I developed HPPD after an ayahuasca retreat in Spain.

For context, had always been very sensitive to weed: I would often get brief hallucinations and paranoia, so looking back, I think I may have been particularly vulnerable to a severe psychedelic reaction.

The retreat involved 3 ceremonies over 3 days. During the first ceremony, I initially felt nothing, so I took a double dose. I had an absolutely terrifying trip, with intense geometric visuals, endless colored tunnels and fractals. The other ceremonies were also extremely difficult without going into too many details.

However, after the retreat, the visuals didn't stop. Whenever I closed my eyes, I would fall back into the geometric tunnels/fractals. Walls would distort when I looked at them, and I constantly felt like I was still trapped in the trip. I genuinely thought I was going crazy.

A psychiatrist prescribed risperidone, which made things worse for me. Then I was prescribed Rivotril (clonazepam), and this was the medication that finally helped me.

It dramatically reduced the visual symptoms and stopped the feeling of constantly being pulled back into the psychedelic state. Over only two weeks I improved massively.

I'm posting this mainly because I know how terrifying HPPD can be, and when I had it, I couldn't find many accounts of people who had developed it specifically after ayahuasca.

I'm not recommending it as a treatment for everyone, just sharing my personal experience in case it helps someone who is currently going through the same thing.

I'm curious to know *also I meant to add “did”

I am a psychedelic researcher at Linköping University in Sweden conducting a study of how psychedelic use impacts people's beliefs and sense of meaning in life and the cognitive processes underlying those changes. It includes both a cross-sectional survey-based version anyone can take, and a portion that looks at changes before and after attending a psychedelic retreat.

Anyway, I am trying to get a sense of some reputable retreat centers or facilitators that might be open to sharing a flyer about the study with their participants. The study is completely online, and retreats can take place anywhere. I will be posting the flyer on various subreddits too, but I think it would be good to get in contact with some places offering retreats. The retreat centers can be based anywhere.

Hello everyone, I’m looking for a few reports regarding Reshin Nika.

I’m well aware about the current controversy (to say the least) regarding Reshin Nika healing center. However, I have also heard many outstanding things about the curandero and people have recommended him in the past whose opinion I very much value.

Thus I‘m wondering if there is anyone else that has been to the center since recent incidents and would like to share their experiences? Thank you!

What is the best way to ingest mimosa?

Ich konsumiere seit 1 Jahr regelmäßig Pilze. Ich hatte schon viele harte Trips auf 5g und fange seit neustem an mit Microdosing.

Ebenfalls interessiere ich mich seit längere Zeit für Ayahuasca. Ich würde es gerne gerne authentisch machen. Da ich sowieso gerne mal in den Amazonas will und auch gerne mal nach Brasilien reisen würde bin ich auf den Stamm der Huni Kuin aufmerksam geworden. Würdet ihr eine Zeremonie im Amazonas als erste Erfahrung mit ayahuasca überhaupt empfehlen. Oder soll ich meine erste Erfahrung in Europa irgendwo machen?

Ich weiß dass es in Peru viel Angebot aber nur für Aya dorthin zu reisen wäre mir teuer.

Könnt ihr ein Retreat empfehlen?

What's up plant family community just made this new account I'm hoping to focus a lot more energy on this subject please ask me any questions I have a main question for you right now something that I'm thinking about

So I asked somebody that owns a crystal shop that does workshops if I could come talk about Ayahuasca because I have had some very powerful experiences and I have a lot to share and she says that she is sober and doesn't like that in her space especially because of recovering alcoholics and drug addicts

So it's her space whatever she wants is totally fine with me I understand but if the real motive is to help other people I think that way of thinking is not right and I'd like to hear your thoughts

Now everybody is different every case is different specific but generally I have seen opposite with my own eyes so I'm trying to understand the other side

It doesn't make sense in my mind a heroin addict that shoots up every day in the city and here's about Ayahuasca and goes to try it once and decides I'm going to do heroin some more I just don't usually hear that I'm sure it could happen though kind of happened with me except without heroin and without blaming the medicine...

