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What to expect
It is best not to have any expectations before coming to our iboga retreat.
Not all participants will have visions, however it is important to understand that iboga is focused on deep healing and not "burying in". Not having a vision in your first rite is very common, but persistence, patience and determination will often lead to visionary states. The initial work during an Iboga retreat is focused on cleansing and purifying your physical body and mind, to prepare you for the next stages of your spiritual healing journey.
One reasonable expectation is that you may go through a strong physical and emotional purge with vomiting and/or maybe diarrhea. Some people have unrealistically high expectations for their first ceremonies. they expect that ehy will see breathtaking visions, which is rare at this early stage, but can happen.
“We only work with a maximum of 5 persons per retreat.This is ethical and provides the maximum amount of healing and attention needed for each of our guests.”
The First Iboga Ceremony
Every Iboga ceremony begins around a fire, which is an important part of honoring the sacred Bwiti tradition.
Fire was the first portal Bwiti discovered into the spirit world. Fire is a great protector, it illuminates the ceremonial space and its smoke serves as a landing strip for the spirits to enter and help. Fire burns what no longer serves us.
During fireside talks, basic Bwiti teachings are shared as well as shamanic teachings that create stages of introspection.
The lectures impart vital wisdom that we can use in everyday life. learning about who we are, that life is a gift, connecting with our soul, loving ourselves, overcoming the ego, empowering ourselves, finding inner peace and learning how to forgive our past and trust our life. These are some of the powerful themes.
The timing of the fire ceremony is critical. Guests enter the ceremony with this teaching at the forefront of their consciousness, closely before taking the medicine. Around the fire we discuss the effects of the medicine and share our own healing experiences.
As the journey takes effect, you can experience :
- Feelings of euphoria or heightened senses
- Auditory hallucinations (like thinking someone is talking next to you)
- Visual hallucinations (with eyes open or closed)
- Intuitive messages
- Fluctuations in body temperature
- Impaired motor skills (we will take you to the toilet and to your mattress all the time)
- Tracers and flashing lights in our vision
- Heart rate may increase but eventually slows down
- Rapid overlapping thoughts "called clearing the mind" (resulting in calming the mind)
- Purging (vomiting, crying, shaking, sweating, laughing, frequent urination, etc.)
- This is all normal switching on and off during the trip. Read our tips, how to navigate with Ibog for more details.
Notes
Furthermore, the main requirement for a successful Iboga experience is a willingness to heal by accepting the truth and letting go. This is a major indicator of when someone is ready; if so, they will experience a powerful healing
In the Bwiti tradition, Iboga is for everyone and is used in "initiations" or coming-of-age ceremonies that unite boys and girls with the tradition and community. Initiations help to root them in themselves and ensure a healthy adult life. They will also have ceremonies again when people have strayed from the healthy path and need to mend their lives or somehow heal themselves.
As true to our tradition, we believe that all people can benefit from the Iboga ceremony. We usually work with people who need healing from depression, anxiety, ptsd, trauma, addictions, self-hatred, anger, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, autoimmune diseases and others.
F.A.Q.