Choosing where to take part in this sacred experience is extremely important, and it can strongly affect what you get out of it.
Wherever you are considering, our first suggestion is to check in with yourself: does it feel right? Next, make sure you clearly understand the healers’ training and experience, and whether the retreat provides a strong, safe container—both during the retreat and afterward.
Key things to ask about include: who trained the person leading ceremonies; their lineage; who their main teacher was and that teacher’s experience; how long they apprenticed; where they trained; what tradition they follow (if any); and how long they have been holding ceremony. These details help you understand whether they can safely hold the “energetic container” of the space.
In Shipibo and some mestizo traditions, one useful measure of training is the number of master plant dietas a healer has completed. A dieta is part of apprenticeship where the student spends time in isolation with a strict diet, drinks small amounts of tea made from a specific master plant, and connects with that plant through ceremony. Over time, this is believed to cleanse the body and spirit and help the healer learn the plant’s subtle energies. In this tradition, healers receive their icaros (healing songs) through this deep connection with master plants during dietas. This is a general overview of an important part of training in these traditions. A healer who runs ceremonies independently will often have done at least about five years of diets.
You can read more about the healers we work with at Soltara here.
Other factors to consider include the ratio of healers/facilitators to guests, and overall group size. A very skilled healer may be able to hold space for about 10–12 people alone, but larger groups often require multiple healers and strong facilitation to keep the space safe and stable. You should also ask about the brew: where it comes from and whether anything is added besides Ayahuasca vine and chacruna leaf. If there are admixtures, you should know exactly what they are and why they are included. Some added plants (such as certain strong trees or plants) can be risky if not handled by someone properly trained and “dieted” to work with them.
At Soltara, we work with two healers (one female and one male from the same lineage) and 2–3 facilitators, with a maximum of 22 guests. Our Ayahuasca contains only the two main ingredients: Ayahuasca vine and chacruna leaf.
Also, be cautious about retreats that combine many different medicines or traditions in a short time. Soltara believes it is important to work with each medicine on its own, both for your body’s stability and out of respect for each master plant teacher. This is one reason we recommend avoiding other psychoactive substances for at least 30 days before and after your retreat.
Finally, ask about integration and follow-up support: What support do they offer during the retreat (between and after ceremonies) and after you return home? Do they have experienced integration therapists or coaches available? Do they provide resources and ways to stay connected to the community? Do they prepare you with workshops, sharing circles, and practical tools for common integration challenges? For context,you can read more about Soltara’s integration program here.
We hope these guidelines help you choose what feels right for you. If you have more questions about how we work with medicine at Soltara, please reach out through our Contact page.