At Sapan Inka, our Ayahuasca ceremonies honor ancestral wisdom and the profound shamanic principles practiced by the Shipibo healers of the Amazon rainforest. Our primary objective is to facilitate deep physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, as well as a successful process of personal transformation. We have developed a unique approach that respectfully integrates the traditional Amazonian use of Ayahuasca with a philosophy of minimal interference.
Ceremonies typically last approximately three hours but can extend longer if participants require additional support to fully complete their process.
The essence of our ceremonies is founded on the conviction that healing and transformation processes are eminently internal, guided by the inherent intelligence of the sacred plant Ayahuasca and the participant's psyche. We have profound trust in the inherent healing power of the medicine and in the human psyche's capacity for self-regulation.
We believe that Ayahuasca has the ability to guide participants on their inner journey, revealing exactly what they need to see, feel, or heal. Therefore, our guides refrain from directing the participant's experience with premature suggestions or interpretations. The role of the guide or facilitator is to be a guardian of the sacred space, maintaining calm, conscious presence, and allowing the ceremony's energy to flow organically, without being forced.
It is important to understand that the philosophy of "minimal interference" does not imply the absence of emotional, verbal, or containment support. Rather, it proposes a specific type of support that prioritizes the participant's internal process and aligns with the deep, often non-verbal, nature of the Ayahuasca experience. We consider this approach to be more akin to the energetic and intuitive nature of the experience, allowing the medicine's work to deepen without interference from the intellect or premature verbalization.
It is crucial for individuals considering an Ayahuasca retreat to understand the possibility of experiencing challenging states, which may include sensations of terror, confusion, or paranoia. At Sapan Inka, we do not label these as "bad trips." Instead, we view them as profound opportunities for confronting and releasing traumas, deep-seated fears, limiting thought patterns, or "shadow aspects" of the psyche. We believe Ayahuasca brings to the surface precisely what needs to be processed for healing.
Participants are encouraged to surrender to this internal process, trusting their innate capacity to navigate difficulties, with guides present to offer reassurance and remind them of their inner strength. During such challenging moments of the journey, the tools employed in Sapan Inka ceremonies primarily operate at an energetic and spiritual level. These include sacred chants (ícaros) and energetic clearings (sopladas), which help to guide, ground, and support the participant's process non-verbally.
Should a participant verbalize distress or require explicit guidance, they receive precise, direct instructions, such as: guidance to breathe deeply and surrender, reminders to trust the process, and affirmations of safety and containment. Crucially, we avoid interpretation or psychological analysis during the climax of the experience. This prevents pulling the participant out of their deep, non-verbal process and interrupting the profound release that is occurring.
During the ceremony, support for participants is primarily provided through:
The singing of ícaros: sacred melodies that guide, cleanse, and harmonize the energetic field.
Energetic clearings (sopladas) with perfumes (such as agua florida or agua de cananga) or the smoke of mapacho (sacred tobacco), used to cleanse, protect, and balance energy.
The use of traditional instruments like drums and maracas, which modulate the atmosphere and state of consciousness.
Our guides are always present and available throughout the ceremony. While the shamanic techniques we employ do not typically require physical contact, it is established only when strictly necessary, for example, if a participant's physical or psychological safety is compromised. The method of support is through these energetic and spiritual techniques, intervening with a song, a ceremonial blowing, or a word of encouragement only when it is perceived that the participant needs active support to navigate a challenging moment, always inviting them to find their own internal resolution.
We cultivate a profound respect for each participant's autonomy and individual experience, recognizing that every Ayahuasca journey is unique and unrepeatable. There is no "correct way" to experience it, and we respect any manifestation that arises (crying, laughter, silent introspection, movement). We avoid judging or imposing expectations on what someone's experience should be like, and we encourage each participant to surrender fully to their own process.
As guides, our fundamental role is to protect the sacred space or healing field of the ceremony temple, ensuring that nothing external disturbs the participants' experience and remaining attentive to any signs of immediate need for support.
Our retreats incorporate two or three Ayahuasca sessions, with a maximum of eight participants per group. This limited size allows for personalized attention and guidance, essential for a successful therapeutic process. The Ayahuasca ceremony is a ritual that opens a non-ordinary state of consciousness, facilitating connection with inner wisdom, leading to self-healing and self-knowledge. Frequently, Ayahuasca promotes powerful catharsis, a deep emotional, psychological, and spiritual cleansing that releases blockages.
Once the ceremony concludes and participants feel stable, they are invited to their rooms to allow for a more personal integration with the medicine, especially beneficial for those who prefer an individual setting. Guides remain available and accessible throughout the night, offering assistance upon request.
If, at the end of the ceremony, one or more participants require additional support to complete their process, the guides remain in the temple with them for as long as necessary, until the individual feels fully re-established before being invited to their room.
The key to the effectiveness of minimal interference during the ceremony lies in reserving emotional support, verbal guidance, and deep psychological containment for the subsequent integration process. It is in this space of sobriety and reflection that the person can safely process, verbalize, and make sense of their experience, guided by our transpersonal psychological counseling and deep psychological analysis.
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