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LA TIERRA JOURNEY fostering community since 2013, our journeys have taken place across the Mediterranean region, Eastern Europe, South America and California, private nature-based expeditions throughout Asia, exploring powerful and meaningful landscapes.
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Articles on Amazonian Knowledge, Research, and Best Practices
In this section, we share educational articles focused on Amazonian traditions, indigenous knowledge, and modern research. Here you will find materials about anthropological discoveries, empirical studies, and real-life cases related to rare plants and applied plant-based practices.
We also explore best practices, safety principles, and responsible approaches when working with entheogenic traditions. Special attention is given to culturally rooted methods, such as the use of rapé, as well as to the integration of traditional knowledge with contemporary understanding of well-being and awareness.
Plant diets are not symbolic rituals but structured practices rooted in Amazonian traditions. This article outlines the core principles of plant dieting, the role of discipline, and the importance of guidance and ceremonial context.
MASTER PLANT DIETA as a Practice: Rules, Structure, and Traditional Guidance
Thousands of years ago, Amazonian tribes - Quechua, Shipibo ... already knew about the existence of the Egyptian civilization and were connected with it, even though they were separated by the ocean. They had knowledge about planetary orbits, cosmic objects, and even extraterrestrial beings.
This means they were connected to a kind of “global plant network,” through which knowledge was transmitted, or through a connection with Pachamama, Mother Earth. Many of the rare plants they discovered and worked with are still not fully known today, and some of them do not even have Latin names. They practiced directly with these plants.
Shamanism is an ancient science of plants and their power. Through plants, people received knowledge about the world, about themselves, their health, and many other aspects of life. Shamanism is not vague magic — it is a system, a technology, and a form of knowledge, just like medicine or physics.
A shaman is a specialist in the field of plants — someone who applies ancestral knowledge and continues to practice it. Plant dieting is shamanism in practice, not in theory. The principle of the diet is simple: every day, the student drinks a specific plant, either after waking up or before sleep, depending on the plant chosen.
During the diet, the plant becomes a teacher, a guide, a psychotherapist, and even an ally. A shamanic diet requires strict discipline, special food, and certain rules and restrictions throughout the practice.
Plant dieting as a spiritual and well-being practice is also available to us today.
It is time to bring ancient wisdom back to life.
What Is a Master Plant Dieta?
A plant diet with plant teachers is a form of ascetic practice. It is a gentle and gradual immersion into the world of plants. Every day, the participant drinks a specific plant, either after waking up or before sleep, depending on the plant.
The program usually lasts 7 or 14 days. During this period in Peru, ceremonies with a Maestro often take place. The Maestro guides the spirits of the diet plants during night ceremonies, supports their work with the person, adjusts the diet if needed, and provides direction.
Discipline and Conditions of the Dieta
A plant diet requires strict discipline.
It includes isolation, abstinence from sexual activity, no sunbathing, no intense physical exercise, and avoiding overheating. Participants are advised to stay in the shade, avoid eye contact and physical touch with others, and not get involved in conflicts or other people’s problems.
Breaking these rules can disturb the work of the plant. In traditional understanding, the plant may stop working with the person. During the diet, the plant becomes a kind of personal guide or psycho-analyst.
What is essential in working with a plant is respect, sensitivity to the plant spirit, trust, and careful following of the diet rules: isolation on all levels, a strict and simple diet, minimal communication, and time spent alone in nature.
The Inner Process of the DietDuring the diet period, attention is given to oneself and to the plant, which begins to open and reveal itself day by day. It is important not to get lost in emotions, but to observe and study them. The plant can be guided toward the areas where support or clarity is needed.
Effects and Long-Term Impact
Plant dieting can support health, balance, renewal, and inner clarity. It may bring inspiration, motivation, new ideas, and creative energy. Changes can also happen on a life level, as perception and inner state begin to shift.
Traditionally, plant diets are understood to support cleansing processes and long-term strengthening of the body. On an energetic level, plants are believed to integrate into a person’s inner structure, helping to protect and support these energies over time.
