Individual
Ceremonies
Explore the healing power of sacred medicine in the hands of experienced elders
Ayahuasca
Ceremony
with Taita Giovanni
Join a private group to drink ayahuasca (yagé) with Taita Giovanni, a Master Shaman from the Awá indigenous community of Putumayo, Colombia. The ceremony takes place in Santa Elena (around one hour from Medellin by car), over the course of one night and has a maximum of 15 participants per group.
Taita Giovanni leads the ceremony with the help of a team of experienced facilitators who guide and support you through your communion with the medicine. Ivaylo acts as the main facilitator, translator, and cultural bridge between the healers and participants, available for individual attention throughout the time we share together.
For more information about ayahuasca (yagé), see our medicines page.
To join our next yagé ceremony get in contact thought Whatsapp or Telegram
Preparation
and Integration
As part of the preparation for the ceremony, Colibri Garden hosts a pre-integration circle to connect with the address and how to best prepare. This takes place on the Monday evening of the week of the ceremony in Medellín.
Two days after the ceremony, the group gathers again. Having sat with the experience for a couple of days, we what we felt, what we lived, what information we received, and most importantly, what we are going to do going ceremony integration circle, we connect and learn from each other, and identity steps and changes we will be implementing thereon.
Get in touch to reserve your spot for the next ceremony or make any inquiries about the experience.
Get our Sacred Medicine Preparation Guidebook
Watch Laz’s experience!
Huachuma
& Inipi Ceremony
With Jué and Susana Karollys
Join us for the Huachuma / San Pedro & Inipi Ceremony with Jué and Susana Karollys. The ceremony is held in the home of this Colombian-Swedish medicine family in Santa Elena. Jué is a carrier of the Sacred Pipe – Channunpa, and the medicines of Kambo, Huachuma (San Pedro), Wilka and Inipi. He is also a Sun Dancer and an excellent musician. Susana is a traditional midwife and Kambo practitioner.
Together they hold the Huachuma (San Pedro) Mesa Andina Altar. It is a night of focus and concentration, where we get to hear the wisdom of these two medicine keepers and we get to share prayers and songs as a group. The Huachuma ceremony is concluded in the morning with a despacho altar offering to the fire in which we invest all our concentration, prayer and blessings from the night before. We then enter the sweat lodge to purify and renew ourselves before we return to the most important ceremony of them all – the ceremony of everyday life.
Learn more about Huachuma and Sweat Lodge here.
To join our next Huachuma & Inipi Ceremony get in contact through
Preparation
and Integration
As part of the preparation for the ceremony, Colibri Garden hosts a pre-integration circle to connect with the address and how to best prepare. This takes place on the Monday evening of the week of the ceremony in Medellín.
Two days after the ceremony, the group gathers again. Having sat with the experience for a couple of days, we what we felt, what we lived, what information we received, and most importantly, what we are going to do going ceremony integration circle, we connect and learn from each other, and identity steps and changes we will be implementing thereon.
Temazcal
Ceremony
with Abuela Gloria
Join us for a temazcal ceremony, held by local medicine woman and elder Abuela Gloria. The Temazcal (sweat lodge) is held in Guarne, around 45 minutes from Medellín. Abuela Gloria is a therapist and ritualist in Native American traditions and has been holding Temazcal ceremonies along with other ceremonial experiences of the Mexhica Toltec tradition since 1998.
During the ceremony, the group gathers in a circle inside a dome-shaped wooden structure that’s covered with cloth blankets. Volcanic stones are heated on an outdoor fire and brought in and placed in a central pit, where water is poured on them and the leader guides the group through songs and prayers. Temazcal ceremonies hold huge benefits for participants, including physical purification, emotional and energetic healing, connecting to the elements of nature, and symbolic spiritual rebirth.
Learn more about Sweat Lodge ceremonies here.
To join our next Temazcal ceremony get in contact thought Whatsapp or Telegram.
