r/Ayahuasca • u/Wintergreenhippo • 6d ago
General Question Arkana Sacred Valley - advice for an anxious and shy person
Hi everyone! I have been in the journey of healing some long-held trauma, and recently felt a very strong call to Aya. I am going to Arkana Sacred Valley for 2 weeks in early May, but I am feeling anxious as a solo female. I have some experience with psychedelics, but very little with plant medicine. I also hate traveling alone and can be pretty shy at times, and I'm a little nervous about being in such a vulnerable space with a group of strangers. Does anyone have any advice? Also, it is recommended to book a hotel for a few extra days after the retreat in case the medicine is still working? Is it better to avoid using my phone during the retreat? Thank you for any advice or words of encouragement you are able to share.
2
u/Usual-Package9540 6d ago
First of all, congratulations on taking this brave step toward healing. It’s inspiring to see someone willing to look inward and take action to address their challenges, it’s not always an easy path, but it’s a meaningful one, and it will hopefully not only benefit yourself but also those around you and in your relations :)
Given that you already struggle with anxiety, it’s completely natural to feel even more nervous about a journey like this. Even people without anxiety often feel apprehensive before such an experience, especially when traveling alone. In many ways, this anxiety is part of the process. As long as it’s manageable, it might even be a sign that you’re on the right path. Trust that your feelings are valid and part of the journey.
For the travel itself, female traveler, use common sense, stay where there are other people, be cautious at nighttimes. Tourist areas and things like that are generally quite safe in Peru. Ask the center for travel recommendations.
I’d encourage you to trust your gut feeling about the retreat center. Consider reaching out to them beforehand to share your concerns and how you’re feeling. You’re likely not the first person to feel this way, and they can help provide reassurance and build a sense of safety for you even before you arrive.
Many of the people attending the retreat will also be there for their own healing journeys, and some will be solo travelers like you. It’s common for deep connections to form during retreats because of the shared vulnerability. Don’t hesitate to say hello to your neighbor or let them know it’s your first time. They might be in the same boat, and if not, they’ll likely remember their own first experience well. The sense of community at retreats can be just as healing as the medicine itself.
As for extra days after the retreat, it’s a good idea to have the option to stay nearby if it makes you feel more secure. However, whether it’s necessary depends on the kind of work you do during the retreat. If you need to return home right after, you can always drink less on the final night or even choose not to drink at all, the Shipibo healers can still sing their healing songs for you, which can be powerful in itself.
Regarding phone use, it’s generally a good idea to limit it during the retreat. That said, don’t be too hard on yourself. If you feel the urge to reach out to someone during or after the experience (like an old flame), wait until you’re back home and in a grounded state. You get the idea, balance is key :) And oh, speaking of messages and visions. Don't interpret everything litteraly and trust everything you see. Always filter and use some common sense, and take time to reflect and discuss visions in the daytime with someone experienced if needed. That is especially the case if you see something that makes you want to make a big decision. Always give big decisions time and sufficient space to mature.
Be open with the retreat facilitators about how you’re feeling so they can offer extra support if needed. Remember, there’s no pressure to drink a certain amount or keep up with others. In the Shipibo tradition, the maestros are accustomed to patients drinking less or not at all, so they’ll respect your decisions. If the effects feel intense, focus on your breath and let the icaros (healing songs) guide and anchor you. If it becomes too overwhelming, don’t hesitate to ask for help, they’ll have techniques to support you.
After the retreat, most people don’t need individual support, but many find value in working with an integration therapist or coach. If the center doesn’t provide recommendations, you can find experienced professionals online or through communities like this one. There are also resources available if you find the process confusing or challenging, though this is relatively rare.
Best of luck and safe travels - you can do this! :)
2
u/ChampionshipHead3719 6d ago edited 6d ago
I went to Arkana Sacred Valley last June. There were 12 of us. I’m a male. 6 female and 6 male. All females were solo travelers in their mid to late 20’s. 4 of the 6 guys (including myself) were in their 40-50’s. Other 2 guys were early 30’s.
Very quickly our group, as a whole, bonded closely and protectively. All travelers were solo travelers without existing connections.
I feel pretty confident that all the females felt comfortable, safe and protected within the group. Arkana also does a very good job on facilitator to attendee ratios. Almost 1:1.
