Ayahuasca Won’t “Fix” You – Be Ready To Do Your Inner Work!

By Christine Breese, Founder of Gaia Sagrada and University of Metaphysical Sciences

Ayahuasca is but one spiritual tool among many on a spiritual path. You still have to do the inner work. Ayahuasca is not going to “fix” you. Many people don’t understand this and then blame the shaman, the ayahuasca, the center, the people around the ceremonies, something… instead of themselves for not doing the inner work.

When people are disappointed afterwards, it’s because they didn’t do the healing work that ayahuasca challenged them to do. We all MUST do the inner work that ayahuasca challenges us to do.

Ayahuasca will uncover the wounding that has been covered up for a long time, and once that wounding is uncovered, there could be a long road of healing that is in store for a person who never did any inner work beforehand.

For a deeper look into how to handle the healing, assessing whether you are really ready for this or not, setting up the tools you will need if you think you might have a difficult time processing your experience with the medicines, and if you think you might need an “ayahuasca integration” specialist after your retreat, please see this page. https://gaiasagrada.com/are-you-ready-ayahuasca-integration-for-those-who-need-it/

The Early Days

I know that when I first started with psychedelics when I was very young, it sparked a long road of healing I didn’t know I even needed to walk beforehand. After my first beautiful meditation experience, I cried for days and a long road of healing work began. This included many psychedelic journeys of healing where tears and fears were faced, and my world view of myself, God, and others was challenged and changed.

Many spiritual tools were needed, not just psychedelics. Psychedelics were but one of many spiritual tools needed for the inner work. Meditation and self introspection were the most important, not psychedelics, actually.

Journaling, talk therapy, reading self help books, using those techniques taught in the books, spiritual teachers, workshops, going to meditation and yoga retreats, sitting in nature and learning to observe, being in the now moment rather than the past or future… there were many things needed to help on the spiritual path over a decade of healing that meditation and psychedelics kicked off. I knew I had trauma in the past but I didn’t expect meditation and psychedelics to kick off the healing journey. It did though and once it did there was no turning back. That was in the 80’s when there was no guidance on this, nor did I have money for a counselor, so I was on my own.

People need to realize that going to an ayahuasca retreat may trigger a healing crisis. If people think they have a lot of healing to do, get ready! It may turn life in a totally different direction that one did not expect and open up pain they didn’t even know they had. It’s important to realize this is a possibility.

This work is still new and uncharted territory. Medicine work for the masses is in it’s brand new stages. It isn’t without it’s risks for psychedelic explorers. It’s not for the faint hearted. It’s not necessarily a joy ride for those who are looking for deep healing.

Take Responsibility For Your Healing – Get The Tools

Please, anyone who dives into this world of exploring consciousness with psychedelics, take responsibility and be sure you’re absolutely ready to handle your healing work, and commit to continue your inner work after you leave the retreat. Be willing to do the healing these medicines challenge you to do.

It’s  important to be sure you are ready to do the WORK! The medicines will not do the healing work for you. All they will do is show you the work you have to do, and then you have to do it!

If you do not yet have the tools yet, like meditation, self introspection, an integration counselor, etc, try to make sure you have some of those things lined up if you think you will need those. Please don’t make it everyone else’s fault that the medicine didn’t “fix” you.

The retreat centers, they specialize in giving the retreats. The shamans specialize in giving ceremonies. No center or shaman can specialize in every aspect of a person’s healing work from every step that has to be taken for say… the next ten years after a retreat or ceremony. You must take responsibility for your healing journey and not expect a shaman to take you through every step of your inner work for the rest of your life after a ceremony!

Shamans are not psychologists. If taking medicine opens up a can of worms in your psychological and emotional makeup, a psychologist is what you need. You needed one before you took medicine, most likely, but you just didn’t know it until the medicine showed you. For some people medicine is the trigger.

Find an integration specialist if you think you will need one. Find a counselor if you think you have hidden trauma that might be uncovered by a shamanic medicine you’re about to take. Learn how to meditate and find your answers from within if you are a spiritual type of person. Connect with a spiritual teacher if that is your path. Make sure you have the support you need if you think you are about to uncover a can of worms with shamanic medicines!

Don’t be angry or disappointed afterwards that Ayahuasca didn’t just “fix” you. When people get depressed or anxious afterwards, especially if it’s worse than before they took the medicine, it’s because they are not doing the healing work ayahuasca  showed them to do.

If you don’t want to do the work, please don’t do a retreat or you might get more than you bargained for with spiritual growth! Ayahuasca is a powerful trigger to look at what is not working in yourself and your life.

Here’s to the courageous souls who are willing to do the work and ready to face the healing they have to do. It is indeed brave to face your inner demons and heal what you are being called to heal. Allow yourself to let go of what you need to heal and don’t be afraid.

The worst you are going to meet is that parts of yourself that are resistant to healing, the stubborn parts that want to hold on to anger or fear, the parts that are your shadow. This is manageable and totally within your control. You can handle it! Just be willing to do the work. That’s all that is called for. It’s work, yes, but it can be done and takes commitment.