Hello all. I will be brewing ayahuasca for the first time very soon. I was just wondering about the setting. I am doing this for spiritual enlightenment and deep healing NOT recreation. I will be at a home in a controlled environment and am taking a cautious approach. I'm wondering if i should just sit/lay in near to total darkness and silence, or is music good to add to the mix. I must say music is my world and I always add it to other experiences that I have partaken in, so it would be awesome if I could use it. Should I walk around and look at things, prehaps even put on a visual and sonic dvd by the likes of one Steve Roach? I'm sure the experience will probably just take on a life of its own, but if there is anything I can do to get prepared, I would like to know.

Thank you all and any help will be received with much gratitude.

I dont think i would like darkness or silence very much. If its in your capabilities i would go for pharmahuasca instead of dealing with sickness.

I would just lay down and meditate in silent darkness first. Music can be nice though, especially to help navigate through a rough part. Any kind of chanting or vocalizations once in the throes of the experience can be incredible to. Incense is also nice.


Whatever you do, don't resist the purge if it happens to start to come up.

Thanks. I am not afraid of the purge. I don't like being sick, but in this case it actually sounds like something that is necessary and positive to the entire experience. I accept it as part of the whole thing. I suppose i will just see where it all leads me

Often times it seems that the purge actually alleviates the nausea/sick feelings. And can be mentally/physically cleansing in other ways to

Thats the spirit! You already said that you will be making your journey in a safe space. Beyond that there are no wrong answers. Do whatever feels right to you!

My preference is to have as little distraction as possible, sounds and lights dimmed.

First time I did pharmahuasca, I actually went cycling. It was pleasurable, but also a lot less intense than the later home-bound sessions with minimal distractions.

I find that drinking with others feels way more secure, but if you're on a mission to drink it solitude, more power to ya. I prefer pure darkness because I think it make its easier to focus on the visions. I do think you should have music though and that music guides our journeys and can offer grounding stimulation when things get really intense. I'd suggest making a really mellow playlist. Make sure there isnt anything with an agitated essence to it, cuz I find I'm very sensitive to negative or irritating sounds/music on aya. Goodluck!

I always get VERY sensitive to light, so much that even a single small candle is too much when the harmalas kick in.

I prefer doing it in darkness. Music is OK, especially headphones.

It depends .. things that you should know is that you will probably get motion sickness, nausea, feel weak .. these go away after some time.

Depending on the dose, writing while it happens might be possible (even in (almost complete) darkness, as long as there is a bit of light, your eyes will adapt)

Drinking lots of water after the medicine can change the energy of the medicine. You basicly distribute it more in you body vs keeping it concentrated.

I have been told that the shock therapy of an ice cold shower can make you sober faster, also recommended as countermeasure against dangerous low blood pressure / hypoventilation.

Laying on your back also changes the way you feel this energy. For me, i get more nausea when i lay down as when i sit upright.

You definatly want to have sound/music available.
You'll need an acustic resonance driver. Silence can get unbearable. When too much fear/confusion comes you can make sounds yourself.
Imho its the best way to manipulate your consicousness and indirectly your experience.
Sing, chant, whistle...create overtones, create a rhytm.
Or listen to music. But take your time preparing a good playlist.

Even if you are good prepared, when the medicine takes over, you'll might get confused.
Make everything as easely accessable as possible.

For a safe approach and if its your first time, keep somebody informed/prepared about what you are doing, in case you have an emergency so that you can call him over if you need assistance.

Also learn about smudging and how to create a ritualistic space by defining (visualizing) a positive energy around you and fill it with your intention and the positive olfactory-essence of incense.
The smell of Palo Santo, Copal and mapacho can be very grounding.

If you feel very sick, but the purge isn't coming out, a toke from an mapacho spliff, or a noseful of palo santo smoke can deliver it immediately.


Safe journeys young Padawan.
for doing it alone, thats brave.

You will not want to look around at things. Minor illumination like a campfire outside in nature will certainly make you more connected, but if thats not possible your room will do fine. If you want to heal, try to visualise connecting to the earth with roots shooting down and absorbing emerald green energy. then connect to the center of the universe with a ever expanding pillar going up and feel the golden white energy flow through you. once you connect these 2 energy's in the center of your body you can either focus it on your own chakras or other people to heal them. this is also a form of meditation, try to clear your mind as much as possible. Visualisation is something very powerful for me.

try hovering over your own body or especially someone else who you are deeply connected to. I feel warmth or a tingling sensation, the more i feel it the stronger the chakra is. If you use your own energy when healing you become exhausted and possibly even take over the sickness of the person you are healing. this is reiki healing, there are many different kinds of healing. You don't even have to be tripping to do this, but the more "in the zone" I become through meditation or psychedelics (both together are just insane) the more effect this seems to have.

If you want deep spiritual guidance or experiences, all you need to do is completely let go. Let go of all control and concious tought. once you silence all the noise going on inside your mind you will become more and more aware of the subtle intelligent energies that seem to like to communicate. Incense like white sage/santo palo/frankincense/copal/mhyrr are great.