Spiritual Preparation

• It is essential to dedicate time to meditate on our intentions and attune ourselves to our most authentic wish for transformation.
  
  • What behaviors, conditioning, limiting beliefs, and thought patterns am I willing and ready to let go of that no longer serve me.
  • What am I calling into my life, what new experiences am I opening myself up to, what am I willing to accept?
  • What questions do I have that I wish answered? What bothers me? What is holding me back?
• Be conscious of your consumption of reading/viewing materials a few days before the ceremony.
• It is recommended to refrain from excessive use of social media and non-essential reading.
• We suggest taking time for contemplation, meditation, and intention setting, preferably while journaling and clarifying our intentions for the ceremony itself.
• It is very helpful to prepare yourself on the physical, mental and emotional levels in order to be more open and receptive on the spiritual level. This can be done through bathing, breathing, yoga, walking, praying, meditating, or whatever grounds and relaxes you.

Appearance and Clothing

Officially, all participants in our ceremonies are required to dress in all white. There are some specific ceremonies in celebration of the Orixas (from the Umbanda tradition) in which added to the white clothes will be a particular colored sash. (Yellow for Oxum, green for Oxôssi, blue for Iemanja). Initiated members of the church are required to don their Blue Star, which was received in their initiation ceremony. In addition, members are encouraged to wear “guias” or ceremonial necklaces that are connected to specific beings, mainly from the Umbanda tradition and in accordance with the specific type of spiritual guidance or protection the member is seeking within a particular ceremony. Also encouraged are traditional necklaces and jewelry coming from the indigenous tribes of Brazil, mostly Huni Kuin - Kaxinawa and Yawanawa, which we have been studying closely with for the past few years.

We ask all participants in our works to maintain a modest appearance that fits this type of work. We encourage our members and participants to maintain a healthy image consistent with honoring themselves, their spirit, and their bodies.

Diet and Physical Preparation

Our sacrament, the Daime tea or Ayahuasca, is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). MAOIs block an enzyme called monoamine oxidase, which breaks down excess tyramine in the body. Tyramine is an amino acid that helps regulate blood pressure. However, tyramine is an amino acid that is found in various foods and can cause a severe occipital or temporal headache, sweating, excessive dilatation of the pupils, stiff neck, palpitations, and the elevation of both diastolic and systolic blood pressure when taken with an MAOI. This sudden spike in blood pressure can lead to stroke, brain hemorrhage, and death. There have been nearly 100 deaths recorded due to interaction between pharmaceutical MAOIs and tyramine-containing foods.

However, the Daime or Ayahuasca is a reversible MAOI or RIMA. RIMAs are not as dangerous as other MAOIs, and there has never been a recorded fatality due to a food interaction with Ayahuasca. However, food interactions with Ayahuasca can nevertheless cause unpleasant symptoms such as severe headaches and accelerated heartbeat. People with severe high blood pressure or serious heart diseases should follow the MAOI safety diet very strictly when taking Daime tea or Ayahuasca.

The preparatory diet should not be taken lightly. You can seriously endanger yourself by failing to honor the dietary precautions and otherwise guarantee a much more painful and challenging process as our sacrament cleans out the toxins and heavier energies accumulated from a poor diet.

What Foods need to be avoided while preparing for the Ceremony

Foods that are aged, preserved, dried, fermented, pickled, cured (meats), rancid, old, outdated, overripe, or even slightly spoiled.

The following foods must be avoided 72 hours before and after drinking the Daime tea or Ayahuasca:

