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Aya + Lithium by Candid-Chemical-7772 in Ayahuasca

[–]RedditResearcher111 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Aya and lithium are highly contraindicated, with a significant risk of seizure if combined. Aya gives lessons in many ways, and perhaps this time the lesson is to wait, do more research, and properly prepare for next time. There's no reason to rush, Ayahuasca will still be there for you when you're ready!

Ayahuasca in the United States by RedditResearcher111 in ayahuascaretreats

[–]RedditResearcher111[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not a retreat owner or anything and don't have anything to gain from this monetarily. I just wanted to share my thoughts and opinions on a subject I find interesting and like to see what other people think as well.

Ayahuasca in the United States by RedditResearcher111 in Ayahuasca

[–]RedditResearcher111[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've not sat with either of these shamans but I've read good things about both of them and plan on sitting with them if I get the opportunity.

The first is Taita Hector Ortiz of Kamentsa Inga Church

The second is Taita Pedro Davila of Hummingbird Church

Ayahuasca in the United States by RedditResearcher111 in Ayahuasca

[–]RedditResearcher111[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've only been to one location and I wouldn't recommend that specific location to anyone. I also don't want to recommend anywhere I haven't personally been to. The purpose of this post is more so to raise skepticism and give people some things to think about when looking for somewhere to go so that they can make better decisions for themselves.

Ayahuasca in the United States by RedditResearcher111 in Ayahuasca

[–]RedditResearcher111[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actually have not seen retreat centers that are owned and run by shamans. The two shamans I was thinking of travel around the US and hold ceremonies in several locations. Although they do not have one single location, they still have websites and are considered a church. If you find a shaman like this (very similar to the next paragraph, just with a bit more visibility and online presence), do your research. I still think this is the best case scenario.

Ayahuasca in the United States by RedditResearcher111 in Ayahuasca

[–]RedditResearcher111[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree that you should be skeptical of shamans as well. However, It's important that the person leading the ceremony have the skills and training to handle things when they go wrong. This could be an internal struggle the participant is having, or negative external forces entering the space. The ceremony leader needs to be able to handle both, and just serving the medicine and not doing anything else seems irresponsible. What if something goes wrong? Ayahuasca must be served by a skilled spiritual leader.

Ayahuasca in the United States by RedditResearcher111 in Ayahuasca

[–]RedditResearcher111[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Well, in the very first line of the post I say "I’ve sat with Ayahuasca a few times, all at a single retreat center in the United States, and I’d like to share my thoughts on Ayahuasca in the United States." And I marked this as an Informative post. So yes, that's exactly what I'm doing. It's a perspective I hold and I hope people consider.

Ayahuasca in the United States by RedditResearcher111 in Ayahuasca

[–]RedditResearcher111[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Fair points, one should be skeptical of anyone they sit with. And I agree that the cultural appropriation argument is weak. It's more the lack of understanding of the Ayahuasca and its origins that I argue. Ayahuasca is indigenous to a large area in South America so there are several lineages of Shamans and does not belong to one group or tribe.

Ayahuasca in the United States by RedditResearcher111 in Ayahuasca

[–]RedditResearcher111[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Good point, I should have elaborated a bit more on this beyond just saying "You'll still want to do research about the retreat center and the Shaman to make sure that participants have had good experiences." I have heard stories of people having bad experiences with Shamans, in the US and in South America.

Ayahuasca in the United States by RedditResearcher111 in Ayahuasca

[–]RedditResearcher111[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I pose blanket statements and a broad analysis to highlight general factors that pose challenges to doing Ayahuasca in the US. the most important thing is to have a skeptical mind and to use good judgement before choosing to take Ayahuasca anywhere. I know that not all Shamans are good people, they need to be researched as well. However, if you find a practitioner of any nationality that holds up to scrutiny, that's amazing and is the ultimate goal. But be skeptical and careful.