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We have been hosting ayahuasca retreats since 1996. Our center is based in the midst of the beautiful Atlantic Rainforest along the coast of Bahia in Brazil. We facilitate a safe and comfortable space for you to achieve harmony in your everyday life by aligning your mind, body, and heart with your true self.
Our 9 day and 11 day ayahuasca retreats are designed to give you a balanced experience. We have ayahuasca ceremonies every other night and in between there are activities to integrate your experiences and insights. There is also ample free time to reflect, to enjoy the beauty of the jungle, to visit the gorgeous beaches, and just to relax, let go, and enjoy the pure bliss of the moment.
Calendar and prices on our website
We have extensive experience integrating ayahuasca, psychology, shamanism, self development, modified states of consciousness, and various other modalities. We are present at all times and are dedicated in supporting you with loving care, attention, safety, and respect.The activities include workshops focused on spiritual development. The techniques covered in the workshops can be practiced even after the retreat to continue the journey of personal growth. Some of the topics include inner child integration, life progression, discovering the source of your blockages and the resources to overcome them. Another very important part of the retreat are the Yoga sessions in the morning which greatly enrich the ayahuasca experiences at night.
Spirit Vine & TheVine Center previously known as Ayahuasca-Healing have been created by Silvia Polivoy. She received her license in clinical psychology and had a private practice in Buenos Aires, Argentina for several years until she began to feel the need to make a transition from studying and healing the mind to exploring the worlds of Spirit. This took her away from the busy city streets to the more tranquil life in the jungle, moving to Brazil where in 2004 she co-founded the TheVine Center, a trans-denominational and inter-faith spiritual center located in the state of Bahia.
The nature of our nonprofit center is philosophical, religious, mystical, spiritual, educational, and cultural. All the retreats’ income’ serves to maintain the center grounds, create employment for the local community, and help preserve the jungle, having replanted thousands of native trees over the years to give but one example.
The retreats take place inside of 39 acres of lush preserved area. It is about 7 miles from Itacaré on the coast of Bahia. Our location is only minutes away from beautiful coastal beaches, which back onto the Mata Atlántica, the second largest rainforest in Brazil.
The experience of sacred tea ceremonies can be challenging for some, deeply religious for others, but profound all around. Please note that we have several programs to offer and the plant ceremonies are always optional and not required to partake in during any of our retreats. The plant ceremonies begin in the evening and go through the night. The group dynamic is very important and there will be facilitators to look after participants throughout. There will be plenty of time for group discussions and also time alone to reflect on the experiences elicited by the spirit vine tea for those that wish to partake in the plant ceremonies.
At the retreat center we grow our own ayahuasca vine and chacruna plants organically! We also have an organic garden to source vegetables for the food prepared during the retreat. We have pure spring water for drinking and also coconut water, juices, and a variety of teas.
During all our programs we follow a strict (though delicious) diet. The meals are completely vegan, gluten-free, and nutritionally balanced, prepared by our in-house chef who has specialized in vegan cuisine and has a post-graduation in functional nutrition. They include plenty of fresh vegetables cooked with delicious herbs and spices, luscious fresh tropical fruits, salads, and grains.
A note about sexual abstinence: this varies from culture to culture; some recommending as long as 30-40 days while others as little as one day or none at all like here in Brazil. For energetic purposes we recommend sexual abstinence during the retreat as well as 3 days before it begins and 3 days after the retreat concludes. As well, a drug free and no salt diet with no red meat, pork or heavy alcohol use for the same amount of time is optimal.
We fully expect you have questions about the retreats, programs and the facilities we offer. Please feel free to explore our website or watch our videos and write to us to come to one of our retreats.
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kierenk
March 12, 2023 at 9:01 pmWhat can one say about a perfect place, a place that could transform the world if everyone had the opportunity (and enough courage) to attend. Silvia has devoted her life to developing this sanctuary, and it provides an opportunity for even the least spiritually inclined individual to experience their own personal renaissance. Without one single doubt I recommend this to anyone who has the fortitude to delve deeper within, for if you do you may encounter the keys to happiness and eternal liberation.
