Shamanic apprenticeship : 40 days dieta

Please read carefully following description, and if there is anything unclear or anything more you need to know, write us a message, we will love to go into details. It is important to be aware what is dieta before signing up.

Because of growing interest and requests we are getting, we had opened long term dieting option for people interested in learning upon shamanic path, apprenticing towards the vocation of a healer, working with entheogenic and other plants.

Dieting is what we specialize in anyway in recent years, so we will not be hiding here essential fact : the most intense and productive healing and learning is an internal process, and externally taught techniques are only complementary to this. There is no way around basic sequence of things - first you need to know yourself, heal yourself, and somewhere alongside the process you learn how to help others, through first hand understanding of the mechanism.

There are other challenges here, that people dieting for their own healing may not experience to such extent - for example how to differentiate what you may see as "calling" or vocation from self-delusion of ego, unwilling to face difficult reality and compensating this with urge to save others / the world.

Another difference is that potential healer's dieta must be longer. This 40 days option that we propose here is a step up from our usual dietas, but we should not fool you - they do not make you a shaman yet. You will not receive any certificates upon graduation, any blessing which entitle you to start your own ceremonies. You may of course do so, as some people even do after their first retreat ever, and we will not stop you either. We will be honest with you at any step of this journey, and available for consultations later, to help you make decisions that are essentially yours. This dieta, if done with right intention and commitment, can be a great transformation for yourself, that may or may not lead to further learning, dieting, ultimately your own medicinal practice.

So to make it clear again - you learn mostly from the plants, with our guidance, but at your own pace, influenced by element of grace - whether plants will be kind or difficult.

You can diet large trees which are foundation of shamanism here. Just like they support the vine climbing upon them in the forest, so in you they will deliver strength and grounding, to balance visionary and flight inducing effect of the ayahuasca, to keep you grounded in this world, where your task lies.

Progress of your dieta will be monitored in ayahuasca ceremonies by a large crew of experienced practitioners and shamans. It is also in the ceremonies you will be able to practice icaros given to you by plants you are dieting, just like all shamans learn here.

At least once during that period you will participate and learn how to prepare your own ayahausca brew, how to infuse it with intention, to concentrate, to focus.

We could describe dieta as transformation process happening in isolation, a kind of shamanic vipassana that enables contact with spirits of healing plants, better understanding of oneself and roots of own problems, getting rid of things blocking you from moving forward and finding onwards path in life.

This is an intimate master plant dieta structured in a traditional style in a family camp, in a very small group, under care of healers from the Shipibo tribe and a western team of facilitators.

This holistic transformation process consists of : 40 days dieta in isolation / 16 ceremonies with Ayahuasca cooked on the spot out of pure, chosen plants / ayahuasca preparation / private consultations with shamans / private integration sessions - depending on the needs / plant medicines - chosen according to your intentions and issues to be solved / integration/ consultation services after the dieta.

Ayahuasca retreat in Peru combined with entering the master plant dieta is a way to really get to know the power of Amazonian plants.

/Our approach to serving ayahuasca/

Ayahuasca is priceless - That means one can not put a tag on relationship established. Just like you can not price feelings, love, health and abundance. We do not therefore charge for ayahuasca. We see limitation in “I pay – I demand” approach, which can be obstacle to build that meaningful relationship with the plant, to transcend restrictions of consumerism that keeps us enslaved in expectation.

Our main goal is to provide a deep, safe and transforming experience with mother Ayahuasca and plant teachers from the Amazon rainforest. The price of our retreats is covering healers work and work involved in preparation and running of the retreats and place itself.

Thanks to our undertaking and your trust we can support the maintenance of a living tradition of working with plant medicine. The medicine itself remains free for all. We treat is as alive, sentient and beautiful being. Obtaining it, preparing and cooking is as important as ceremony itself. We are trying to give back to nature and re-plant it in the forest. Our work is to serve it and to serve you.

Our focus and best effects so far are working with issues such as chronic depression, lack of clarity and purpose in life, compulsive habits and addictions ( for example alcohol, drugs, pornography ), lack of focus and determinations to finish things, anxiety and excessive control, emotional blockages. Besides, both ayahuasca and other plants prove effective for a range of physical ailments. It is best to contact us before to discuss potential options of your healing.

/Use of ayahuasca during the master plant dieta retreat/

Ayahuasca is used in the Amazon as one of main master plants. Therefore for healers working here it is a source of knowledge and this is its main function in a master plant dieta. Both for the shaman to know what is going on with his patient as well as for the guest to be able to recognize patterns inside his body, psyche and soul and in this way to have an option of transformation.

