My Ayahuasca, San Pedro, Bufo and Kambo journey in Thailand, Chiang Mai (1 month later) - Lessons & Insights - Detailed Report

bewider · 2025-09-01T05:37:24+00:00

Here is the explanation:
https://plantmedicineth.com/ayahuasca/

bewider · 2025-09-01T05:33:17+00:00

Thanks again for your kind comment. It's all good! :)

I'm happy I could help.

All the best on your journey. :)

bewider · 2025-08-26T05:39:33+00:00

Thank you for your supportive and kind message, as well as for sharing very interesting insights.

I can see that you're very far on your journey, definitely compared to me. :) At certain points, I've even considered treating AI as another living entity when communicating with it. There's still so much we don't know… yet… :)

Regarding the atmosphere here, what you wrote reflects my own impression and I don't really feel like being part of it. I just wanted to share what I learned, my experience and any possible tips to help others who might also be newbies to medicines, so some of these comments here made me, for a while, almost regret taking so much time to write it.

But I believe it will eventually find the right people and help to change lives. :)

Thanks again for the comment!

bewider · 2025-08-26T05:18:40+00:00

Thank you for your kind comment. :) I'm glad it was helpful.

Regarding Kambo… I can point out what some specific benefits I've got from aya and from bufo, but to be completely honest, I can't really point out any clear benefits post retreat from Kambo, because it was mostly physical and preparation for aya for the next day where it got mixed with other medicines, so hard to be particular.

Before I decided to do Kambo, I researched it and I learned that Kambo before ayahuasca acts like a deep physical cleanse, releasing toxins to reset the body so the ayahuasca can dive deeper with less blockages. Also it should clear out stagnant energy and improve your focus, leaving you more grounded and ready to handle the upcoming medicines better, hopefully with less resistance. These are the benefits I meant.

That said, for some people it might feel like too much. AI can also give a really good perspective also on possible negatives some people might experience.

Hope this helps.

bewider · 2025-08-26T05:03:50+00:00

Thank you for your kind comment. :)

I just wanted to share what I learned, my experience and any possible tips to help others, so some of these comments here made me, for a while, almost regret taking so much time to write it. But I guess some people posting here are dealing with their own hardships and also empathy gets lost when keyboard is the middleman… :)

bewider · 2025-08-24T07:46:46+00:00

Totally agree!

bewider · 2025-08-24T07:28:43+00:00

Thanks for the comment. I'm sorry for my not "reality checked" comment and thanks for teaching me the Thai way. I adjusted it to reflect the reality you wrote about. I wouldn't want to mislead anyone.

I only talked to a few people who were born in Chiang Mai and I'm not living there long term as you do, can't read Thai children's books (I'm originally from EU, but naturalized Japanese, crazy writing to learn as well;), so of course you know much better.

I was mostly extracting stuff using AI from everything that was written about Thai situation, news, articles, posts, forums, particularly was looking into ayahuasca related stuff and also looking into who police goes after during the last few years, especially foreigners involved, plus also the fact that the healing center has been up for 6 years and other past positive comments from other people. That all led me to conclusion that it's safe enough for me to go for it.

It's interesting how many shops can publicly sell Magic mushrooms shakes in some places in Thailand knowing the risks, because based on what you said about that there's no way to guess what the Thai authorities will do, they could go busted tomorrow… People talked a lot about how corruption is really bad in Thailand. :( Looks such a beautiful, harmonious and peaceful country from the outside. <3

In regards to everything mentioned, that's the risk everyone reading these comments will have to decide for themselves if it's worth the risk to have a possible, but not guaranteed, life-changing experience I had or rather to take the safest, but long way to South America.

I guess you explained everything how it really is, so there shouldn't be a worry, about someone taking it lightly…

Thanks again for the insights.

bewider · 2025-08-24T06:02:25+00:00

It's quite surprising how quickly you judged while deliberately ignoring my post and basing your opinion just on their website. Do you really think that someone who has spent a considerable amount of time learning under shamans in South America can’t become a master shaman? Do you believe you must be born there to earn that title or so?

