The Importance of Ayahuasca Intention
Before drinking Ayahuasca, it’s important to think about why you want to drink Ayahuasca. Having a clear intention can help you stay focused and centered during the journey, especially in case it gets difficult.
Take some time to reflect on your goals and wishes of your soul, so you have a guiding force to rely on when working with Ayahuasca.
Ayahuasca intention setting is when you decide what you want to achieve during a ceremony. This helps you to receive healing on a specific (or broad) topic and can involve things like gaining clarity on a problem, connecting with a higher power, forgiving somebody or growing personally.
By setting clear intentions, you can guide your experience and give it purpose.
But why are intentions so important? Well, without clear intentions, your experience with the medication may lack direction or meaning.
On the other hand, when you set specific intentions, you give yourself something to focus on during the ceremony. This can help you stay grounded and present even when things get tough. I always remember the word Taita Miguel shared:
“The clearer your intention, the clearer the messages in your Ayahuasca ceremony” – Taita Miguel
So let’s answer the question on how to set a powerful intention for your ceremony
Key takeaways:
- Ayahuasca is a powerful medicine that can have a profound impact on your life. It is not something you do for recreative purposes. Therefore, it is important that there is a deeper reason why you drink Ayahuasca, your intention.
- You can have a specific intention for Ayahuasca when there is an area of life where you want to focus on, or that is in disharmony. When there are multiple things in your life that require your attention it is good to go with an open intention like “healing” or “growth”.
- An intention is different to an expectation. You set your intention in what you want to dive deeper but you are open for the Ayahuasca to take you in different directions. Maybe your intention will develop differently than anticipated and be open to that. Do not restrict the experience.
Table of Contents
Setting Ayahuasca Intention: Examples and Tips
Questions to find your Ayahuasca Intention
To discover your intention for an ayahuasca ceremony, there are several questions you can ask yourself:
What is the wish of your soul?
What do you want to let go of?
What unresolved issue are you carrying with you?
What keeps you up at night?
Who/what is triggering you?
What area of your life do you want to tidy up?
With whom or what do you want to make peace?
What do you feel like you need?
What would you tell your 8-year-old self?
What do you wish for yourself in 5/10 years?
What feelings/situations are you running away from?
As what kind of person do I want to show up as in my work/friendships/romantic relationships? And what’s holding me back?
Asking these questions before an Ayahuasca retreat can help uncover areas of your life that need attention. It can also help you gain clarity on what you want to achieve in your life.
If you prefer to watch a video on this topic you are more than welcome to:
Additional questions to ask yourself for setting your intention for your Ayahuasca ceremony
Reflect on your current state: Take some time to sit quietly and reflect on what’s going on in your life right now. What challenges are you facing? What emotions are present? What areas of your life do you want to improve by taking steps towards change? How does your environment affect your beliefs?
Identify your goals: Based on your beliefs and reflection, identify specific goal(s) that you want to work on during the ceremony. Consider how these goals can contribute to positive change in yourself and your environment, taking into account your personal values and priorities.
Write down your intentions: Once you have identified your beliefs and goals, write them down in a clear and concise statement using positive language. For example: “I intend to release my limiting beliefs about abundance,” “I intend to connect with my inner child and transform my negative self-talk beliefs,” “I intend to heal my relationship with my mother by releasing old beliefs that no longer serve me.”
Repeat your intentions and beliefs: Before drinking ayahuasca, take some time to repeat your intentions and beliefs silently. Visualize yourself achieving them and feel the emotions associated with their fulfillment.
Is Your Intention Coming from the Heart?
One of the most important questions to ask yourself when setting an intention for an ayahuasca ceremony is whether it’s coming from the heart. Your intention should be something that resonates with you on a deep level and feels authentic.
If your intention is head-centered, it may not be as effective. Take some time to reflect on your intention and make sure it’s aligned with your true self.
Examples for an intention for your Ayahuasca ceremony:
- Feeling love
- Feeling worthy
- Becoming more compassionate
- healing the relationship with somebody
- Forgiving somebody (or oneself)
- processing a strong emotional event in our life
- Leave behind mental health struggles
- break through an internal barrier
- Seeing one’s blind spots
- become more courageous / overcome fear
- Understanding oneself better
- Gaining clarity
- Connecting with one’s intuition
- Personal growth
- And many more
Hearing the “Call of Ayahuasca”
There’s a certain inexplicable whisper that resonates within your soul, often referred to as the ‘call’ for Ayahuasca. It’s difficult to articulate. This call doesn’t stem from logic or reason;
it feels more like an innate yearning, an intangible thread pulling you towards a journey of profound self-discovery. It could be a wish for healing, or something that keeps pointing you towards Ayahuasca and you cannot explain it. But something in you tells you there is something to take a deeper look at.