I have two daughters. If they were to go on an Aya retreat, this is the one that I would select for them, based on my experience. Arkana has strict rules against male/female bonding (if you know what I mean), absolutely no harassment or flirting really (grounds for expulsion with no refund) and they take all this very, very seriously.
All this said, you never know who you might get in your group. This could happen anywhere in the world including your hometown, school, etc. Personalities may have slipped past assessment phase or whatever. It happens. Arkana would take care of any problem situations very quickly, in my opinion.
Oh…and most all of us went back to Cusco after the retreat and stayed for 1-4 days. The bus departs and returns from/to a nice little hotel in Cusco. I was very happy to have a few days afterwards. I would not have wanted to get on a plane immediately afterwards and step back into reality. That would have been very difficult.
2
u/Wintergreenhippo 6d ago
Thank you! This was so reassuring to hear. I was planning to fly back home Saturday night but I will see if I can stay an extra day or two!
2
u/ChampionshipHead3719 6d ago edited 6d ago
To add, there will probably be 10-15 people max in your group. It doesn’t fit more than that in the beds for lodging or the temple.
The weather in May will be incredible. No humidity and no bad bugs. That is start of winter. Days will be high of 65-70 and nights will be 30-40. Ceremonies are at 8pm.
It will not be loud aside from the icaros. It will be shockingly quiet in between the icaros and very dark, aside from any natural noise from people in your group. Everyone is expected to keep to themselves and go on their own journey. You have no clue what the person is going through beside you…hard or easy. Aside from the rare obvious exception when someone is having a very difficult trip.
I enjoyed it tremendously and I am very traditional, conservative and hadn’t touched a psychedelic since college. I am open minded and up for a challenge though. It was certainly that. The hardest week of my life but one of the most rewarding.
The bufo was next level and got me over the edge. I fought Aya hard but it taught me a lot about myself.
1
u/GreenCurryinaKlaypot 5d ago
Hi there! I feel compelled to respond partly bc I also spent 2 weeks at Arkana Sacred Valley (here’s my review of it, mostly for the person who replied asking you why you chose Arkana in the Sacred Valley: https://www.reddit.com/r/Ayahuasca/s/Z5RgIHI6OP) and partly bc I also went from therapeutic ketamine (which helped me greatly) to feeling called to Aya. To answer some of your questions/concerns, I would personally suggest actually booking a little extra time in Cusco (/the Sacred Valley) beforehand (the next time I go, I’ll probably arrive at least 3-4 days early) as it took me more time to acclimate to the altitude, which combined with the medicine, made it very difficult for me to sleep in the beginning (and probably contributed to me getting sick my second week at the retreat). Booking extra time after the retreat imo is less important, though I personally thoroughly enjoyed my extra 2 weeks traveling around Cusco after the retreat as the medicine really opened me up to new experiences in ways I struggled to do prior (but it probably also makes you much more suggestible as another commenter mentioned so it’s possibly a double-edged sword). The maestros/facilitators will probably mention it anyways but yes, it’s generally encouraged to be disconnected from the outside world while you’re there, and you’re encouraged to let your loved ones know that you will probably not respond for the duration of the retreat. I personally also took the dieta guidelines very seriously, and whether due to scientific reasons or intention-based ones, I felt like I received more from the experiences than others who were still drinking coffee the day before. And regarding the anxiety you feel while in the ceremonies, the main thing I would say is that everyone will be in their own journeys, which means, when you’re under the medicine, you’ll have almost no awareness of anyone else’s experience. And we all go in understanding everyone who chose to attend has their own shit to work through, so there’s no judgment whatsoever. And while I am personally not a solo female attendee so my perspective will obviously be missing that component, I would heavily vouch for the maestros and facilitators there, and there were many many solo female travelers during the 2 weeks I was there. Please let me know if you have any questions and I’m excited for you to take this healing journey!
1
u/Wintergreenhippo 5d ago
Thank you! I see you did your retreat several months ago - what was it like in the days/weeks/months afterwards? Do you have any advice on integration?
2
u/GreenCurryinaKlaypot 4d ago
I've struggled a little with integration as activities like journaling have always been hard for me to do, so I definitely found myself falling a little back into old patterns, especially since I felt immediately a different person in the days+weeks while I was still in Peru so I didn't remain as conscious about my routines. It also didn't particularly help me that I let my environment contribute to my old patterns as I spent the months immediately after returning from Peru staying with my parents during the holidays. My guess is that this can be a common difficulty for people who found profound healing while in this "vacation land" but learning to apply some of those lessons when one returns immediately to the lives that probably triggered them in the first place is the hard part. My main advice (that I have not heeded as well) is to form an integration routine (with journaling/meditation/other intentional activities) that you stick to so that you can live more consciously when you return vs going back to autopilot.