Roxane
March 12, 2023 at 2:43 pmLife changing experience
Look no further, the best ayahuasca retreat is Spiritvine. Located in the beautiful Atlantic rainforest I felt immediately at home. It is a paradise. Silva & Ti0 are great in their profession. They have a lot of wisdom and create a safe space to be yourself and to heal. It was my first time taking ayahuasca and I am super grateful that I found Spiritvine. I could not imagine doing ayahuasca elsewhere. I loved the structure and learning practical tools in the workshops before drinking ayahuasca. Long story short, I have unblocked my trauma that I was working for 9 years and it was like I have done 10 years of therapy in the 9 days. I highly recommend to people who are willing to work on themselves. There is in no doubt, I will be back!
kmsoden
February 3, 2023 at 11:11 pmMy experience at Spirit Vine was truly life-changing. The owner/primary facilitator, Silvia, skillfully and compassionately guides participants throughout the retreat. Silvia uses her clinical expertise masterfully to assist each individual to optimize their Ayahuasca experiences, enabling them to successfully move forward on their healing paths. Her workshops supply valuable strategies to utilize during ceremonies and in the integration process. In addition, the retreat structure fosters group bonding and cohesiveness. The other facilitator, Tio, provides calm, gentle care and direction, that allows participants to feel safe and understood. The Spirit Vine setting is breathtaking and serene. The lodging is immaculate and comfortable. Staying there felt magical. I am forever grateful to Silvia for creating Spirit Vine and her work with Ayahuasca, which has transformed me to finally be on the road to recovery from severe traumas and an eating disorder that has plagued me for over 20 years.
austinyarbrough
February 3, 2023 at 8:56 pmThis is my second ayahuasca retreat, after my first being in Peru. Spirit vine is one for the books. It is nothing short of phenomenal. The moment I arrived I felt I had been saved from the harshness of reality. The garden that Silvia has built is an oasis of serenity. She’s created an environment that is most opportune for spiritual growth. It’s not just the ayahuasca, which I will get to. It’s the energy, the surrounding nature, and the sincere care Silvia has for the people who come to live better that make this place special.
Staff is kind and loving. Ti0, charming and hilarious, goes above and beyond to ensure safety and comfort. And Silvia, is one of the most profound individuals you will meet. Within her, insight and wisdom are abundant. And she is more than happy to take time to share and discuss as helping people is her passion. She also uses her expertise in psychology, psycho analysis and therapy, to name a few areas, to help us apply the teachings of ayahuasca in a methodical AND spiritual way. By providing specific tools and exercises to help identify the things that prevent us from reaching our highest selves, we were able to overcome and come out well improved by the end of the retreat. And I personally was able to integrate into society effectively and with more confidence. I came to heal but this time with emphasis on character and career insight- how to achieving the highest version of myself and what kind of life it would mean moving forward. With spirit vine, I found so much more than what I was looking for and left spiritually complete.
Spirit vine is special from its location, the year round perfect weather, the staff and the gifts Silvia provides. Everything about spirit vine is intentional and there to give you a safe space to find restoration. I cannot rate Spirit vine high enough. Before the retreat I was wondering how spirit vine could accumulate thousands of perfect reviews. When you arrive you’ll know exactly how 🙂
– Austin Yarbrough
anon
January 30, 2023 at 4:39 pmDon’t waste time, book Spirit Vine.
If you’re reading this, you’ve seen the website. You’ve had the calling and.. believe the 5 star reviews; I was suspicious of them but once you step foot on the retreat ,even before you do so, you understand why they are 5 star rated. Beautiful bungalows in an Atlantic forest setting. A serene oasis and sanctuary, the perfect setting for this kind of retreat. Silvia’s seemingly infinite knowledge of all things, enables you to let go, feeling very safe whilst you fully immerse yourself into your personal healing experience. Her workshops are invaluable and enormously helpful when integrated into the ceremonies. You work at your own pace, everyone is different, yet you are there with like-minded people. The sharing circles after the ceremonies were eye opening both for my own experiences and truly humbling to listen to fellow participants. I opted for 11 days and I watched people transform into their true authentic selves literally hour by hour, quite astonishing. Ti0 too.. a Saintly Guardian, who seems to be in all places all at once. He was there for whatever your needs and whenever you needed him. They both have a refreshing sense of humour too which for me was essential when doing such deep work. I loved the opportunity to do Art which is not obligatory. Gentle yoga and fantastic massages are a bonus. The food was on another level, given the fact no salt is used, three meals a day, the variety was great and most if not all of the food was from the surrounding land. The chef is phenomenal. There is a gentle Western approach, yet you are ensconced in the perfect environment. Whether you partake in the plant medicine or not, I cannot recommend this place highly enough for a truly transformational retreat. I would also take heed of their advice and not travel home for at least a week if your work permits. I’ve given 10 stars because 5 aren’t enough.
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