A phenomenology of subjectively relevant experiences induced by ayahuasca in Upper Amazon vegetalismo tourism

In a study of nine foreign tourists at an ayahuasca retreat in Peru, the typical structure of spontaneously reported experiences included personal preparation, physical symptoms, visual phenomena, cognitive and emotional phenomena, reactions within the psychedelic world and ordinary reality, and appraisal of the process. Emotional reactions ranged from pleasant (psychotherapeutic target emotions and hedonistic emotions) to unpleasant. For most participants, the presence of psychotherapeutic target emotions seemed to involve unpleasant emotions in the same session, possibly as transitional emotional states. This suggests psychodynamic processes, such as activation of emotional conflicts, can occur spontaneously during ayahuasca intake in this setting. Some participants attributed symbolic meaning to visionary content, more likely among psychotherapeutically motivated clients. The setting and expectations about native wisdom may influence experiences and interpretations.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Aims This heuristic study reports observations on the phenomenology of ayahuasca experiences of nine foreign tourist participants of an ayahuasca retreat in Peru. Methods Narrative interviews, reflecting individual experiences after ayahuasca “night ceremony,” have been analyzed by qualitative content analysis using a data-driven strategy in order to extract themes and categories inherent in the interviews. Previously, a demographic questionnaire was given. The dose–response connection was uncontrolled, which is typical for this naturalistic setting. Results The typical structure of spontaneously reported experiences includes: personal preparation, physical symptoms, visual phenomena, cognitive and emotional phenomena, reactions of the individual within the psychedelic “world” as well as within ordinary reality, and appraisal to the process. Emotional reactions were subsumed under pleasant (psychotherapeutic “target emotions” and hedonistic emotions) and unpleasant emotions. For a majority, the presence of psychotherapeutic target emotions seemed to involve the presence of unpleasant emotions in the same session – possibly as transitional emotional states. Conclusions This suggests that psychodynamic processes, for example, possible activation of emotional conflicts – can take place spontaneously, during ayahuasca intake in this particular setting. Some participants attributed symbolic meaning to the visionary content, which was more likely to take place in psychotherapeutically motivated clients. The specific setting influence as well as corresponding expectations of the participants in native wisdom could have considerable influence on experiences and interpretations, such as communication with entities as well as receiving personal teachings.