Ayahuasca Ceremony & Spiritual Care: Exploring the Sacred with Celina of Circle of Sacred Nature
- Posada Natura
- Apr 14
- 8 min read
In an age where healing is often approached through quick fixes and fragmented systems, more and more people are seeking holistic, soul-centered ways to reconnect — with themselves, with the Earth, and with something greater. In a recent conversation with the Mind Bod Adventure Pod, Celina, founder of Circle of Sacred Nature and cofounder of Posada Natura, shares her deep experience with Amazonian plant medicine, offering insight into the spiritual, cultural, and therapeutic dimensions of ayahuasca ceremony. Rooted in a traditional Indigenous lineage and supported by decades of personal practice, Celina speaks to the profound potential of ayahuasca as a sacred path of spiritual care, healing, and reconnection.
Meet Celina: A Bridge Between Traditions
Celina is the founder and director of Circle of Sacred Nature 501(c)3 church and cofounder of Posada Natura. Her path as a ceremony facilitator is informed by 20 years of dedicated work with Amazonian plant medicine, and supported by training in yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda. As an apprentice of Taita Juan Agreda Chindoy from the Kamëntšá Indigenous community of the Putumayo region of Colombia, Celina's ceremonial practice is deeply rooted in a living lineage.
A Living Tradition: Ayahuasca Ceremony as Spiritual Practice, Indigenous Wisdom & Medicine
Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian plant medicine that has been utilized for centuries by indigenous tribes in the Amazon rainforest for spiritual and healing ceremonies. While it can be a psychedelic experience or therapeutic tool, at its root it’s a sacred and ancient practice of communing with spirit and the intelligence of nature. There is so much diversity within indigeneity for how ayahuasca ceremony is held and revered. Across the Amazon and beyond, different Indigenous communities approach ayahuasca with unique understandings of its purpose, power, and spirit. In fact it has different names depending on the region (e.g., yagé); some see it as a teacher, others as a grandmother or grandfather, a doctor, a portal, a living intelligence. The songs sung, the prayers offered, the dieta observed, the structure of the ceremony — all differ. What’s common is that it’s a form of prayer, of healing, of communion — held in sacred trust between the individual or team leading the ceremony (a shaman, taita, curandero, elder, minister, facilitator) and participants.
Ayahuasca Ceremony as a Spiritual Practice
We are humans of ritual and ceremony; it’s a universal thread woven through every culture. Deep within us is a yearning to commune with something greater than ourselves, and ritual opens the door to this connection. Many who come to Circle of Sacred Nature experience ayahuasca ceremony as a form of spiritual practice—a way to pray, to heal, and to reconnect and be in community. This work can help us reconnect inwardly—with our pain, our joy, our stories, our lineage, and our entire inner landscape—and outwardly, with nature, community, and the sacred pulse of life.
Ayahuasca Ceremony as a Traditional Indigenous Practice
Ayahuasca ceremony is a sacred practice that has been carried and protected by Indigenous peoples throughout the northwest Amazon for centuries. Each community holds the medicine in its own way and there is a tremendous amount of diversity in how the ceremonies are structured. Amidst the diversity is a common thread- these communities are feeling immense pressure of colonialism and threats to both their natural ecosystems and their traditional cultural practices. As Westerners, it’s vital that we honor the origins of the medicine, respect the communities that carry it, and engage in meaningful reciprocity.
Ayahuasca Ceremony as Medicine
To Indigenous communities, ayahuasca is not a drug or trend—it’s a sacred plant spirit doctor, a healer that works across physical, emotional, and spiritual realms. As this medicine reaches people around the world, it is increasingly recognized as a therapeutic ally. It can help untangle trauma, illuminate patterns, and guide people through grief, addiction, depression, and disconnection. Celina’s organization, in partnership with Natura Care, offers addiction recovery support that combines ayahuasca with peer mentorship, contemplative practices, and deep nature immersion.
What to Expect From an Ayahuasca Ceremony
The only thing you can really expect from an ayahuasca ceremony is the unexpected. It’s advised to take time to reflect on your intentions but let go of expectations. The medicine can communicate in mysterious ways and oftentimes a lot of the benefit of ceremonies happens long after they’re over. It can be helpful to consider that in many traditions ayahuasca is understood to be a living spirit, a master teacher, and a sacred intelligence that meets each person in a deeply personal way often revealing exactly what is most needed in that moment — whether it’s clarity, healing, confrontation, release, peace, or insight. No two ceremonies are ever the same, even for the same person. However, there are some common themes and experiences to ceremony:
A journey inward. Ayahuasca often brings us deeply into ourselves — into memories, emotions, patterns, and places we may not visit often. Some of these may be beautiful; others may be difficult. The medicine works by bringing to the surface what has been hidden, blocked, or unprocessed — so we can see it clearly, feel it fully, and begin to release or integrate it.
Visions or sensory shifts. Some people experience vivid visions — symbolic imagery, encounters with ancestors or spirit guides, animals, geometric patterns, or scenes from their lives. Others may have more somatic experiences — feeling energy move through the body, sensing waves of emotion, or receiving intuitive insights without clear visuals. There is no “right” way to experience the medicine.
