What is an ayahuasca ceremony?
Maybe ayahuasca has been on your mind for a while. You heard a podcast, read someone's story or met a friend who went. Now you're wondering whether it's for you. That's worth thinking through slowly, because a lot gets said about ayahuasca and not all of it holds up.
Ayahuasca is a brew made from two plants: the caapi vine and the leaves of the chacruna shrub. The leaves contain DMT. The vine contains substances that stop your body from breaking DMT down straight away, known as MAO inhibitors. Only that combination makes the brew work when you drink it. The ceremony comes from South American traditions and is usually led by someone who knows the ritual, often in the evening or through the night, with singing or music.
Iowaska, ywaska, iowasca: the same word
If you searched for iowaska, ywaska or iowasca, you've landed in the right place. They are simply other spellings of ayahuasca, and everything on this page applies to them too.
What people describe about an ayahuasca experience
An ayahuasca experience is rarely subtle. People describe vivid images, old memories returning and emotions arriving all at once: fear, grief, gratitude. 'Difficult' and 'meaningful' often come in the same sentence. It asks a lot of you.
Your body takes part too. According to public health information in the Netherlands and Australia, nausea and vomiting are common, and heart rate and blood pressure can rise. In the tradition, vomiting is seen as a form of cleansing. If you aren't expecting it, it can be a shock.
The day after, many people feel tired and raw, with emotions still close to the surface. That's when the real processing starts: what came up, and what do you do with it? This is called integration, and it matters after any deep experience. You can read more in our page on integration after a ceremony.
Is ayahuasca legal in the Netherlands?
No, ayahuasca is not legal in the Netherlands. DMT is on list I of the Dutch Opium Act. Possessing, transporting and dealing in it are prohibited, and so are preparing and serving ayahuasca. You sometimes read that ayahuasca sits in a legal grey zone. It doesn't: the Trimbos Institute's Drugsinfo service treats it as a prohibited substance. The fact that ceremonies are still offered doesn't make them legal, and nobody oversees their screening, guidance or aftercare.
Truffles are different. They are not listed in the Opium Act and are legal in the Netherlands, while mushrooms have been banned since 2008. For the details, see our page on the legal side of a truffle ceremony.
Truffle ceremony or ayahuasca retreat, which is better?
Neither is simply better: it depends on what you're looking for, what your body can handle and what the law allows. Ayahuasca comes from traditions with a long history, and many people value it deeply. That deserves respect. At the same time, it's illegal in the Netherlands and asks a lot from your body and your preparation.
A truffle ceremony isn't a lighter version of ayahuasca. It's a different form, and nobody can promise you in advance what you'll feel. What you can compare is the form itself:
- Law: truffles are legal in the Netherlands, ayahuasca is not.
- Preparation: a truffle ceremony involves no MAO inhibitor, so the strict diet you read about with ayahuasca doesn't apply.
- Length: a day of about 7 hours in Amsterdam, rather than an evening or a whole night.
- Guidance: you know beforehand who will be with you, and you meet her first.
Truffle ceremony vs ayahuasca: medication and MAO inhibitors
Because of the MAO inhibitors, preparation for ayahuasca is not a detail. Combining it with some medications can be dangerous, especially antidepressants and other medication for mental health, and certain foods and alcohol are advised against in the days before and after. That's where the strict diet comes from.
If you take medication, never stop on your own. Always talk to your doctor first. That applies to any ceremony, a truffle ceremony included.
A ceremony is not a substitute for medical or psychological help. Read more about safety
A truffle ceremony as a gentler, legal way in
Many people who consider ayahuasca are looking for something talking hasn't reached. They know themselves well, run their lives from their heads and want to feel again. And they're afraid of losing control. That's an understandable fear, especially if you're used to keeping an overview of everything.
Stars Frequencies guides truffle ceremonies in Amsterdam, in a small group of at most 8 people (€295 per person) or privately (€495). Rosa is in the room for the whole ceremony. You don't have to let go of anything before you're ready. Letting go is not a condition. It is a result.
- It starts with a free 30-minute intro call with screening: Rosa asks about your health and medication, and tells you honestly if now isn't the right time.
- We tune the amount to you together in the intro call.
- Meditation and sound healing with singing bowls are a fixed part of every ceremony.
- About half of the participants are doing it for the first time. No experience needed.
“Her professionalism isn't in big words, but in how safe you feel with her.”
Want to see what the day looks like? Read more about the truffle ceremony in Amsterdam, or browse the truffle ceremony FAQ in English.