It may seem daunting, maybe even irrational to some, but this spiritual call can be a potent compass guiding your way. This quiet but persistent whisper is your intuition, your inner wisdom nudging you towards a path of self-exploration. Hearing this call could very well be the first step towards understanding yourself on a deeper level.
Embracing it can lead to a journey that’s as transformative as it is enlightening.
Must read Blog: Hearing the Call for Ayahuasca
Use Positive Language in Your Ayahuasca Intention
When setting your intention for an ayahuasca ceremony, it is important to use positive language that aligns with your beliefs.
Instead of focusing on what you don’t want or what you want to get rid of, focus on what you want to bring into your life that resonates with your beliefs. For example, instead of saying “I don’t want to be anxious anymore,” say “I want to feel calm and at peace in alignment with my beliefs.”
Using positive language helps shift your mindset towards a more optimistic outlook, which can positively impact your beliefs about yourself and the world around you.
It also helps you focus on the things that matter most in your life.
Leave Out Coping Mechanisms Before Ayahuasca
Before drinking ayahuasca, it’s best to avoid any ways you usually deal with stress. By doing so, you may begin to notice things about yourself that can help reveal your intention.
For example, if you typically reach for a drink or snack when feeling stressed or anxious, try sitting with those feelings instead.
This can help you gain clarity on why you use these coping mechanisms and what underlying emotions they may be masking.
Must read Blog: Ayahuasca Preparation: How to prepare for your ceremony
Broad or Specific Ayahuasca Intention:
You may find yourself wondering whether a broad or specific intention is better. The truth is, both options have their benefits, and the choice ultimately depends on your personal preferences and goals.
Specific Intentions
Specific intentions are focused desires for healing or personal growth related to particular issues or challenges in our lives.
Examples of specific intentions include wanting to heal relationships with family members, overcome addiction patterns, or gain clarity on career decisions.
One benefit of choosing a specific intention is that it provides clarity and direction for the experience.
When we have a clear idea of what we want to address during the ceremony, we can focus our attention on those areas without getting distracted by other issues that may arise.
Another benefit of choosing a specific intention is that it allows us to track progress and stay accountable. When we set a specific intention, we can measure our progress over time and see how much we’ve grown or changed as a result of the ceremony.
This can be empowering and motivating, especially when we’re working on long-term goals or challenges.
Broad Ayahuasca Intention
Broad intentions are general desires for healing or personal growth. Examples of broad intentions include wanting to heal emotional wounds, release negative patterns, or connect with a higher power.
When you have many specific intentions and don’t know how to go about addressing them all, it can be beneficial to choose a broad intention that encompasses all of your concerns.
One benefit of choosing a broad intention is that it can help you surrender control and trust the process.
When we try to micromanage our experiences with ayahuasca by setting multiple specific intentions, we risk getting in the way of what the medicine wants to show us.
By letting go and allowing ourselves to be open to whatever arises during the ceremony, we create space for profound healing and transformation.
Which One is Better?
Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong answer. Both options have their benefits, and the choice depends on your individual needs and preferences.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by multiple issues in your life and don’t know where to start, a broad intention may be best for you.
On the other hand, if you have a clear idea of what you want to work on during the ceremony, a specific intention may provide more direction and focus.
Regardless of which option you choose, remember that setting an intention is just one aspect of preparing for an ayahuasca ceremony and in the end Ayahuasca will do what Ayahuasca does and let its own magic go to work.
Find out if Ayahuasca is right for you
- Will you be safe physically and emotionally?
- How will you be supported in the ceremony?
- How do the facilitators handle difficult situations?
- How will you be able to process the experience?
- You want change, but will your life be unrecognizable after Ayahuasca?
+ 13 things to consider before drinking Ayahuasca?
Difference between intention and expectation
Intention and expectation are two concepts that are often used interchangeably, but they have different meanings. setting an intention is crucial for a successful experience. However, having expectations can limit the transformative power of the plant medicine.
Intention is the purpose or aim behind an action
An intention is a statement of what you want to achieve or focus on during your ayahuasca ceremony. It is a way of directing your energy towards a specific goal or outcome.
For example, your intention might be to release past traumas, connect with your higher self, or gain clarity on a particular issue in your life.
Setting an intention before drinking ayahuasca helps you to stay focused on what you want to achieve during the ceremony.
However, it is important to not be attached in which way you will receive the healing and insights.
Expectations can limit our experiences
Expectations are beliefs about what will happen in the future. They are based on our past experiences (or the research we have done on the internet / other people’s experiences) and assumptions about how things should be. having expectations can limit our experiences and prevent us from fully embracing the present moment.
