When you sit in ceremony, the medicine in your cup carries the care of everyone who touched it — from the forest where the plants grew to the hands that prepared it. That is why I believe you deserve to know exactly where your medicine comes from.
Sourced from and blessed by Shipibo communities
The plants I work with are sourced from and blessed by Shipibo communities in the Amazon. The Shipibo are one of the great guardian peoples of Ayahuasca, and their teachers have guided and blessed the way I carry this work. I remain in relationship with them as I continue to learn from their wisdom.
Working this way matters to me for three reasons:
- Respect for the tradition. The medicine stays connected to the people and prayers that have safeguarded it for generations.
- Reciprocity. Sourcing through Shipibo communities honours the relationship between the medicine, the land and its guardians.
- Integrity. I know the origin of every plant that goes into the medicine I serve.
Cooked by hand, in the traditional way
Every brew is cooked by me — with love, prayer and respect, in the traditional ways I was taught. Nothing is bought ready-made.
Traditionally, Ayahuasca is prepared from two plants: the Ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and the leaves of the chacruna plant (Psychotria viridis). The preparation is unhurried. It is a time of prayer, song and intention, where the one cooking holds the people who will drink it in their heart. I approach it as part of the ceremony itself — the first act of holding space for you. Read more about the medicine in What is Ayahuasca?
Why this matters for your journey
The care that goes into the medicine is part of the safety and depth of the ceremony. Alongside it, every participant is screened, prepared and supported:
- A confidential participation and health screening form
- The Ayahuasca dieta and preparation guide
- A first dose that is deliberately conservative, so you can build trust with the medicine
- Live medicine music — icaros, mantras and sacred sound — throughout the night
- A 7-day integration group afterwards
The Shipibo connection
Shipibo kené — the intricate geometric patterns woven into their textiles and art — are said to be the visible form of the icaros, the healing songs of the plants. You will see these patterns throughout my work, and on the cloth that holds the sacred tools in ceremony. They are a daily reminder of whose wisdom this medicine carries. Watch a Shipibo blessing on my About page.
If you feel called to sit with the medicine, read the Ayahuasca Cape Town guide, see upcoming ceremonies, or get in touch.