• Red meat that is not fresh, especially unfresh liver.
• Smoked, fermented, pickled, and otherwise aged or dried fish, lox; any fish that is not fresh.
• Sausage, bologna, pepperoni, salami, corned beef.
• Aged cheeses (cottage cheese and cream cheese are safe).
• Protein extracts.
• Liquid and powdered protein dietary supplements.
• Brewer’s yeast, yeast vitamin supplements, or yeast extracts.
• Fermented tofu, fermented bean curd, fermented soybean paste, soy sauce.
• Canned soups or soups made with protein extracts or bouillon.
• Miso soup (contains fermented bean curd).
• Shrimp paste.
• Sauerkraut.
• Fruits that are bruised or slightly overripe, especially bananas and apples; raisins and other dried fruits, fig newtons, etc.
• Avocados, if ripe or overripe.
• Alcohol in all forms - Wine, champagne, brandy; beers and ales, spirits; whiskey and liqueurs. Alcohol is recommended to avoid for at least one week prior to ceremony.
• Dairy products that are close to the expiration date or that have been unrefrigerated (fresh yogurt is safe).
• Excessive salt, pepper, or garlic.
• Excessive oils, butter, and other animal fats.
• Aspartame and refined sugar in all of its forms.
• Fava beans, especially if overripe.
• Peanuts – in large quantities.
• Raspberries – in large quantities.
• Spinach – in large quantities.
• Chocolate – in large quantities.
• Caffeine in large quantities (note: in a few rare individuals, there may be a severe interaction with even small amounts of caffeine).

Medications & Recreational drugs to Avoid at least two weeks before the ceremony

As mentioned, The Daime tea or Ayahuasca is an MAO-inhibitor. Interaction with certain drugs and medications (including some over-the-counter drugs and certain herbs) can potentially cause unfavorable interactions and even death. You may need to be off these medications anywhere from twenty-four hours to six months before drinking the Daime tea (Ayahuasca). Please consult with your medical provider.

Using other serotonin agonists (SSRIs) or precursors with an MAOI can lead to serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is rare but can be fatal. The main symptom of serotonin syndrome may be a severe and long-lasting headache (the same symptom as MAOI tyramine interaction) and/or fever (as high as 40 °C / 104 °F or more) Other symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include rapid heartbeat, shivering, sweating, dilated pupils, intermittent tremor or twitching, overactive or over responsive reflexes, hyperactive bowel sounds, high blood pressure. Severe serotonin syndrome may lead to shock, agitated delirium, muscular rigidity and high muscular tension, abnormal blood clotting and bleeding, respiratory failure, renal failure, and seizures, and can be life-threatening. This interaction can happen even if weeks have passed between stopping the SSRI and taking the MAOI.

Using opiates (opium, heroin, morphine, codeine) or barbiturates with MAOIs can increase the sedative effect and result in respiratory depression. Using MAOIs with heroin or morphine can theoretically push a normal dose to the overdose threshold. Opium (whether smoked or drunk as tea) is especially dangerous to combine with MAOIs, because it contains not only morphine and codeine, but another active alkaloid called thebaine, which can cause convulsions when combined with MAOIs, and which is also a stimulant (see above paragraph on stimulants). Painkillers synthesized from thebaine (buprenorphine, etorphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, nalbuphine, naloxone, naltrexone) should also be regarded as highly dangerous to combine with MAOIs.

Using alcohol with MAOIs may cause side effects like angina (chest pain) or headaches. The headache may mask or be mistaken for a hypertensive crisis caused by MAOI interaction. MAOIs can also increase the sedative effect of alcohol.

Using diuretics with MAOIs may cause a greater drop in blood pressure than normal and an increase in MAOI blood levels.

Using anesthetics with MAOIs may potentiate or increase the anesthetic effect.

Using sleeping pills or tranquilizers (major or minor) with MAOIs may increase the sedative effect.

Using nutmeg (at psychoactive levels) with MAOIs can cause hypotensive crisis (extremely low blood pressure), rapid heartbeat, unconsciousness, and potentially death.

Using cowhage (Mucuna pruriens) with MAOIs may result in high blood pressure, although there are unverified reports of this plant (of African and Asian origin) being used in some Ayahuasca preparations because of its minor DMT and 5-MeO-DMT content.

Using vasodilators with Ayahuasca may cause fainting (which carries the slight risk of choking on vomit) and increases the chances of having an experience in which one believes one is dying. Using vasodilators immediately after an Ayahuasca session also carries the risk of fainting or passing out.

Using Tricyclic antidepressants within two weeks of taking MAOIs may cause serious side effects, including sudden fever, extremely high blood pressure, convulsions, and death.

