Below you’ll find answers to some of the questions we are most often asked about Ayahuasca, our retreats, preparation and what to expect. If your question isn’t here, feel free to contact us.

What is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive plant brew with a long history of ceremonial use among Indigenous communities in the Amazon region. There are different traditions and recipes, but the brew typically combines plants containing DMT with plants containing compounds that allow DMT to become orally active.

The experience can produce significant changes in perception, emotion and thought and may last for several hours. People may experience vivid imagery, memories, strong emotions, unusual bodily sensations or changes in their sense of time and self. Experiences vary widely, which is one reason why preparation, careful screening and experienced guidance are important.

What does an Ayahuasca experience feel like?

An Ayahuasca experience can be very different from person to person, and even from one ceremony to the next. Some people experience vivid imagery, memories, strong emotions or unusual bodily sensations. Your perception of time, your surroundings or even your usual sense of self may temporarily change.

The experience can feel beautiful, insightful or deeply meaningful, but it can also be confusing, frightening, physically uncomfortable or surprisingly quiet. Nausea and vomiting can occur, and difficult emotions may arise.

There is no particular experience you are supposed to have. Some people come away with clear insights, while others need time to make sense of what happened, and sometimes there may simply be very little to interpret.

What is Huachuma (San Pedro)?

Huachuma, also known as San Pedro, is a psychoactive cactus native to the Andes in South America. It has a long history of ceremonial use in Indigenous traditions, particularly in Peru and surrounding regions. Its main psychoactive compound is mescaline.

Huachuma can produce significant changes in perception, emotion and thought. People often describe the experience as more outward-facing and grounded than Ayahuasca, with a heightened sense of connection to nature, other people and their surroundings. Colours, sounds and physical sensations may become more vivid, and the experience can last for many hours.

Within some Indigenous and shamanic traditions, Huachuma is regarded as a plant teacher and is associated with healing, connection and spiritual insight. As with Ayahuasca, experiences vary widely and can also be physically or emotionally challenging.

What is the difference between Ayahuasca and Huachuma?

Ayahuasca and Huachuma are different plant medicines with different active compounds and often a very different character. Ayahuasca is commonly experienced as more inward-facing and intense, with vivid imagery, memories, emotions and changes in the usual sense of self.

Huachuma is often described as more outward-facing, embodied and connected to the surrounding world. The experience usually develops more gradually and may involve a heightened awareness of nature, music, other people and the body. Some people experience openness, playfulness or a strong sense of connection, although difficult emotions or physical discomfort can also occur.

These are general descriptions rather than rules. An Ayahuasca ceremony can be gentle and quiet, while a Huachuma experience can be intense and deeply introspective. Every experience is different.

Why do you combine Ayahuasca and Huachuma in the 4-day retreat?

In our 4-day retreat, the Huachuma ceremony takes place after two Ayahuasca ceremonies. This is a deliberate part of the way we have structured the retreat.

After two Ayahuasca ceremonies, there can be a lot to take in. Huachuma often has a different character: more outward-facing and grounded, with room for nature, music, movement, conversation and silence. By this point, after sharing two ceremonies and several days together, the group also often no longer feels like a group of strangers. This can make the Huachuma day feel particularly open and intimate.

For some people, things that arose during Ayahuasca feel different in the light of the Huachuma day, or new perspectives emerge. For others, it is simply a beautiful day spent together. We don’t see Huachuma as something that necessarily completes an Ayahuasca experience or ensures its integration. It is a different medicine with a different character, and one we value as the final ceremony of our 4-day retreat.

How do I know if an Ayahuasca retreat is right for me?

There is no simple test that can tell you whether an Ayahuasca retreat is right for you. People come for many different reasons: curiosity, a period of change, questions about their lives, or a wish to explore themselves more deeply.

What matters is not only why you want to come, but also whether participating is appropriate for you at this moment. Your physical and mental health, medication, personal circumstances and expectations all play a role. This is why everyone who joins one of our retreats first goes through our screening process.

You don’t need to be completely certain before contacting us. Part of the intake is simply finding out whether this is something you genuinely want to explore, and whether joining one of our retreats is appropriate for you.