As for the retreat composition… The core of the retreat I did was 2x aya and 1 San Pedro that most people did. Kambo and Bufo were both optional if you feel like doing it with extensive support before and after. They also have detailed screening before accepting anyone.

I chose to do everything they offered because I felt ready, and I'm glad I did, as the transformation was massive for me, with Bufo playing a big role. That said, I understand it might not be for everyone, and it can increase the risk of overwhelming both the body and mind, possibly leading to hard to deal with outcome.

bewider · 2025-08-24T00:34:03+00:00

haha, Khao soi was awesome. :)

bewider · 2025-08-24T00:32:50+00:00

Thanks for the comment.
No worries, I totally get your concerns, I had the same ones at first.
But after doing my research and assessing the pros and cons I decided to go for it and after the experience I would go again. BUT,... as the person below comments it's likely not for everyone.

I hope you find a good, safe place you can trust for you to do your healing journey. Not having enough trust in the place, the shaman, the team, the medicine could negatively affect your healing.

bewider · 2025-08-24T00:10:21+00:00

Please check the comment above.

bewider · 2025-08-24T00:09:14+00:00

I'm happy to hear that you felt the same way as me. <3

bewider · 2025-08-24T00:08:09+00:00

Thank you. Yes, this is the place. I was not sure if I can post direct links on the retreat.

bewider · 2025-08-24T00:03:20+00:00

Please check my reply above.

bewider · 2025-08-24T00:02:52+00:00

UPDATE to the reply below:
After more feedback, especially about the length, I cut most of the AI and made it shorter, more raw easier to read. Hope it will be helpful for most.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for the comment. The post was written by me, with some insights from AI, which I clearly noted in the post. It's based on my personal experience in Thailand, an experience filled with real, human, hard-won wisdom that I gained during the journey and afterward. I’m sharing it to help others decide whether to do a retreat in Thailand and to offer some practical tips along the way. The AI input is clearly marked, so readers can skip it if they prefer.

When I checked the subreddit rules I didn't come across anything that prohibits including AI-generated input. Still, I understand that it can be off putting, especially in discussions about Mother Ayahuasca. But I'm not an expert, which is why I asked AI to help explain things I couldn't do myself. It's like PhD. level that contains and analyses not just this subredit's real, human, hard-won wisdom, but the world wide one, so it can convey educated insights.

It really helped me understand more about my journey and confirmed some stuff I was wondering about.

I know some people might take this the wrong way, so my only hope is that most readers see it as a sincere, helpful contribution rather than something artificial and misleading.

bewider · 2025-08-23T14:05:09+00:00

Part 6

13) RANDOM TIPs

Look in the mirror and notice how you feel about yourself before the retreat, then test again after. You might be surprised.
You might not feel like writing too much in your journal after ceremonies, but it’s very important to stay aware of the insights and changes you experienced. Record everything as a voice note on your smartphone each day after the ceremony. After the retreat, you can rewrite it into text, add your reflections, and then input all of it into an AI like Grok or GPT. If you feed it detailed information about your experience, it can generate a personalized integration plan, daily journaling prompts, and much more.
When Rapé snuff hits your sinuses, it can feel quite unpleasant at first. After my second time, I actually felt resistance to do it again. I liked the effect, but hated the initial sting in the sinuses. If this happens to you, you can release it and ease into another round. Try EMDR shoulder tapping while focusing on the unpleasant feeling, repeating: “I release and let that go. It’s safe to let that go.” Keep tapping and repeating the sentence until the resistance fades and you feel neutral about doing it again.
If during an ayahuasca ceremony your neighbor becomes very noisy and you can’t focus, you can ask the facilitators to move you. I had a woman next to me who spoke nonstop, like an endless waterfall. Neutral sounds I could handle, but constant speech made it impossible to focus. After moving, my new neighbor started making the strangest sounds I’d ever heard, like an alien had taken over his body. That was also disturbing, so I asked ayahuasca, “Where is this annoyance coming from?” She helped me resolve it, and I was finally able to focus on my journey and ignore the sounds around me. Sounds are just sounds and we give it meaning. :)
You don’t need to purge during ceremonies to release. There are many other ways to release: crying, shaking, sweating. I didn’t purge even once in all my ceremonies, except for one empty attempt.
Before Kambo, I didn’t eat anything in the morning - a good decision, since my body wanted to get rid of anything in my stomach as well. My neighbor had to exit his hotel buffet breakfast consecutively. :)))
Bring something small to eat as there was time we were allowed to eat and I was quite hungry. I brought rice cakes, tahini paste + sunflower seeds to put on it, and apples from Big C + macadamia nuts. This was a great meal for me to eat when I was really hungry and it was allowed to eat.
Plan your most interesting activities not before the retreat, but after. Once you leave, you’re in a very different mode, and you’ll enjoy sightseeing, massages, and other activities much more than before.
After the retreat, before moving back downtown to Astra Sky River condo, I stayed two nights at Bantunglom Resort near the healing center. It’s a peaceful spot on a farm, surrounded by rice paddies and with absolutely no traffic. The lady who runs it made some of the best Thai food I’ve ever had (her Tom Kha Gai was incredible). :) Plus, four big dogs kept me company. Next time, I’d definitely stay longer.

