Benefits of Ayahuasca Retreats

Travelers from around the world join with local people in the South American countries where ayahuasca grows wild in river basins of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Madre de Dios, hoping to benefit from this ancient medicine. The name ayahuasca comes from the Quechua language of the Andes and means vine of the spirit, soul, or […]

Vipassana Meditation and Ayahuasca Retreats

My previous experience sitting a ten-day Vipassana meditation course served me well for a ten-day ayahuasca retreat. In both cases, I arrived with a backpack and a spirit of surrender, stripped down to the essentials — physically, mentally, and emotionally. I knew from experience that leaving expectations at the door wasn’t just helpful; it was […]

Meditation, Travel, and Ayahuasca

Whether in an hour of meditation, exploring a new city, or going on an ayahuasca retreat, practices of surrendering and accepting serve well. For all these experiences, the true magic comes when I release expectations and allow myself to be a witness.  Ayahuasca works best when “I” get out of the way. That typical focus […]