If a person is working with more serious challenges, a longer diet — one month or more — may be required. A plant diet is usually started after a ceremony and closed within a ceremony. Diets can be practiced several times a year for learning, renewal, and deepening one’s connection with plant knowledge.
This means they were connected to a kind of “global plant network,” through which knowledge was transmitted, or through a connection with Pachamama, Mother Earth. Many of the rare plants they discovered and worked with are still not fully known today, and some of them do not even have Latin names. They practiced directly with these plants.
Shamanism is an ancient science of plants and their power. Through plants, people received knowledge about the world, about themselves, their health, and many other aspects of life. Shamanism is not vague magic — it is a system, a technology, and a form of knowledge, just like medicine or physics.
A shaman is a specialist in the field of plants — someone who applies ancestral knowledge and continues to practice it. Plant dieting is shamanism in practice, not in theory. The principle of the diet is simple: every day, the student drinks a specific plant, either after waking up or before sleep, depending on the plant chosen.
During the diet, the plant becomes a teacher, a guide, a psychotherapist, and even an ally. A shamanic diet requires strict discipline, special food, and certain rules and restrictions throughout the practice.
Plant dieting as a spiritual and well-being practice is also available to us today.
It is time to bring ancient wisdom back to life.
What Is a Master Plant Dieta?
A plant diet with plant teachers is a form of ascetic practice. It is a gentle and gradual immersion into the world of plants. Every day, the participant drinks a specific plant, either after waking up or before sleep, depending on the plant.
The program usually lasts 7 or 14 days. During this period in Peru, ceremonies with a Maestro often take place. The Maestro guides the spirits of the diet plants during night ceremonies, supports their work with the person, adjusts the diet if needed, and provides direction.
Discipline and Conditions of the Dieta
A plant diet requires strict discipline.
It includes isolation, abstinence from sexual activity, no sunbathing, no intense physical exercise, and avoiding overheating. Participants are advised to stay in the shade, avoid eye contact and physical touch with others, and not get involved in conflicts or other people’s problems.
Breaking these rules can disturb the work of the plant. In traditional understanding, the plant may stop working with the person. During the diet, the plant becomes a kind of personal guide or psycho-analyst.
What is essential in working with a plant is respect, sensitivity to the plant spirit, trust, and careful following of the diet rules: isolation on all levels, a strict and simple diet, minimal communication, and time spent alone in nature.
The Inner Process of the DietDuring the diet period, attention is given to oneself and to the plant, which begins to open and reveal itself day by day. It is important not to get lost in emotions, but to observe and study them. The plant can be guided toward the areas where support or clarity is needed.
Effects and Long-Term Impact
Plant dieting can support health, balance, renewal, and inner clarity. It may bring inspiration, motivation, new ideas, and creative energy. Changes can also happen on a life level, as perception and inner state begin to shift.
Traditionally, plant diets are understood to support cleansing processes and long-term strengthening of the body. On an energetic level, plants are believed to integrate into a person’s inner structure, helping to protect and support these energies over time.
If a person is working with more serious challenges, a longer diet — one month or more — may be required. A plant diet is usually started after a ceremony and closed within a ceremony. Diets can be practiced several times a year for learning, renewal, and deepening one’s connection with plant knowledge.
Amazonian shamanic traditions hold that plants speak to those with the gifts of expanded senses and perception.
Isolation Diets.
We are workinng with Master Plants isolation diets (‘dietas’ in Spanish). During dieta should be clean eating, utilizing whole, organic, and no processed foods while avoiding inflammatory and processed options that may hinder our energetic sensitivity and clarity. The aim of our dieta is to purify the mind and detoxify the body, connecting with nature, so we steer clear of any potent flavors and seasonings.
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Become part of the circle
Learn more and choose a shamanism Training Program focused on plant knowledge and Shipibo heritage.
