This happened when I was 16 years old. At that time, I was studying the technical career of Official Tourism Guide at CEVATUR Institute. That’s how I found a job as a guide at DISCOVERY THE AMAZON LAND LODGE.
Shortly after starting to work, I was assigned a group of very young tourists aged between 18 and 24 who were arriving at the lodge from the United States. On their arrival day, I was supposed to pick them up from the airport and drive them to their hotel.
That night, I had to show them around the city of Iquitos, the main tourist spots, and the next morning, very early, go to the port where the boats would be waiting to take us to the lodge.
Entering unknown Territory
The next day, upon arriving at the lodge, we headed to the main maloca where our boss was to welcome the group of tourists. With everyone present, my boss greeted and welcomed the tourists, everything was normal up to this point.
But after this brief welcome, my boss mentioned something that I was hearing for the first time: «The shaman is already at the lodge and has everything ready for your Ayahuasca ceremony tomorrow night.»
Mentally, I was wondering, “Shaman, Ayahuasca, ¿what is that?» What is my boss talking about? I was so curious that I asked my coworker who was beside me, “Juan, what is a shaman, and what is this Ayahuasca thing?»
He looked at me and drew a smile on his face and said to me, «What, you really don’t know what a shaman is? You don’t know what Ayahuasca is?» I said no, I was born in Iquitos, but I never heard of that. «
Well, Denis, a shaman is a ‘healer,’ meaning a person who performs rituals, they’re also called ‘witch doctors.’ And Ayahuasca is a drink that makes you see things from your life, and it tastes terrible.»
While I was talking with my coworker, I saw one of the tourists from the group raising his hand, asking to speak. My boss granted him permission, and the tourist said the following: «We want Denis to also take Ayahuasca with us.»
Upon hearing that, I said, «What!» mentally saying, «No, no, no.» My boss told him that it was not possible because I am part of the staff, and the ceremony is only for the tourists. Hearing this, the group of tourists, through their representative, spoke again, saying: «If Denis doesn’t drink it, none of us will.»
My boss, after hearing this, looked at me. From his expression, I could tell he was telling me that I would have to do it. My boss told the group: «I’ll talk to him.» He then walked over to where I was and said to me, «Denis, you’re going to have to take it.
When the ayahuasca mother calls us or wants us to meet her, she does it in inexplicable ways, this is who she is, this is how she works, this is her magic.
Master Denis
Nothing like this has ever happened before, and if they don’t take it, they won’t pay, and that will affect everyone.» He also said, «Don’t worry, it’s not bad. I’ll give you one piece of advice: don’t ask about your past or your future, especially how you’re going to die.»
After hearing those words, I said to him, «Boss, you’re not helping me, you’re making me very nervous. What is this about Ayahuasca? Why shouldn’t I ask, and supposedly to whom I shouldn’t ask?» He said, «That’s all I can tell you. I’ll confirm that you’ll take it.»
After this conversation, he left and went towards the group of tourists to tell them that I would indeed join them in taking Ayahuasca. Obviously, the group of tourists was very happy to know that I would join the ceremony.
But I remained very nervous; I kept asking, but nobody wanted to give me more information. They told me it’s better that way. That night, I couldn’t sleep.
For the tourists, there was a diet and preparation, but in my case, nothing. I assumed that this was because they were from another country, and that must be their daily diet.
The Encounter with the Sacred: Ayahuasca Night
The night of the ceremony arrived, and I was super nervous, as were they, since they told us to sit very close together for safety, where when seated, my knee touched the knee of my companion and so on, consecutively.
Meanwhile, the shaman was conducting the opening of the ceremony and preparing the Ayahuasca. Since we were a large group, I thought I would be the last to take it, but to my surprise, the shaman started with me. I exclaimed, «What!»
I saw him pour the Ayahuasca into a large glass, filling it 70%. I thought to myself, «That seems like a lot,» but I assumed that was how it was supposed to be given my ignorance about it. After that, I saw him smoke mapacho, and he blew the smoke into the glass with the Ayahuasca.
When it was my turn to drink, it smelled bad, and I had no idea how to drink it, so I thought I would take it slowly. That was a grave mistake because, with the first sip, the Ayahuasca tasted horrible, so bad that I almost spat it in the shaman’s face.
He noticed and told me, «Drink it all, hold your breath, and take it all at once.» So I did as he said, and I was left with the terrible taste in my mouth for several minutes.
They never told me that I should wait approximately 30 minutes, so around 10 minutes after taking it, I thought it wasn’t working for me. Mentally, I thought, «Well, I guess something went wrong because I’m not feeling anything. That’s better; I’m calm like this. I’ll wait a little longer and then say I’m going to retire to my room.»
A few minutes later, I began to feel a very cold air entering my body from the tips of my toes, gradually rising up through my entire body. I thought, «What is this?» It was a cold that froze me in place, preventing me from moving. In other words, I was sitting in the maloca completely frozen.
Later, while I was frozen, I felt the floor of the maloca becoming malleable, as if I were sitting on a water mattress. I wondered what was happening. I tried to open my eyes but couldn’t; my eyelids felt heavy.
