Ayahuasca: Origins & Hearing the Call
Ayahuasca [pronounced ‘eye-ah-WAH-ska]. A loaded word that you may or may not be familiar with. A few years ago, because of my Mormon upbringing, I would’ve associated the word with descriptors such as drug, scary, uncontrollable, and bad news. However, now that I have become more educated, open-minded, and even experienced with Ayahuasca, I associate it with adjectives such as plant medicine, therapy, ancient ritual, and shamanism.
The birthplace of this sacred plant medicine is nestled deep in the Amazon jungle of Peru, where curanderos (healers) have healed thousands using its enlightening properties to see deep into the bodies of their patients. It is said that the medicine pre-dates the written language of the Shipibo people, so it can be estimated to be thousands of years old.
What I find fascinating is that there is no logical way these tribes would’ve known to put the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the Psychotria Viridis shrub leaf together in this 8+ hour long, complicated process eventually results in the Ayahuasca tea-like brew. It contains DMT & monoamine oxidase inhibitors that create an expanded consciousness, but one plant without the other would do nothing to consume it.
How, then, did these ancient tribes understand this secret combo out of the thousands of plant species in the Amazon? The scientific perspective is, we have no idea. The spiritual—and widely accepted among South Americans— the view is, the plants told them what to do.
When I first heard this, my initial thought was, wow, I love this folklore which has been exaggerated and passed down over thousands of years! The kicker is, curanderos are still operating this way! When a person decides to dedicate their life to one as a healer, they will do Dieta. A minimum of 2 months is spent in complete solitude in the jungle, eating one plain meal per day while smoking and learning from the master plants they choose, such as Ayahuasca. I know, mind...blown. I could write an entire article on this process alone, but for now, let’s continue.
The way Ayahuasca called to me was incredibly synchronistic. In passing, I heard people talk about the medicine in spiritual and therapeutic practice, but I had no idea what it actually was. Even after leaving the Mormon church eight years prior, I was still terrified of anything that was considered a “drug” or “mind-altering substance.” At age 28, I hadn’t even (and still haven’t) drank alcohol. However, listening to people talk about their experiences felt grounded, adventurous, and healing.
I had just uncovered some memories of childhood abuse that were devouring me, and I had put out the intention to God or the Universe that I was ready to face the difficult emotions in therapy. One lucky day I turned on Gaia (a streaming service akin to Netflix for all things metaphysical and spiritual), and a recommended-for-me show called Psychedelica popped up. My Mormon reflex perked up and said, “Drugs! You don’t want that!” While my newfound curiosity and intuition said, “Girl, it’s time to educate yourself regardless.”
Next thing I know, I’m watching an episode about Ayahuasca. There it was again, peeking its hopeful head around the corner of my metaphorical drug wall, insisting that I give it some attention. I learned about the medicine and how the curanderos used it to see into the energetic field of their patients before chanting and singing healing songs called Icaros. It was absolutely fascinating!
I felt this excitement and curiosity building up inside of me. Mid-episode, I remembered a random casting call I had submitted myself to (as an actor), which was looking for a man and woman to go on a spiritual retreat to Peru to film promotional content for the center. The description mentioned doing things like yoga, breath-work, sound baths, and meditation, which I was very much into. Curious, I paused the show and looked it up only to find that they were no longer accepting submissions which meant auditions must have already been held. Determined not to give up, I decided to search the title of the casting breakdown, which was Arkana.
I pulled out my computer, typed in “Arkana Retreat Peru,” and guess what popped up? Arkana-Ayahuasca Retreat Center. My jaw dropped. Long story short, I wrote a letter to Arkana directly, got a phone call the next day from the casting director, and was on a plane to Peru 5 days later for a three-week Ayahuasca retreat.
The first location we went to was in the middle of the jungle and literally on top of the Amazon river. It looked like a wooden treehouse community on stilts with bridges, huts, and palm frond rooftops. The local children greeted our canoes in grass skirts and decorative hats who danced in unison to drums and flutes, which the adults were playing. They handed us wet washcloths and freshly made lemonade to cool us off from the humid heat and quench our thirst from the 2-hour canoe ride up the river.
A talking parrot said “hola” to me before climbing up my arm and perching on my shoulder. I looked around at the playground before me, took a deep breath in, and felt what my younger Mormon self would’ve only described as the Holy Spirit while my eyes teared up. This place exuded the same love and healing energy that I so desperately needed at that moment. Gratitude swelled in my heart even as the mosquitos started eating me alive and spiders the size of my hand roamed freely among the jungle huts (including my bedroom!).
It didn’t take long for people to find out I used to be Mormon, and they immensely enjoyed the nickname. I was a 28-year-old girl from Utah who hadn’t drunk alcohol, smoked weed, or even partaken in coffee, and there I was about to do 7 Ayahuasca ceremonies in the Jungle. On top of all of this, we also tried: Nunu (snorted tobacco), Kambo (purgative frog medicine), Sapo/Bufo (5-MEO DMT from a toad), and San Pedro (cactus medicine). Heaven help me.
I can’t wait to share more about this journey with you. For now, what I’d most like to say is, Ayahuasca is a serious and profoundly healing medicine not to be taken lightly. If you feel the call to experience the medicine—the fact that you are reading this may be a sign—take your time, do a bit of grounded research, ask your heart if it feels right, and put out the intentional call to the Universe. I promise you, Mother Ayahuasca will find you when you’re ready.
Until next time, follow your highest excitement, be present and be well.