There were plenty of adverts for Ayahuasca and San Pedro ceremonies in Cusco and Pisac – where should I go? I knew that I wanted to be in ceremony with someone who could speak English, was trusted and recommended. I didn’t want to drink and then be left to my own devices without support. Worse, there were many stories I’d heard of participants being robbed or physically attacked whilst under the influence of the medicine, and this just added to the growing levels of fear.
I found myself leaning towards a particular retreat center that advertised ceremonies, Paz Y Luz. It was a twenty minute walk from Pisac town. By then we had been advised by 3 different people to find someone named Javier that worked next door to the center. On arriving at Paz Y Luz, the manager kindly took us to Javier’s house who promptly advised us that he had no space in ceremony for five days. I couldn’t wait five days! I would have talked myself out of it by then, and besides, what were we supposed to do in this tiny town? By this time my wife had also decided to take part, and we went ahead and confirmed our places for the ceremony.
Kyd, the manager then recommended another curandero, Miguel, who offered a different kind of ceremony. Miguel offered local mountain hikes with San Pedro and a short ceremony before and sometimes during the hike. We met with Miguel the following day where we discussed the hike and the format. Miguel made little if any reference to the medicine itself and its effects, which was really my only interest, and mainly deflected my questions on it. Instead we discussed how to best manage hiking at high altitude as well as what to bring with us. I left the meeting with Miguel with more questions than answers, and had that night and the following day to indulge in my fear and anxiety.
On Miguel’s suggestion, I came up with some intentions for my ceremony;
I would like to break down a number of fears, hurt, old anger and frustration that manifests from time to time and does not serve me or others.
I would like to see a clearer and more meaningful path in life with more focus and drive.
I would like to experience some of nature’s most powerful healing.
I would like to develop intuition, creativity and awareness outside of the mind’s thinking logic.
I would like to boost my lucid dreaming and out of body practice.
I feel that this experience will be beneficial for me and others that I interact with.
That’s a pretty big list. I felt that that my biggest hindrances would be fear, and an inability to let go and give up control. I’m advised that the more I try to fight or control the experience, the more difficult it will become.