Besides, in the context of dieta, ayahuasca allows understanding and strengthening connection with the plant being dieted. All elements work here in synergy, design of master plant dieta, power of psychoactive brew and healing potential of the plants. Therefore, this approach delivers experience much stronger and much more effective than what even very experienced drinkers may know from their previous random sessions.

Usually ayahuasca taken during the master plant dieta works much more strongly because of better preparation. Psychonauts, sensitized through proper diet and isolation, can dive deeper. Ayahuasca rewards patience, humility and commitment.

/How the Shipibo ceremony at ayahuasca retreat looks like?/

There are always at least two shamans present in the ayahuasca ceremony, besides experienced facilitators. We have always a female curandera working with us. Assuring that if there is a need for physical treatment for female guests, it can be done in safe and transparent manner.

Shipibo style of ayahuasca ceremony means complete darkness, lack of superfluous gadgets and ornaments. Just you, medicine, and power of multiple songs – icaros weaving the visions, harmony and new, healthy energy patterns.

We strictly follow our security protocol so that every experience can be safe. This protocol consists of many elements developed during hundreds of ceremonies held under our guidance.

During ayahuasca retreat it is an important priority for us to provide participants with a safe space for deep journeys.

/Introduction to Samá – master plant dieta/

The root of ¨dieta¨ is δίαιτα , which was a Greek word meaning a way of life. This included not only food, but also way of being in the world, way of thinking, relating to environment and others. Samá in the Shipibo language or dieta is a therapeutic and spiritual practice of isolation and working toward integration with plant medicine.

In the Amazonian tradition it means stepping out of your ordinary daily life and reorganizing it completely with the aim of changing focus and opening new communication – with plants and with yourself. If you want a radical breakthrough, you need to look for radical solutions.

You may have already drunk ayahuasca or went through some other initiatory experience that hinted you direction to follow. But all seems very complicated, you don´t know where to start, entangled in complexity of your life patterns.

But there is a way.

It has been tested in history of humanity in various contexts. This is the spiritual practice of separating yourself from social game, from all habits and seeking the voice in the wilderness. Whether it is Jesus conversing with God and Satan in the desert. An Amazonian shaman learning from the plants, or modern man understanding himself better. These may be just cultural ways of attempting to use language to describe similar process.

The only way to understand is to stop thinking and try. This can not only be profound healing, but also an adventure of your life.

/Master plant dieta leads you to union with the spirit of the plant/

The concept of the dieta in Shipibo and some other Amazonian cultures is learning directly from the plant you are dieting. Receiving messages in order to heal oneself. Learn about reality, and learn tools of medicinal work, especially healing songs called icaros.

It requires a lot of determination. It is for people dedicated to make a change in their life and in lifes of others. By silencing your mind, switching out external distractions or chaotic energies of everyday life. You can be still enough to hear subtle message, in your dreams, visions or in the forest surrounding you. This is how shamans of these traditions learn.

Specific master plants have their characteristics, some are better for opening heart and emotions. Some give you a solid center and strength, defence against hardships of life. Some make you more focused, able to do what you want but so far only claimed you want, including leaving your addictions. Other can heal stomach problems, rheumatism, depression. You should specify your intentions when applying, and the healer will choose one appropriate.

/Guides for your plant experience. Who facilitates ayahuasca retreat in Peru at Psychonauta Foundation?/

Ayahuasca retreat and master plant dieta is led by a crew of experienced Shipibo shamans. We especially take care to have female maestra present. This is most appreciated by women who often are cautious who they learn from. If there is any physical treatment that needs to be performed at night, during ceremony, female guests are always treated by female healer.

The healers work with a variety of techniques, ayahuasca ceremonies being only one among them. On each retreat we select those who are in best shape, not affected by routine.

Male shamans give sense of foundation and stability in the ceremony, as well as power that takes you really deep, while female presence assures empathy, feeling and sensitivity.

There are also always multilingual Western practitioners present, building a compassionate space and a bridge of understanding between cultures. It is a crew of experienced facilitators, guides and volunteers.

/More details about the master plant dieta process/
Dieta starts with flower bath, which purpose is to cleanse and make you more receptive to plant spirits, removing distractions. Your plant can be chosen beforehand, if you specify your intentions, what you want to resolve or learn.

Master plant dieta is formally opened with first ayahuasca ceremony, during which healers will be additionally able to diagnose you, connect with plant being dieted, perhaps also add another one. You will be also able to see with greater clarity and details the issues present in yourself.

