Preparing For An Ayahuasca Retreat: What To Know Before You Go
Written by Wakana White Owl Medicine Woman, Co-Founder of Reunion & Lead Shaman
When the call to sit with Ayahuasca arrives, it often comes softly at first—a whisper in the heart, a dream, a longing for something deeper. For many, this call arises from pain, frustration, or transition. For others, it’s a desire to reconnect with purpose, clarity, or spirituality.
At Reunion, we see the ceremony begins long before you sit with Ayahuasca. Your preparation shapes your experience. It sets the tone for how deeply you can receive, release, and reconnect with yourself.
Here are the practices we recommend to help you prepare - physically, emotionally, and spiritually - for your Ayahuasca retreat.
Clear Your Schedule - Externally & Internally
In the weeks leading up to your retreat, begin to slow down. Say “no” more often. Protect your energy. Reduce unnecessary stimulation—especially from social media, news, and digital devices. This helps create space for the subtle messages that may begin arriving in dreams, emotions, or sensations.
The less noise you have, the more clearly you can hear your own inner voice.
Begin The Ayahuasca Dieta
We encourage guests to begin an intentional dieta at least 14 days before arrival to Reunion. This typically includes:
Eating clean, whole foods (organic if possible)
Avoiding pork, red meat, dairy, and fried foods
Decreasing caffeine and refined sugar
Minimizing salt and heavy spices
Reducing or abstaining from sexual activity (including masturbation)
Eliminating alcohol and recreational drugs
This isn’t about purity—it’s about creating clarity in your body and mind, so the medicine can meet you with less interference. Approach it as an act of respect and reciprocity, not rigidity.
Follow Your Tailored Medical Protocol
Your safety is of paramount importance. Before your retreat, you’ll complete a detailed intake form reviewed by Reunion’s medical and facilitation team. Based on your responses, we may provide specific guidance around pausing certain medications, supplements, or health protocols.
Please follow these recommendations carefully and reach out if anything feels unclear. The intention is never restriction, but safety. Some substances may physically or energetically interact with Ayahuasca. Eliminating these substances at the proper time in advance of your retreat helps to ensure your Ayahuasca experience will be the very best possible.
Remember, you are never alone in navigating this. We are here to support your preparation.
Set An Intention (But Hold It Gently)
What is your heart asking for? What are you ready to see, feel, or change?
Setting an intention is like planting a seed. It helps orient the experience—but Ayahuasca often has its own wisdom. Ayahuasca may show you something completely unexpected that serves your deeper need.
Write your intention in a journal, say it aloud, or whisper it to the wind. Then let go.
Start A Daily Practice Of Stillness Or Breath
If you’re new to meditation, start with just 5–10 minutes a day. Sit with your breath. Feel your body. Let your emotions rise without needing to fix or judge them. If you prefer support in this, try a simple guided meditation video to get started.
Ayahuasca brings you into intimate contact with your inner world. Cultivating this relationship beforehand creates familiarity and resilience when you meet yourself more deeply in ceremony.
Avoid Heavy Conversations Or Emotional Overload
You don’t need to figure everything out before you arrive. In fact, trying to “solve” your problems before the retreat can work against the surrender the medicine asks of us. If we could’ve figured it out on our own from where we are, we would’ve already done so.
Give yourself permission to arrive with open questions, loose ends, and uncertainty. Ayahuasca meets us where we are in the present moment without the expectation of perfection.
Bring Comfortable, Meaningful Items
Pack clothes that feel soft, loose, and familiar. Avoid perfumes, restrictive fabrics, zippers, and lots of snaps/buttons. You may also wish to bring:
A journal and pen
Layers of clothes
A small sacred item (crystal, photo, totem)
An open heart
We’ll provide everything else you need—what’s most important is that you feel held, because you are.
Trust The Call And Your Courage To Answer It
If you’re reading this, you’ve already begun. Your journey is already underway.
You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to be willing.
We’ll be here to guide you—with deep care and compassion.
Still have questions? Visit our Ayahuasca retreat homepage to learn more about preparing for your journey with Reunion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wakana White Owl Medicine Woman, Co-Founder of Reunion
Wakana White Owl is a Ceremony Leader, Shaman, and Medicine Program Director. With over 40 years of experience, she has supported thousands of guests through their Ayahuasca journeys with deep care and sacred wisdom.
ABOUT REUNION
Reunion is a leading not-for-profit plant medicine center located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, where ancient ceremonial traditions meet medically licensed, modern wellness practices. With a focus on safety, integrity, and sacred healing, Reunion provides guests with a beachfront sanctuary to reconnect with themselves, supported by experienced facilitators and a compassionate team. All proceeds are reinvested to advance its mission, support the land, and care for the community it serves.