Are there medical conditions or medications that prevent me from participating?

Yes. Ayahuasca can interact with certain medications and may not be suitable for people with particular medical or psychiatric conditions. This is why everyone who wants to join one of our retreats completes a health questionnaire as part of the screening process.

Some medications, including certain antidepressants, can be incompatible with Ayahuasca. Other medications or health conditions may require us to ask for additional information or, in some cases, advise against participating.

Please tell us about all medication you currently use and any relevant medical or psychiatric history. If anything is unclear, we may ask you to discuss it with your doctor before joining the retreat. Never stop or change prescribed medication in order to participate without consulting the doctor who prescribed it.

Do I need previous experience with psychedelics?

No. Many people who join our retreats have never taken Ayahuasca or other psychedelics before.

You don’t need to know how to have an Ayahuasca experience, and previous experience doesn’t necessarily make a ceremony easier or more predictable. Every experience can be different.

Before the retreat, we provide information about what to expect and how to prepare. During the ceremonies, our guides are present throughout the experience. If you feel uncertain or nervous beforehand, that is completely normal and something you can discuss with us during the intake.

What happens after I apply?

When you apply for one of our retreats, we first ask you to complete an intake form with questions about your physical and mental health, medication, previous experiences and your reasons for wanting to participate.

We review the information carefully. If we have any questions or would like to know more about something you mentioned, we will contact you before confirming your participation.

The screening is not a test you need to pass. Its purpose is to make sure we have the information we need to assess whether participating is appropriate for you, and that you know what to expect from the retreat.

Once your participation is confirmed, you will receive practical information and guidance to help you prepare for your stay.

How should I prepare for the retreat?

Preparing for an Ayahuasca retreat doesn’t require you to follow an elaborate spiritual practice or arrive in a particular state of mind. We do, however, recommend giving yourself some space in the days before the retreat and avoiding excessive alcohol, recreational drugs and other substances.

Before the retreat, we will send you practical preparation guidelines, including information about food, medication and what to bring. Please follow any medical or medication instructions carefully and contact us if anything changes after completing your intake.

You may also want to reflect on why you are coming or what you would like to explore, but you don’t need to arrive with a perfectly formulated intention. Curiosity, uncertainty or simply not knowing can be perfectly good places to begin.

Do I need to follow a special diet before the retreat?

You don’t need to follow a strict or elaborate diet before joining one of our retreats. We do recommend eating relatively light and healthy in the days beforehand and avoiding excessive alcohol, caffeine, recreational drugs and very heavy meals.

Before the retreat, we will send you our preparation guidelines with more specific information about food and substances to avoid. Medication is different: some medications can interact with Ayahuasca, so please always tell us what you are taking during the screening process rather than making changes yourself.

There are many different traditions and ideas about how people should prepare for Ayahuasca. We don’t believe that following a ‘perfect diet’ is absolutely crucial for the quality or depth of your experience. At the same time, preparation can be valuable in its own right. Eating more consciously, taking good care of yourself and perhaps slowing down a little in the days before the retreat can help mark the transition from everyday life into the experience ahead. For some people, it is also a way of approaching the ceremony with greater attention and respect.

What happens during an Ayahuasca ceremony?

An Ayahuasca ceremony at Ancient Mother starts in the afternoon and usually continues for several hours. After everyone has settled into the ceremonial space, we begin together and each participant is offered Ayahuasca individually.

During the ceremony, you have your own mattress and space. Music plays an important role throughout the night, with periods of live and recorded music as well as silence. Our guides remain present throughout the ceremony and pay attention to what is happening in the room and with each participant.

Most of the experience takes place within your own space, but you are not left alone with it. If you need support, reassurance or practical help, one of the guides can sit with you or help you through a difficult moment. At other times, the most helpful thing may simply be to give you the space to experience whatever is happening.

There is no particular way you are expected to behave or experience the ceremony. Some people lie down quietly for most of the night, while others sit up, move, cry, laugh or need support. We ask everyone to respect the space and the experiences of the other participants.

What if I become frightened or overwhelmed during a ceremony?

