Am I ready?
Are you ready to look at the unresolved topics of your life?
A certain amount of fear, nervousness and respect will always be there — and that is healthy. The question is whether your hesitation is natural fear, self-sabotage, or a genuine sign that now isn’t the right time.
- A
Natural fear & respect
Nervousness, awe, a little anxiety, excitement. All normal — and part of being ready for Ayahuasca ✨
- B
Self-sabotage
“I am ready, but I’m afraid, so I stay in my comfort zone and don’t approach it.”
- C
Not the right time
“This is not the right moment for me.” Listening to that is also wisdom.
Where is the fear coming from?
A big transformation (even one we’re looking for) requires us to step outside of our comfort zone, and that is by definition uncomfortable. So right before a big change, the voice of the ego often becomes very loud, convincing us not to go ahead with it — because it wants to stay in the comfort zone.
- 1Am I ready to look into the mirror of my subconscious?
- 2Am I ready to look at myself without the filters?
- 3Am I ready to do the work — or am I hoping for a magic pill that does it for me?
- 4Am I trusting the process? It sounds cliché — but it’s true.
- 5Am I ready to take responsibility for my own process? Guides support you, but no one can control what you experience or what comes up.
Understanding your intention
Why do you want to drink Ayahuasca? What is your reason — your purpose?
It’s important to know why you are drinking the medicine so you don’t just wander into the forest only to find that you got lost. It doesn’t have to be specific and can be around a general theme whether it be “healing”, “growth”, “spirituality”, “learning” etc, whatever it may be for you.
A level of clarity
Have a sense of why you want to sit with the medicine. Write it down. Revisit it before every ceremony.
Coming from a crisis
The decision often arises from a personal crisis — loss, burnout, a breakup, depression. Often, the crisis is what opens the door.
Years in the making
For many, this is something they have been building up to for multiple years. Honour that path — you don’t have to rush the final step.
A center that understands
Choose a retreat center that truly understands the level of responsibility it takes on when you place this moment in its hands.
Find the retreat center that most suits your needs and wants
Indigenous tradition
A living lineage with real taitas or curanderos — not a ceremony improvised for tourists.
Group size
Small enough that the facilitators can actually see and hold every participant.
Track record
Reputation, years of experience and honest reviews from people who have sat with them.
Emotional safety
How will I be supported — and, just as important, where does that support end?
Comfort
A good mattress, clean bedding and a hot shower help you relax into the experience.
Warm & Welcoming
An approachable, warm team there to see and hear you all the way through.
Location in nature
A setting that reconnects you with Mother Nature and supports your healing.
Education material
Online information often conflicts. Good centers prepare you so you know what to expect.
The luxury is being in nature — not the jacuzzi or swimming pool.
How long should my retreat be?
Just like how you feel a calling to Ayahuasca, you’ll know in your gut how many ceremonies you want to start (or continue) with. Go back to your intention and what topics you want to work on to help discern it for yourself.
1 ceremony
Not ideal for first-timers. A good option if you already have a level of experience with Ayahuasca.
Best forexperienced drinkers
2 ceremonies
A great way to get started with Ayahuasca. The first ceremony is a good introduction between you and the medicine, and you can go deeper with the second.
Best forgetting to know the medicine
4 ceremonies
(3 in some places.) A great way to go deeper into your personal process and create a profound shift.
Best forgoing deeper
10 – 30 days
Recommended for overcoming burnout or very deep-seated issues. For most people not ideal: it’s important to return to your life and start applying the lessons.
Best forspecific deep cases
Which country do I want to have the experience in?
Colombia
Yagé traditions of the Putumayo and Amazon regions.
Peru
Shipibo and mestizo healing traditions of the Peruvian Amazon.
Ecuador
Ceremonies held by Amazonian indigenous communities. Not many active Retreat Centers.
Brazil
Indigenous lineages alongside churches like Santo Daime.
Mexico
Popular and accessible; ask which tradition the facilitators actually come from. Legal questions remain...
Costa Rica
Often more comfort-focused; ask about lineage and track record.
United States
Close to home for many; the legal situation is complex, so check carefully.
Travel distance
How far am I willing to travel — and how will long journeys affect my energy and arrival?