You can diet one of many plant teachers available, such as Ajo Sacha (Mansoa Alliacea), Bobinsana (Calliandra angustifolia), Chiric Sanango (Brunfelsia grandiflora), Chuchuhuasi (Maytenus laevis), Uña de Gato (Cat’s Claw, Uncaria Tormentoso) and many other. You can choose yourself if you are experienced, or healers can help you choose according to your intentions. 40 days dieta allows for dieting more demanding, powerful trees such as Oje, Ayahuma, Chullachaquicaspi and many others.

After first ceremony you are given first dose of plant. The preparation, amount, frequency, that all depends on type of plant. Some are taken every day apart from the day of ceremony, some just three or four doses in the beginning. They also have different requirements, some are more strict. For example demanding avoiding sun exposure or excessive movements, some more relaxed.

Our team of dedicated staff is available at all times.
Throughout the dieta you are guided and monitored by our crew. We can help with things coming up, both about your psychological and physical process and sometimes adjust in different ways. This is highly individual, and so makes no sense to give examples here. Small size of group allows us to give enough attention to each guest’s development.

What is common that all plants have is what Shipibo call shitana, which is negative or dark energy. Proportionally stronger according to medicinal and healing power of the plant. It can be contained with right knowledge and approach. For instance, consciously working with negative thoughts appearing, like inner criticism of someone you know. When you are able to see it and acknowledge, you can transcend from potentially self and other harming pattern to better more aware living.

Technically, you spend most of the time in isolation. You will be dieting in a private tambo – forest hut, protected against insects, without electricity. Twice a day, a simple meal will be served. The dieta food is without salt, sugar, spices, oil, no fruits, very limited vegetables.

You are suggested not to read, use internet, instead to focus on your interior, meditate. You are allowed all activity that does not involve seeking distraction from outside. For example you are encouraged to draw, write, especially note your dreams, do yoga, sing or play instruments. Part of communication with plant spirits happens through musical inspiration. You can take walks in the forest, but avoiding going to village and contact with other humans’ energies.

By stepping out of your ordinary daily trance you may gain new perspective.
It is a form of isolation, a process of symbolic burial, permission to let the old patterns die, and the new path to be revealed. What is worth emphasizing again, it is a certain sacrifice in order to truly change and learn. This process can be compared in some ways with vipassana. However focus here, apart from own self understanding, is to connect too with plant energies.

Our ayahuasca retreat program allows you to rest after each ceremony
The ceremonies are held in a place called maloka – the traditional meeting place. It is attended by participants, shamans and facilitators, and it happen every second day to allow integrating experience and physical rest. Final ceremony of master plant dieta includes sealing of energies and placing protective arkanas. These special icaros are supposed to guard results of your diet and permanent connection with the plant.

You are instructed about post dieta period, during which we are also available for online consultations.

/Reasons to join dieta with us : How can we help/

In conclusion, learning and healing are inherently connected. Most of healers began by dealing with their own troubles, or those of someone in their family. But even if you are not considering at all pursuing this path, healing is a long process of discovery, untangling and undoing of roots and deep causes. That result in both somatic and psychological obstacles blocking healthy living, growth and happiness.

With help of ayahuasca you will discovering mysteries of your own life. You will getting rid of trauma hidden in unconscious, becoming master of your own fate. It does not mean that you will become immune to sadness or suffering. But you will able to do more conscious choices, rather than be driven be causes beyond your understanding.

The master or teacher plants will do their part in healing the symptoms. For example cleansing your organism, including physical purge of negative energies accumulated during years of neglect.

These traditional treatments consisting of ayahuasca retreat and a master plant dieta is effective for and have worked before on our guests with issues such as :

Addictions : to substances as well as other addictive behaviors – gambling, pornography, workaholism

Depression – often years long, medicated with pharmaceutical substances without any big success

Lack of sense of life purpose / meaning. Feeling lost and confused, in transition, uncertain

Anxiety, constant living in past or future

Difficulties in emotional opening, relations with family / partners

Low self esteem, pathological introversion.

Anger, excess of control

Consequences of trauma, childhood neglect or abuse.

Stressful lifestyle

Dieta is a remarkable tool for improving mental and physical well-being. It is also a fundamental step on path of shamanic apprenticeship, so if you feel a calling for learning craft of the healer, also good to put it to the test.

If there is anything unclear or anything more you need to know, write us a message. We will love to go into details. It is important to be aware what is ayahuasca retreat and master plant dieta before signing up.