The ceremony is now underway. While the ayahuasca is working, everybody is playing music, singing, and dancing.

It's a real celebration of life. The music, the fire, the dance... everything takes on a surreal aspect. I ask myself if I am dreaming or if it is reality!

(excuse the quality of the photo)

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The ayahuasca has cooled down and is ready. It's around 8pm, the ceremony will start soon, the medicine man has already set up the altar in the maloca. Sacred and meaningful objects are placed in its centre (tobacco, feather fans, containers, icons...).

I can feel nervousness and excitement in my belly.

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It finally starts to look like ayahuasca! The brew is left to simmer and reduce. It gradually takes on its characteristic dark brown colour.

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When all the liquid has been drained out, what's left is the fibres of the ayahuasca vines and chacruna leaves.
There's no use for it, and it is discarded.

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Once it has boiled for a little while, the brew is left to cool down briefly. The ayahuasca vines and chacruna leaves are separated, filtered out, from the liquid.

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The next step consists of adding water to the ayahuasca vines and chacruna leaves and bring it to a boil. Typically, a couple of hours are needed to extract the compounds from the plants.

This is done in the ceremonial maloca where the sacred events and community rituals take place.

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When the vines are clean, they are beaten in order to separate the fibres. This will allow the active principles of ayahuasca to infuse the brew.

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