A Woman's Guide to Finding a Safe Ayahuasca Ceremony in Costa Rica and Beyond
One of the most important things we have to realize in the plant medicine and psychedelic space is there are a lot of women who come to seek healing from sexual traumas. Then there are other women like me who seek Ayahuasca to heal their eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and self-hatred. But then discover the root cause of these dis-eases and realize it is so much deeper than that. For me, I ended up seeing how my dis-eases were linked to the sexual traumas I faced when I was younger; which unconsciously led me to blame myself for the abuse and hating myself for it. Unfortunately, this has been the case for many women I have guided or heard stories from.
On the other hand, other women come with the fear of being abused, hurt, or taken advantage of in such vulnerable spaces. What we hear or read about stories of women and men being abused in ceremony space or psychedelic therapy sessions understandably creates worries and concerns.
An ayahuasca retreat is an immersive healing experience facilitated by experienced shamans in serene, natural settings. These retreats provide participants with opportunities to engage in multiple ayahuasca ceremonies alongside complementary practices such as yoga, meditation, and personalized coaching, aimed at fostering personal growth and spiritual healing. They should be a space where women dealing with severe traumas can let go and heal - but alas there are a lot of ill-meaning and inexperienced people creating unsafe containers in this space.
Although this is heartbreaking and maybe even scary, it’s imperative to acknowledge this truth for our own safety. It’s also important to know and accept that harm does, in fact, happen in ceremony spaces, and just because someone is considered a shaman, facilitator, healer, etc, does not mean that they are always safe. We need to be in the hands of truly safe and experienced guides. It’s our responsibility to ensure we do not end up in a dangerous situation in honor of ourselves, our healing, and the sacred plant medicines here to help us heal from a genuine place of deep, unconditional love. Ensuring a safe and loving environment is crucial for participants to engage deeply in their healing journeys.
If you are a survivor of any type of abuse, please know it is your right to protect yourself from any more harm. As a matter of fact, it is important for anyone and everyone to seek the safety, love, and protection we all deserve. Ask important questions, interview the guides, research the retreat center, and make sure you feel in your whole being that you trust your guide and feel safe when making a decision to sit with Mama Ayahuasca.
Journeying in the Realms of Ayahuasca as a Woman
As women journey into the realms of Ayahuasca, finding a safe and nurturing space becomes paramount for our well-being and healing. After acknowledging the duality and nature of this work, we can understand the importance of selecting ceremonies and retreats rooted in safety, respect, and integrity.
Ayahuasca ceremonies are sacred rites that honor indigenous peoples’ ancient traditions but also guide us into deep portals of our subconscious mind to welcome the healing we need. These ayahuasca journeys can last between five to eight hours, with participants often feeling a range of emotions and insights, as the medicine directs them towards self-betterment and healing throughout the process. As women, it’s essential to seek environments where experienced facilitators are deeply connected to the medicine, respect the feminine, have done their own shadow work, and are rooted in compassion and love. These facilitators often guide us through a profound plant medicine journey, incorporating traditional practices and diverse activities to enhance the overall experience. Without these crucial elements and supportive embodiment practices, we risk exposing ourselves to vulnerable and even dangerous situations.
The Overall Foundation of a Safe Ceremony
Participating in an Ayahuasca journey demands more than curiosity; it requires careful consideration of the setting for a safe and transformative experience. Safety, sovereignty, and respect are paramount, creating an environment where women can freely explore their inner world while honoring the ceremony’s sacred nature.
Here are a few foundations on how to find a safe ceremony:
Facilitator Experience and Training
Group size of 10-30 pasajeros (pasengers/particpants)
Trauma-Informed Support
Safety Protocols
Medical Screening
Integration Support
Unique Integration Program
Trust Your Intuition
Respect for Indigenous Traditions
The ayahuasca vine is an essential ingredient in the ayahuasca brew, historically used in indigenous cultures for spiritual, medicinal, and healing purposes. It plays a significant role in the transformative experiences of participants in ayahuasca retreats.
You can learn more about the foundations of a safe ceremony in my blog, “Finding Your Sacred Space: How to Choose the Right Place to Drink Ayahuasca.”