Difficult moments can be part of an Ayahuasca experience. You may feel frightened, confused, emotionally overwhelmed or temporarily unsure of what is happening. Knowing beforehand that this can occur can already make it a little easier to recognise if it happens.

Our guides remain present throughout the ceremony. If you need support, you can ask for it, but we also keep an eye on how everyone is doing and may come to you if we feel you could use some help. Sometimes this means sitting beside you, talking quietly, helping you breathe or simply offering reassurance and a steady presence.

We don’t automatically try to stop or change a difficult experience. Sometimes having the space to go through it is important. At the same time, we don’t believe you should simply be left alone because something difficult is supposedly ‘part of the process’. Our role is to stay attentive and respond to what you need in that moment.

What is ‘purging’, and will I vomit?

‘Purging’ is a term commonly used in Ayahuasca traditions for physical reactions that can occur during a ceremony. Vomiting is probably the best known, but purging can also take the form of diarrhoea. Some people vomit several times, others may need to use the bathroom, while some experience nausea without vomiting or very little physical discomfort at all.

Within many Ayahuasca traditions, purging is understood as more than a physical reaction. People may experience it as a release, emotionally, physically or spiritually, and for some it can feel like an important part of the ceremony. Others simply experience it as their body reacting to the brew. We don’t think you need to interpret it in any particular way.

You will have your own bucket beside your mattress during the ceremony, and toilets are nearby if you need them. Our guides are very accustomed to both and will help you if necessary. There is nothing embarrassing or unusual about it in this setting.

Purging is not a sign, per se, that the medicine is ‘working’, and not purging does not mean that your experience is less deep or meaningful.

What happens between the ceremonies?

The time between ceremonies is an important part of the retreat. After breakfast, there is plenty of time to rest, be outside, talk with other participants or simply be by yourself. We don’t fill the day with a programme of workshops or activities.

There is space to talk about your experience if you want to, either with the group or with one of the guides. At the same time, you don’t have to immediately understand, explain or share what happened. Sometimes sleeping, walking, sitting in the garden or doing very little is exactly what you need.

By the time the second ceremony begins, the first experience has had some time to settle and the group is usually much more familiar with each other. You also already know something about the setting, the medicine and the ceremony itself, which can make entering the second night feel quite different from the first.

Do I have to share my experience with the group?

No. There are moments during the retreat when we come together and share what we have experienced. These moments can be beautiful and powerful, but sharing is always an invitation, never an obligation. You are never required to share personal details or explain what happened during your ceremony.

Some people find it valuable to put their experience into words and hear from others. Others prefer to stay quiet or need more time before they know what they want to say. Both are completely fine.

We do ask everyone to respect the privacy of the other participants. What people share during the retreat is personal and should remain within the group.

What is integration?

Integration is the process of finding out what your experience means, if anything, once you return to everyday life. A ceremony can feel profound and clear while it is happening, but living with what you experienced afterwards is something different.

Integration doesn’t necessarily mean turning every image, emotion or insight into a lesson or making major changes to your life. Sometimes something becomes clearer over time. Sometimes an experience completely changes the way you see yourself or a situation. And sometimes what seemed enormously significant during a ceremony becomes less important afterwards.

We encourage you to give the experience some time and space rather than immediately trying to explain everything or act on every insight. Talking, writing, spending time in nature or simply returning to ordinary life can all be part of integration. The painting is still wet, so give it some time to dry.

There is no particular outcome you need to arrive at. Integration is less about holding on to the experience and more about discovering what, if anything, remains valuable when the ceremony itself is over.

What support do you offer after the retreat?

The retreat doesn’t simply end when you leave. On the final day we take time together to look back at the experience, talk about integration and prepare for the transition back into everyday life.

Afterwards, you can stay in touch with us if questions arise or if you want to talk about something you experienced during the retreat. Sometimes a short conversation is enough to help put things into perspective, especially when an experience was intense, confusing or continues to unfold in the days afterwards. We also invite you to a WhatsApp group for former participants, where people can stay in touch, share experiences and support each other.

