"I'll Be Back"
It has been 4 months since my stay at Rythmia that I am now writing my review, and here’s why that should matter to you: Anyone who has been to any kind of motivational conference or spiritual retreat usually comes home hyped up and on fire about their experience, like “from now on, life is going to be AWESOME!” But within a few days/weeks, normal life hits us, and we return to the drudgery, monotony, and challenges of life. I definitely left Rythmia with that lit up, on fire feeling, and shortly after was hit with the holidays, a funeral, and winter. However, four months later, I can still say I definitely received my miracle at Rythmia, in addition to witnessing miracles during my stay. As Marianne Williamson said, "A miracle is simply a shift in perception." That being said, following my experience, and in addition to the research I have done on ayahuasca and plant medicine in general, I firmly and strongly believe that ayahuasca is NOT for everyone. I believe I had a powerful experience because of years (decades) of work I have done in therapy and preparing myself for such an experience, in addition to having a very strong and secure foundation of faith, spirituality, and religious beliefs. For the record and anyone who is wondering, I am a Christian and this was my first (and only) experience with plant medicine. I also feel very strongly that the setting in which you choose to use ayahuasca is extremely important. I personally felt very safe and secure at Rythmia because of the intentionality of the resort and measures that are taken to ensure every participant is safe. I appreciated the medical supervision, the fact that Rythmia is classified as a hospital in Costa Rica, the number of personnel on hand during ceremonies, and even the way the grounds are designed for maximum security, as plant medicine does put you in a very vulnerable state. If you feel that ayahuasca is right for you, I recommend finding some ways to prepare yourself in the weeks and months leading up to your visit to Rythmia by doing therapy or some kind of inner work, and having a strong spiritual or faith practice, although this is not required–I just know it accelerated my process and the benefits I received. Rythmia does suggest a few mild preparations before your stay, but I almost wish there were a more structured course of some kind to work on a month or so before the retreat. Rythmia is a beautiful, high-end resort. The accommodations were comfortable, clean, and peaceful. The grounds are gorgeous, and the dining and pool area are serene and relaxing. It’s a wonderful setting for communal gathering during your stay, and getting to know the other people who are there during your week is definitely one of the highlights and a delightful experience. We enjoyed the food at all meals and the only request or suggestion we have would be to have a second lean protein option at breakfast (eggs are served every morning but we would have liked another option, even just a protein shake.) I recommend packing loose, comfortable clothing for the ceremonies. I recommend attending all of the “mandatory” classes that they will tell you about. Bring a sweatshirt to classes - the room tends to be a little over air-conditioned. I recommend you attend yoga every morning even though you’ll be tired and think you need to sleep - you don’t. Yoga is worth it. Victor is worth it!. You can nap later. Don’t miss breathwork, especially the final night after all four ceremonies. It’s a profound culmination of the journey. Anyone who checked out early REALLY missed out. On top of that, the integration classes on the last day are really helpful and I would not recommend checking out early and missing those either. Don’t stress if you’re a woman on your cycle and you can’t do the ceremony with Taita Juanito. This happened to me, and a special moon ceremony was performed for the women who were on their cycles that evening. It was a beautiful and magical experience and so completely tied in to the arc of my week that I knew it was meant to be. Plus, I got to have dinner and actually get some sleep that night! I didn't feel like I missed out on anything and I was still able to join the others at sunrise and attend the talk afterward. Some things I wish I had done looking back - I wish I had taken notes after ceremonies when the shamans were answering questions. There were things said that I thought I would remember but of course I did not, and there was just so much information already going on in my head after the plant medicine that I was not able to retain it all. Bring your journal and do your best to carve out some private time each day to document your experience, because a lot will happen, and you will forget. The sooner you can write down your experiences, the better. The bottom line is that I had a wonderful experience at Rythmia. I loved all of the staff there, and the personal care and attention we received. I strongly intend to return and continue my own journey of healing and healer.
Avonlea R
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