“The Vine of the Soul”
What is
Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca (pronounced ai-uh-wa-skuh) is the commonly used name to describe a sacred Amazonian tea with psychoactive properties. The intended use of this hallucinogenic brew is for it to be taken at the start of age-old ayahusca ceremonies designed to increase a person’s feeling of connection with life and the universe.
Our brew is made fresh for each retreat from plants that grown on the property by trained Shipibo shaman partners.
Where does it come from?
Ayahuasca comes from the Amazon basin, where Indigenous peoples have worked with it for generations as part of healing, ceremonial, and cultural practices. The medicine is traditionally prepared using plants native to the rainforest and is deeply connected to the land, ecology, and knowledge systems of the region. We honor these origins by approaching the work with respect and responsibility.
How is it made?
Ayahuasca is traditionally made by slowly cooking together two primary plants: the ayahuasca vine and the chacruna leaf. This careful process extracts the active compounds into a ceremonial tea. At Spirit Vine, the medicine is prepared with intention, respect for tradition, and attention to purity, without additives.
What does the name mean?
The word ayahuasca comes from Quechua, often translated as “vine of the soul” or “vine of the dead.” While interpretations vary, the name reflects the medicine’s role in helping people explore deep layers of consciousness, memory, and inner experience.
What are the medicinal properties?
Ayahuasca contains compounds that temporarily alter brain chemistry and perception, allowing access to emotional, psychological, and somatic material that is often difficult to reach through ordinary states of awareness. Traditionally, it has been used for healing, insight, and spiritual exploration rather than symptom-based treatment.
What are the benefits?
Many people report increased emotional clarity, insight into personal patterns, a sense of connection, and a renewed relationship with themselves and life. Benefits vary widely and depend on preparation, context, and integration. Ayahuasca is not a cure-all, but a process that can support meaningful inner work when approached responsibly.
Is it legal in Brazil?
Yes. Ayahuasca is legal in Brazil when used within recognized ceremonial and religious contexts. Its use is protected under Brazilian law, allowing responsible centers to work with the medicine in a structured and intentional way.
Where can I safely ingest it?
Ayahuasca should only be consumed in a safe, legal, and well-supported ceremonial setting with experienced facilitators. We strongly discourage unsupervised or informal use. The container, screening, preparation, and integration are just as important as the medicine itself.
Will it make me purge?
Purging can happen, but it’s not guaranteed. Some people experience vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, shaking, or emotional release, while others do not. These responses are often viewed as part of the body’s way of releasing physical or emotional tension. We support participants through whatever arises, without judgment or expectation.
Effects of
Ayahuasca
The effects can be felt from as little as 20 minutes to an hour after consuming it. Effects can last for up to 6 hours – but this will depend on the individual, how they’ve prepared for ayahusca ceremony, as well as how strong the brew is. Typical effects of ayahuasca include:
- Vivid and intense visions
- Amplified feelings/emotions
- An expanded capacity of consciousness
- Physical detoxification which can include nausea and sickness
- An altered sense of time and space
Sustainability at Spirit Vine
The Spirit Vine Center was founded by Silvia Polivoy with the intention to help people, nature, and animals. This intention was ignited in her first
How to Choose an Ayahuasca Spiritual Retreat: A Practical Guide
Taking part in a spiritual retreat is a meaningful way to reconnect with yourself and find peace. The most important is to find a retreat
Benefits of a Small Group Retreat vs. a Large Group
When planning where to attend an ayahuasca retreat, one of the most important decisions is whether to join a small group or a large group.
Art Integration
After the ceremony, participants are encouraged to release their inner child by drawing what they saw to help them process and integrate their experience during ayahuasca. Writing, journaling, meditating, sharing in both group settings and one-on-one settings are all ways participants can ensure their healing lessons are long-lasting.
Nurturing the Body
Ayahuasca supports somatic healing by releasing stored trauma in the body, while yoga and meditation integrate insights through breath and awareness. Nutrition replenishes the nervous system, and massages ease tension, grounding the spirit’s transformation into lasting physical and emotional balance.
Visiting The Vine
On the last day of the ceremony, you will be taken on a guided tour of the gardens on the property where you can see the plants the tea is brewed from. The Banisteriopsis caapi vine, also known as the soul vine or yagé, contains MAOIs that allow the psychedelic compound DMT from other plants to be orally active.
Is Ayahuasca Right For You?
Ingesting Ayahuasca is not for everyone. Certain foods and substances may interact negatively with the mono-amine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the brew, and could be dangerous for your health. People with a history of severe trauma and mental/physical health concerns should talk with their healthcare provider before coming to a retreat.
Honoring The Roots of the Medicine
We recognize ayahuasca as a gift from the forest and its guardians, understanding that the vine itself is a living teacher.
At Spirit Vine, we honor and respect the Indigenous peoples of the Amazon who have been practicing this tradition for centuries. Our ceremonies are guided in partnership with trained Shipibo healers, who carry songs (icaros), prayers, and practices into each brew.
At Spirit Vine, we honor and respect the Indigenous peoples of the Amazon who have been practicing this tradition for centuries. Our ceremonies are guided in partnership with trained Shipibo healers, who carry songs (icaros), prayers, and practices into each brew.
