‘I won’t come back here again. I’ve learned what I wanted to learn.’

With this thought in my mind, I, Eric, left the Peruvian jungle at the end of February — grateful, yet exhausted. I had just completed a 21-day master plant dieta with the Shipibo tribe, deep in the Amazon rainforest.

The physical depletion, the many ayahuasca ceremonies (11 in total), the jungle’s humidity that seeps into everything you carry with you, the cleansing rituals, the solitude and the hunger — not something I intend to repeat at this age 😊. At the same time, I knew this experience had been deeply important and profoundly educational for me. Not only in terms of self-knowledge, but also for my work as a facilitator and my understanding of the esoteric field of psychedelics.

Yet, one month after returning to the Netherlands, I enrolled once again for the advanced training. This coming February, I will return to the jungle for my second master plant dieta.

Lessons and insights

To this day, puzzle pieces from the lessons continue to fall into place. In the first months after the dieta, I felt light, extremely healthy, and above all mentally clear. I now understand the work we do so much better. I was allowed to learn this from a tribe that has worked for thousands of years with the psychedelic tea of the Amazon: ayahuasca.

In my personal experience, the path toward opening the soul differs slightly between ayahuasca (DMT) and mushrooms (psilocybin). Ultimately, however, both substances bring you into the same field, the same frequency. You step away from the ego and become the observer — your authentic self, wise and pure. You become the “wise one.” From that position, it is also possible to tune into the broader field of collective consciousness.

During ceremonies, participants meet one another on this elevated frequency. This is also why shamans themselves ingest ayahuasca while guiding others. Only in this way can they attune to the wisdom of the master plants they themselves have dieted and guide the ceremony participants accordingly. Are you still with me?

I understand that this may sound strange to many people. That was precisely why I wanted to learn and experience this directly at the source. Many ancient cultures hold a shamanistic worldview: wind, plants, gemstones, and animals all possess a soul. The Shipibo distinguish around twenty master plants in the jungle — plants with very strong souls and qualities that humans can access. Tobacco, for example, is one of the most powerful spirits, as is ayahuasca. I myself dieted Shihuahuaco (Koman), the tallest, oldest, and strongest tree of the jungle. This plant possesses shamanic powers and grants overview and clarity to the dietero.

The form of dieta I followed is the path a facilitator walks in order to eventually become a shaman. This is only the beginning, however; a true shaman devotes their entire life to helping others. Nowadays, only very few people still walk this path.

It is not my intention to become a shaman myself. However, the teachings have given me a much deeper understanding of how psychedelics work. Broadly speaking, I distinguish three interconnected mechanisms of action.

First: access to the pure soul

By ingesting psychedelic substances, you gain access to your own pure soul and its inherent wisdom. The ego, with its personal “truths,” temporarily steps into the background. In everyday life, most people do not have full access to this built-in knowledge. This deep and inexhaustible source of wisdom is composed of the experiences of all generations before us, reaching back to the beginning of time. You could compare it to the knowledge of AI — but far deeper and multidimensional, fed by humanity itself. During a psychedelic journey, insights, visions, clarity, and peace may arise from this source.

This principle is often referred to as the “inner healer” — perhaps the most powerful system we are given at birth as human beings. In the Western world, we primarily work with psychedelics through this principle. For most people, this mechanism alone is sufficient to make major steps in personal development.

Second: cleansing and healing

Ayahuasca and psilocybin are true medicines that have healing effects on both body and mind. In mice, it has been shown that when they are administered psilocybin, they live longer and develop healthier fur. There are indications that similar effects may occur in humans.

With ayahuasca, purging (vomiting) plays an important role. The Shipibo regard this as an essential physical cleansing process. Another powerful healing effect lies in the expanded awareness that psychedelics generate: many people adopt healthier lifestyles after a journey — for example, drinking less alcohol, reducing stress, eating more healthily, and reconnecting with nature.

Third: contact with the wisdom of the spirits

The third level on which psychedelics operate is contact with the wisdom of the spirits: ancestors, the universe, the cardinal directions, and the animal and plant realms. Shamans are masters in this domain. I believe there are very few people in the Western world who can truly guide and navigate this level. This is partly because deep belief and respect are essential to working with it.

For a long time, I myself was skeptical — which was precisely one of the main reasons I chose to follow this dieta. Is this spiritual layer merely a projection of our subconscious, or do external spirits truly exist? I have experienced firsthand how spirits communicate through the symbolic imagery of vivid dreams.

Icaros

During the dieta, I was given a “shamanic tool.” On multiple occasions, during dreams and ceremonies, it became clear to me how important it is to let my voice be heard. This takes the form of singing icaros during ceremonies. I was allowed to learn a limited number of icaros: magical, melodic songs in the Shipibo language that offer protection to the group and can unlock insights for participants. During the upcoming dieta, I will learn much more about this. Practice is essential, which is why I currently use them only sparingly during our ceremonies.

In closing

It has been an intense year. The lessons from Peru have set many things in motion: in my work, in my relationships, and in my sensitivity. I have become more sensitive. This helps me guide others more effectively and understand processes on a deeper level, but it also means I become overstimulated more quickly.

The reason for returning is to take the next step in my learning process. During last year’s dieta, I sometimes felt as though everything was simply “happening to me,” which could be confusing. So much occurred. I was well prepared, but “rock bottom” is an experience you can never fully prepare for.

In this video, you can see more of what my stay in Peru was like.

Are you curious about my next experience in Peru?

Back from Peru — Event on March 13–14, 2026

Shortly after my return in March 2026, we have planned a special deep dive on March 13–14, 2026. In this ceremony, we will work with a combination of psilocybin and ayahuasca (psilohuasca). The ceremony will take place in the evening and will have a more shamanic character. Participation requires prior experience with a psychedelic journey.

Eric