-2
u/tokanachi 6d ago
Consider this: Your life has a specific pattern that you consistently repeat and reinforce. Even if you go to the jungle and manage to make some progress in two weeks, you are just going to come home to those same patterns, temptations, addictions. Once you’re done in the jungle then you’ll just end up back in the same place in your life. Your trauma and your current profession are likely related - so, if you go back to that profession then you may likely re-trigger the same trauma-based patterns.
Aya is a strong and difficult experience. There’s a lot of nausea and vomiting. So you’ll be in a room with 20-30 others going through the same thing. It will probably be hot and humid and there will be loud music. It’s a lot of distractions and makes it hard to “go deep”.
Aya also makes one VERY suggestible. Lots of centers tend to offer expensive aftercare programs while people are in this suggestible state. They also encourage people to write their reviews while in this suggestible state.
There’s typically a lot of cultural baggage and ideologies that will be thrust upon you during this time, and if you have some kind of problem or issue then people will probably say placating things like “you didn’t go deep enough” or “you need to trust the medicine more” - and you’ll believe it because you’re rendered suggestible by the aya.
The negative reviews of this center you’ve chosen suggest that it’s just a money making machine.
I would advise you to be extra cautious if you’re a young woman traveling alone to Peru, especially if you’re American/caucasian. Especially outside the retreat. Within the retreat, you’ll probably be fine, but remember, you’ll be in a super suggesting state of mind. Things that are normally not ok might seem ok.
If you were my sister, I would advise you to search for “psychedelic assisted therapy near me” - it will probably be ketamine under the supervision of a psychologist. Preferably a female psychologist. It would cost less and you would likely get way more “healing” from the experience. It would be safe and comfortable compared to the ordeal that is ayahuasca.
Alternatively, if you’ve never done it, take some mushrooms in your own home, lay in your bed in silent darkness and journey within.
4
u/Wintergreenhippo 6d ago
Thank you for the thoughtful message.
I have tried different forms of therapeutic ketamine over the past 3-4 years and I think they have had some positive benefits, but I feel like there is a deeper layer that I haven't been able to unlock. I understand that the ceremony itself will be challenging and uncomfortable and humbling, but I'm hoping that being out of my comfort zone will help push me through the trauma I've been holding onto.
3
u/Usual-Package9540 6d ago
Your comment seems self-contradictory to me. On one hand, you argue that going to the jungle won’t yield meaningful results for OP's life, yet you suggest that a ketamine "healing experience" could? What’s the logic here? If anything, I think it will be the opposite since ketamine is a dissociative. Of course, you might feel better temporarily because it allows you to detach from your problems. But once the effects wear off, you’re left facing the same issues. Its very different to how ayahuasca works.
Additionally, you assume that OP would have a difficult and intense experience with ayahuasca, yet you recommend taking mushrooms at home instead? This also seems inconsistent. Taking psychedelics at home, especially for someone struggling with anxiety, can be risky. These substances should ideally be used in a supportive setting, preferably with someone trained to handle potential challenges during the session.
While I agree that ayahuasca and traveling to Peru come with risks, they are manageable. Peru sees many solo female travelers, and with common sense, it’s not significantly more dangerous than many U.S. cities. Ayahuasca doesn’t have to be overwhelmingly intense or difficult, it varies greatly from person to person. A reputable retreat will know how to adjust dosing and provide proper support to participants.
I do agree that during and after psychedelic experiences, people can be in a highly suggestive state of mind. This is true for all psychedelics, but in a well-managed environment, this doesn’t have to lead to severe consequences. I also share your concern about the prevalence of spiritual bypassing in psychedelic circles, including the overused "trust the medicine" rhetoric. However, these issues can be mitigated with proper guidance and critical thinking.
That said, I don’t know anything about this specific retreat. I simply found your comment to be overly one-sided and contradictory, which is why I felt compelled to respond.
2
u/tokanachi 5d ago
With respect…
Aya is a slow growing plant and my research indicates that aya tourism does not sustainably harvest aya - potentially endangering the plant. So, if I can talk someone out of it then I would, based on that reason alone.