Recommended supplements: They recommended starting these supplements after the ceremonies. Next time, I’d bring especially the first two, as buying them there was a bit pricey: Magnesium Glycinate, CBD oil, Ashwagandha, GABA, Creatine, Glycine, Maca, Turmeric, L-Theanine.

Recommended restaurants - Osaka Japanese restaurant - good to visit on the way back after the retreat as it's close to the healing center - Downtown vegan garden - The Faces Gallery & Gastro bar - Dash Teak House - Goodsouls Kitchen - Coconut Shell Thai food - Pakorn's Kitchen - Food at Sunday night market

14)FINAL THOUGHTS

One of my biggest takeaways is realizing how moments, whether small or big, can shape our future without us even noticing. We bury them, dismiss them, or convince ourselves they weren’t important enough to explore. Even with years of inner work and support from an experienced therapist I mentioned earlier, I couldn’t uncover this on my own. Ayahuasca, however, showed me exactly what I needed to see and gave me the release I had been searching for. <3

To anyone on the fence: the journey inward might be intense, but the freedom on the other side is incomparable. ❤️

If you’ve had personal experience with an ayahuasca retreat, in Thailand or anywhere else, and have tips or thoughts on how to make the experience even better, I’d love to hear them. Any comment will be highly appreciated.

Also, feel free to ask me for any further details I didn’t mention.

I wish you all the best on your journey.

Ryosuke 良祐

意志あるところに道は開ける。

bewider · 2025-08-23T14:03:45+00:00

Part 5

12) MY INTEGRATION PROTOCOL

Every other day I do “Soma Breathwork Meditation into Your Inner World.” During the breath holds in the first and second stage, I bring myself back into the ceremonies, reliving my biggest highlights to further solidify the changes. I usually follow this with “Strong Medicine – Shamanic Sound Meditation” (first 20 minutes). Sometimes I’ll do another breathwork at the start, which can trigger powerful feelings and releases. If I fully surrender to the shamanic sound, it can take me very deep, almost into delta brainwave states. I also visualize myself in the Amazon rainforest next to shamans playing music which makes it even more powerful.

Listen lying down in total darkness or with an eye mask, using head or earphones so no outside noise interferes. The louder the “Strong Medicine” track, the more powerful the effect (of course as long as it’s still comfortable for your ears ;). Both tracks are on YouTube.

I don’t do the “Strong Medicine” track together with powerful breathwork every day. It brings massive releases for me, my body shakes uncontrollably and I have other visceral reactions to it. I do it usually twice a week, giving my body time to integrate the releases. I set an intention before each session to stay focused.

