I Worked at an Ayahuasca Retreat: What I WISH Someone Told Me...

Learn what ayahuasca is, who could benefit from it (and who might not), and my top realizations and insights that will support you before, during, and after your plant medicine ceremonies. You may want to listen on .75 speed as an editing mishap sped this video up a bit!

As someone who worked at an ayahuasca retreat center and witnessed hundreds of people sit with ayahuasca, I want to really open up with you about what I learned, and some information that isn’t always talked about.

Most people arrive at an ayahuasca retreat with expectations or preconceived notions of what they’re going to experience. But this is an incredibly powerful plant medicine, and it is crucial to acknowledge that each ceremony is unique.

My intention is that this video will provide you with a deeper understanding of ayahuasca and how you can receive lasting transformation working with this powerful plant medicine.

// D O N A T E ♡ 

**Thank you to all subscribers, supporters & those able to donate. By donating to my channel you are helping in creating new content & keeping it free and accessible to all. I am deeply grateful for your generosity & support.

#ayahuasca #plantmedicine #ayahuascaexperience

**You may also find these videos helpful:

// BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

// CHAPTERS

00:00 - Intro
01:06 - What is ayahuasca?
03:44 - Top reasons to attend a retreat
07:22 - Reasons NOT to attend
10:32 - Tips for before your ceremonies
21:16 - During the ceremony
24:22 - After the ceremony
25:29 - Integration

// S U B S C R I B E
New Videos Every Week!

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☆ A B O U T M E ☆

Hi, I'm Danielle 💜 I share videos about personal growth, spirituality, well-being, and whatever else is on my mind (and heart). My intention is to support you in overcoming limiting beliefs, cultivating a positive mindset, and living a more intentional, inspired, and joy-filled life.

[daniellerateau]

Hi friends! I hope you find this video helpful. I did have a bit of a mishap with editing and wasn't able to change it after uploading, so you may notice that the video is sped up a little. If it feels too fast for you, changing the speed to .75 should help 😊 Thank for so much for understanding as this was one of my first videos 😅 Sending you lots of love and definitely let me know if you have more questions about ayahuasca💜

[TheScapegoat]

"Show me what I need to know" is like spot on. How could you go wrong.

[joh.]

What a wonderful description and guide. I wasn't conscious of what you pointed out - that aya starts working as soon as you commit. But so many people I met on my way there, on seeing me remarked that they felt strongly that they saw "something important happening, " "something big coming up." So, wise words in this clip - thank you

[Nqo]

One thing that my ayahuasca experience taught me is to totally let go of any expectations. I had watched so many youtube videos of other people's experiences that I expected mine to be the same, but I'm one of those people who did not have a visual experience but a more sensory/emotional one and it was nothing like anything I heard from other people's experiences (but, it was magical and transformative nonetheless). I'm going to another ceremony this weekend (3 years later) and I have no expectations whatsoever, I'm just nervous and excited at the same time. Thanks for the tips, they were a great reminder!

[hooligan]

I did five ceremonies in the Andes nearly ten years ago. You are spot on
One thing that you mentioned and I would not have understood until I experienced it is that as soon as you commit to the ceremonies ayahuasca goes to work with you.
I started receiving feelings and dreams about things such as who I would meet in Peru
They were accurate. This is supernatural and anyone that does not treat it with respect will learn respect. It may not be an enjoyable lesson!!! But it is for your own good!!

[DavidMichaelCommer]

You give great advice for anyone who is considering ayahuasca for the first time. I read a lot of scientific research abstracts, some books and articles from personal and shamanic points of view, and watched quite a few personal-experience videos before I took it, but none of them addressed what you discuss here, all of which applied or apply to me:

—The first time I took ayahuasca, I had a massive panic attack followed by some unintelligibly odd (sleeping) dreams, but had no visions and no real conscious or concrete experiences similar to those I'd heard about. I did feel like something was wrong with me, or else that I probably had done something wrong.


—It wasn't until my fifth ayahuasca experience that I had opened-eyed visuals, and that *terrified* me. I had become accustomed to the types of experiences that I typically had and so I had been lulled into expectations that were not realistic. Ironically, I think had I had those visions when I first took it, I may have been less alarmed because that's what I expected to happen the first time.

—For me, purging always has kicked off the process, but the purging never involved vomiting. Everyone I've discussed ayahuasca with focuses heavily on the vomiting aspect, and I always explain that 1) I've never had that; 2) I've had sudden, explosive diarrhea instead, but it comes and goes quickly, and as physically uncomfortable as it can be, the rest of the ayahuasca experience is so profound and prolonged that I really never even think of that aspect of purging. I have, however, also purged physically through tears, a runny nose, and extreme hot and cold flashes (and of course psychologically and emotionally in various ways), and I wish that people who talk about ayahuasca purging would be more holistic/comprehensive about this. Your whole body and psyche is put through the ringer in the interest of your whole body-mind-and-spirit's health.

—Most of my experiences have manifested with similar phases (nauseousness, physical purging, a feeling of my body being 'inspected' physically by some kind of sentient entity, a visionary experience of some kind, experience of the warm white light, a telepathic Q&A period, revisiting past traumas and sometimes out-of-body 'shapeshifting, ' and being brought gently back to this version of reality), but all have been different enough from one another, too, that it really is unwise to have expectations about what might occur. Something *always* surprised me in ways that required quite a lot of time to process afterward. And everything I've read and heard from others leads me to think that everyone who takes ayahuasca is bound to see giant fluorescent snakes and jaguars, and I've never seen experienced those specific entities.

