Before Ceremony - Complete Preparation Guide

The Dieta: Physical Preparation

The traditional dieta (diet) prepares your body to receive the medicine and can significantly impact your experience.

2 Weeks Before Ceremony

Eliminate:

• ❌ Alcohol (all types)
• ❌ Recreational drugs
• ❌ Red meat and pork
• ❌ Aged cheeses
• ❌ Fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, soy sauce)
• ❌ Excessive salt and processed foods
• ❌ Refined sugar

Reduce:

• ☕ Caffeine (gradually to avoid withdrawal headaches)
• 🌶️ Spicy foods
• 🧂 Salt
• 🍫 Chocolate
• 🥛 Dairy (some traditions)

Emphasize:

• ✅ Fresh fruits and vegetables
• ✅ Whole grains (rice, quinoa, oats)
• ✅ White fish or chicken (in moderation)
• ✅ Lots of water
• ✅ Simple, clean meals

Sexual Abstinence (Traditional Practice)

Many traditions recommend sexual abstinence (including masturbation) for 1-2 weeks before ceremony.

The idea: Conserve energy and maintain energetic clarity.

Common experience: Many have tried both approaches. Abstinence has been reported to intensify the experience, but it’s not make-or-break.

Do what feels right for you and your tradition.

Why the Dieta Matters

1. Reduces nausea during ceremony
2. Helps your body process the medicine
3. Traditional respect for the plant
4. Prepares you mentally through discipline
5. Some foods interact with MAOIs in ayahuasca

Reality check: Few have done a perfect dieta. Do your best. The medicine will work with you.

Setting Your Intention

What Is an Intention?

An intention is a gentle guiding question or focus for your ceremony - not a demand or expectation.

Good intentions:

• “What do I need to understand about my relationship with my mother?”
• “How can I heal my relationship with myself?”
• “Show me what I need to see.”
• “Help me understand my purpose.”

Problematic intentions:

• “Fix my depression.” (Too demanding, oversimplifies)
• “Show me my past lives.” (Too specific, might miss what you need)
• “Make me enlightened.” (Unrealistic expectation)

How to Set an Intention

1. Journal about what’s calling you to ceremony
2. Identify patterns you want to understand or heal
3. Distill to a simple question or focus
4. Hold it lightly - the medicine has its own wisdom
5. Write it down to revisit later

Remember: You might get what you need, not what you want.

Mental and Emotional Preparation

The Week Before

• Reduce stimulation: Less social media, news, intense media
• Practice meditation or quiet sitting (even 5-10 minutes daily)
• Journal about fears, hopes, questions
• Talk to your therapist if you have one
• Get good sleep - be as rested as possible
• Spend time in nature if you can
• Say goodbye to vices you’re releasing (even temporarily)

Managing Pre-Ceremony Anxiety

It’s normal to be nervous. You’re about to do something profound and vulnerable.

If anxiety is overwhelming:

• Talk to the facilitator beforehand
• Connect with others who’ve done ceremony
• Journal about specific fears
• Remember: you can always say no
• Trust that fear can coexist with readiness

Practical Preparation Checklist

What to Pack

Clothing:

• [ ] Comfortable, loose clothes (you might purge)
• [ ] Warm layers (you might get cold)
• [ ] Change of clothes (for after)
• [ ] Comfortable shoes (often ceremonial spaces require removing shoes)

Personal Items:

• [ ] Water bottle
• [ ] Flashlight or headlamp (red light is gentle)
• [ ] Journal and pen
• [ ] Toiletries for overnight
• [ ] Any prescribed medications (inform facilitator)
• [ ] Comfort items (shawl, crystals, photos - whatever grounds you)

Do NOT bring:

• ❌ Strong scents (perfume, cologne)
• ❌ Valuables you’d be devastated to lose
• ❌ Work laptop or obligations
• ❌ Expectations of how it “should” go

Logistics

• [ ] Someone knows where you’ll be (for safety)
• [ ] Work/obligations covered for 2-3 days after
• [ ] Transportation arranged (you can’t drive after ceremony)
• [ ] Integration support lined up (therapist appointment, integration circle)
• [ ] Accommodations understood (sleeping arrangements, bathroom access)
• [ ] Emergency contact information shared with facilitator

The Day Of Ceremony

Fasting

Most traditions require fasting for 4-6 hours before ceremony.

Usually allowed:

• Water (stay hydrated)
• Light fruit (early in the day)

Avoid:

• Heavy meals
• Fats and oils
• Large quantities of food

Why: A full stomach makes purging more difficult and unpleasant.

Mental Preparation

Morning of ceremony:

• Light exercise or stretching
• Meditation or quiet reflection
• Review your intention (lightly)
• Trust yourself

Avoid:

• Intense conversations or conflicts
• Stressful activities
• Rushing or overextending yourself

Final Checklist

Before you arrive:

• [ ] I’ve completed the dieta to the best of my ability
• [ ] I’ve set a gentle intention
• [ ] I’ve fasted for at least 4 hours
• [ ] I’m hydrated but not overly full
• [ ] I have everything I need packed
• [ ] Someone knows where I am
• [ ] I’ve informed the facilitator of all medications and health conditions
• [ ] I feel as ready as I can be (fear is okay, terror is not)

What If I Don’t Feel Ready?

You can always postpone.

Signs you might not be ready:

• Overwhelming terror (not just nervous butterflies)
• Recent major life crisis without processing time
• Feeling pressured by others
• Haven’t completed medical screening
• Gut feeling saying “not now”

Trust yourself. The medicine will wait.

After Ceremony Begins…

Remember:

• Surrender, don’t fight
• Breathe through intensity
• Ask for help if you need it
• Trust that it will end
• You are safe

See our What to Expect During Ceremony guide for detailed information about the ceremony experience itself.

Resources

• First-Timer’s Safety Guide
• What to Expect During Ceremony
• Daily Integration Practices
• Crisis Resources

You’ve done the work to prepare. Now trust yourself and the process.