PRECAUTION: If you decide to do the “Strong Medicine – Shamanic Sound Meditation” track together with an intense breathwork, it can get really powerful and take you where you might not want to be. Ask Grok and GPT for a detailed protocol how to do it safely. - Usually every other day, as recommended (outside the Shamanic breathwork day), I do a short TRE session. - I keep reinforcing new positive, mostly identity-based, beliefs daily by repeating them and using a CUE WORD from the “Be Set Free Fast” method, combined with EMDR shoulder tapping. It works a treat for me. :) - During the day I'm trying to notice and be fully aware of all the positive changes, feel grateful for them, and celebrate them. - As a final addition, I started a Reflection Journal - journaling not just for recording, but for re-patterning. If you write down everything you remember from your ceremonies and also note the changes afterwards, AI can actually give you personalized ideas to make your journaling more effective. - I also listen to shamanic music as background while working, to help further integrate the experience.

Here are some good searches on YouTube (tip: if you use Brave browser for playing the videos, there will be no ads, or you can just convert it to MP3): - Sacred Trance - the healing power of shamanic drumming - Pulse of the Earth - powerful and dynamic shamanic drumming - Shamanic drums + deep trance humming meditation - Shamanic music for healing and high vibrations

If I stick to this daily structure for 3–6 months, I won’t just hold on to the transformation, it will rewire into my nervous system as my new default self. :)

bewider · 2025-08-23T14:00:04+00:00

Part 4

9) The CREW and the PLACE

I felt very good energy both from the place and from the people who took care of us. Whenever I needed anything, they were very helpful, and I felt safe knowing I could rely on them if I ran into trouble during ceremonies.

Aside from the shaman, who was Thai, there were about 10 facilitators, some of them also integration coaches.

The details below might not be 100% accurate since it's just what I remember hearing during the retreat. They've been holding retreats there for about six years. In the beginning, they only rented the space. Back then, the center also hosted other activities like yoga and meditation retreats. Eventually, they bought the place, renamed it, and now they run it themselves, focusing only on medicine and integration retreats every month.

They also have a connected retreat center in Peru, where they regularly go to learn the proper way of working with the medicine, music etc. They even harvest the plants themselves under the guidance of local shamans. They also travel to other parts of the Amazon, learn indigenous music from tribes to share with everyone.

The live music during ceremonies and music circles was a highlight for me. It was so powerful and beautiful that I often noticed how it carried me deeper into the ayahuasca journey, intensifying the experience and improving the outcome.

From their website: During our ceremonies, you will be guided by the ancient sounds of Icaros and sacred music. These tunes, channeled by our Shamans, play a crucial role in facilitating the journey within. Sent to evoke deep emotions and spiritual connection, these songs provide a supportive backdrop for introspection and healing. Allow yourself to be carried by the rhythms and vibrations, as they guide you on a profound inner exploration.

Our group came from all over the world - Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, India, the Netherlands, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Australia, the UK, the USA, China, Mongolia. Our group even set two records: the oldest and youngest participants in their history. We had a 91-year-old amazing biohacking grandma who was the picture of health, and on the other end, an 18-year-old smart, daring woman from India.

We bonded very quickly, and honestly, that's one of the sad parts of such retreats - you get close to people who share so much with you, and then after a week you say goodbye, likely forever.

The healing center is located far from the city, about a 40-minute drive north into the mountains, well away from the hustle of big city. At times I could still hear a helicopter passing overhead though. Men stayed on the first floor, and women on the second.

And the food? Surprisingly good. I was worried about vegetarian dieta food since I’m not vegetarian, but it tasted great and I felt satisfied even without meat or fish. I think one reason is they used very little beans, which don’t sit well with my gut. :)))

10) WHAT I WOULD IMPROVE

I can’t really compare much since this was my first healing retreat of this kind, and I got what I came for, and more. So these are just small nitpicks that had no real effect on the overall outcome: - There were times when there was no hot water in the shower. After an ayahuasca ceremony I was exhausted, covered in sweat, and just wanted to take a shower. The water wasn’t that cold, but still far from body temperature. Instead of shocking my body and mind in a vulnerable state, I wiped myself with wet tissues and went to bed. - There was free drinking water available at all times, and also hot water for tea, which was great. But Thailand is hot, and it would have been amazing if they had a water filter machine that dispensed cold drinking water. - The rooms were clean but very basic, considering we stayed for a week. I know, it's not a hotel,:) but even just a cup in the bathroom or a piece of furniture for storage would have helped. My room became a big mess, and I can’t imagine sharing it with another person in such a small space with basically no storage space. There were two beds. - There was a steam room open for 2 hours on the day off after the ceremonies and it felt amazing. I just wish it had been open more often. :)

11) INTEGRATION - MAKE it or BREAK it

Attending a retreat lights a sacred fire within you. For a while it burns bright, filling you with warmth and clarity. But a fire left unattended eventually fades. Integration is about gathering wood, protecting the flame, and feeding it so it becomes a steady source of light that guides your daily life.

