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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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Mariann
September 2, 2024 at 2:48 pmThere’s a reason for all of the remarkable reviews which I’ll get to shortly, but first there are some practical considerations that I wish more people mentioned in their reviews that I thought might be helpful. I came in August 2024 which is winter in the region. That said bring warmer clothes and think LAYERS, so as it warms you can take off what you need to. In addition to the regular packing list, a couple of full length lounge suits will do it for the 9 day retreat during this season. It rains off and on so a rain jacket and waterproof shoes are helpful. The dorm is co-ed so bear this in mind if you’re trying to decide which accommodations to book. It may not seem like a big deal but if you have sexual trauma that comes up it could be triggering. The beds and pillows are very comfortable. There’s a safe in the rooms which I appreciated. There are no hairdryers so those with long hair most definitely should bring one because it will take several hours for your hair to dry naturally in the jungle environment. Also the diet prior to the retreat is less of a suggestion and more of a requirement. I foolishly believed that coffee wasn’t a problem to give up at the start of the retreat and I didn’t crave it at all but the migraine I suffered with on the first 2 days was awful. So do yourself a favor and stop caffeine at least a week before coming. Or better yet just follow Silvia’s instructions. So all of that out of the way my personal experiences with SV and ayahuasca were extraordinary. I’m still processing the things I learned but I feel confident in saying that I will be back. I have gone through a lot of trauma in my life and I could never seem to fully emerge from the pain of those experiences. During the ceremonies I relived most of those experiences but from a more energetic layer of reality. In the visions I had I saw the very worst and the very best of the energies at play in my life and all around us and I got to see how I interact with those energies. It was transformative and informative to say the least. Things make sense to me now whereas before the retreat everything I had been through just felt like meaningless suffering. I truly feel like a different person than when I first came. I’m calmer, more patient and above all I’m unconditionally loving myself. I can also see others for who and what they are and from this level of conscious awareness I can decide how or if I will respond. My physical health has dramatically improved as well and I continue to make changes and adhere to a healthier diet and lifestyle. When I was looking for an ayahuasca retreat I considered several different options but I’m happy that I chose Spirit Vine. Silvia and Noor were present, attentive and supportive throughout the process and Silvia’s psychology background was very helpful in processing the experiences that came up during ceremonies. I enjoyed the workshops and the sharing circles and I was able to get exactly what I needed from my trip to Spirit Vine. Looking forward to possibly returning sometime soon.
KR
August 29, 2024 at 6:03 pmI am so grateful that I found Spirit Vine Retreat and Silvia. I have struggled throughout my life and was looking for a way to finally heal my body, mind and soul. I certainly found that through Silvia with her Ph.D in Psychology and her extensive work with ayahuasca.
Silvia offers the most beautiful environment in which to heal. The surrounding nature, sleeping accommodation/cabins, ceremony room, pond, and vegan food are all nurturing to the body, mind and soul.
Every detail is attended to so that the experience is safe and rewarding. On ceremony day we were offered yoga & massage to prepare our bodies to receive the medicine. Later that day, we had a workshop that helped me think about my intention for the ceremony that evening. Silvia takes the time to know each participant and tailors her workshops around the participants needs.
The ceremonies felt very safe to me. Silvia and Nor offer a trusting environment where participants are grounded and well cared for. I was able to go deep within myself to find the healing that I needed.
Silvia and Nor, I can’t thank you enough for sharing your knowledge and skill with all who participate in the retreats. You both are amazing!
Diana_Ayuhasca
August 4, 2024 at 6:01 pmGreat place to visit and try Ayuhasca for the first time!
Neel
July 2, 2024 at 1:26 pmThis was my first ayahuasca experience, and it was quite effective and transformational. Silvia has a Psychology PhD and therapy experience, and also years of experience among the shamans. The blend of rational and shamanistic methods was perfect for me. I appreciated the detailed guidance and preparation for the retreat, the meticulous organization during the retreat, and the group therapy workshops that she led. Several things have changed for me in important ways due to the retreat. No wonder there were several people who have returned to this retreat again and again, and I will probably want to return as well in the future.
avi
July 2, 2024 at 7:27 amIt was the best experience of my life with ayahuasca! Four amazing ceremonies, beautiful jungle, wonderful birds, and incredible food. Highly recommend this place for a life-changing and deeply transformative connection with nature. Thanks, Silvia!