Ayahuasca affects different people in different ways. While some people do have vivid visuals, it is often less common than many people expect. In many cases, Ayahuasca works on an energetic or emotional level that can be hard to describe.
People’s experiences can include physical and energetic sensations (like yawning, laughing, crying, sweating, vomiting, shaking), deep thoughts, strong emotions rising to the surface, mental images, revisiting memories, or a feeling of unity and connection. The experience can change from person to person and from one ceremony to the next.
We try to reduce the expectation of visions, because even when visions happen, they are not always the main part of the healing. Often, the deeper work happens in the body. Sometimes visions can be distracting; other times they can help the mind understand what is happening. We encourage guests to let go of expectations, trust the process, and believe they will receive what they need—even if it looks different than they imagined.
Shipibo beliefs come from a deeply rooted relationship with plants, animals, and nature. They see life as an interconnected energy field that exists in everything. This idea of deep “oneness” can feel unfamiliar to many Western minds, but it shapes how their healing works. The patterns in Shipibo art and textiles represent this interconnected reality and the connection between our world and the spirit world. In a similar way, icaros (healing songs) are like an audible version of these patterns.
During ceremony, the healer connects with the energetic patterns of the plants, and through the healer’s voice, those patterns become an icaro. In this view, the icaro carries a “design” that moves through the person’s system, helping restore balance and release energetic blocks and related emotions. The healer knows when a healing pattern is complete because the “design” becomes clear in the person’s energetic field. Often this takes multiple ceremonies. When the healed “designs” are fully embedded, they are called an arcana. In the tradition, this is considered lasting and protective for the person going forward.
Because this kind of work can be subtle, it may feel hard to “see” during the ceremony—especially for those with a more Western mindset. We tell guests that even if they do not get clear insights during the ceremony itself, insights may unfold over the days, weeks, and months afterward, once the energetic work has created the right foundation.