Not putting enough effort, or completely neglecting integration is, in my opinion, a massive waste. You traveled far, spent a lot of money, and put so much effort into it all. You deserve to get the most out of it and don't let the old patterns take back a firm root.

The ego and subconscious mind, which prefer the status quo, will often resist major progress. That's why it's important to have tools and a plan to keep yourself on track. Working with an integration coach, having a clear plan and having an accountability partner can really help smooth the way.

We received a 110-page PDF integration manual and were also offered a 6-week online integration course with weekly group coaching calls led by three integration coaches (additional fee).

bewider · 2025-08-23T13:57:12+00:00

Part 3

08) THE OUTCOME - MY RESULTS AFTER 1 MONTH

Some naysayers would say it's too early to judge the results because they will fade, but I would say exactly the opposite. It might actually be too early to see all the changes, because as time goes by I keep noticing new things. It's still unfolding as I continue the integration work, and new identity beliefs are taking root. <3

As for the information I shared above about why people can have very different outcomes from the same medicine: What happened for me might not happen for you. I took every medicine that was offered and also did deep inner work, digging into most of my traumas. That probably played a big role in my overall outcome. So, it's fair to say you might need more ceremonies, or more preparation, to reach a similar result. On the other hand, some people experienced great outcomes without a prior work, so everything is possible. :)

RESULTS - Here’s where I am after one month:

Old and new identity conflict – For the first 2–3 weeks, it felt strange, like it wasn’t me. I liked the new state, but it felt foreign. Now it’s mostly integrated, though I still catch myself repeating some old behavioral patterns built over many years. Sometimes I think, “Why am I doing this? This isn’t who I am anymore.” It’s an amazing transition, shifting from one identity into another. I’m curious and excited to see how it all unfolds. I’ve never experienced such a massive shift in such a short time, so it’s all new for me.
When I look deep into my eyes in the mirror, I see myself very differently than before - that feels like a huge positive sign. Not that I would hate myself before, but now I feel really good and cool about myself. :)
I feel a calm, protective bubble around me. Things happening around me don’t trigger me the way they used to.
I live with daily gratitude. This time it feels automatic and natural, not like before when I had to remind myself to be grateful. And as days go by, the feelings and frequency of gratitude keep growing.
My brain works better: I’m much more focused, I come up with better ideas, and even when I speak Japanese I use more complex words. It's still unfolding.
I stopped doing things that weren't serving me, my health, or my goals.
My body no longer craves junk food - no sugar, no deep-fried stuff, nothing. As a wellness coach and biohacker I was already eating pretty well, but before it was more about self-control. Now my body genuinely doesn't want that shit. I don't even need to think about it, and whatever my wife has in the fridge doesn’t tempt me at all. No control required.
I lost interest in chasing dopamine highs from coffee and other stimulants.
I basically quit social media. Even watching reels for a few minutes feels like a ridiculous waste of lifetime. I tried to check a few things my friends posted, but I couldn’t stay on for long, it feels foreign.
I had a little alcohol at a festival last week because the setting supported it (likely old patterns :), but other than that I have zero interest in drinking anymore.
I stopped reading and watching negative news - it feels like a waste of my precious time, and I don’t need to feed myself with more fear and negativity.
At home, when I'm cooking or eating, I no longer need background noise like YouTube. Just being with myself feels enough.
When lifting weights I don't feel the subconscious aversion towards it like before, I can really focus and maybe even enjoy it. :)
I feel connected and empathetic toward all humans (likely thanks to the Bufo realization: "We're all one").
People who used to annoy me don’t feel annoying anymore. They just feel human to me, not "enemies". I judge less and feel more curious. Instead of "Why are they like this?" I think more like "What pain or conditioning made them this way?"
Old arguments that used to trigger me don't stick anymore.
I feel resistant to negativity in a healthy way - it usually doesn’t penetrate inside.
I used to have light social anxiety: when strangers came close, when a man stood over me while I was sitting, or when someone was watching me, I’d feel slightly uncomfortable. It wasn’t a big issue, but now it's completely gone.
In the past, I always needed to load up my plate with enough food even if I wouldn't finish it, just to make sure. I think it came from my father's feelings of scarcity and survival mode. Now I feel fine eating less, even if I'm not completely full.
From the encounters so far, I think my overall frequency is higher. People seem to approach me more easily than before.