I love your advice about focusing on witnessing and not explaining or labeling, as well. I found for myself one time, the fifth and last time I took ayahuasca, that it's most challenging not to reactively freak out and begin to devise terrified 'what if' scenarios at times, and as soon as you do that, things can go very downhill very quickly. I've never quite related to the notion of religious faiths as are commonly practiced in the U.S., but in this case, I think a person really has to have strong faith that the ayahuasca's spirit or intention or however one wants to think about it is acting in the best interest of the person who takes the ayahuasca. To cast doubt is to invite a paradigm-shattering challenge from the curative aspects of it, and those are perhaps among the most important lessons but also always are the hardest-won lessons. You really find out how open or closed minded you are when you experience ayahuasca. But you always end up more open minded afterward, regardless of how rough the road was to get there.

[skylarveruca]

I’ve been wanting to fly to a retreat center in Costa Rica to do ayahuasca but just been putting it off saying that it is not a priority or important. Also l don’t know anyone else who wants to do this. But when ‘she’ it almost brought tears to my eyes and my heart felt something like you deserve this and all the wonderful things this life has to offer through your experience with this plant medicine. I hope l will manifest this.

[olgamelo]

What a fantastic Video. You're a beautiful soul and such a great communicator! Thank you so much for this absolutely priceless information. Truly one of the most informative videos I came accros. I have received a calling and I've been binge watching Videos about Ayahuasca since Saturday. I've always been spiritual and highly intuitive. I only found out my mother is an alcoholic and what co-dependency is 10 years ago and only recently realized or could name I'm the family scapegoat. The past year has been difficult, the grief has been horrendous. I have been doing inner child work and trauma related work which has enabled me to understand the effects of family dysfunction and CPTSD. I know my spiritual guides are guiding me in this journey of self awareness, self knowledge and healing as I feel their presence and wake up remembering the guidance they've given me in my dreams. I need help releasing all the pain, grief and all the energy I have accumulated in being in such a demoniac position. Scapegoating is one the worst forms of psycho emotional abuse. I can't wait for my Ayahuasca journey.

[masasdigitalproductsreview]

Thank you so much for sharing your ayahuasca journey with us. I wish I watched this recording before my journey! I had it four, times and yes... I (my conscious mind)said to myself I did not have any expectations... then, as you can predict, yes, I had! but because my mind referred to the past experiences with the plant medicine, my last journey sort of disappointed me until I realised (this is something I now really appreciate from the medicine) that actually I received the answers I wanted to ask in the ceremony. It is almost always to me that my intension and questions are all heard and I am shown all the profound reflection / answers to them. When that gentle whispers of ayahuasca sink into my heart, I get so touched and teary. Ayahuasca ceremony is not all about mystical visions and vomiting. It is a very gentle but so powerful realisation that take a hold over time after the ceremony just like you said and that is why I revisit to see my higher self. It is just like attitude we need to have to live life. It is all there for me but we don't see. Gracias

[KadriKurgun]

Well done Daniela. I appreciate and celebrate your clarity and your authentic and real screen presence - I hope you continue to share in this medium.

[aaronjennings]

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[ashleylognion]

Resonated alot with this video! Thank you, Im about to finally work with her this summer in peru with my shaman there. Recently sat with Kambo again and Bufo for my 1st time, now aya has been calling <3

[Im_moving_like_a_punk]

1) great video
2) the speed of recording is just perfect 3) you’re absolutely gorgeous
Thank you for the video and all the best ❤

[LAan]

Totally lost my brother after he did ayahuasca. It’s been 3 years now and I’m not sure he’ll ever be okay. It’s a pain I can’t explain…nor can my family. Listen to what this lady is saying. There are serious risks of doing this.

[KK-pqiq]

Wow great video! So much useful information presented in a clear and concise way ! Thanks for creating it, I'm sure it will help a lot of people.

[AnyaR-qyds]

Wow, I really wish I had seen this video before my recent journey. I did go to an retreat. It is exactly as you described. My journey was like no other and I definitely struggled with feeling blocked and with connecting to the medicine. In the end, my intention for going there, even though I never realized that it was that came to fruition. the Medicine knew exactly what I needed. I did not have the same experiences as most people, and truly did feel like I was missing some thing. In the big picture, I was given so many gifts. It’s been a month and I’m still receiving gifts, seeing the messages that help me stay connected. More than anything I feel true happiness and joy, something I have never felt before, but never knew that. I continue on this journey with breathwork, yoga, and some meditation., Journaling and a gratitude journal. I worry that this feeling and trajectory will change, but also making a very conscientious effort to not go back into old patterns. I do see myself going back to the resort, in perhaps nine months to a year, if I feel so inclined to, to find more of the connection, find a better understanding of purpose, and continue to heal trauma.
I do have a question after my long soliloquy, sorry. I had marked difficulty with connecting with the Medicine. It was not until the third ceremony and the help of a kind shaman to clear some blockages that allowed me to connect with the medicine. I worry that I will have the same issue should I return. How do I open myself up to receive, not just from the medicine, but currently from the universe? How do I let go?
Thank you again for doing such a wonderful video. I have shared this with everybody that has been interested in my journey and considering trying the same. I appreciate you.

[nqobilefionasimelane]

this was so incredibly helpful and informative.Can't wait.

[drewh]

Great video and overview of the experience of sitting in the medicine. Best overview I’ve seen yet. Thank you! Aho

[aurore]

The best advice I received before my retreat and I would like to share with futures participants is this : You can prepare yourself as best you can, in the end you will never be prepared for this....

[BenjaminTemplar]

Do you know of a website or place online to find reputable ayahuasca retreats in the United States only?
I want to go to a retreat but I am afraid to go to a sketchy place.
Thank you friend!