For example, if you expect to have a certain type of experience during your ceremony, such as seeing visions or receiving specific insights, you may miss out on other valuable experiences that could occur.
By letting go of expectations and being open to whatever arises during the ceremony, we can allow ourselves to fully surrender to the experience and receive its full benefits.
Ayahuasca has a unique intelligence and can often identify areas in need of healing that we may not even be aware of consciously.
By setting a broad intention, you allow the medicine to guide the experience and address whatever needs attention most.
Must Read Blog: How many Ayahuasca ceremonies do you need
Letting go of expectations, Trust the process and surrender to the experience
When we let go of expectations and focus on our intentions, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and transformative experiences.
Ayahuasca has the power to take us on unexpected journeys that can lead to profound healing and growth.
By surrendering to the experience and trusting the process, we allow ourselves to be guided by the wisdom of the plant medicine.
This can lead us down paths that we may not have considered before, but that ultimately lead to greater understanding and self-awareness.
It’s important to remember that setting an intention is not about controlling how it will manifest during your ayahuasca ceremony.
Rather than focusing on specific outcomes or results, focus on the feeling or state of being you want to achieve.
For example, if your intention is to release past traumas, focus on the feeling of freedom and lightness that comes with letting go rather than trying to control how this will happen during your ceremony.
Are you ready to experience tha magic of Ayahuasca for yourself? Than I invite you to consider our Ayahuasca Retreat Center in Colombia.
Be open for things to go in a different direction
Finally, it’s important to remain open-minded throughout your ayahuasca ceremony. While setting an intention is important, it’s also important to be open to the unexpected and allow things to unfold in their own way.
This means being flexible and adaptable, and not getting too attached to specific outcomes or experiences.
By remaining open-minded, you allow yourself to fully embrace the transformative power of ayahuasca and receive its full benefits.
Also when you notice that you are afraid of your Ayahuasca ceremony I recommend you our blog on exactly that topic:
Must read Blog: Afraid of Ayahuasca – overcome your fear of Ayahuasca
Be open to discover the root of your intention
Metaphor: Your shoulder pain has its origin in your knees…
Imagine your journey with Ayahuasca as a deep dive into the mechanics of a finely-tuned machine – your mind and soul.
Much like how an inexplicable shoulder pain might be the symptom of misaligned hips, and these misaligned hips might be the result of an unextended knee while walking, the intentions you set for your Ayahuasca experience might be addressing the symptoms, not the root cause.
Your initial intention might be to gain more self-confidence, which could be akin to wishing to alleviate your shoulder pain. However, as you walk the winding path under Ayahuasca’s guidance, you may find that the solution does not lie in the shoulder itself, but further down – in the hips, or even the knee.
You might realize that your lack of self-confidence is not due to surface-level topics but that you need to forgive a family member and feel unconditional love towards your parents (and Ayahuasca can help you feel that love to and heal it).
Just as treating the knee can bring alignment to the hips and ease the shoulder pain, unveiling and addressing these deep-seated issues in your Ayahuasca journey can bring alignment to your personal and professional life.
The plant medicine doesn’t simply pacify the obvious pain point; it delves deep into the underlying causes, bringing about profound healing and insight that transcends the original intention. It’s a journey that’s not linear, but rather a holistic exploration of interconnected elements.
As you seek to heal your self-confidence, you may end up healing yourself, and vice versa. The complexities of our minds, much like the biomechanics of our bodies, often lead us down unexpected paths of discovery and healing.
When to Focus on Your Intention
Leading up to the Ceremony
Preparing for an Ayahuasca ceremony involves more than just abstaining from certain foods and substances. It’s also about setting intentions and focusing your mind on what you hope to achieve through the experience.
Before Drinking the Cup of Ayahuasca
Before drinking the cup of Ayahuasca, take a moment to introduce yourself mentally to the plant medicine. Acknowledge it as a powerful teacher and ally in your journey towards healing and self-discovery.
Then, share your intention with the cup. This doesn’t have to be a long-winded speech; simply stating your intention clearly in your mind is enough.
While it may sound silly, this simple act of speaking directly to Ayahuasca can help focus your mind and set a clear intention for the experience ahead.
In the Ceremony Itself
During an Ayahuasca ceremony, it’s common for one’s thoughts and emotions to go in all sorts of directions. Sometimes our minds become expanded but scattered, making it difficult to focus on any one thing for very long.
If this happens, try focusing on your heart center and returning to your intention. Allow yourself time and space within the ceremony itself to explore how you are feeling in relation to that intention.
