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Red Flags: Signs of Unsafe
or Fake Ayahuasca Retreats
or Fake Ayahuasca Retreats
With the growing popularity of ayahuasca retreats around the world, more and more people are offering ceremonies. Unfortunately, not all of them are safe or authentic.
For someone who is new to plant medicine, it can be difficult to recognize the difference between a genuine traditional ceremony and something that only imitates it.
Understanding a few key warning signs can help you avoid unsafe experiences and choose a retreat guided by people with real knowledge and training.
For someone who is new to plant medicine, it can be difficult to recognize the difference between a genuine traditional ceremony and something that only imitates it.
Understanding a few key warning signs can help you avoid unsafe experiences and choose a retreat guided by people with real knowledge and training.
When the Facilitator Has No Traditional Training
One of the biggest red flags is when the person leading the ceremony has no training in any Amazonian tradition.
In many cases this is part of what is often called neo-shamanism.
These facilitators may have had personal experiences with plant medicines and then decide to start leading ceremonies themselves. However, without proper training and apprenticeship under experienced masters, they may not have the knowledge required to safely guide others.
Traditional Amazonian healers usually spend many years studying under a teacher and undergoing strict plant dietas before they begin leading ceremonies.
Without this training, it can be extremely difficult to manage the energetic, psychological and spiritual processes that can arise during an Ayahuasca ceremony.
In many cases this is part of what is often called neo-shamanism.
These facilitators may have had personal experiences with plant medicines and then decide to start leading ceremonies themselves. However, without proper training and apprenticeship under experienced masters, they may not have the knowledge required to safely guide others.
Traditional Amazonian healers usually spend many years studying under a teacher and undergoing strict plant dietas before they begin leading ceremonies.
Without this training, it can be extremely difficult to manage the energetic, psychological and spiritual processes that can arise during an Ayahuasca ceremony.
Playing Recorded Music Instead of Working With Icaros
One of the biggest red flags is when the person leading the ceremony has no training in any Amazonian tradition.
In many cases this is part of what is often called neo-shamanism.
These facilitators may have had personal experiences with plant medicines and then decide to start leading ceremonies themselves. However, without proper training and apprenticeship under experienced masters, they may not have the knowledge required to safely guide others.
Traditional Amazonian healers usually spend many years studying under a teacher and undergoing strict plant dietas before they begin leading ceremonies.
Without this training, it can be extremely difficult to manage the energetic, psychological, and spiritual processes that can arise during an ayahuasca ceremony.
Playing recorded music Instead of working with Icaros - magic song.
Another common sign of a non-traditional ceremony is when the facilitator simply plays music from speakers during the ceremony.
Music itself can be beautiful and emotionally moving. However, in traditional Amazonian healing work, music is not just background atmosphere.
In many traditions — especially in the Shipibo, Yawanawa tradition ceremonies are guided through icaros, sacred healing songs - this is the base for working with ceremonial space.
These songs are not ordinary songs - these are a powerful prayers, structure & protective sphere.
They are received through long periods of plant dietas, where the apprentice works deeply with medicinal plants in isolation also for protection.
Through these dietas, the spirit of the plant may transmit knowledge, visions, and sometimes healing songs to the practitioner.
These songs become tools used during ceremonies to:
Another sign of inexperience is when songs are used only for atmosphere or entertainment.
Some facilitators may sing beautiful melodies, mantras, or medicine songs that sound pleasant. But in traditional Amazonian healing systems, icaros are not simply aesthetic elements.
Icaros are working tools.
Through these songs, the healer connects the energy of the ceremony with the spiritual power developed through years of plant dietas. The songs help structure the energetic field of the ceremony and guide the processes that unfold within it.
Without this deeper training, singing alone does not provide the same level of guidance or protection.
In many cases this is part of what is often called neo-shamanism.
These facilitators may have had personal experiences with plant medicines and then decide to start leading ceremonies themselves. However, without proper training and apprenticeship under experienced masters, they may not have the knowledge required to safely guide others.
Traditional Amazonian healers usually spend many years studying under a teacher and undergoing strict plant dietas before they begin leading ceremonies.
Without this training, it can be extremely difficult to manage the energetic, psychological, and spiritual processes that can arise during an ayahuasca ceremony.
Playing recorded music Instead of working with Icaros - magic song.
Another common sign of a non-traditional ceremony is when the facilitator simply plays music from speakers during the ceremony.