After two to three weeks, we’ll have an individual integration call with you to reflect on how you’re doing, what has happened since the retreat, and anything that may still be unfolding. It is also a moment to close the circle, at least for the time being.

By the way, we don’t want to create the impression that every experience requires ongoing guidance. Many people simply need some time to let things settle. If more substantial or specialised support seems appropriate, we may encourage you to speak with a therapist, doctor or another professional who is better equipped to provide it.

You are always welcome to reach out to us after your retreat.

How might I feel in the days after the retreat?

People can feel very different after an Ayahuasca retreat. You may feel peaceful, energised, emotional, tired, sensitive, clear-headed or somewhat disoriented. You may also feel surprisingly normal. There is no particular way you are supposed to feel afterwards.

Experiences can continue to resonate for some time. Memories or emotions may come back, things that felt very clear during the ceremony may become less certain, or new connections may appear as you return to everyday life. For others, the experience settles quite quickly and life simply continues.

We recommend giving yourself some space after the retreat if you can. Rest, eat well, spend some time outside and don’t feel that you immediately have to understand, explain or do something with everything you experienced.

If you feel unsettled or have difficulty making sense of something after the retreat, you are always welcome to contact us.

Should I make major life decisions after an Ayahuasca retreat?

Ayahuasca experiences can sometimes bring an extraordinary sense of clarity. You may suddenly feel certain about a relationship, your work, where you want to live or changes you want to make in your life. Those insights can be valuable and sometimes lead to lasting changes.

At the same time, we generally recommend giving major decisions some time. Something that feels completely obvious during or immediately after a ceremony may look different once you are back in everyday life.

This doesn’t mean you should distrust what you experienced. It simply means allowing it to settle before turning an insight into an irreversible decision. See what remains true after a few days or weeks, talk about it with people you trust if that is helpful, and notice whether the same clarity is still there when the intensity of the experience has passed.

As we sometimes say during integration: the painting is still wet. Give it some time to dry.

Is there a shaman present during the retreat?

No. We don’t call ourselves shamans, and you will not find someone at Ancient Mother presented as one.

Our ceremonies are guided by experienced facilitators who have worked extensively with these medicines. Margriet has trained in Peru and has completed a traditional initiation that allows her to use the title curandera. Another member of our team has followed the same initiation course. We value that training and the traditions we have learned from, but we don’t feel the need to adopt titles that are not part of our own cultural background.

What matters most to us is not the title of the person guiding the ceremony, but their experience, presence, judgement and ability to create a safe and carefully held setting.

How do I get to the venue?

You can travel to the venue by car or public transport. We’ll send you the exact address and practical travel information before the retreat.

If you are travelling by public transport, Assen is the nearest train station. There are frequent train connections from Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport to Assen, with a travel time of around 2 hours. On the first day of the retreat, we can pick you up from Assen station at the agreed time and take you to the venue. At the end of the retreat, we’ll bring you back to the station.

If you are coming by car, you can drive directly to the venue and park there.

Can I come alone?

Absolutely. Many people come to our retreats on their own, and you don’t need to know anyone beforehand.

Spending several days together and sharing ceremonies tends to create a sense of connection quite naturally. There is time to talk and get to know each other, but there is also plenty of room to be by yourself when you need it. You don’t have to be particularly social or feel that you need to become part of the group in any particular way.

For some people, coming alone can even be helpful. It allows you to enter the retreat without having to pay attention to someone you know or wonder how they are doing. And by the end of the retreat, the group usually doesn’t feel quite so much like a group of strangers anymore.

Can I bring my partner or friends?

Yes, of course. Partners, friends or family members are welcome to join the same retreat, provided that everyone registers separately and goes through our screening process.

Coming with someone you know can feel reassuring, especially if it is your first experience with Ayahuasca. At the same time, we encourage you to approach the ceremonies as your own experience. You may have very different journeys, need different things, or find that you want more space from each other than you normally would.

For that reason, it can be worth considering whether you would rather come on your own. Some people find themselves feeling responsible for their partner or friend during the ceremony, or notice that the presence of someone they are very close to makes it harder to completely let go. There is no right or wrong choice here, but it is something worth considering beforehand.