Remember that even if you don’t feel like anything is happening or changing at first, trust that things are unfolding beneath the surface.
Just as with any other form of personal growth work, progress is often slow and steady rather than sudden and dramatic.
Must read Blog: Ayahuasca Ceremony – What to expect in your journey
Inappropriate Intentions for Ayahuasca
Seeing Geometric figures and experiencing hallucinogenic trance
One of the common effects of ayahuasca is the experience of geometric figures. While these experiences can be awe-inspiring and beautiful, they should not be the reason why you want to drink Ayahuasca. If someone approaches ayahuasca seeking only to “trip out” or have a wild experience, they are likely to discover something they might not be ready for yet…
Not a recreational experience
It’s important to understand that ayahuasca is not a recreational experience. It’s not something to be taken lightly or without proper preparation.
This is a sacred medicine that should be approached with respect and humility.
When people approach ayahuasca without a deep, personal intentions, they often do so because they view it as just another drug to experiment with. They may not realize the seriousness of what they’re getting into.
Importance of respect and humility
Approaching ayahuasca with respect and humility means recognizing that this is a powerful medicine that should be treated as such. In return you will receive a deep level of healing.
Business intention for Ayahuasca
As a business leader, you might feel compelled to direct your Ayahuasca intention towards strategies for increasing your company’s conversion rate or the next big disruptive idea. But let’s take a moment to remember, Ayahuasca is not a business tool, rather it is an ancient key that unlocks the door to profound human understanding and interconnectedness.
In the hustle of our modern life, we tend to overlook other essential aspects of existence beyond the world of spreadsheets and profit margins. In seeking the Ayahuasca experience, you are embracing an opportunity to delve into these neglected areas, to heal, to let go of the chains of your compulsions, and to find the strength to forgive. The magic of Ayahuasca lies in its power to bring us back to our core human existence, a journey that often brings us to the realization that we are much more than our professional titles or business responsibilities.
In setting your intention with Ayahuasca, imagine the liberation of channeling your energy into personal growth and healing instead of solely into your business. The healing journey with Ayahuasca can free up an incredible amount of energy within you – energy that was perhaps trapped in past traumas or unresolved issues.
It’s this newfound energy that can subsequently be used to invigorate your business in ways you never imagined.
In this way, Ayahuasca can indirectly benefit your business. But remember, its primary objective is to guide you to a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you.
Ayahuasca’s true purpose is not intended to amplify your conversion rates, but to enrich your human experience. As crucial as your business may be, life extends far beyond it.
The realm of Ayahuasca is a reminder that we, as humans, are a part of something far more profound and meaningful.
Conclusion on finding your Ayahuasca Intention:
Remember, to not just drink Ayahuasca to drink Ayahuasca. Ask yourself, why do I want to drink Ayahuasca? What is your intention.
It provides a guiding light for the experience and helps you focus on specific areas of personal growth and healing.
By identifying what you want to achieve or resolve, whether it’s healing relationships, overcoming fears, or finding inner peace, you can receive a deep healing with Ayahuasca. Through introspection and asking yourself meaningful questions, you can uncover the wishes of your soul and discover unresolved issues that need attention.
It’s important to approach Ayahuasca with respect, humility, and an open mind, recognizing its sacredness and the transformative potential it holds. While the journey may take unexpected turns, staying connected to your heart and intention can anchor you in the midst of the experience.
Remember to be present and open to the messages and insights that Ayahuasca may reveal.
Trust the process and allow your intention to unfold and evolve, both during the ceremony and in the days that follow. Ultimately, the clearer your intention, the clearer your Ayahuasca journey will be.
FAQ
You set your Ayahuasca intention by asking yourself, what areas of my life do I want to heal, change or improve. Try to answer this question with your heart and not from your head. The more heart-centered the intention, the more powerful it is and it will have a greater impact on your life than “superficial” hacks you might be looking for with your head. A good question you can ask yourself to set your intention for your Ayahuasca ceremony is: “what is the wish of my soul?”.
Examples for an Ayahuasca intention could be: “Feeling self-love”, “Forgiving things that happened in the past.”, “having more clarity in one’s life”, “emotionally processing events that happened in the past”, “Improving the relationship to the masculine / feminine” or also more broad intentions like “healing” or “being open to the teachings of Ayahuasca”
A bad intention for Ayahuasca is searching for a recreational experience or wanting to see geometrical fractals. Ayahuasca is a deeply sacred and powerful medicine and when approaching Ayahuasca with the mindset of it being a drug and looking to get high you miss the point and teachings of Ayahuasca. This way you also lack the understanding, respect and humility for the ancient tradition which is behind Ayahuasca.
