and physical imbalances in the human body. They describe Ayahuasca as a loving and compassionate force that helps individuals reconnect with themselves, nature, and the ancestral wisdom of their tribe.
Patriarchal Cosmovisions with Ayahuasca
And others, like the Huin Kuin people of Brazil and the Siona tribes of Colombia and Ecuador, relate to Ayahuasca as Father or Grandfather Ayahuasca.
They perceive Ayahuasca as a masculine force that brings clarity, strength, and a deep connection with the spirit world. These people hold Ayahuasca ceremonies as a way to commune with this masculine spirit and receive guidance and support on their spiritual journey.
While there may be variations in individual interpretations and beliefs within these communities, the prevailing cultural understanding perceives Ayahuasca as a fatherly or grandfatherly figure, representing the divine masculine and its associated qualities of wisdom, protection, and guidance.
Closing the Curtain on Mother (or Father) Ayahuasca
I wonder, too, if indigenous cultures see the Ayahuasca vine, or caapi vine, as masculine or feminine. My guess is feminine, as some people are given the gift of a Master Plant Dieta with the Ayahuasca vine. And what about the Chacruna leaves?
Whether the medicine takes on the Mother, the Father, the Child, the Elder, God, or any figure outside or between the labels that make us comfortable, the medicine might try to do just that... make us comfortable. Because at times, Ayahuasca can be everything but that, and when the going gets tough, being able to relate to the energetics or information can help us digest the ineffable.
If you are wanting to learn more about Ayahuasca and her multifaceted nature, check out this blog, “Can Ayahuasca Make You Go Crazy?“ by Kat Courtney.
About the Author
Christian Alfaro is a Marketing Consultant specializing in SEO & Email channels. He collaborates with organizations serving individuals & communities through their unique heart-based services, from retreats to masterminds, emails to blog posts. He's passionate about releasing information that builds a world with more We's than I's where the commitment to one's personal mission, purpose, or dharma is eco-centric rather than ego-centric.
Christian's path with plant medicine began in June 2022. Since then, he's continued to deepen his studies through Master Plant dietas, plant medicine retreat operations & logistics, & nonprofit work supporting indigenous leaders in their efforts to protect, preserve, & steward indigenous culture, ancestral wisdom, & sacred plants.
When he's not working with conscious for-profits & nonprofits, Christian's typically smiling, laughing with & learning from dear friends, reading or writing, being grateful, immersing himself in Nature, or deepening his musical & yogic practices.
