The singing increased as the night pressed on. I sat cross legged on my mat next to Orien, on his. Being his first time drinking the brew, naturally he was apprehensive and so it was wonderful for me to see his first reaction to feeling the effects. “I feel amazing! This is f***ing great!" 

I had yet to feel any sensation and sat waiting, trying to sing along to the portuguese songs. An hour passed and I still felt nothing. They called us up for an optional second dose. I took a "heroic” one. 

About forty minutes later there were still no visuals, no visions or images, but sensations crept in like jungle vines. 

I felt the sadness that I’ve known well slithering in, taking hold of me and bringing me down with it. Then something remarkable happened and I became aware of my choice to be happy or sad. I transformed the sadness into an inner laughter. 

Lying on my back, my energy was so tangible. I had an intuition to explore my heart and I put my fingertips curled inward over it, resting on my chest. It might sound crazy, but my perception was on such a level that I could explore my astral heart and as I worked my way into it I found damage; pain from the past, a sort of scar. 

I had the intuition that I could heal it myself. I gathered the pain, like a dark spot, in my hands and then threw it far away from me. A great sense of relief rushed over me.

A common effect of drinking ayahuasca is to expel the mixture with often forceful vomiting. Buckets were placed around the room for this possibility. Shaman and healers say that this process is a healing one and that when you puke, it cleanses you on a physical, mental and emotional level.

An hour after the second serving I had yet to purge, although I felt pretty nauseous. I knew that the option for the third and last dose was coming up and was hoping that the purge would come before that. I knew that if it didn’t it would surely come right after.

But it didn’t come and so when they called for people to drink the third serving, I came up and nauseously drank the cup full of brew. Immediately after I felt it coming up and I ran outside. And then, with the violent upheaving of the ayahuasca, came the visions. As I vomited I saw all kinds of dark and creepy looking entities, kaleidoscopes of centipede-like crawly creatures, beady eyes, legs, teeth, horrifying imagery swirling around. It all seemed to come out of me as I heaved the contents of my stomach onto the jungle floor. 

It was intense to say the least and when I was finished I spit the last of it out with a sentiment of good riddance and turned around to find Arielle, the host waiting, like an angel, with a handful of tissue for me. I took it gratefully and said “Obrigada” (Thank you).

After that I lay on my mat for the rest of the night, next to the lambent candlelight,  somewhere in between dreaming and awake, full of feelings of tenderness and love.

Afterwards we all had breakfast together and people spoke of their experiences. I am so happy that we went.

I highly recommend this experience to anyone who finds themselves in Rio de Janeiro or Baja, Brazil. You can get in touch with the organizers, Arielle and Italo through their Facebook group: COMUNINDIOS RIO.

Happy Travels.

Orien in the morning after the ceremony

Leaving “grandma’s” house with an extra skip in his step.

Speaking of travels our next excursion is across the bay, to Niteroi, to visit the museum of Contemporary art. I am curious to see the New Jersey of Rio and to explore the interior of the great spaceship building by architect Oscar Niemeyer.