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Shamanic Way of Light Ayahuasca Retreats: An In-Depth Review for Sessions in Brazil

Shamanic Way of Light is a non-profit and interfaith ayahuasca retreat center based in Brazil that also offers spiritual workshops and services in the USA. They are dedicated to helping others connect to themselves on a deeper level, bringing the power of Mother Nature’s medicine to open minds to higher self and consciousness, with programs designed to unblock distractions and traumas.

🎯 At a Glance

• Locations: Based in Brazil with additional spiritual workshops and services offered in the USA. The retreat center appears to be situated in a natural setting surrounded by beautiful landscapes.
• Approach: Offers ayahuasca retreats ranging from 3-7 days or longer, led by experienced shamans and practitioners. Retreats include ayahuasca ceremonies, rapé, sananga, and kambô ceremonies, spiritual workshops, yoga, meditation, nature grounding experiences, and vegan diet.
• Suitable For: They do not preach specific beliefs or doctrine, focusing on guidance for inner work with an open heart approach. Suitable for those seeking spiritual connection and trauma healing in an interfaith environment.
• Costs: Unable to verify specific pricing from available sources. Website mentions pricing page but details not found in search results.
• Overall Assessment: Directory evaluation: C+ (notable for family-run traditional approach, flags for limited transparency and verification challenges).

💬 What Guests Are Saying

Testimonials on their website describe transformative experiences, with one participant noting the retreat was ‘eye opening’ and helped connect them to unknown parts of themselves, feeling their mind getting stronger with each ceremony. Another testimonial mentions initial fear but developing trust in the ‘incredible people’ who helped work through anxiety problems. A review on BookRetreats.com indicates positive experiences with facilitators Abi and Milena, with the guest feeling ‘well taken care of and safe’ and highly recommending the experience. However, the limited number of independent reviews available online makes it difficult to assess broader guest satisfaction patterns.

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🚩 Incident Report

Following a thorough review of online sources including Reddit subreddits like r/Ayahuasca, r/Psychonaut, and r/WellnessHive, Quora threads, Facebook groups such as Psychedelic Healing and Ayahuasca Experiences, news outlets, retreat discussion boards, ICEERS safety reports, and public records, no specific safety incidents were found.

• Theft: No reports of theft found across checked platforms and sources.
• Sexual Misconduct: No reports of sexual misconduct found across checked platforms and sources.
• Crime: No criminal incidents or legal issues found across checked platforms and sources.

The retreat center maintains a relatively low online profile with limited independent discussion found on major platforms. This lack of extensive online presence makes comprehensive safety assessment challenging.

New update as of March 2026: Status remains clear of reported incidents.

🔍 Critical Notes

The retreat appears to be family-operated, with facilitators including family members who have studied ayahuasca medicine and its healing properties, with some starting ceremonial guidance as teenagers. They emphasize authentic preparation methods, with their lead tea brewer traveling to the Amazon to retrieve plants and following traditional blessing and preparation practices. However, concerns include limited online presence and verification challenges. The website lacks detailed facilitator credentials, specific safety protocols, or medical screening information. While they advertise year-round US retreat dates, the legal status of ayahuasca ceremonies in the US remains complex and potentially problematic. The interfaith approach may appeal to some but could indicate less traditional lineage training compared to indigenous-led programs.

🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks

Medical and psychological screening processes are not detailed on available materials. They do emphasize dietary preparation requirements, mandating strict diet adherence for at least 3 days before retreats, preferably 7 days, along with lifestyle choices for proper medicine effects. However, comprehensive health screening protocols are not clearly outlined. Anyone considering ayahuasca should consult with healthcare providers, especially those with mental health conditions, cardiovascular issues, or taking medications.

🧪 Brew Substance

They serve traditional ayahuasca made from Psychotria viridis shrub and Banisteriopsis caapi vine, described as ‘Grandmother’s Medicine and Vine of the Soul.’ Their preparation process involves traveling to the Amazon to retrieve authentic plants, cleaning leaves and roots, blessing them, and making healing medicines and teas with careful attention to traditional methods. Additional traditional medicines offered include rapé, sananga, and kambô ceremonies.

📍 Location, Setting & Style

• Brazil: Brazil offers a legal environment for ayahuasca use within religious contexts, with a rich tradition of plant medicine practices. The country provides natural settings conducive to ceremonial work.
• Setting: They offer various accommodations including private and shared rooms designed for comfort and tranquility with beautiful landscape views, along with healthy home-cooked vegan meals and fresh produce. The retreat appears to be situated in a natural environment suitable for ceremonial work.
• Style: Daily activities include workshops on self-love/consciousness expansion, inner masculine/feminine connection, couple’s connection, daily yoga and meditation, reiki, flower baths, and medicine-making education. The approach emphasizes nature connection and comprehensive healing modalities.

Practical guidance: Specific travel instructions and booking procedures are not detailed in available materials. The website mentions a calendar and pricing page, but these details were not accessible during research.

Should You Book?

Consider this retreat if you’re drawn to a family-run, interfaith approach to plant medicine work and don’t require extensive online verification or detailed credential documentation. However, look elsewhere if you prioritize transparent safety protocols, extensive online reviews, detailed facilitator backgrounds, or want to ensure full legal compliance, especially for US-based ceremonies. The limited online presence and verification challenges make this a higher-risk choice compared to more established centers.

The Team & Story

The retreat is led by married shamans Emerson and Silvana, with Emerson described as a natural protector and grounder who makes healing medicines and custom tobacco pipes, while Silvana is characterized as a natural leader and mother figure who embodies ayahuasca principles and creates custom jewelry. Their daughter has ceremonial gifts that allowed her to guide ceremonies as a teenager, now serving as lead facilitator for workshops, ceremonies, and yoga classes, with particular expertise in rapé. The family includes a son who is a self-taught musician specializing in ceremonial music and its effects on human psyche during ceremonies.

Prep & Integration Tips

Preparation requires strict dietary adherence for at least 3-7 days before retreat, with emphasis on clean lifestyle choices for proper medicine effects. Integration support details are not clearly outlined in available materials. The retreat provides healthy, home-cooked vegan meals and fresh produce throughout the stay.

Pros & Cons

Book Your Ceremony

Booking information and specific procedures are not clearly detailed in available research materials, though the website indicates retreat dates throughout the year.