Cultural affinity
Do I feel drawn to a specific culture, language or landscape?
The tradition
Read about the different traditions and notice which one resonates with me.
Medical considerations
Ayahuasca is a powerful medicine. An honest medical screening protects you — never hide a condition or medication from the retreat team.
- Medications
Some combinations are dangerous
Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs), lithium, some ADHD stimulants, certain pain medications and St John’s Wort can interact seriously. Never stop a medication without first checking with your primary physician.
- Mental health history
Psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder
A personal — or close family — history of these conditions is generally a reason not to drink. Discuss it openly with the center.
- Heart & body
Conditions that need a doctor’s view
Heart conditions, high blood pressure, epilepsy, diabetes, recent surgery, pregnancy or breastfeeding all need to be disclosed and assessed.
- Preparation
Follow the dieta
Avoid alcohol, recreational drugs and the foods your center lists in the days before. It’s for safety as much as for the ceremony.
- Screening
Expect a thorough intake
A responsible center asks for a detailed medical and psychological questionnaire — and turns people away when it isn’t safe.
- On site
Ask about medical support
Is there a physician involved? Who is trained in first aid? How far is the nearest hospital?
Support in your integration process
The ceremony opens the door. The real change happens in the weeks and months after — back in your everyday life.
Until what point am I supported — and from when on not anymore?
- BeforePreparation, screening, answering your questions.
- DuringCeremonies, sharing circles, one-to-one care.
- AfterIntegration calls, therapists, community — for how long?
Ask the center to be clear about where its support ends, so you can arrange what you need beyond it.
Things we don’t recommend
“Drink and go” retreats
You arrive, drink Ayahuasca and leave the next day. There is no time to prepare, no space to land, and no one to help you make sense of what came up.
Solo excursions into the Amazon
Travelling alone to find a ceremony with no vetting, no safety net and no aftercare — unless you really are that kind of super-curious, experienced traveller.
Why Harmonica could be ideal for your first Ayahuasca retreat
The two biggest questions for any first-timer — am I ready, and what is my intention? — are exactly where we start with you.
Our educational material
We’ve created guides on readiness, safety, intention and preparation to help you check in with yourself honestly, before you decide.
An initial call with us
A personal conversation to understand where you are, answer your questions and gently explore what brings you to the medicine.
Speak with us →Clarity
- — Whether now is the right time for you
- — Telling healthy nerves from self-sabotage
- — An intention that comes from the heart
Kamsá Biyá
A living yagé tradition from the Putumayo region of Colombia. Where the Andes Mountain range meets the Amazon.
In Colombia, Yagé is the name for Ayahuasca.
- Authentic ceremoniesOur ceremonies are held within a real indigenous lineage, spanning generations.
- Guided by our yageceroSergio Henao brings over 16 years of experience with the medicine.
- Indigenous Mama ConchaOur teacher and elder. All we do is thanks to her, with her permission.
Intimate group size
Every retreat and ceremony is limited to a maximum of 12 participants — small enough that you are never just a number.
- Individual attentionBefore, during and after every ceremony.
- Safe containerGentle for the sensitive states a first ceremony can open.
- Beautiful connectionsBig enough for a real group dynamic — we learn a lot about ourselves through healing alongside others.
A strong reputation
How we hold the container
- ConfidentialityWhat’s shared stays in the circle.
- Respect & non-judgementRespect our differences.
- AuthenticityLeave masks at the door.
A strong facilitator-to-group ratio, with at least one female facilitator in every retreat.
We meet with every participant before they join a retreat.
Every activity is an invitation, never an obligation.
We’re there for you — while leaving room for your own process, without falling into a caretaker role.
A big, diverse team
Each member of our team supports you during the retreat and in ceremonies, with a lot of love and intention, to be present and attentive of you.
We consider it a calling more than a job, and so we take it very seriously.
The last house on the road
In the mountains of Girardota, next to a natural reserve — silence and privacy, with a waterfall on the property.
Surrounded by forest and mountain air.
For cold immersions and quiet moments.
The last house on the road — no through traffic, no neighbours.
Comfortable mattresses, hot water and wifi.