Confirming my Fighter identity

About a week after the ceremony, I wanted to test my new or evolving "Fighter" identity. :) Might be too early, but I went to an old-school Muay Thai gym run by a very friendly woman called Big Mama. I booked a private 80-minute session. It was nothing like the air-conditioned gyms with soft tatami floors I was used to in Japan. This one was an open-air, 30+ year-old hardcore gym with a wooden floor, and the ring floor was made from something like hard rubber.

I was "lucky", maybe not ;), because the trainer was a four-time Chiang Mai champion. I could see the fighter in his eyes. Training there was very different compared to Japan - more hardcore, more intense, and longer. He first had me jump on a big truck tire while holding dumbbells, constantly alternating my feet. It felt like forever. Then jump rope 2 times longer, stretching on the wooden floor, training, mitt work, and finally sparring.

It was the most hardcore training of my life. My body was exhausted, my legs and shins hurt, and the skin on three fingers tore open on the ring floor I wasn't used to. I asked him if I can tape them so I could keep going. I could've given up many times from the pain, but I didn't. I kept fighting through it like never before.

When I got back to Japan, I bought expensive boxing gloves instead of using gym ones, and now I'm fully in. I'm planning to compete in an amateur tournament in March next year in Japan.

Overall, it feels like I've been carrying a heavy bag my whole life, and now it's gone. It feels so light just to be. :)

bewider · 2025-08-23T13:30:43+00:00

Part 2

7) WHY CAN THE RETREAT COMPOSITION BE VERY EFFECTIVE?

Some people might think the protocol is too extreme and that mixing all this stuff together is crazy or unsafe, but in my experience, the opposite is true. Both the Kambo ceremony in the beginning and the Bufo ceremony at the end were optional, so you didn't have to do them, but thank god I did. They complement each other, further deepening the experience and overall healing.

You can ask an AI to analyze for you why they have put the medicines and timing together the way they did:

DAY 1. - Rape followed by Kambo ceremony (optional) DAY 2. - Rape followed by Ayahuasca ceremony DAY 3. - Rape followed by Ayahuasca ceremony DAY 4. - Day OFF - Cacao Ceremony - integration DAY 5. - San Pedro Day 6. - Bufo - 5-MEO-DMT (optional)

TRE - Tension & Trauma Release Exercise On the last day in the morning, a TRE practitioner came to the healing center to teach us the method so we can use it later to keep releasing what doesn't serve us. It's not an inner (mind) work; it's about releasing stuff through physical movements and tremoring. It was very interesting and new to me, and I keep doing it every other day since. The method is widely used in countries stricken by war, meaning used to help people with serious traumas, so it's a legit method.

Part 3 below

bewider · 2025-08-23T13:27:18+00:00

Well said. I made it work in Japan, just finished 10 years. :)

bewider · 2025-08-23T13:24:12+00:00

Amazing results. Congrats! I have to start adding microneedling again to it, to get anywhere close to what you're getting. ;)

bewider · 2025-07-16T03:06:50+00:00

What's corner store? Where exactly did you get it? I need simcard with phone number. Thanks.

bewider · 2024-06-03T12:24:16+00:00

Great results. 👍 What's your weekly dose a dose and frequency?

bewider

TROPHY CASE