Physical purging. One of the most well-known — and often misunderstood — parts of ayahuasca is the purge. This can take many forms: vomiting, shaking, sweating, crying, yawning, or needing to use the bathroom. The purge is not just what you had for lunch — it is a medium for concentrating energetic, spiritual, emotional, physical discordance, and releasing it from the system. It can be deeply liberating and challenging, so making friends with it is a journey for some people.
Moments of intensity. Ayahuasca can bring you to the edge of your comfort zone. You may feel fear, grief, confusion, or resistance. This is normal. These moments are often the gateways to deeper healing. You are never alone — the ceremony space is carefully held by trained facilitators and guardians who are there to support and guide you. It’s important to trust the process, the container, and yourself.
Peace, insight, and love. Ayahuasca can also be gentle and open the heart in extraordinary ways. You may experience profound forgiveness, clarity about your life path, deep connection with the Earth or the Divine, or an overwhelming sense of love — for yourself, for others, for all of life. These moments often stay with people long after the ceremony ends.
Right Relationship with Ayahuasca
To be in right relationship with plant medicines such as ayahuasca is to remember that we are not using them; we are entering into communion with them. These are not substances to be consumed. They are experiences to be approached with reverence, respect, and humility. Ayahuasca carries the spirit of elders, teachers, and a living medicine. It is here to teach us how to live in deeper harmony — with ourselves, with others, and with the Earth. When working with ayahuasca an invitation is present to really understand that true healing happens in relationship—with the plants, with the Earth, and with each other.
Find an Ayahuasca Retreat in 5 Steps
Finding the right ayahuasca retreat is a deeply personal journey — and a sacred one. You're not just choosing a place to drink plant medicine; you're entering into a spiritual container that can profoundly affect your life. Here's what to consider:
Start With Intention
Before you even begin your search, get clear on why you’re called to sit with this medicine. Are you seeking healing from trauma, addiction, grief? Are you on a spiritual path? Are you longing to reconnect with nature, with yourself, with the sacred? Be emotionally honest with yourself.
Your intention can guide you toward a retreat center or lineage that’s aligned with your soul’s path — not just your curiosity. Have faith and patience in the process and know that the medicine starts working long before the ceremony.
Do Deep Research
There are many retreats out there — some held with deep respect and lineage, others more commercial or even unsafe. You won’t get the most out of the experience if you don’t feel safe. Be clear about who you are working with and take your time finding the right fit. Look for:
Experienced and trained facilitators — ideally those with long-standing apprenticeships or Indigenous lineage connections.
Clear safety protocols — especially around physical health, medications, and mental health screening.
Transparent communication — a retreat center should welcome questions and be open about who they are and how they work. Be unapologetic about asking the questions you need to feel comfortable.
Red flags: high-pressure sales, no screening process, or vague information about who is leading the ceremonies.
Consider Lineage and Cultural Respect
If cultural integrity is important to you, learn about the traditions behind the retreat. Are they working directly with Indigenous elders? Are they honoring the origin of the medicine, the songs, the rituals? Being in right relationship means choosing spaces that value reciprocity, cultural humility, and respect for where the medicine comes from.
Look For Integration Support
The ceremony is just the beginning. Real transformation happens in how you integrate what you receive. Good retreats will offer:
Pre-ceremony preparation
Post-ceremony integration circles
Ongoing support or coaching
Guidance for how to bring the teachings into everyday life
Trust Your Intuition
This is not just a transaction — it’s a sacred journey and it's deeply personal. If something feels off, it probably is. On the other hand, if your body softens and your heart feels drawn when reading about a center or talking to a facilitator, pay attention. Ask yourself:
Do I feel safe with this team?
Do their values match mine?
Do I feel seen, not sold to?
Finding the right retreat is part of the medicine. Go slowly. Ask questions. Trust your heart. This is not just a trip — it’s a deep act of healing, ceremony, and transformation.
Final Reflections
Ayahuasca is not a shortcut or a one-time fix. It can be a profound and sacred experience—one that asks for humility, courage, and care. Through her work with Circle of Sacred Nature, Celina invites us into deeper relationship with ourselves, with the spirit of the plants, and with the ancient wisdom traditions that still hold the thread of the sacred. Listen to the interview for a deeper dive on ayahuasca and spiritual care and a short guided meditation.
About Posada Natura
Posada Natura is a family-owned sanctuary and retreat center with a mission to reconnect humans to the rainforest and protect it through healing and conservation. Our vision is to restore the bond between humans and nature—supporting people in healing, re-educating, and recalibrating through holistic programs that nurture both personal well-being and the protection of our rainforest and pristine watersheds. Together with our partner Eco Era, we protect over 10,000 acres of rainforest in the Cerro Nara watershed, home to the Naranjo and Savegre rivers which are known to be some of the cleanest water in Central America.
We offer a variety of healing and wellness retreats - from plant medicine and meditation to yoga and sound healing - and we rent out our space to facilitators to host their own retreats in an immersive nature setting. Our team includes leaders in holistic wellness, spiritual practice, and environmental conservation.
Posada Natura is more than a retreat center—it’s a space where humans and nature come together to restore balance. By working with us, you are directly supporting the protection of the Cerro Nara rainforest and watersheds, contributing to the well-being of both people and our planet.