Know what to expect — before, during and after
Ayahuasca is a topic full of conflicting information online. Harmonica has one of the most extensive educational platforms around.
- 80+Blog guidesReadiness, intention, preparation, integration and much more.
- 40+YouTube videosWatch and listen before you arrive.
- 2Dedicated coursesA separate preparation course and integration course.
- 1×Integration call a monthStay connected and supported after you leave.
Carolina Forero, PhD, provides integration support at Harmonica.
A research partnership with UCSF, with Prof. Robin Carhart-Harris’ team.
Two ways to begin
Both formats are designed with first-timers in mind — choose how deep you want to go.
Discover & Connect
2 ceremoniesA gentle, complete introduction — to connect with the medicine for the first time.
Includes conscious connected breathwork, cold immersions and sharing circles.Go deep within
4 ceremoniesTime to go deep into your own inner landscape — and profoundly shift.
Everything in the weekend, plus cacao, sound healing and art therapy.Medically screened, every time
- 1You share your medical information
Conditions, medications and history — honestly and in full.
- 2Our doctor reviews it
All medical information is reviewed by our physician on staff, Dr. Kevin Zapata, MD.
- 3An honest decision
If it isn’t safe for you to drink right now, we tell you — and explain why.
Everything a first-timer needs — in one place.
- ✓ Kamsá Biyá tradition
- ✓ 12 people max
- ✓ Strong reputation
- ✓ Emotional safety
- ✓ Nature & comfort
- ✓ Extensive education
- ✓ Weekend or one week
- ✓ Doctor on staff
- ✓ Warm & welcoming
- ✓ Delicious food
- ✓ Fair price
- ✓ Love & intention
First-time Ayahuasca FAQs
How do I know if I’m ready for Ayahuasca?
A certain amount of fear, nervousness and respect is normal before Ayahuasca. The question is whether the fear causes you to self-sabotage and stay in your comfort zone, or is a genuine sign that now isn’t the right time. To help give an indication, you can ask yourself:
- Am I ready to look into the mirror of my subconscious?
- Am I prepared to do the work — or am I hoping for a magic pill that does it for me?
- Am I ready to look at the unresolved topics of my life?
Do I need a clear intention before my first ceremony?
It’s important to drink Ayahuasca with a level of intention. Know why you are drinking the medicine so you don’t just wander into the forest only to find that you got lost. It doesn’t have to be a specific intention and can be broad, whether it be around “healing”, “growth”, “spirituality” etc, whatever applies to you.
It’s also important to know that it’s not just something to try or a “fun activity” to do while in Colombia. Having an intention demonstrates that you are taking it seriously and with respect.
Watch on YouTube12 impulses to find your Ayahuasca intentionA great resource to help you find your intentionHow many ceremonies should I do on my first retreat?
One night is not ideal for first-timers. A long weekend with 2 ceremonies is a great way to get started; a week with 4 ceremonies lets you go deeper into your personal process. Go back to your intention and what topics you want to work on to help discern it for yourself.
Which medications don’t mix with Ayahuasca?
Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs), lithium, some ADHD stimulants, certain pain medications and St John’s Wort can interact seriously. Never stop a medication without first checking with your primary physician.
Can I drink Ayahuasca with a history of psychiatric disorders?
A personal — or first degree family (full sibling or parent) — history of psychosis, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder is a risk with Ayahuasca. Discuss it openly with the retreat center.
How big are the groups at Harmonica?
Every retreat and ceremony is limited to a maximum of 12 participants — so that we can provide a high level of individualised care, in-depth sharing circles without a time limit, and 1-1 personal conversations too. It’s a good size to form deep, beautiful connections with others in the group.
What integration support is there after a retreat with Harmonica?
The ceremony opens the door; the real change happens in the weeks and months after. At Harmonica that includes a dedicated integration course, an integration call once a month, and optional integration support from a psychologist.
Where is Harmonica Retreat, and how do I get there?
Harmonica Retreat is located about 1 hour from the centre of Medellín and about 1:30 h from Medellín international airport, which has direct flights from the US. We organise transport from and to the city (included in the cost of the retreat) and from/to the airport for an additional cost.
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