Body, mind & emotional inventory

Do you breathe easily and deeply?

When you exercise, do you feel your lungs expanding?

Have you explored breathing practices such as Transformational Breath work?
Do you take the time to prepare food for yourself?

Is feeding yourself an enjoyable activity?

In what ways is your relationship with food healthy, and in what ways is it problematic?
What do you do for exercise and movement?

Do you exercise too little or too much?

What physical practices do you want to explore?
How do you prepare for sleep, and how many hours do you sleep?

Is your sleeping environment nourishing to you?

Do you wake up feeling rested? What do you dream about?
What do you do to maintain your sense of health and balance?

How do you take care of yourself when you don't feel well?

Are you able to ask for and receive support when you are sick?
Where and how do you hold fear, stress, or tension in your body?

How do you deal with stressful situations?

Do you experience waves of depressive or anxious energy, and how do they live in your body?
Can you describe your intellectual strength?

What books or podcasts stimulate your intellect?

Do you find yourself obsessing about the past or worrying about the future?

preferred foods

Fresh, locally grown, organic foods
Organic fruits and vegetables
Organic grilled chicken
Fresh wild-caught fish
Organic eggs
Oatmeal, quinoa, buckwheat, rice
Homemade gluten-free bread
Raw unsalted cashews or almonds
little salt; coconut or olive oil sparingly
Plenty of water and herbal teas

Foods & habits to avoid

Dairy products (highly mucus forming)
Red meat — pork, beef, goat, tuna, eel
Processed, canned, sulfured food and chemical preservatives
Fermented and aged foods: soy sauce, fermented dairy, soybean paste, tofu, miso, teriyaki, shrimp paste, pickled foods
Sourdough bread
Processed sweets, chocolate, and anything with refined sugar
Artificial sweeteners
Spicy and excessively salty foods
Alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and recreational drugs
Cannabis and other psychoactive substances (minimum one week prior)
Medicinal herbs: St. John's Wort, Kava, Ephedra, Ginseng, Yohimbe, Sinicuichi, Kratom
Violent films, video games, and other intense psycho-mental stimulation
Any form of sexual contact, including masturbation

2. Physical preparation — the Dieta

The practices and dietary protocols followed leading up to ceremony are known as a Dieta. Simplify your diet as much as possible in the weeks beforehand: eliminate processed foods, colorings and preservatives; avoid salty, sugary, and spicy foods; cut out animal products, particularly meat; and abstain from sexual activity and addictive substances. We work with a doctor on staff to identify which medications are compatible with the medicine you intend to journey with — never attempt to work with Ayahuasca or Psilocybin while taking MAOI or SSRI drugs, and always consult with us first.

3 days before and after

Sleep 7 to 8 hours a night, nap when tired, spend time in nature, and cleanse with sage, incense, or salt baths.

At least 1 week before

Begin the Dieta outlined here, and avoid cannabis and other psychoactives.

At least 4 weeks before

Eliminate pharmaceutical drugs, prescription and over the counter, including allergy pills, hormonal supplements, and NSAIDs. Always consult a medical professional and us first.

At least 6 weeks before

Any medication affecting the serotonin system — SSRIs and MAOIs — should be cleared from your body through a slow weaning process with guidance from your doctor or ours, so you are off the medication by at least two weeks before ceremony.

3. Timeline

Medication restrictions

The following can carry potentially lethal interactions. Read carefully and speak with us and your doctor before making any change to your medication.

Antidepressants: SSRIs, MAOIs, and serotonin-enhancing medicines such as Seroquel
Antihistamines, cold, sinus, hay fever, and allergy medicines, and sleep aids
Medicine for asthma, bronchitis, or other breathing problems
Antipsychotics
Appetite suppressants (diet pills)
Central nervous system depressants
Opiates or synthetic opioids — morphine, Vicodin, and the like
Amphetamines — Ritalin, Adderall, Dexedrine, Benzedrine, and the like
Take nothing other than aspirin or ibuprofen within 10 days without consulting us first
Notify us of any prescription for high blood pressure
Anyone taking antidepressant medication will not be permitted to participate; antidepressants must be stopped at least 2 to 4 weeks before ceremony after speaking with your doctor
Women who are pregnant are not permitted to participate
Do not schedule dental work or surgery in the week before or after a ceremony

3. Mental & emotional preparation

In expanded states of consciousness, the veil between the conscious mind and the vast ocean-like realm of the unconscious becomes more permeable. Our defenses, coping behaviors, thinking patterns, and fears exist to keep us from pain — and the medicine relaxes them, bringing us face to face with what the ego usually keeps hidden. We prepare by bringing mindfulness to our immediate experience and becoming familiar with the way our states arise. Expectations are the root of disappointment: it is good to have an intention, but no expectation. Let go and surrender.

Ayani Healing provides education, preparation, and integration support only. Services do not include the administration, facilitation, or provision of any controlled substances and are not a substitute for medical, psychological, or psychiatric care.

Heal · Transform · Remember. A sacred space for those walking the path of remembrance.

Ayani Healing provides education, preparation, and integration support only. Services do not include the administration, facilitation, or provision of any controlled substances and are not a substitute for medical, psychological, or psychiatric care.

Heal · Transform · Remember. A sacred space for those walking the path of remembrance.

Preparation for a plant medicine journey

“The winds of grace are always blowing, but you have to raise the sail.” — Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Before entering ceremony it is important to prepare yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually with an
intention of love, protection, high vibration, and intimate prayers for healing.

These guidelines and questions can support you in that phase. Nothing here is mandatory, and you do not have to share your answers with us. This is for you.

Preparation

1. Setting your intention

Preparation is not only physical — it is mental, emotional, and energetic. Our process is designed to protect your body, your psyche, and your spiritual wellbeing.

Your intention plays a crucial role in the entire process. When our intentions are clear, we give the universe full permission to deliver. Clarity of purpose enables profound healing beyond your wildest expectations. An intention is like a prayer — a statement of motivation and direction that communicates to your Higher Self what you are seeking. Support it by journaling, making art, playing music, singing, or simply writing each morning. Record your dreams.

•What is it I want to realize for myself? What would be my ideal outcome? How would I like to feel?

•What is my main aim or objective? Think of this in terms of what you want — not what you don't want.

•What is my purpose for wanting to do this work? Be sure it is an authentic purpose, not simply checking an experience off a bucket list.

•How does this purpose look and feel to me? Imagine it, write it down, or draw it out.