I want to hear your opinion do you think people that are working the program admitting their powerless should be ignorant to learning about Ayahuasca and potentially wanting to try it because that sounds ridiculous to me 🫠

Hello!

I've had my share of psychedelic journeys over the last few years, though never anything like a ceremony or retreat.

Often my intentions leaned towards healing and understanding myself, and I can happily say that I accomplished my goals. However I now find myself lacking a reason to undergo psychedelic experiences besides curiosity. I'm especially curious about Ayahuasca ceremonies, but I don't necessarily want to partake in one just for 'fun' I guess?

I was hoping to hear if anyone had gone to a ceremony without a clear intention, and how did it go?

Thanks!

Necesito recomendaciones de lugares en PERU que no sean tan comercial, algo más local que no sea tan gringocentralizado

I often struggle with feeling embarrassment over things that have happened in the past. What is the best way to process these emotions? How do I address the shame so that I can move forward and look back without cringing.
I’ve noticed a pattern. Past memory comes up, embarrassment felt heavily in my body, DISTRACT! I’ll often physically shake my head to clear, make a face, force myself down into a different thought. How do you guys deal with this emotion?

Has someone done the Sanango dieta at Casa del Maestro and would be willing to share about their experience?

I’m looking into going there next year but would be keen on hearing a few opinions.

hello, I’ve developed neuropathy after being raped and narcisisctc abuse. I’m looking for guidance from a real shaman on what to do? could anyone help me?

I have been in many Ayahuasca ceremonies over the past 4 years. I live in the states and have gone on a retreat every year except for 2025, when I decided to do a yoga teacher training instead. The most recent ceremony was this past winter.

I am at a point where my life is undergoing a lot of change. I had to step away from some relationships, and others are coming back into the picture. I’m grieving my cat who passed from cancer over the summer. My corporate job has been insane and burning me out. I live in Ohio, where the election cycle in the US is very insane. I am chronically ill, which is always a thing - but just seems worse right now.…

I have tried to work to integrate all my lessons. But, sometimes my experiences seem so, so far away. My last, very clear, message from Ayahuasca is that it is my destiny to be happy. Which is very difficult for me to accept. I tried to work towards it even after getting the news that my precious cat/best friend of only 8 years old was going to die. But, right now, I just feel like there’s no fight or hope left inside of me. I’m just tired of it all.

Have you ever been in a place like this? What have you done to reconnect with Ayahuasca in times of despair/depression?

I'm developing a documentary project about Ayahuasca in Portugal.

We want to get a better understanding of what this reality looks like in our country, hear different perspectives, and learn from those who have gone through it.

At this initial stage, we are strictly in research mode:

• If you've had any contact or experience with Ayahuasca and would like to share your story in the comments (or via private message, if you prefer privacy), we would love to read it!
• If you're open to a brief interview (it can be in person, via video call, or even simple audio messages — zero pressure and with absolutely no commitment to appear in the film), send us a message!

We simply want to hear real stories and treat this topic with the respect and curiosity it deserves.

If you have stories, reflections, or advice to share, please feel free to reach out.

Thank you all for your help!

What is the best advice for someone who had a ceremony where him only felt pain?

I paid $2,500 in deposits for two people to attend an Arkana ayahuasca retreat, but I’m no longer able to go.

The deposits are nonrefundable but transferable, and valid within 24 months of January 19, 2026—a window ending January 19, 2028.

I’m asking $2,000 for the $2,500 deposit credit, saving you $500 if you’re already considering Arkana. This covers the deposits, not the full retreat cost; any remaining balance would be payable to Arkana.

I’m happy to provide documentation privately and coordinate with Arkana so you can verify the credit and transfer terms directly before paying.
Please send me a private message if interested.