Using Fluoxetine (Prozac) within five weeks of taking MAOIs may cause high fever, rigidity, high blood pressure, mental changes, confusion, and hypomania.

It is not allowed to combine the drinking of Daime (Ayahuasca) with the following medications:

• Any and all recreational/synthetic drugs such as cocaine, LSD, MDMA, heroin, amphetamines, etc. This is essential for your safety!
• Alcohol
• Cannabis in any form!
• Psychedelics such as mushrooms.
• See list of medications below.

The following list is not complete; please check with your doctor or a pharmacist to see if the medicine you use can be combined with MAO inhibitors.

* Aspirin, ibuprofen and paracetamol in moderate quantities can be used safely. 

If you are unsure about a medication you are using, or your medication is not found on this list, you must mention that on your medical form and contact us before arriving to ceremony.

It is also required to avoid the following herbs for at least 48 hours before and after the ceremony:

IMPORTANT: For your safety, apart from filling your medical profile, you must tell us if you are currently taking any medications or supplements. Some medications are dangerous contraindications when combined with the Daime tea / Ayahuasca.

Illnesses

Illnesses that carry additional risk to partaking in our ceremonial and ingestion our sacrament, the Daime tea, Ayahuasca are:

• Unstable Diabetes Mellitus (MAOIs may change the amount of insulin or oral antidiabetic medication you might need).
• Disorders of the kidneys.
• Epilepsy.
• Severe neurological malfunctions.
• Illnesses of the circulation (angina pectoris, CVA's, pheochromocytoma, hyperthyroidism).
• Disorders of the liver.

Mental Disorders

Partaking in ceremony with our sacrament, Daime tea or Ayahuasca is advised against if you suffer from severe unstable mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, psychoses, and borderline personality disorders.

Addiction

The Daime tea or Ayahuasca is recognized as one of the possible aids to overcoming addiction. It is crucial that substances like heroin, methadone, and cocaine are never used in conjunction with The Daime tea or Ayahuasca in or around the same time. If you seek to confront your addictions and come to the ceremony, please consult our staff, and we’ll devise a plan of action with professional support.

IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THE ABOVE-LISTED CONDITIONS, PLEASE MAKE A NOTE OF IT ON THE MEDICAL FORM. WHEN YOU ARE DRINKING THE DAIME TEA (AYAHUASCA), AND YOU ARE UNDER MEDICAL TREATMENT (INCLUDING THE DENTIST!) PLEASE INFORM YOUR DOCTOR THAT YOU ARE TO USE MAO-INHIBITORS!

Eating Prior to the Ceremony

Most people prefer not to eat several hours before a ceremony. What you choose to do will depend on your constitution. You are urged to eat lightly so that you have enough energy to assist you through the ritual. You might view this Work as an athletic event, one which will require stamina. We recommend having a hearty breakfast the day of the ceremony and a light lunch, after which you’re advised to fast or eat very lightly in preparation for taking the sacrament. (Please review the list of prohibited foods above).

Please Note: Our ceremonies are a spiritual ritual that includes the communion with our sacrament, the Daime tea or Ayahuasca; no other sacraments/substances are permitted by the church or allowed within its place of service. (Including Alcohol or cannabis in any form!)

As the Ceremony Concludes

Eating helps us ground. We recommend soup, fruit, and drinking lots of water. (Be aware to still maintain the recommended diet for at least one or two more days).

When the ceremony ends, even though we are very excited and want to share about our journey, we recommend keeping that to a minimum and writing in your journal instead. We will have the opportunity to share in our sharing circle. We recommend you try and get as much sleep as you can to recuperate from the long journey you have just experienced. It is also advised to change to a new set of clothes and wash your hands and face thoroughly. (Water helps with any excess of energy and allows us to feel refreshed and renewed). 

The Daime tea (Ayahuasca) continues to work within you for up to 3 days. You may wish to use this time to affirm and integrate what you have learned. You are in a sacred space. 

We suggest that you take the next couple of days and allow yourself to enjoy a peaceful and relaxed time to integrate and allow the healing you have received to deepen. Please note that within the following 24-48 you might be more sensitive, take care of your body and mind with gentleness and care.