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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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philipc
September 7, 2016 at 4:37 pmSpiritual Revelations
I participated, with 6 other people, in the 17-25 July 2016 Ayahuasca retreat. It was the first time I had an experience of that kind. And it was unforgettable. I am a doctor (cardiologist) but still had many unanswered questions regarding my spiritual dimension. This was beyond my everyday professional practice, which has been based on scientific, pragmatic reasoning. I did the trip alone, so as to take full responsibility for whatever happened to me. Many of the things I saw and learned are too personal to describe in detail here and not of general interest, but some revelations were astonishingly powerful: – I have a soul. I have seen it. He is my higher self and he is immortal, divine energy. – I have lived before, and have now been offered images of at least three previous incarnations. The information regarding one of those gradually unfolded over three long overnight sessions and the implications were overwhelming, often too profound to digest. – The laws of cause and effect are simple. You will reap what you sow. One must strive to be a better person and offer small kindnesses to those who cross one’s path. – This present life is the important one, and must be worked upon. Give it purpose and meaning. Do not waste it. – I speak the truth. After all I am a doctor fast approaching the age of 50, an educated man who accepts objective fact and who will reject bullshit with panache and arrogance. I know the difference between sensory hallucinations, however attractive they may be, and witnessing spiritual certitudes. – I just want to go home. And I know where it is. For me, the first dose of Ayahuasaca brought on visual and auditory hallucinations, but it was the booster (about half the initial dose) which unfolded the spiritual knowledge I was seeking. The venue, in verdant hills and a lush tropical forest, is beautiful. The hospitality was flawless, the food delicious. I made some new friends during my stay in Bahia. I want to thank Silvia and Rohan for their professional and personal courtesy. I will remember and learn from this. Ultreya!!!
helew
August 9, 2016 at 1:37 pmSpiritvine retreat was really something special. It took me 4 years to get the courage to do this and believe me I spent a long time researching lots of places. Spiritvine is a great place to do your first ceremony. You are in the rainforest, but are close to a tourist town in Bahia, you have wifi, a comfy bed, amazing food, English language and Silvia, a trained psychiatrist who is there to help you through your journey. You feel safe- which is really important when you are so far from home. What Silvia brings is a beautiful habitat, help assimilating what was experienced and the most incredible playlist to journey to. It’s really special. The experience is nothing short of epic. The medicine works in an amazing way and you get exactly what you need for that moment. In our group (which was such a lovely mix of people) more than half had dark journeys. What I mean by that is that they went to places they needed to to be able to understand who they are and to release things from the past. I tell you this just so you understand that it can be hard work – but with immeasurable benefits. You have to be ready to do this. I read somewhere that one ceremony is the equivalent of meditating for 10 years. For me, it felt even more powerful than that. Like I was getting plugged into the core of the universe and fully understanding the simplicity and complexity of everything. There is so much more I could write (be sure to bring a journal as you’ll want to record the incredible insights that the medicine shares with you). It’s been 6 months since I was there and I really can say that it’s a life changing experience. My outlook (and inlook) is very different now and I feel I have a much better understanding of energy and a new reverence for the majesty of the plant world and in particular plant medicine. Very grateful for the amazing work that Silvia does. This is an unmissable experience.
pauly1973
September 8, 2015 at 12:00 amAfter 3 shamanic retreats in Peru over the last few years, I was looking for something different. While browsing different retreats that are coming up all over the world, I found Spirit Vine which was established a long time back in Brazil. The website and information I found online instantly appealed to me and I knew this was the place for me to visit next in my Ayahuasca path.
The vibe in Brazil is so nice! The center is a paradise created by Silvia who is a master facilitator. She holds a very clean ceremony where the energy is pure and this helps immensely in building trust so one can explore themselves deep without having any fear. It is the perfect set and setting.
In comparison, Peru has a very dense energy and it has become very commercial in most places. Some shamans are even drinking alcohol and practice sorcery. Overall in Peru I was feeling restlessness and this feeling gets amplified a lot during the ceremony leading to a very uncomfortable and dark experience for some people. I have witnessed this two times now with myself and other participants and this was one of the main reasons for not wanting to go back to Peru this time.
Seeing the manner and discipline with which Silvia does her retreats has completely changed my opinion on the way Ayahuasca is supposed to be done and I am so grateful for having this experience. I am sure this is going to be the center I visit for future ceremonies. The unforgettable beauty of the jungle and beaches surrounding the retreat, as well as the healthy food and super comfortable accommodation made the whole retreat much easier and it was welcomed when going through such an intense experience. Much love to Silvia and the entire staff!
hernanbrusa
September 6, 2015 at 12:00 amVisiting Spirit Vine was a great experience in my life that I?ll never forget. The place is beautiful, the bungalows very comfortable, the food so delicious, during the ceremonies I felt totally safe, the workshops during the day were very helpful as well, and Silvia is an amazing woman. She does love her work. Talking to her, being with her made the experience be unique. I?ll be back!
Eric A
August 17, 2015 at 12:00 amI just spent an incredible retreat with Silvia in her wonderful center. From the food to the workshops to the accommodation, everything was just perfect. And of course, the delicate, loving and expert support of Silvia was a marvelous bliss that has permitted me to have evolutionary experiences and insights far beyond my imagination. It has boosted my understanding and my self in such a way that I can know now who is God, what is Love, what is not death and who I am.
A special thanks also to Rohan who assisted us so graciously and to the whole group that was a constant source of inspiration, care and fun.
God bless you
Eric A