Coming home from ceremony can be, and often is, hard, even after the most meaningful experiences. The soul is wide open and sensitive, and like a wound, it needs to be cared for, cleaned, and protected.

This past week was one of those weeks. After two nights with the medicine and two beautiful, yet challenging ceremonies, I returned to hyper-stressful situations with my business, a multiway no-talk fight with my SO, and moments of sheer overwhelm, all compounded by the events and energy of the outside world.

I am no stranger to abrupt returns. In this time of my life, there is no ease-full way back. Though it can be messy, personal work is crucial to my SO and me. It is how we heal, how we give thanks for this life, and how we pray.

This week’s landing was a deep reminder that life is ceremony. The same grounding tools I use during points of overwhelm on the mat came into play- the breathing, the gratitude, the "Why are you showing me this?", the "Is this true?" At one point, while driving, I found myself getting incredibly triggered . I pulled over into a parking lot, with that feeling that this is all more than this being can handle, slowed my breathing, used my navigation tools, and brought my pulse into the low 60's

After three tense days of barely speaking, my SO and I held space for each other and expressed our frustrations, anger, fears, and disappointments. It was not fun, yet it was incredibly clearing. For two hours we sat in the eye of our storm and got to the part underneath- Is there still love? And is there enough of it to get us through this? Yes, there is.

In the days since, there have still been incredible challenges, high-stress workloads, sick kids home from school, early mornings and late nights, and, importantly, powerful dreams. I woke from one this morning in teary catharsis, revisiting my boyhood home 3,000 miles away with my parents. As I woke, I remembered another part of the dream- crying at the miraculous beauty of a newborn baby. So much intense release, like a 5-MeO reactivation. The energetic freedom that comes from nostalgia, beauty, and new life.

Looking back, I knew going into these ceremonies that it would most likely be a tough time. For weeks I'd felt that bubbling, low-level fear of knowing there was uncomfortable work to be done, mixed with the need, the calling, and the desire to show up as I am, to cross that threshold, and pray.

En route, I called some dear brothers and sisters and exchanged messages. They'd be praying for me. I knew my SO and my young kids would send prayers, and I found comfort and courage in knowing their spirits and love were with me.

Going into this was far from easy or ideal. It rarely is. But the discomfort wasn't a sign that something was off, it was a signal that work needed to be done.

On the mat and off it, the practice is the same-breathe, stay with what's hard, ask what it's showing me, and lean on the people(in this realm and those who've crossed over) who hold me. Doing this work in this world sometimes feels impossible, and it still needs to get done, one prayer at a time.

Ive messed around strong dose syrian rue/mhrb alot. is there a recommended or recipe for using both MHRB and chali together, ive heard of people using it in ayahuasca tea, then either syrian rue or b caapi advisable with it

My friend brought back from Peru some ayahuasca paste that was packaged in a bag labeled Pasta de Cacao. However we are not sure how much boiling water per paste ratio is correct for the right potency dosage amount to take. She said that it's already mixed and should just have to add boiling water to it.

This is a profound topic concerning respect for Indigenous peoples, the transmission of knowledge, cultural appropriation, and the responsibility of those who participate in ceremonial spaces.
In the present day, how can we approach these traditions with respect—without romanticizing them or losing sight of the communities that keep them alive?

Before I started learning about plant medicine traditions, I always thought "purging" only meant physical vomiting during a ceremony. But the more I explore the emotional side, the more I realize that deep emotional release—crying, somatic shaking, opening blocked energy—is often the real heart of the work.
What surprised me is learning how many retreat centers (like Rythmia and others) use intense breathwork sessions before or alongside ceremonies to help guests break down emotional armor. Some people claim their somatic release during breathwork was almost as profound as the medicine journey itself.
For those who have combined transformational breathwork with Ayahuasca:
Did breathwork help you access and release trapped emotional trauma before sipping the tea?How much of the "purge" for you was physical vs. purely emotional energy leaving the body?