5 Safety Guidelines to Consider as a Woman
When considering joining an ayahuasca ceremony, especially for women who are seeking healing from wounds related to the masculine, sexual trauma, or abuse, it’s crucial to prioritize safety. Here are my five top things women should look for:
Trustworthy Facilitators, Guides, and Shamans: Ensure the ceremony is facilitated by experienced and reputable guides who deeply understand Ayahuasca, her effects, and know how to guide participants through the experience safely. Make sure your guide has a sacred relationship not only with Ayahuasca but with other plants that they have communed with through a Master Plant Dieta. Look for trauma-informed guides with a track record of creating a safe and supportive environment who are grounded in their work. They must also honor and respect the feminine and masculine equally. Additionally, consider ceremonies that combine plant medicine ceremony as a core element, providing a supportive and safe environment under the guidance of Indigenous healers. Look for retreats that emphasize leading ayahuasca ceremonies with experienced facilitators who have decades of expertise in conducting high-quality healing sessions.
Safe Space for Emotions and Shadows to Arise: Ayahuasca ceremonies are known to release our shadows and wounds that can sometimes cause emotional distress or spiritual crisis. It is important for the guides and assistants/guardians of the ceremony to embrace and work with these energies. Any guide that dismisses, spiritually bypasses, shames, or judges one’s process is not safe.
Clear Guidelines and Consent: Before the ceremony, the facilitators should outline clear guidelines and expectations. This includes information about the ceremony process, what to expect during the experience, and how to navigate challenging emotions or memories that may arise. Additionally, ensure that consent is emphasized and respected throughout the entire process.
Compassionate Integration Support: Look for ceremonies that offer integration support during and after the experience. Compassionate and gentle integration is a crucial aspect of the healing journey with Ayahuasca, especially for those addressing deep-seated traumas aro. Choose ceremonies that provide opportunities for reflection, sharing, and guidance on integrating insights and lessons into everyday life. This can include integration coaches, group circles, or community events.
Woman-Led: Consider participating in women-led ceremonies, whether the shaman or facilitator is a woman or women who run the retreat center/organization. Work with women who have experience with this medicine and understand the fears we as women can have due to the nature of our society.
Ultimately, it’s essential for us to trust our own intuition and choose a setting and facilitator that feels right to you. Prioritize safety, and don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek additional support if needed. Women seeking healing from wounds related to the masculine, sexual trauma, or abuse may find solace, understanding, and strength in these sacred spaces where their experiences are honored, validated, and embraced with compassion and reverence.
Taking the Next Steps Feeling Empowered
Above all, prioritize your sovereignty throughout your Ayahuasca experience. It is your right to say no when something doesn’t feel right to you or decide not to participate in anything the guides, shamans, or assistants tell you to. Mama Ayahuasca will always encourage us to listen to ourselves and guide us to stand in our power. Make decisions that align with your truth and make you feel empowered, and if anyone tries to take that away from you, consider that a red flag. You want to be in an environment where you feel uplifted and supported.
Selecting the right ceremony is just the beginning. Approach your Ayahuasca journey with humility and respect for the medicine and sacred traditions. Embrace the support and guidance available to you, trusting in the wisdom of Ayahuasca and your own inner knowing. Experience in depth healing in retreat spaces where participants are guided by Indigenous healers through a combination of traditional plant medicine ceremonies and supportive practices. Have discernment and spread awareness around harm reduction. We all deserve to be safe and honor Ayahuasca for her true nature of deep love, healing, and safety.
About the Author
Natalhie Ruiz is an integration coach and plant medicine guide born in Denver, Colorado, and of Peruvian indigenous descent. Her ancestry carries a lineage of curanderas from the Wari/Quechua people of the Peruvian Andes. Her work for us at the Plant Medicine People is managing all marketing and content creation. She has a strong background and personal experience with sacred plant medicines. Her knowledge and expertise in plant medicine have grown over the last 5 years, and she has had the privilege to have studied under the Cocamilla lineage. She has a deep relationship with Grandmother Ayahuasca, Rapéh/Mapacho, and Psilocybin. She has sat in isolated and dieta sauves with Cacao, Bobinsana, Ajo Sacha, and Damiana and has experience with other Medicines like San Pedro and Kambo. She is looking forward to continuing her journey of learning and communing with other master plants. She is a dedicated advocate of plant medicine and protecting indigenous culture and traditions.