Music itself can be beautiful and emotionally moving. However, in traditional Amazonian healing work, music is not just background atmosphere.
In many traditions — especially in the Shipibo, Yawanawa tradition ceremonies are guided through icaros, sacred healing songs - this is the base for working with ceremonial space.
These songs are not ordinary songs - these are a powerful prayers, structure & protective sphere.
They are received through long periods of plant dietas, where the apprentice works deeply with medicinal plants in isolation also for protection.
Through these dietas, the spirit of the plant may transmit knowledge, visions, and sometimes healing songs to the practitioner.
These songs become tools used during ceremonies to:
- guide the participant’s experience
- support healing processes
- protect the ceremonial space
- restore energetic balance
Another sign of inexperience is when songs are used only for atmosphere or entertainment.
Some facilitators may sing beautiful melodies, mantras, or medicine songs that sound pleasant. But in traditional Amazonian healing systems, icaros are not simply aesthetic elements.
Icaros are working tools.
Through these songs, the healer connects the energy of the ceremony with the spiritual power developed through years of plant dietas. The songs help structure the energetic field of the ceremony and guide the processes that unfold within it.
Without this deeper training, singing alone does not provide the same level of guidance or protection.
Lack of Energetic Protection in Ceremony
According to traditional Amazonian understanding, ayahuasca ceremonies open a powerful energetic space.
Participants may go through deep emotional and spiritual cleansing processes. During this time, many things can surface from within the psyche or energetic field of the participants.
An experienced healer is trained to maintain and protect the ceremonial space.
Part of this work involves cleansing difficult energies that may arise during the ceremony and ensuring that the process remains safe for everyone present.
Without this level of training, ceremonies can sometimes become energetically chaotic. Participants may feel confused, overwhelmed or energetically drained after the experience.
For someone attending their first retreat, it may not be obvious what is happening on a deeper level. Everything might appear calm on the surface, especially if pleasant music is playing.
However, the real work of ceremony often happens beyond what participants can consciously perceive.
It is important to enter a safe and supportive space, guided by experienced facilitators, where you can relax, lie down and gently immerse yourself in the process during the ceremony. Trying to attune yourself to receiving insight and turning inward for deeper self-exploration.
Participants may go through deep emotional and spiritual cleansing processes. During this time, many things can surface from within the psyche or energetic field of the participants.
An experienced healer is trained to maintain and protect the ceremonial space.
Part of this work involves cleansing difficult energies that may arise during the ceremony and ensuring that the process remains safe for everyone present.
Without this level of training, ceremonies can sometimes become energetically chaotic. Participants may feel confused, overwhelmed or energetically drained after the experience.
For someone attending their first retreat, it may not be obvious what is happening on a deeper level. Everything might appear calm on the surface, especially if pleasant music is playing.
However, the real work of ceremony often happens beyond what participants can consciously perceive.
It is important to enter a safe and supportive space, guided by experienced facilitators, where you can relax, lie down and gently immerse yourself in the process during the ceremony. Trying to attune yourself to receiving insight and turning inward for deeper self-exploration.
Why Experience and Lineage Matter
Authentic training in an Amazonian lineage provides something very important: accumulated knowledge passed down through generations.
These traditions developed over thousands of years. Each generation of healers refined their methods for working with plants and guiding ceremonies.
This accumulated knowledge helps ensure that ceremonies are conducted with care, safety, and deep respect for the plants and participants.
When choosing a retreat, it is therefore important to ask questions about the facilitator’s background:
Clear answers to these questions can help you understand whether a retreat is rooted in real tradition or simply based on personal experimentation.
These traditions developed over thousands of years. Each generation of healers refined their methods for working with plants and guiding ceremonies.
This accumulated knowledge helps ensure that ceremonies are conducted with care, safety, and deep respect for the plants and participants.
When choosing a retreat, it is therefore important to ask questions about the facilitator’s background:
- Who trained them?
- How long did they study?
- Which tradition do they belong to?
- Did they complete plant dietas with experienced masters?
Clear answers to these questions can help you understand whether a retreat is rooted in real tradition or simply based on personal experimentation.
Choosing Authentic Guidance
Ayahuasca can be a profound and transformative journey & medicine when approached with respect and proper guidance.
Taking the time to choose experienced facilitators who have undergone traditional training can make a significant difference in the safety and depth of your experience.
