What do my Ayahuasca visions mean?

Ayahuasca, the sacred psychedelic brew, has been used for centuries in Amazonian spiritual traditions to connect with higher realms and gain wisdom from the spirit world. Traditionally made from two primary ingredients—Ayahuasca vine and Chacruna leaves—this powerful brew opens the door to profound insights and spiritual experiences. At Sacred Waters Sanctuary, we work with a more environmentally sustainable blend, using Syrian Rue seeds and Acacia Confusa bark. These plants carry the same potent psychedelic alkaloids, while being more sustainable for the environment.

In many Ayahuasca traditions, there is a core belief that the psychedelic journey is not just an internal experience but a communication with the spirit of Ayahuasca herself. Through this connection, we align with the Cosmic Serpent—a primordial nature deity believed to carry ancient wisdom and the power to guide us through spiritual blockages, emotional wounds, and deep transformation. The Cosmic Serpent is a wise and mysterious force that may reveal visions that are both beautiful and challenging. With the right intentions and under the guidance of skilled facilitators, the serpent can show us the depths of our subconscious and open up new pathways of healing.

The Inner Self: Unveiling the Subconscious

The visions we experience on Ayahuasca are often reflections of our inner world, deeply connected with our emotional bodies. The brew has a unique ability to bring to the surface thoughts, feelings, and memories that we have pushed away or buried deep within. If there are unresolved issues or traumas in our psyche, Ayahuasca will gently—or sometimes forcefully—bring them to light. These revelations may come in many forms: vivid, symbolic visions or simple, clear thoughts. Some of the things that surface can be beautiful and illuminating, while others may reveal difficult truths about ourselves. Regardless of what arises, it is essential to remember that Ayahuasca’s wisdom is always aimed at healing. It’s here to help us confront those aspects of our inner selves that we might be too afraid to face on our own.

This process of confrontation is known as shadow work, an integral part of the Ayahuasca journey. By acknowledging and embracing the parts of ourselves we’ve avoided or suppressed, we can achieve a deeper sense of freedom and peace. When we face our fears and wounds, they lose their power over us. This is one of the most transformative aspects of the Ayahuasca experience.

Nature Spirits and Entities: Communication with the Spirit World

Over the years, as I’ve worked with Ayahuasca and other plant medicines, one thing has become abundantly clear: spirits and entities are everywhere. They reside in everything—plants, animals, rivers, trees, rocks. Every element of nature has its own unique spirit. When we partake in Ayahuasca, we open ourselves up to a heightened psychic awareness, allowing us to directly interact with these non-physical energies. Often times the visions that we have on Ayahuasca, are spirits. For example, its very common to see snakes and vines on Ayahuasca, because the spirit of the Ayahuasca vine is said to take the form of a snake.

These spirits are not just symbolic representations; they are lively beings that can offer guidance, wisdom, and healing. Some spirits appear to help us on our journey, while others may challenge us. The visions you experience during your ceremony may not only reflect your own inner state but also the presence of plant and animal spirits, deities, or ancestors. As you tune into these energies, you may receive direct messages or teachings from them.

When you begin to develop an awareness of these spirits, they will often become drawn to you, seeking interaction. It’s important to be mindful, however, as not all spirits are benevolent. Some may be tricksters, testing your ability to discern which entities to trust. This is why it’s crucial to work with experienced facilitators who can call in the protective spirits and create a safe space for your journey.

Personal Encounter: Plant Spirit Overload

During our recent Sacred Acacia retreat, I had a personal experience that exemplified the power and complexity of spirit encounters. One evening, I stepped outside of the ceremonial space to get some fresh air. What happened next was overwhelming. The air seemed alive with plant spirits calling out to me from the forest. It was like being surrounded by a chorus of voices, each one speaking in its own language. I was bombarded with visions and sounds, and at first, it was difficult to comprehend what was happening. When I closed my eyes, I saw so many patterns created by the different plants.

Although none of the spirits were harmful, the experience was so intense that I struggled to understand their messages. I had to take a moment to clear my energy, focus my intention, and consciously connect with the specific plants I was working with in the ceremony—Syrian Rue, Sacred Acacia, Mapacho and San Pedro. This allowed me to filter through the overwhelming voices and receive clear messages from those plant spirits, providing me with the healing and guidance I sought.

