The shortcut to happiness is truth
- Gerard Armond Powell -
Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca
In Quechua language means “The Vine of Soul” and is a brew made out of two plants; Psychotria viridis or Chakruna and Banisteriopsis caapi, which is the vine. In other parts of the Amazon, it has other names such as Daime in Brazil and Yagé in Colombia. This sacred medicine has been used by indigenous tribes since 1000 of years for spiritual and healing purposes; the Curandero (Healer) by drinking Ayahuasca was able to detect the illness of the "patients" and with the assistance of other plant spirits, was shown the plants to prescribe for them to heal. The indigenous and mestizo communities regularly use Ayahuasca to treat physical ailments, mental problems and frequently handle their social issues, spiritual crises with the help of the brew.
The main active components present in the vine are the alkaloids harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine known as beta-carbolines or mono-amine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI). These important elements allow the Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) present in the Chakruna leaves, to be activated in the body. The combination of the two plants is essential in order to activate the psychoactive effect. The presence of DMT receptors in human brain assist the natural metabolisation of these chemicals and facilitate its shift. There is evidence that the body produces DMT endogenously through the pineal glad (third eye) which also enhances one's intuition and psyche.
Just a few decades ago, the medicine came out of the jungle and became available to the western world, initiating a new path towards alternative healing methods and spiritual quests. Studies have shown the incredible potential of Ayahuasca in treating addictions, depression, trauma and a number of physical and mental diseases which was not possible before in such effective way, by promoting neurogenesis, improving neuroplasticity of the brain and forming new path ways.
On a spiritual level Ayahuasca promotes deep transformation, growth and inner healing. The medicine is not a "magic pill" but rather an incredible tool to break free from patterns, limiting beliefs and conditionings coming from the current and past lives. That's where the importance of integration comes to place, taking time to process the experience and to gradually adapt the lessons received in ceremony into your daily life.
The healing process
It's relevant to remark the importance of the personal effort in taking the healing path with Ayahuasca, as many people say it is the hardest work they had to do yet the most rewarding in terms of personal development and self healing. From the very early stage of our life, we had to cope with much conditioning from our family, culture, religion, society and were forced to implant external limitations and boundaries on ourselves. It is very common between westerners to share the same trauma and painful childhood experiences coming from abandonments, neglect, abuses and lack of bond to name a few, transmuted into negative emotions and behaviour in adult life. The Ego (or our false sense of self) has a big role in this, masking our true essence of Being with a costume that we believe to be Ours. The unfolding of this aspect, can lead to an incredible breakthrough towards liberation and embodiment of the wholeness.
Ayahuasca is a great tool for revealing these hidden aspects in need to be healed and integrated, by bringing them in our conscious awareness, true healing can happen. She can assist in removing of stuck heavy energies (a second name for trauma) through the purging process, liberating the body, mind and spirits from these un-serving energies and imprints. The integration work afterwards is very important to properly integrate the experience and learnings into our daily life, avoiding the fall back into old patterns of behaviour and emotions and to lead our life in harmony and peace.
Aside from vomiting and defecating, which also helps to remove parasites and bacterias from our body, there are different ways of purging which can happen through crying, shaking, yawning, sweating, changes in body temperature and laughing. This process can seem difficult and overwhelming but in reality can be very empowering and rewarding as one might feel relief from heavy weight and energetic baggages.
The healing foundation that Ayahuasca holds within and she gifts us with offers a way to liberation from past conditioning, to reconnect with ourselves beyond our stories and showing us the way towards forgiveness, compassion and self-love. However, this path requires true dedication and should be approached with respect, humbleness and openness as we strongly believe that Ayahuasca is not a one-off experience, but a healing path that one might be called to walk.
Our wise Grandmother, abuela Ayahuasquita, Mother Earth, who knows us better than We do, who holds us in her true compassionate heart, without judgments, who can teach us how to heal ourselves, giving us space to embrace our power and recognize our true essence, is the medicine that we are called to share and hold with
our deepest respect and gratitude to everyone who is called for this path.