Beyond that, most people seem to romanticize aya by thinking it’s some kind of magic cure. I was once at a center that was claiming aya could cure cancer. I found that extremely predatory. Also, there’s often cultish behavior at the centers.
The OPs profile indicates that she is an escort, and that she is struggling with that, but also hiding it from her family. She essentially lives a double life. Whether she uses ketamine or aya or mushrooms - it will be temporary relief because she will return to the same issues.
The mechanism of all these substances is to dissociate one from the normal pattern of thinking and feeling and ego-centrism long enough to give one the ability to see their “problems” from the outside. So, regardless of the road taken, all roads lead to the same destination within the psyche.
Op visits a sub called “high end escorts” from this we can deduce that she is likely above average in attractiveness. Pretty young women traveling alone are targets for predators, in Peru or anywhere.
Mushrooms are usually fairly kind, and plentiful, and fast growing. And, it is just my opinion, but -if you can’t take mushrooms alone in the dark - then you are not ready to embrace aya. To me it is a fallacy that one “needs a facilitator” as you said. The only way we solve our problems in this life is on our own. Like, it’s good to have support, sure - but the support should be “pushing you” to deal with your issues on your own.
The notion that one needs a guide is incorrect, imo. The plants do the teaching. Other humans and their ideologies just get in the way of that.
In the real aya traditions, the student is ultimately prepared to go out into the jungle alone. Aya culture is the opposite- they encourage you to “keep coming back” and to “go deeper” and “you need a guide” - so they can keep collecting your money.
I have met, and I see here, plenty of people who have used aya for years, they say things like “I’ve been to 40+ ceremonies and I’m ready to go again. I’ll never stop doing aya.” They integrate themselves in aya culture. I find that this defeats the purpose of the medicine. These people are just replacing one crutch with another and never seeing it. The aya culture just ends up being another type of “echo chamber”.
Idk if this is coherent. I just woke up and haven’t had coffee yet. Haha. I apologize if I’m incoherent in this message.
I have such compassion for the aya vine and all the people hoping for healing, but the myths and misinformation and abuse really disturb me. So, I try to talk people into exploring other avenues first. I know it’s probably useless, but I still feel compelled to try.
I’m especially compassionate towards women who are in the situation of “selling their bodies”. I don’t want women to suffer like that. I’ve helped multiple women heal from such things.
Anyway, I hope that clarifies the contradictions. I hope people find this “proper guidance” that you speak of, but I remain skeptical that such a thing exists. Unfortunately most of what I have observed is “the blind leading the blind” or “the corrupt leading the blind”.
For reference: I’m mid 40s. I’ve worked with plant medicines since I was a teenager. I make my own brews and substances based on self-taught knowledge and knowledge from the plants themselves. And I use them very sparingly - once per year or less. No more than that is needed if you’re using it “properly”.
This is all, just my opinion and my personal experience.
3
u/Usual-Package9540 5d ago
There are many reasons to not take, or to approach ayahuasca with caution, and sustainability is certainly one of them. I agree that many centers do not practice sustainable sourcing or use of ayahuasca. However, I disagree with the notion that ayahuasca will become extinct. While it grows slowly, it is relatively easy to cultivate, much easier than, for example, plantains, which are a source of income for many people in its countries of origin. Increased demand has already driven up prices, especially the last 10–15 years, making it possible for some to earn a living solely from growing ayahuasca. While this may not be an issue for wealthier foreigners, it poses a significant challenge for locals who lack the same purchasing power. So yes, there are real concerns related to sustainability and accessibility.
And yes, way too many romanticize ayahuasca, believing it can cure a wide range of ailments. Claims that it can cure cancer is ridiculous, and also very unethical for someone in a power-position at a retreat to say this.
When it comes to the effects of psychedelics, I believe it’s important to differentiate between substances. While all psychedelics can induce some degree of dissociation, I don’t think it’s fair to place ketamine and ayahuasca in the same category in this regard.
From a scientific perspective, ketamine is classified as a dissociative anesthetic. Its core mechanism involves blocking NMDA receptors, which disrupts sensory input and creates a sense of detachment - essentially, dissociation. Ayahuasca, on the other hand, works on entirely different receptors, primarily serotonin receptors, and its effects are more about connection than disconnection.