During that same ceremony, I had a powerful encounter with the Mountain Lion spirit, which offered deep wisdom and insight. To read more about my experience with the Mountain Lion, check out my last blog post: Mountain Lion Spirit Animal (How to Connect).

Sacred Dreams: The Otherworld of Ayahuasca Visions

While many Ayahuasca visions are bright and vivid, leading us into lush landscapes of our subconscious, there are moments when the journey takes on a dreamlike quality. Rather than vivid imagery, you might find yourself drifting into a state of deep relaxation or drowsiness, where the lines between dream and waking reality blur.

In these "sacred dreams," the boundaries of time and space dissolve. You may find yourself in fantastical realms or conversing with spiritual beings in ways that defy logic. These dreams are just as potent as the visual journeys, and they often carry messages that are equally profound. Although sometimes they can be hard to remember or decipher, I believe that they are still an important part of the healing process. Sometimes Ayahuasca heals us on a subconscious level.

Icaros: Sacred Music and Sound

Icaros are sacred melodies specifically designed to amplify the effects of Ayahuasca and bring on visionary experiences. When you drink Ayahuasca, your psyche becomes highly receptive to these vibrational patterns, which serve to guide and shape the journey. The Icaros don’t just influence the inner state of mind—they also help to bring forth visions that often manifest as vivid, visual representations of the very patterns created by the music. These patterns can appear in intricate, geometric forms or dynamic, fluid movements that correspond to the rhythms and tones of the Icaros. Music and sound have a profound impact on the visionary experience, helping to focus the mind and intensify the imagery, creating a deep connection between vibration, perception, and the unfolding visions.

Releasing Attachment

It’s important to release any attachment to the need for specific visions during an Ayahuasca ceremony, as the medicine works on many levels beyond the visual. While visions can be powerful and transformative, they are just one aspect of the broader healing process. Sometimes, people can get caught up in the idea of having profound or dramatic visions, thinking that this is the only way to measure the depth of the experience. However, Ayahuasca often works subtly, bringing insights, emotional release, and energetic shifts that may not always be visible or immediate.

It’s essential to approach the journey with an open heart and mind, not judging visions as "good" or "bad" based on what we see, but rather allowing them to unfold without attachment or expectation. By simply riding with the flow and trusting in the wisdom of the medicine, we create space for deeper understanding and healing to emerge in whatever form it takes.

Conclusion: Surrender to the Journey

In conclusion, Ayahuasca is a sacred teacher, guiding us through the labyrinth of our own consciousness and the spirit world. The Cosmic Serpent, with her wisdom, offers us a path to healing, self-discovery, and spiritual awakening. But, as with any profound journey, the path is not always easy. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, mysterious, and even frightening. Yet, it is through trusting the process and surrendering to the journey that we find the most profound transformation.

As we work with Ayahuasca, it’s essential to remember that she is always showing us what we need to see, not necessarily what we want to see. Whether we are facing beautiful truths or difficult challenges, the journey is about integration—of the light and the shadow, the known and the unknown, the seen and the unseen.

Let go, trust, and allow the wisdom of the Cosmic Serpent to guide you on your journey.

Sacred Waters Sanctuary

Today, there are numerous resources for attending Ayahuasca retreats, but many are outside the USA and not all adhere to safe and ethical practices. At Sacred Waters Sanctuary, we operate as a legal non-profit church for ceremonial plant medicine retreats, protected under the constitutional right to religious freedom. Our ceremonies are conducted in Oregon, USA.

Our journeys are led by a trained and experienced team which is committed to ensuring safe, ethical, and spiritually profound Ayahuasca experiences.

Click this link learn more about our retreats.

Blog written by Gabriel Sky

Gabriel Sky is a ceremonial space holder and integration guide at Sacred Waters Sanctuary, a Healing Center in Portland, OR.

With a passion for guiding individuals on their spiritual journeys, his work is inspired by shamanic plant medicine traditions and yogic practices, drawing from his training in both fields. Through his informative and thoughtful blogs, he invites readers to explore and connect with their own spiritual paths, sharing insights that inspire personal growth and transformation.