Taking the time to choose experienced facilitators who have undergone traditional training can make a significant difference in the safety and depth of your experience.
Ayahuasca & Preserving Amazonian Plant Knowledge
This blog brings together articles exploring Ayahuasca, Amazonian plant traditions, their connection to holistic life style, healing & therapeutic aspects and modern psychology. Here we look at these topics through an integrative lens that combines ancestral knowledge, inner work, news & cases about Medicine and contemporary perspectives.
Learning from Amazonian traditions
Learn more and choose a shamanism Training Program focused on plant knowledge and Shipibo heritages
FAQs
Do you have any questions?
Maybe you can find answers below.
Maybe you can find answers below.
How can I tell if an ayahuasca retreat is authentic?
An authentic retreat is usually guided by facilitators who have trained for many years within a traditional Amazonian lineage. They typically learned directly from experienced teachers and spent time studying plant medicine through traditional practices such as plant dietas. Night Ayahuasca ceremony should be supported by live ceremonial music and structured trance chants, through which patterns and energetic flows unfold. In such an atmosphere, the medicine seems to blossom and begin transforming the space itself.
It is also important to include the traditional opening of the ceremonial space and time for sharing afterward. After the process, participants are encouraged to gently unpack and understand their experience — often in a circle or with facilitators — so the insights can be integrated in a therapeutic and meaningful way.
Traditionally, several ceremonies take place within a week. The first ceremony is often focused mainly on cleansing and adaptation, allowing participants to attune to the holistic method of working with plant medicines and prepare for deeper immersion during the following rituals.
It is also important to include the traditional opening of the ceremonial space and time for sharing afterward. After the process, participants are encouraged to gently unpack and understand their experience — often in a circle or with facilitators — so the insights can be integrated in a therapeutic and meaningful way.
Traditionally, several ceremonies take place within a week. The first ceremony is often focused mainly on cleansing and adaptation, allowing participants to attune to the holistic method of working with plant medicines and prepare for deeper immersion during the following rituals.
Can anyone become an Ayahuasca facilitator?
While many people feel inspired to share their experiences with plant medicine, traditional Amazonian training usually requires many years of apprenticeship, Master plant dietas and guidance from experienced masters. Communication and interaction with different Maestros, curanderos, teachers and ceremonial formats, participation in at least a hundred ceremonies, gaining direct experience in diverse settings with different participants in the process. This also includes experience in interacting both with teachers and with participants (patients) within the ceremonial space. Ideally, shamans and teachers explain which plants are used for what purposes, and provide complete training on how to hold the ceremonial space, support transformation, follow the traditional rules, and offer appropriate assistance when needed.
Is it safe to attend a ceremony led by someone without traditional training?
Ceremonies led by facilitators without proper training can carry more risks. Ayahuasca ceremonies often bring up intense emotional and psychological experiences, inexperienced facilitators may not have the skills to properly guide participants through them.
Is playing recorded music during a ceremony a bad sign?
In many traditional ceremonies, the process is guided through sacred healing songs called icaros. When ceremonies rely mostly on recorded music instead of live guidance from an experienced healer, it may indicate a non-traditional or less experienced approach.
Why is lineage important in Amazonian shamanism?
Lineage means that knowledge has been passed down from teacher to student over many generations. This system ensures that ceremonial practices have been refined and tested through long experience.
What questions should I ask before booking a retreat?
Before attending a retreat, it is helpful to ask:
- Who trained the facilitator?
- How many years have they been working with ayahuasca?
- What tradition do they come from?
- What safety measures are in place for participants?
Contacts
Contact us by email or messenger to discuss your personalized Retreat.
E-mail: shipiboretreat@gmail.com
Telegram: @shipiboretreat
LA TIERRA JOURNEY
This platform is designed to help you find a retreat or program that supports self-exploration and renewal. The practices are inspired by Amazonian traditions and guided by experienced maestros.
It also offers opportunities to participate in traditional ceremonial experiences in Europe, deepen your understanding & cultivate greater awareness through Amazonian-based practices.
This platform is designed to help you find a retreat or program that supports self-exploration and renewal. The practices are inspired by Amazonian traditions and guided by experienced maestros.
It also offers opportunities to participate in traditional ceremonial experiences in Europe, deepen your understanding & cultivate greater awareness through Amazonian-based practices.
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