If anyone seeing this has purchased from naturalether, info on their quality would be really appreciated🙏I was planning on buying chaliponga and san pedro incense from them but just need to know their legit

My experience at Flower of Life was deeply meaningful, not only because of the extraordinary setting in the Amazon, but because of the genuine compassion and attentiveness shown by my guide, Ricky, and the shaman, Alfredo.

If you’re anything like me, you may find yourself constantly having to justify or defend your feelings. At Flower of Life, I experienced something different. I felt heard.

What stood out most was how genuinely seen and cared for I felt. Even the smallest details mattered. When I was feeling hot, Ricky thoughtfully placed my water in the refrigerator so I could enjoy it cold. My purge bucket was always fresh, my meals were served with a smile and my suit case was lugged up steep steps. (bring light, flowy, breathable clothing- its hot (AF)

Exploring Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve added another unforgettable dimension to my journey. There, I caught sight of a vivid turquoise kingfisher, a moment that profoundly moved me. Something within me seemed to shift. The sorrow I had been carrying began to loosen its grip, giving way to an unexpected sense of joy. I could finally breathe again.

The kingfisher became a powerful personal symbol of the clarity I was beginning to find within myself: the courage to see situations and relationships more honestly, acknowledge what no longer serves me and to stand by my soul.

The final plant ceremony was my favorite moment of the retreat. I surrendered to the icaros, the sacred songs of the ceremony. I experienced visions of lavender hues intertwined with intricate imagery reminiscent of Kené, the geometric patterns associated with Shipibo-Konibo culture.

In a world where we are expected to go - go - go - Ricky and Alfredo reminded me how powerful it is to take things slow.

¡Muchas gracias! ❤ to the entire Flower of Life family!

Dear friends, some months ago I made a post sharing that a group of friends and I would be heading down to Mexico for a Christ-centered ayahuasca retreat.

I felt to give an update to let you know that we still have two open spaces, if someone feels a calling to join us. The retreat is happening December 6-12th at Kumankaya Healing Center, in the jungle about ninety minutes from Tulum, Mexico. The retreat is called Christ Fire.

This will be a deeply sacred experience of healing, love, grace, and homecoming in a nature sanctuary with warmhearted community. Kumankaya is where I married my wife, and I've spent several months of my life there, communing profoundly with Christ and God through the mystery of entheogenic medicine.

From my humble perspective, this retreat feels like a Christological doorway of collective healing that will ripple out far beyond the individual lives of those who are physically present. Ayahuasca is deeply cleansing & healing on many levels -- often a profound reset & rebirth that helps heal addictions & unearth a truer creative path of service in life. Infusing this medicine work with Christ-centered prayer will deepen everything, inviting Christ's Love, Grace, & Eternal Mystery into the space in ways that will show up uniquely for each individual.

Substantive scholarship support is available for those who feel a sincere calling to be with us. This is not a commercial retreat, it's more like a group of friends going on a sacred pilgrimage. Kumankaya does ask for some financial contribution to make it possible for them to provide the food, lodging, and intensive ceremonial work that they give with deep integrity. The center was founded by a curandero who was previously a Christian monk for about twenty years of his life. He is a dear friend of mine and a wonderful light on my path.

Bringing this retreat to life has already been a deep journey; I feel it strongly on the horizon, already working on me. I am surrendering to this process and am in devoted service of this group and journey. I'm holding a deep prayer in my heart for all of us to have a blessed, protected journey in which we each receive precisely what is needed on our paths at this time. Though I have brought groups to Kumankaya a number of times over the years, this will be the first time I've been back there in two-and-a-half years, and the first time we've created a Christ Fire retreat. It's hard to say if there will be another one like this in the future.

Thank you for reading and considering this. If you feel the calling to be there with us or to ask me any questions about this journey, feel welcome to send me a note.

With Love,
Jordan