“The Vine of the Soul”
What is
Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is an Amazonian preparation with psychoactive properties. From a spiritual perspective, ayahuasca is a living spiritual teacher and guide. Consuming it during a spiritual ceremony allows one to traverse various states of consciousness, connect with the higher self, purify the body, and travel through time and space—connecting with ancestors or unlocking repressed memories to gain revelations.
Our preparation is crafted here for each retreat by master *ayahuasqueros*, using plants grown at our own center.
Where does it come from?
How is it made?
Ayahuasca is traditionally made by slowly cooking together two primary plants: the ayahuasca vine (banisteriopsis caapi) and the chacruna leaf (psychotria viridis). This careful process extracts the active compounds into a ceremonial tea. At Spirit Vine, the brew is prepared with our own plants, with intention, respect for tradition, and attention to purity, without additives.
What does the name mean?
The word *ayahuasca* comes from Quechua and means “vine of the soul”; it represents a spiritual bridge to the invisible world—a vine or cord that allows the soul to travel safely outside the physical body and connect with the spiritual universe, helping people explore deep layers of consciousness, encounter their ancestors, or understand the root causes of their blockages.
What are the medicinal properties?
The purpose of our ayahuasca retreats is for spiritual unfolding only, and we don´t offer any type of cure. However, scientific research suggests that ayahuasca has promising therapeutic and neurobiological effects, particularly for depression, anxiety, addiction, emotional processing, and psychological flexibility. Studies also indicate that it influences brain networks involved in self-awareness and may promote neuroplasticity, neuronal growth, and changes in inflammation and oxidative stress. These effects result from the combined action of DMT and β-carbolines such as harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine.
What are the benefits?
Is it legal in Brazil?
Where can I safely ingest it?
Will it make me purge?
It is very common for a purge to occur, though the experience varies from person to person. Some individuals may experience vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, tremors, or an emotional release, while others do not. These reactions are generally considered part of the way the body releases physical or emotional tension. We support participants through whatever arises, without judgment or expectations.
Effects of
Ayahuasca
The effects may manifest between 15 minutes and 2 hours after consumption. They can last up to 6 hours, though this depends on the individual’s sensitivity, their preparation for the ayahuasca ceremony, and the potency of the brew.
Common effects of ayahuasca include:
Vivid and intense visions
Heightened sensations and emotions
Expansion of consciousness
Physical detox
Temporary ego dissolution
Altered perception of space and time
Out-of-body experiences
Encounters with deceased loved ones
Telepathic communication
Journeys to other dimensions and parallel realities
Encounters with non-human beings
Sustainability at Spirit Vine
The Spirit Vine Center was founded by Silvia Polivoy with the intention to help people, nature, and animals. This intention was ignited in her first
How to Choose an Ayahuasca Spiritual Retreat: A Practical Guide
Taking part in a spiritual retreat is a meaningful way to reconnect with yourself and find peace. The most important is to find a retreat
Benefits of a Small Group Retreat vs. a Large Group
When planning where to attend an ayahuasca retreat, one of the most important decisions is whether to join a small group or a large group.
Art Integration
After the ceremony, participants are encouraged to let their creativity flow by drawing what they saw, thereby beginning to process and integrate the experience lived with ayahuasca. Writing, journaling, meditating, and sharing—whether in a group or in individual sessions—are some of the ways to do this.
Nurturing the Body
Ayahuasca can open a profound process of somatic release, bringing awareness to emotions, memories, and patterns that may be deeply held within the body. Yoga and meditation cultivate presence through breath, movement, and inner stillness, allowing the body and mind to soften and reconnect. Nourishing nutrition supports the nervous system as it integrates these experiences, while massage and Watsu release physical tension and invite a deeper sense of surrender, safety, and embodied awareness. Together, these practices create a supportive space in which spiritual transformation can be grounded in the body, fostering greater harmony, vitality, and emotional balance.
Visiting The Vine
On the final day of the ceremony, a guided tour of the property’s gardens will take place, where you can see the plants used to prepare the infusion. The *Banisteriopsis caapi* vine—known as the “vine of the soul” or *yagé*—contains MAO inhibitors that allow the psychedelic compound DMT, derived from *Psychotria viridis* (or *chacruna*), to become orally active.
Is Ayahuasca Right For Everybody?
Ayahuasca consumption is not suitable for everyone. Contraindications:
Cardiac and cardiovascular conditions, active liver or kidney disease, epilepsy, hypertension, and medication use.
Psychosis or schizophrenia: it can trigger severe and prolonged psychiatric episodes.
Bipolar disorder: risk of inducing severe mania or destabilizing mood regulation.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD): although not a strict medical contraindication, clinical research warns that psychedelics can often exacerbate narcissistic tendencies rather than heal them. Risk of a mistaken metaphorical interpretation as definitive proof of being “chosen,” “enlightened,” or a highly evolved spiritual master.
Honoring The Roots of the Medicine
We recognize ayahuasca as a gift from the rainforest and its guardians, understanding that the vine itself is a living teacher. At Spirit Vine, we honor and respect the indigenous peoples of the Amazon who have preserved this tradition for centuries.
We acknowledge that our relationship with this spiritual teacher is rooted in a lineage that existed long before us, and we approach it with humility, gratitude, and a deep commitment to the inherent responsibility of protecting its environment—the rainforest—while honoring the ancestral traditions surrounding this sacred practice with reverence, care, and respect, rather than a desire for possession.
At Spirit Vine, we integrate ancestral wisdom with contemporary knowledge, creating a space where traditional shamanic understanding can converge with Western approaches and modern perspectives on consciousness and human development.
