The icaros, sung by a Shaman, are an integral part of the ceremony. It is through these songs that your mareación (the visionary effects of Ayahuasca) is enhanced. It is also quite likely that you will gain a greater appreciation of the power of music through the icaros. Be wary that you might not necessarily like the information that the divine/infinite/mystery chooses to share with you. In the documentary Vine of the Soul: Encounters With Ayahuasca, one user reported that the horror she experienced was truly indescribable and that she thought she was going to die. But another participant in the ceremony said that Ayahuasca opened her heart in a way it had never been opened before. Ayahuasca is always referred to in the feminine because users have said that the voice of higher intelligence that they’ll hear during the ceremony is female. She (meaning the plant) speaks to you directly and tells you what you need to work on in your life. The experience will be ineffable, beyond language, and you will likely find that trying to put it into words after the ceremony has ended will be daunting if not impossible. “Ten years of therapy downloaded in a night,” seems to be a fairly universal analogy to convey the possible take-away from a ceremony. Another possible outcome of an Ayahuasca ceremony is that you will realize that everything perceived through your five senses and assimilated by your mind is contrived or false. Returning ceremonial participants should also be aware that each time you experience the divine/infinite/mystery, it will be different. Each experience is akin to just a small drop in the ocean. If you do not adhere to the recommended dieta (diet) before the ceremony, then the plants will assist your body in ridding itself of the chemicals—salt, sugar, alcohol, caffeine, etc., by fleshing out the toxins and impurities that you have crammed into it over the years. This is commonly known as purging, which translates to literally just that. You’ll probably vomit profusely, but purge buckets will be provided. But fear not, if your body (including the subtle energy body) is clean, then there will be nothing to purge. It is possible that plant medicine allows the subjective self to temporarily shed and merge with the infinite “other.” After a ceremonial night of purging, you might find that you gain a fresh new outlook on what was once a seemingly mundane reality. Therefore, it is imperative to do your research on your Shaman and the ceremony itself so that you can ensure you are in good hands and feel safe. Ira teaches workshops at the Esalen Institute and throughout the United States and is the author of How to Survive Your Childhood Now That You’re an Adult: A Path to Authenticity and Awakening.