- Ancient Indigenous Wisdom in a Modern Context
For generations, indigenous peoples of the Amazon have worked with plants as part of a deep knowledge system rooted in respect for nature and life. These practices are not separated from daily living — they are a way to stay in balance with the body, the mind, and the surrounding world. By learning from indigenous traditions, we reconnect with a slower, more attentive way of being.
- Amazonian Plants as Gateways to New Perspectives
Amazonian plants have long been valued for their supportive and balancing properties. They are known to help open new inner spaces, shift perception, and offer fresh perspectives on life. Working with plant wisdom can support personal transformation, allowing a person to see beyond old patterns and become more aligned with their true nature.
- A Bridge Between Tradition, Meditation & Psychology
In our approach, ancient plant knowledge is carefully combined with modern meditation practices and psychological understanding. This integration creates a safe and conscious framework for self-exploration. Through mindfulness, reflection, and embodied practices, participants can better understand their emotions, behaviors, and inner processes.
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Oakland became one of the first U.S. cities to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi, including psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca-related plants. The move highlights changing perspectives on traditional plant use and public health approaches.
Decriminalization of Entheogenic Plants in Oakland: What Happened and Why It Matters
Oakland City Council Votes to Decriminalize Entheogenic Plants and MushroomsOn Tuesday evening, June 4, 2019, the Oakland City Council (USA) unanimously and enthusiastically voted to decriminalize the use of psilocybin mushrooms and other entheogenic and naturally occurring psychoactive plants and fungi.
This decision calls on local police to stop investigating adults who use plant-based substances listed as prohibited, with the exception of coca and poppy plants. The measure includes ayahuasca (and other plants containing DMT), psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, San Pedro cactus (huachuma), and iboga / ibogaine.
Community Support and Personal TestimoniesOn the same day, dozens of activists gathered at Oakland City Hall to share personal stories about how psychedelics helped them cope with severe and long-lasting conditions. These included post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety disorders, alcoholism, social phobia, and substance addiction.
Only two speakers opposed the measure, but they did not present strong evidence against it. This came in contrast to recent scientific studies showing that psychedelic plants and mushrooms are non-addictive and have significant therapeutic potential.
Role of Decriminalize Nature OaklandThe initiative was led by Decriminalize Nature Oakland, an organization focused on decriminalizing entheogenic plants, restoring humanity’s deep relationship with nature, and supporting human health and well-being.
The organization has announced plans to expand similar campaigns to other cities across California.
Expert Perspective“Entheogenic plants and mushrooms are extremely important tools for recovery, especially for people who have experienced trauma in their lives,” said Carlos Plazola, Chair of Decriminalize Nature Oakland.
“These plants are already being recommended by doctors and therapists, often quietly and unofficially.”
A Broader Movement in the United States.
This decision calls on local police to stop investigating adults who use plant-based substances listed as prohibited, with the exception of coca and poppy plants. The measure includes ayahuasca (and other plants containing DMT), psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, San Pedro cactus (huachuma), and iboga / ibogaine.
Community Support and Personal TestimoniesOn the same day, dozens of activists gathered at Oakland City Hall to share personal stories about how psychedelics helped them cope with severe and long-lasting conditions. These included post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety disorders, alcoholism, social phobia, and substance addiction.
Only two speakers opposed the measure, but they did not present strong evidence against it. This came in contrast to recent scientific studies showing that psychedelic plants and mushrooms are non-addictive and have significant therapeutic potential.
Role of Decriminalize Nature OaklandThe initiative was led by Decriminalize Nature Oakland, an organization focused on decriminalizing entheogenic plants, restoring humanity’s deep relationship with nature, and supporting human health and well-being.
The organization has announced plans to expand similar campaigns to other cities across California.
Expert Perspective“Entheogenic plants and mushrooms are extremely important tools for recovery, especially for people who have experienced trauma in their lives,” said Carlos Plazola, Chair of Decriminalize Nature Oakland.
“These plants are already being recommended by doctors and therapists, often quietly and unofficially.”
A Broader Movement in the United States.
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