Personal Report: Significance of Community in an Ayahuasca Jungle Dieta

Abstract

What is the potential significance of community in a prolonged dieta (10‐day restricted diet with regular ritual consumption of ayahuasca and other medicinal plants) in a remote jungle location in the Amazon basin of Peru? Pre‐dieta experiences including how participants join the community, cleansing routines prior to departure to Peru, sharing with the shaman one's personal intentions and health history, and prior experience with medicinal and entheogenic plants are introduced. Dieta rituals such as tambo housing, meals, hygiene and maintenance, music, ceremony preparations, ceremonial and everyday dieta etiquette, and post‐ceremony ritual and day of rest are considered. Bonding with the local support community and those who harvested and crafted the medicinal plant mixtures are evaluated in the context of both dieta and traditional indigenous goals of creating a spiritual practice community of love and trust that embraces people, plants, and all of earth and beyond.

Participant Experiences on a Medicinal Plant Diet at Takiwasi Center: An In‐Depth Small‐Scale Survey

“…Self‐acceptance and self‐knowledge were themes frequently experienced by the participants, as were sensations of “peace and relief.” Other studies have observed similar results in those undertaking diets (Hagens and Lensky 2012; Horák 2013; Jauregui et al. 2011; Sanz‐Biset and Caňigueral 2011).…”

“…The first method is a therapeutic/medicinal diet (Jauregui et al 2011), during which one may treat physical problems (e.g., rheumatism and uterine abnormalities) (Jernigan 2011) as well as energetic and emotional conditions. The intent of this type of diet is to strengthen and cleanse the body and/or to receive knowledge from plants (Hagens and Lansky 2012;Politi et al 2019). The other type of plant diet is intended for those seeking apprenticeship in becoming shamans, who are known locally in Peru as curanderos (Luna 1984).…”

“…2011), during which one may treat physical problems (e.g., rheumatism and uterine abnormalities) (Jernigan 2011) as well as energetic and emotional conditions. The intent of this type of diet is to strengthen and cleanse the body and/or to receive knowledge from plants (Hagens and Lansky 2012; Politi et al. 2019).…”

Consume and Transform: Perfumes and healing in vegetalista healing practices of the Peruvian Amazon

“…In some Indigenous traditions, healers only use the dieta to treat serious illness or as a part of shamanic apprenticeship. Among vegetalistas in Peru, the dieta has become a widespread process increasingly undertaken by foreign visitors who come to drink ayahuasca (Marcus and Fotiou 2019; Hagens and Lansky 2012; Gearin and Labate 2018). During a dieta , one must follow strict rules that include abstaining from salt, sugar, alcohol, stimulants, sex, fruits, oils, animal fats, spices, hot peppers, and cold foods.…”