Moon Time and Ayahuasca: Honoring the Sacred Cycle
At our authentic ayahuasca retreat in Colombia, we understand the menstrual cycle as the Elders do: not as a limitation, but as a moment of deep power. Indigenous traditions teach that a woman’s “Moon Time” connects her directly to the rhythms of the earth and the spirit world.
One of the most common questions we receive is why women on their period are asked not to drink Yagé (Ayahuasca). To the Western mind this may feel like exclusion. To the Indigenous mind, it’s an act of protection and profound respect for a woman’s innate power.
The Indigenous View: Power, Not Impurity
Across many Indigenous cultures—from the Siona in the Colombian Amazon to the Cree and Ojibwe in the North—menstruation is understood as a state of heightened energy, not something “unclean.”
In the Siona tradition that guides our ceremonies, a woman on her period is seen as deeply connected to lunar energy. Her body is already purging and renewing. During this time, she carries a medicine so strong that it can overshadow or conflict with the energy of Ayahuasca.
Elders teach that menstruation is a ceremony in itself. The body is performing its own sacred work. Introducing an external plant medicine during this moment can create an energetic clash, because Yagé requires full energetic presence and focus.
Safety and Energetic Protection
The decision to not drink medicine during menstruation comes from two pillars: energetic integrity and physical safety.
1. Energetic Integrity
A woman is highly open during her cycle. This sensitivity can make the Ayahuasca experience more intense or overwhelming. Her energy can unintentionally affect the work of the shaman and the journeys of other participants. Protecting her energy also protects the energetic clarity of the ceremonial circle.
2. Physical Safety
Ayahuasca is a vasodilator and a strong purgative. During menstruation, this can—rarely but realistically—trigger excessive or uncontrolled bleeding. To understand other physical considerations, please see our Ayahuasca safety guide.
Planning Your Ceremony
To honor the medicine and the body, women who are menstruating cannot participate in the ceremony. This tradition safeguards the physical and spiritual space for everyone present.
- The Rule: In our lineage, we ask women to refrain from ceremony around her moon time.
- If your cycle begins early: If your period starts during the retreat, you will be moved to a comfortable separate building (similar to the “Moon Lodge” in other traditions). You will continue receiving food, care, and supportive therapies.
- Post-Cycle Ritual: After your cycle ends, women are invited to bathe with basil or sweet plants to harmonize their energy before rejoining the ceremony.
If you are planning your trip near Medellín and want help choosing dates, read our guide to the best place to drink ayahuasca in Medellín.
A Shaman’s Wife Shares Her Wisdom
We are honored to share the words of the wife of one of our shamans. Her reflections offer a doorway to healing the relationship with our own nature:
“For too long, menstruation has been hidden or shamed. Society teaches women to suppress their emotions during this time, fearing judgment or weakness. But in the tribal view, this is a moment of vision.
Every woman experiences her cycle differently. When we embrace our cyclical nature, we understand our timing, our moods, and our truths. If discomfort arises from being a woman, resisting it cannot bring peace.
When a woman sees her Moon Time as part of the great rhythm of the universe, she begins to heal. By recognizing and letting go of what no longer serves, we heal the lineage that lives inside us.”
Healing the Female Lineage
Biologically, every woman carries the lineage of her ancestors within her body. A woman’s eggs form when she is still inside her mother’s womb—meaning part of you once existed inside your grandmother. This ancestral connection shapes our emotional and energetic inheritance.
The Moon Time is a natural moment to heal this inheritance. Even without drinking the medicine, simply being in the retreat environment can help reveal what belongs to you and what was passed down through generations. Through guided practices, reflections, and rest, this inherited weight can shift into empowerment.
For a broader view on healing, we invite you to read A Healing Journey Is Not a Straight Line.
FAQ – Menstrual Cycle & Ayahuasca
To learn more about our foundations and lineage, visit our About Camino al Sol page.
