What to look for to find a safe, quality Ayahuasca Retreat?

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Like most things in life, there a broad variety of Ayahuasca retreat options, and a number of factors that effect the quality and cost of an ayahuasca retreat that you may like to take into consideration:

• Safety: Many smaller operators are not in a position to invest in safety, and unfortunately, there are too many sad stories out there. (recommendation: choose a retreat that does in-depth screening to ensure your physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being). ‍

• Legality:  Practitioners who have dedicated their lives to medicine work typically live in locations where it is legal, so they don't have to live in a state of "what if". (recommendation: consider whether travelling to a place with "new energy" might be in your best interests).

• ‍Size of the group: It's common for retreats to have 20, 50, even 100 people in ceremony, which can be chaotic. Additionally, you are less likely receive the level of attention from healers that you are probably looking for. (recommendation: choose a retreat with an intimate group of say, 8-15 people).

• Length of the retreat: Shorter retreats feel rushed, and there are limits to what can be done in a few nights. (recommendation: go for at least a week).

• Comfort: (recommendation: spend a little extra for something where you will be physically comfortable and have your own bedroom to decompress and integrate, especially if this is your first time). Your future self can thank us later.‍

• Cosmology: (recommendation: choose a retreat that supports your own subjective experience, or one that you feel aligns with you energetically). The energy of the retreat and ceremony leaders will have a profound effect upon your experience. ‍

• Holistic approach: (recommendation: work with an organization that takes a holistic approach to working with medicine, and has options to support and guide your mental and emotional evolution). If a provider implies that "medicine will solve all your problems", proceed with caution (because it won't!).‍

• Service: (recommendation: choose a place that you believe can serve your individual needs. Consider whether or not they've taken the time to get to know you and understand you, or it's more of a take it or leave it retreat center).‍

• Booking process: (recommendation: speak with the provider before finalizing your booking). If it's all online, ANYONE could be sitting next to you in ceremony.‍

• Expertise: (recommendation: work with an organization that emphasizes healing, and you believe has a breadth of expertise to guide your transformation). Look for facilitators and healers who have a lightness of being and a sparkle in their eyes.‍

• Reputation: (recommendation: Google the provider). You may be surprised by what you find. If there's not much information, that is also information :)

• ‍Volunteers: (recommendation: work with an organization that pays their staff). Unfortunately, it is common practice for retreat centers to cycle through young, eager, and worn out volunteers and/or not pay healers fairly. If the people supporting your retreat aren't living their best life, they're not going to be able to lead you to yours.

Given the potential, power, and sensitivity of working with Ayahuasca, who you choose to work with is undoubtedly one of the most important decisions of your life, so we encourage you to take the time and the energy to educate yourself to be able to make a good one. If you're in a position to do so, you may also like to consider a private retreat.

If our recommendations above feel energetically aligned for you, and you'd like to explore a journey with Behold, apply below.

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‍Looking for a little more guidance for one of the most important decisions of your life? Watch this video.

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The profound healing opportunity of an ayahuasca ceremony is not currently legal in Australia, and for this reason, it would be very difficult to find any establishment whose qualifications you could actually trust.  Choosing the right setting and provider of an ayahuasca ceremony is crucial, as this is often referred to as the Mother Plant, and the most powerful of plant medicines.

Most well-established and serious ayahuasca retreat centers are located where it is legal, or decriminalized, such as Costa Rica, Portugal, and South American countries that border the Amazon rainforest.  Here is a list of 5 organizations that will be able to help you find what you are looking for.

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1 Behold Retreats - Costa Rica, Portugal, Mexico

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This is a good choice for anyone interested in a beautiful and professional ayahuasca retreat center.  Its treatment centers are located in splendid natural settings, and accommodations follow suit, such as beachfront villas in Costa Rica, or mountains and rainforest views available.  Behold Retreats prioritizes client safety and limits group size to make for a more personalized and intimate ayahuasca journey in each retreat.

If you feel like taking a trip to a scenic location for the experience of an ayahuasca retreat, then this is a great option for you.  Free consultation is available, so participants are able to find out exactly what they have to look forward to with the Mother Vine and plant medicine healing.

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 2 Soltara Healing Center - Costa Rica, Peru

This organization has a treatment center along the beaches of Costa Rica, as well as in Peru, with facilities devoted to the traditions of sacred ayahuasca journeys, and the healing experience it provides, this treatment center offers participants a chance to take part in real plant medicine ceremonies, led by a team of facilitators from the Shipibo people of the South American Amazon region.  Their philosophy combines Western psychology with the traditional shamanic ceremony of the Shipibo culture.  Retreat lengths range from 5 to 12 days, and have glowing testimonials from past participants.

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3 Origen Sagrada - Colombia, USA

Origen Sagrada is an ayahuasca retreat center founded in a beautiful spot in the forests of Colombia, with nature surrounding it, and healing is the primary focus of this retreat.  The idea for the EcoResort came to the founder, Danielle, in a vision, and she built it along a river, near the border of Colombia and Brazil.

A traditional shamanic ceremony is held by a native healer, and facilitators are all veterans of the ayahuasca journey.  Diet and connection to nature are two factors that lead participants to a spiritual awakening, through the plant medicine of the ayahuasca vine.

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4 Ayayni Shamanic Retreats - Ireland

The name Ayayni comes from the words ayahuasca and “ayni” which refers to the connection between nature and our deepest self, and the healing that comes from strengthening this.  The legality of ayahuasca in Ireland is currently in a “gray area”, allowing for this organization to host various retreats, and provide an ayahuasca ceremony under certain circumstances.  With a team of expert facilitators, participants are encouraged to look for the next available spiritual retreat online, and can even seek them out in Colombia, near the Amazon rainforest where ayahuasca traditions originated.

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5 Acsauhaya - Netherlands

This retreat center is located in the grasslands of Holland, in a Dutch farmhouse located on the border of a nature reserve, giving participants a beautiful scenario to enjoy nature during their ayahuasca journeys.  Retreats range from 3-5 days, and are led by native shamans of Peruvian Shipibo descent, with incredible experience in the age-old philosophies of plant medicine.

If you are looking for an authentic ayahuasca retreat, you would do well to inquire about the nearest retreat available, as groups are limited to under 15 participants, to retain the intimate nature of the ayahuasca journey.

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