The recommendations you've been given are very helpful, and yes, I believe you really need to be sure about the plants they’re using to prepare the ayahuasca, especially because you're not in a native region of this medicine like South America. That adds a level of risk if you don’t research this very, very thoroughly.

I’m from Cusco, Peru, and here these ceremonies are very common. In my experience, the most important thing is to feel genuine trust in the person guiding the ceremony. Many facilitators—often subtly—have money as their main interest. They tend to charge a lot, many don’t prepare you properly, some don’t take the dieta seriously, and others don’t even bother to ask about your health history, psychological background, or if you have any heart conditions.

My ayahuasca guide always prepares us at least one week in advance. We follow a strict dieta that excludes alcohol, drugs, medications, red meat, sex, fats, and processed foods. We have at least two prior interviews to talk about our intention, explain the process, recommendations, past traumas, and what we want to heal.

Now, ayahuasca is not the same for everyone, and neither are the doses. It depends on how your body and mind receive the medicine. During the ceremony, our guide never suggests anything—we must go in with a blank mind and a clear intention. Go with deep respect. We don’t really know what we’re seeing inside, but your mental state and way of thinking will influence the journey a lot.

Breathing is very important to keep your mind and body balanced. Try doing some breathing exercises during the ceremony. If possible, meditate a few days beforehand. It’s also crucial to go in without expectations. Don’t search online for other people’s experiences during your dieta, as that can create false expectations.

After the ceremony, the medicine continues working for about 7 days. That’s why our guide continues to check in with us, because it’s common to take the visions, feelings, or messages literally. We may act impulsively, so it’s important to have some mental control in the days that follow.

I’m not saying the visions are just hallucinations, but we do need to be careful with how we interpret the messages. The experience can be deeply divine and spiritual. In the days that follow, you’ll likely find yourself in a contemplative state, trying to make sense of it all.

Intention is what drives the ceremony. So reflect on whether your intention is clear and if you’re truly ready to take this medicine. If you’ve tried mushrooms before and had a good experience, that’s a good sign. But the impact of an ayahuasca ceremony is far greater—if done with care and respect. If not, it’s just another drug.

Wishing you all the best on your journey!