Why People Seek Ceremonies (and Why They’re Not for Everyone)

When most people hear about plant ceremonies, they picture something mystical, exotic, maybe even a little “out there.” But the truth is much simpler.

People usually arrive at a ceremony not because they’re curious, but because they’re struggling. They’ve tried therapy, medication, or distractions, but nothing seems to touch the pain. They’re still carrying an illness, a heartbreak, a fear they can’t overcome, or the grief of losing someone they love.

Ceremonies become a space where people stop running from what hurts — and start facing it in a different way.

The Myth of the Quick Fix

It’s easy to believe the promise: “One ceremony will change your life forever.”

But healing doesn’t work like that.

A ceremony isn’t a magic pill. It’s more like opening a door into a process — one that continues long after the ritual ends.

The real power of ceremony comes from the meeting of three things: the plant, the facilitator, and your own consciousness. When those three interact, something begins to shift. But what you do with it afterward — preparation, reflection, and integration — is what makes the change last.

Ceremony is not the end of healing. It is the beginning of a deeper path.

Silence, Solitude, and Facing Ourselves

In the jungle, daily life around ceremony is stripped down to basics. No phones. No endless to-do list. No easy distractions.

At first, it feels uncomfortable. But silence has a way of bringing up what we usually avoid. Fear. Sadness. Loneliness.

In everyday life, we numb those feelings with work, Netflix, or scrolling on our phones. But in ceremony, there’s nowhere to hide. You meet yourself directly.

And when the ceremony begins, the plant works together with your consciousness, opening doors not only to old wounds but to other dimensions of experience.

A Story of Forgiveness

One of the most profound healings of my life happened in a ceremony.

I had already done years of therapy and retreats. I had forgiven my stepfather for the abuse I experienced as a child. But with my mother, I could not.

She hadn’t protected me. Even as an adult — even as a mother myself — I would freeze when she entered the room.

In ceremony, the medicine showed me her pain, her attempts to reconnect, her struggle to heal our relationship. For the first time, I felt what she felt. My heart softened. I forgave her.

That forgiveness didn’t erase the past. But it changed my life as a daughter and as a mother. Because until I could accept my own mother, I couldn’t fully be present for my children.

Not for Everyone

It is dangerous to say that “everyone should do Ayahuasca” or psychedelic therapy. That is not true.

This work is not a trend. It is not a shortcut. It is deep, demanding, and not safe for everyone.

• People with heart disease, diabetes, or severe psychiatric history cannot safely participate.
• Those taking antidepressants or other medications face real medical risks.
• Without proper preparation and guidance, for some, these plants can even be fatal.

This is why today I would never guide anyone without both a medical interview and an emotional interview. We need to know your health, your history, your family background, and your motivations. Anything less is unsafe and irresponsible.

This is not about going home, taking a pill, and waiting for the medicine to “work.” Ceremony is not numbing — it is awakening. And awakening can be uncomfortable. It can show you fear, envy, shame, or memories you’ve tried to bury.

That is why integration and support are essential.

📌 Safety Checklist

If you feel called to this work:

• Research your facilitator and take references.
• Ensure there is a proper medical interview.
• Share your family history (schizophrenia, bipolarity, heart conditions).
• Remember that ancestral trauma can surface — and requires skilled support.

So why do people seek ceremonies?

Not because they’re chasing something trendy. And definitely not because it’s “fun.”

They come because they need a deeper kind of help — one that regular life hasn’t given them.

Ceremonies are not for everyone, and they’re not easy. But when approached with safety, humility, and integration, they can open doors to healing, forgiveness, and transformation that ripple far beyond ourselves.