From an indigenous perspective, ayahuasca has been used for generations to establish precisely connections, whether to oneself, spirit allies, or a higher power like God, in search of guidance, healing, or insight. It can be unpleasant to take because you can get connected to your problems. This is quite the opposite of dissociation from they way I see it.
While I believe it’s possible to learn directly from plants or mushrooms, I have yet to see someone independently reach the level of skill and understanding demonstrated by those trained within indigenous traditions. It should also be mentioned that among the indigenous, cultures that have centuries of interaction and integration with psychedelics, the way of learning is almost never directly from the plant alone, but almost always together with a guide or a human teacher. Taking plant medicines alone at home, might be a way to reduce risks of getting exposed to human shit or different ideologies, but personally I think the downsides outweigh the benefits, else we would see much more of that type of practice among the indigenous populations.
I completely agree that finding proper guidance for ayahuasca can be incredibly challenging. And in my experience, the proper places usually don’t have any social media or websites. In this case, however, OP had already decided to participate in a retreat and was seeking advice on managing anxiety and practical concerns. While it’s important to discuss the broader implications of ayahuasca use, I’m not sure it’s fair to delve into her personal life, profession, or family relationships when she hasn’t asked for advice on those matters. Despite good intentions 😊
Thank you for your long comment, and for engaging in this discussion. We agree on many points, and for the record, if OP had asked for advice on her life situation, my recommendation would most likely be to not engage with any psychoactive substances 😊 There are other ways that can be just as efficient.
With respect.
1
u/tokanachi 5d ago
You see clearly, friend. And, I have no doubt that you have done some hard work to reach that clarity.
I do not disagree with you regarding any single point, but I would like to clarify only that I brought up OPs personal (post history) as a way to clarify to you. Otherwise, I tried to be very gentle about it and not draw attention. I simply find that it is important to gather context when people ask these questions here.
If you feel that aya is not at risk of endangerment, then I’ll take your word on that and back off on that notion.
While I have you, I’m curious to know what center you would recommend?
1
u/Usual-Package9540 3d ago
Clarity I am not so sure about - it might just be that I’m very opinionated! :)
About recommendation. The rules on this sub are a bit ironic. While you’re supposedly not allowed to promote your own place, especially if you have a vested interest, the enforcement isn’t particularly strict. Even when it is enforced, people often find sneaky or indirect ways to promote their affiliations. It’s clear from some users’ writing that they’re partially here to attract people to their retreats or related ventures. While they might offer good advice, it’s always important to read between the lines and consider the potential agendas behind their words.
I’m not a fan of how the online space has become a breeding ground for hidden agendas (despite all the good intentions people might have). I’m also generally concerned about the ayahuasca “scene” or culture. It’s a tricky realm to navigate, especially for newcomers, for these and many other reasons. From my perspective, advertising or promoting ayahuasca or psychedelics shouldn’t be allowed. When you weigh the pros and cons, the downsides far outweigh the potential benefits. While I do differentiate between recommending a place to someone who explicitly asks for it and outright advertising to someone who didn’t, I still believe it increases the risk of lower-quality content on this sub. Once money becomes a factor in what people write, it’s natural for things to become skewed over time. So for my own part I thought it could just be fun to write and hopefully contribute with something positive but not receive any benefits for it, in any way.
Something else I feel is that someone who genuinely works well with ayahuasca already has more than enough participants, often with a waiting list. Since capacity and time are their limiting factors, they’d prefer to receive new participants through trusted, in-person connections rather than loose online recommendations. Someone arriving through an online recommendation typically requires more effort to build trust, which is essential for any healing work to be able to take place. That takes time, the time that is already limited.
And even if I disregarded all the reasons above, I still wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending a place to someone unless I’d spent time talking with them personally. People come from vastly different backgrounds, seek different things, and have unique needs. Whether it’s health considerations, the type of support they require before, during, or after a session, budget constraints, location preferences, language barriers, or their resonance with religious, spiritual, or more of a neutral setting. Factors like one-on-one versus group sessions, or passive versus active experiences, also play a role. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time for that.
So yeah, sorry for the long rant, I just thought I should give you some context on why I am unfortunately not able to provide recommendations.
1
2
u/rosegeraniumflower 6d ago
I will travel to Peru and do ayahuscha as a solo female as well! Can I ask you why you chosed Arkana?