The connection started
Then, I heard a very loud sound to my right side. It sounded like a gunshot, and I saw a flash of light pass in front of me, even though my eyes were still closed.
After that, I felt my body starting to spin. At first, it was slow, but after a few seconds, it began to spin very rapidly. I thought I would open my eyes, and this time I managed to do so. However, I couldn’t see anything because everything was spinning. The entire maloca was spinning super fast in front of me.
I closed my eyes again and remember just hugging my legs, bringing my knees to touch my chest. I also lowered my head to withstand the intense spinning speed.
My body spun so much that I felt like my spirit left my body.
How do I know? I floated like a spirit. I saw myself sitting in the maloca, and I could see everyone. The moonlight illuminated the entire maloca.
While suspended in the air, I heard a loud noise, and when I looked up, I saw a strong wind carrying away the roof of the maloca. I could see a beautiful, starry sky. At that moment, I thought, «What do I do now?» A voice in my head said, «Fly, return to Iquitos to see your family so you can be at peace.»
And that’s what I did. I flew back over the river and could see beautiful river dolphins of all colors. I saw mermaids swimming as if they were greeting me, and when I looked towards the trees, I could see jaguars of all colors.
It was a very beautiful vision, and indeed, I flew back to my house in Iquitos. When I arrived, I could see them doing things in the house, but they couldn’t see me; I could pass through the walls like a ghost.
Then that same voice said to me, «Denis, it’s time to return,» and in less than a second, I was back sitting in the maloca. I opened my eyes and found myself completely alone. I could hear the shaman singing, but I couldn’t see him. I looked up at the ceiling and saw a snake descending from it.
Its phosphorescent colors were shining in the darkness. As it descended, it positioned itself in front of me. I noticed something strange about this snake; it had a human head and emitted small, phosphorescent green bubbles.
After that, I heard a very loud sound coming from the side of the main door of the maloca, located to my left. When I turned and looked, I noticed that the door was no longer there.
Receiving the visit of Mother Ayahuasca in her animal form.
Outside the maloca, thanks to the moonlight, everything was clearly visible, including the river near the lodge. But there was a strong wind. To my great surprise, minutes later, I saw a huge snake emerging from the river. It was gigantic. I was astonished to see that enormous anaconda.
I saw it begin to enter the maloca, and I thought, «Damn, this animal is going to eat me.» I wanted to run, but I couldn’t move. I could only close my eyes and pray that it wouldn’t harm me. With my eyes closed, I felt its forked tongue touch my face. Then, I felt it coil around me, squeezing me but not causing any harm.
Eventually, I truly felt it swallow me. I could feel its saliva and how I gradually entered inside it. I just thought to myself, «How curious that on my first job, I’m going to die in this way.»
I felt like I was falling asleep, and at one point, I think I did, because that voice in my mind told me to wake up. «You’re alive,» it said. «You’ve been cleansed and healed.»
I opened my eyes, and I was once again sitting in the center of the maloca. Everything was in its place—the roof, the door. I couldn’t hear the shaman anymore, but I noticed something strange. I wasn’t alone. I could see shadowy figures of people sitting around the maloca.
First Encounter with the Jaguar Masters.
The maloca was circular in shape. They were like ghosts but black in color. I noticed they wanted to approach me, but something was holding them back. They flew back and forth. Then I heard a very loud breath behind me. It was the breath of something or someone enormous.
Mentally, I told myself not to turn around, not to look back, but curiosity got the better of me, and I did. When I turned to see what or who it was, I saw an enormous feline—huge, gigantic. At first, I thought it was a giant tiger. I saw that it was the one preventing those dark shadows from getting close to me.
Then, at one point, it realized I was watching it and turned its enormous head to look at me. I looked into its eyes and felt a power, something I had never felt before. But not understanding anything about it, fear overcame me.
I returned to my original position and closed my eyes, mentally saying, «This animal is going to eat me. Why did I take it? I don’t want to be here anymore. Forgive me, Mom, for everything. I promise to listen to you in everything.» I started to pray three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.
After a few minutes, there was complete silence. Mentally, I told myself not to open my eyes, but once again, my curiosity got the better of me, and I did. The enormous feline was right in front of me, those eyes I could never forget.
It roared in front of me, and I felt its breath, its saliva. Then, something strange happened. I saw my head inside its mouth—not as if it had eaten me, but as if my head was somehow part of the head of this enormous feline.
After that, I opened my eyes, and I was back in the maloca. The lights were already on, and my coworkers were waiting for me, concerned because I was the last one to wake up. Then, I felt very nauseous and rushed to the bathroom to vomit. I vomited a lot.
Upon leaving the bathroom, feeling somewhat better, they asked me how I was doing. I told them I was fine, a little dizzy, but better after vomiting. They asked if I had a connection, and I said yes. They expressed doubts because after taking the ayahuasca, they saw me lie down and fall asleep.
This information surprised me because I never slept and didn’t lie down. That’s how fantastic my first ceremony with Mother Ayahuasca was.
My first encounter with Mother Ayahuasca was a unique and profoundly special connection. Who would have imagined that years later I would become a shaman, working in harmony with Ayahuasca and the revered Jaguar Masters.
Master Denis