Get the workbook
Sacred Medicine Preparation Guidebook
The preparation and integration period before and after a ceremony allow us to get the most out of our communion with the sacred medicines. Here we have put together preparation notes on dietary and non-dietary recommendations, as well as a list of questions to help you reflect, retain and apply the teachings of the sacred teachers. Wishing you good work at your ceremony!
Monthly
Medicine Circle
Everyone who takes part in a Colibri Garden experience is invited to a once-per-month medicine circle. We get together to share medicine (mámbe, ambíl, rapé), talk openly about our process in life in an authentic and heart-centred space, address questions and situations that arise along the way and learn more about the world of sacred medicine, rituals, and practices. The idea behind these gatherings is remain connected to a supportive community of people who share the same journey and have access to trustworthy information.
Get in touch to join our next gathering.
Got a
question?
Is Colombia safe?
Colombia, and Medellin and its surrounding areas specifically, are increasingly safe to visit for tourists. While there is a risk of petty crime, tourism is on the up, and the vast majority of visitors that stick to safer areas and look after their belongings do not face any danger in Colombia.
Should I do a full retreat or single ceremony?
There are different experiences with this situation. The two experiences are indeed different. The benefit of going to a retreat is that you would be able to feel being in community, being able to talk about your process with life and bond with others over an extended period of time, time that you take for yourself. An individual ceremony could be just as powerful in terms of connecting with the medicine and getting deep insight while not requiring us to take a week or ten days away.
Is ayahuasca safe?
Ayahuasca is safe for healthy individuals. Those with a history of serious psychiatric disorders are advised not to drink ayahuasca. Ayahuasca can be harmful when interacting with certain medications such as SSRIs, so it’s important to taper off these medications before drinking ayahuasca.
Can ayahuasca help me with depression?
Ayahuasca is not a magic bullet, but studies have shown it can help relieve symptoms of depression not only through brain chemistry but also by allowing individuals to understand the root of their symptoms and subsequently heal those traumas. For more information, check out this article.
Can ayahuasca help me release control?
Ayahuasca by its very nature is about releasing control; surrendering to the experience. If you’re somebody who spends a lot of time trying to control aspects of your life that are outside of your influence, ayahuasca may be able to help you understand where this comes from and let go of the control we tend to hold onto so tightly.
Can ayahuasca help me get off antidepressants?
There have been many anecdotal reports of people who taper off antidepressant medication prior to drinking ayahuasca and do not return to taking them due to the profound impact of the experience on their depressive symptoms. However, we always recommend consulting your doctor or psychiatrist when making decisions around prescribed medication and coming off them under the supervision of a trained professional.
Is ayahuasca legal?
Yes! Ayahuasca (yagé) is legal in Colombia.
What medications should I avoid with ayahuasca?
There are a number of medications that should not be combined with ayahuasca, including SSRIs and stimulants. You can find a list of contraindications in this article and we always advise that you consult with a doctor before tapering off prescription medications.
What is the ayahuasca diet?
In the weeks and days leading up to drinking ayahuasca, it’s important to undertake a mental and physical diet. This means avoiding certain foods and substances before ceremony, including pork, dairy, fermented foods, alcohol and recreational drugs. Find a full breakdown here.
Can I drink ayahuasca while on my period?
In the Colombian tradition, most Taitas do not allow women to drink ayahuasca (yagé) while on their period.
What’s not included in the retreats?
- Airfare to and from Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (Airport Code: MDE)
- Any offsite meals or purchases
- Alcoholic beverages (strongly discouraged)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Travel medical insurance (required). We recommend IM Global.
- Tips and gratuities for guides, hosts, and facilitators
How do I sign up and prepare for a retreat?
- Get in contact to speak to a member of our team
- Purchase your flight to Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (Airport Code: MDE)(Airline tickets not included)
- Purchase travel (recommended) and medical insurance (required)
- Stay connected for travel and trip updates
- Read our FAQ and Medicine Sections
- Pack your bags
- Enjoy!