During the ceremonies, we don’t assume that partners or friends need to sit or lie next to each other. We’d generally advise against it. Our attention is on what each person needs individually and on the group as a whole.

Outside the ceremonies there is plenty of time to be together, talk and share your experiences, if you want to.

What if I have to cancel my retreat?

We understand that plans can change and that sometimes you may be unable to attend a retreat you have booked.

Because our retreats are small and we reserve a place specifically for you, cancellations can have a significant impact, especially when they happen close to the retreat date. For this reason, your deposit is non-refundable.

If you need to cancel, please let us know as soon as possible. Depending on how far in advance you cancel, it’s often possible to transfer part of your payment to another retreat date.

If you are unsure whether you will be able to attend, please contact us before booking rather than reserving a place you may not be able to use.

What is included in the price?

The price includes your accommodation, all meals and drinks during the retreat, the ceremonies, medicine, preparation and guidance throughout the retreat, and our integration support afterwards.

Everything you need during the ceremonies is provided. You don’t need to bring any special equipment or supplies yourself.

Travel to the retreat is not included. If you come by public transport, we can pick you up from Assen station at the agreed time and bring you back there at the end of the retreat.

There are no additional costs during your stay.

What are the sleeping arrangements?

During the retreat, participants sleep together in the ceremony space. We understand that some people would prefer a private room, especially after an intense ceremony, but we don’t offer individual accommodation during the retreat.

If you are travelling with a camper or motorhome, it may be possible to sleep in your own vehicle. Please contact us beforehand if you would like to do this.

If you arrive one or more days before the retreat or would like to stay an extra night afterwards, we can arrange a separate room for you.

What should I bring to the retreat?

You don’t need to bring very much. Comfortable clothing is most important, including warm clothes and suitable shoes for spending time outside. For the ceremonies, we recommend comfortable clothing, preferably white. This creates a sense of visual calm and unity in the ceremony space, but it is a preference rather than a requirement.

Please bring a water bottle, a notebook and pen, hiking boots or other suitable outdoor shoes, and a swimsuit if you would like to use the sauna.

Some people also like to bring a photograph, crystal or another personal object that has special meaning to them. This is entirely optional, but you are welcome to have something personal with you during the ceremonies.

Before the retreat, in the booking confirmation, we’ll provide you with more practical information.

How many people are in a retreat?

Our retreats are intentionally small, usually with between 7 and 12 participants. This allows us to give everyone personal attention during the ceremonies while still creating the experience of going through the retreat together as a group.

The exact group size varies from one retreat to another. We prefer to keep the groups relatively small rather than adding more participants simply because there is space available.

How should I prepare for the retreat?

We recommend starting your preparation about a week before the retreat. This doesn’t require an extreme diet, but we encourage you to eat relatively light and simple food, avoid alcohol and recreational drugs, reduce caffeine and processed foods, and generally take good care of yourself.

Preparation isn’t only about food. If possible, we also recommend slowing down a little in the days before the retreat. Spending less time on social media and news, getting outside, walking, meditating or simply creating some quiet space can help you make the transition from everyday life into the retreat.

There are also some specific foods, substances and supplements that we ask you to avoid shortly before the ceremonies. You will receive detailed preparation guidelines before your retreat.

Medication is different. Please do not stop or change prescribed medication yourself in order to participate. All medication should be disclosed during the screening process so that we can assess whether it is compatible with Ayahuasca.

Can you accommodate dietary requirements?

Yes. The meals during our retreats are vegetarian and we can usually accommodate common dietary requirements and food allergies.

Please let us know about any allergies, intolerances or other dietary requirements when you register (you can include them in the intake form), so we can take them into account when preparing the meals. If you have a particularly restrictive diet or a serious food allergy, please contact us beforehand so we can discuss what is possible.

What language is the retreat in?

Our retreats are primarily held in English, as our groups often include participants from different countries.

We also speak Dutch, so individual conversations and support can of course be in Dutch if you prefer. You don’t need to speak perfect English to participate, but you should be able to understand the general guidance and communication during the retreat, and be able to share something about your experience in English if you want to.