As Ayahuasca and Master Plant healing becomes more popular and many people travel to Peru and other South American countries to meet the plant spirits, this unfortunately has come with a rise in unsafe practices, exploitation of local people and irresponsible use of natural resources. I believe that the values and ethics which medicine spaces are conducted by affect the potency of the medicine and the energy of the space and that it's important to choose a retreat or healing space that it is in alignment with your values and that operates in a way you feel comfortable with. Below, I've outlined the ethical principles and values that Spirit of Peace Healing operates by, so that you can confidently make an informed choice whether or not you want to join a retreat or other activity or session. I'll also happily answer any other questions by email.

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The Business

• Spirit of Peace E.I.R.L. Is a legal, tax-paying, single-person owned company in Peru, owned by Jessica Louise Inman, with RUC number 20609597764.

• All medicine cermonies and activities are fully legal. Ayahuasca, Wachuma and all of the plants used in ceremonies, retreats and treatments are fully legal in Peru, and retreats and any events in other countries will only ever include plants and medicines that are legal and begin used legally in that country.

• All retreat staff are paid fairly with wages that are more in line with Western rates than local Peruvian rates. All retreat staff and ceremony facilitators are paid – volunteers are not taken for working at retreats or in medicine ceremonies.
  - I do offer exchanges for other work such as marketing assistance, digital content creation and other general help, but not for working in medicine ceremonies or assisting the running of a ceremony or retreat.

• For each retreat in Peru, after the cost of running the retreat has been covered including all staff payement, any profit is split between the business, retreat staff (including myself), a local cause to support local people during emergencies and a sustainable cause for the medicines and the earth (eg. planting medicinal plants, reforestation, ecological projects etc.)

  - This profit share applies to the retreats only, not to one-to-one sessions, preparation/integration packages, individual ceremonies or any other products (I have to make a living too!)

• Every effort is made to support the local economy and support local businesses. Food, other products and taxis are all sourced from local people. We also have several local recommendations for accommodation, restaurants, tours etc. in the area for before/after retreats.

• Financal transparancy is available around staff payment for any retreat upon request.

   

 

Ceremonies and Medicines

• Our Ayahuasca is made by the Curanderos leading the ceremonies, their families, retreat facilitators or experienced medicine makers we know and trust. We always have a brew available made from just the Ayahuasca vine and Chakruna leaves. We will never add potentially dangerous plants like brugmansia. If we do add any other plants to a brew for their medicinal properties, we will let you know what's included, and you always have the option to consume the two-plant version.

• Wachuma is made by the Wachumeros leading the ceremonies. If other products are used in the ceremony, like the flower essence or powder, it will have been made by them or purchased from a trusted source.

• Every potential ceremony/retreat participant is required to complete a medical screening form and video interview before being accepted to attend. If for any reason it is deemed unsafe for someone to participate, they will be refused.

• Medicines will only be served when we are confident that it is safe for the person to consume it. If for any reason we believe it is unsafe to for someone consume it, including taking additional doses during ceremonies, we will not serve it to that person.

• Preparationg and integration support is given before and after retreats. Before the retreat, each participant is met for a video call to prepare and will receive some preparation doucments to read through and optional journalling and meditation exercises. Two hour-long integration calls and access to three online group integration sessions are included after each retreat. Additional preparation and integration sessions are also available as one-off sessions or as a multi-session package and are structured to meet the needs of the individual.

• I'm also committed to creating further resources for preparing for and integrating your medicine work which will become available online over time.

• We value the experience of the individual and reognise that everyone's needs for healing are different. Plant dietas, other medicines and treatments are selected to meet the needs of each individual and we do all that we can do to support your personal needs throughout the retreat.

• Group sizes are kept small so that each person can receive the support that they need, with a general group size of 6-8 participants and an absolute maximum of 10.

• During Ayahuasca ceremonies we always have one sober facilitator on site for dealing with emergencies with a clear mind, should anything arise.

  - This may not always be the case during Wachuma ceremonies, especially on hikes where, in line with the tradition, all facilitators will usually drink a small amount of the medicine.

• Retreat facilitaors are available 24/7 for support during the retreats.

• The Curanderos and Wachumeros leading the ceremonies are experienced practicioners who I personally know and have done a lot of work with and trust implicitly to hold a safe space that is conducive to healing. I will never employ someone to lead ceremonies that I don't know and trust, and who I haven't personally sat in several ceremonies with.

• Retreats will always have at least one experienced English speaking facilitator alongside myself for translating, explaining and bridging any cultural gaps or confusion.

• Where retreat facilitaors may share their experiences, beliefs and opinions, we never push you towards any belief system, religion, spirituality or way of seeing things, but encourage you to find and honour your own truth.

• We do require that everyone respects the opinons, beliefs and freedom of expression of all other participants. Excessive conflict and/or anti social or abusive behaviour will result in that participant being asked to leave.

 

 

Sustainability and Eco-Consciousness

• We take caring for the Earth and the sustainability of the plants and medicines very seriously and do all we can to conduct our services in a sustainable and conscious way that's respectful to the Earth and to all living beings.

• Medicinal plants for dietas and other treatments are sourced in Peru, either locally or brought to the mountains from the Amazon rainforest by the Curanderos or their families. We may occasionally use plants that have been brought in from other places for treatments and products (such as massage oils, herbal products etc.), usually that we have brought back from travelling to other places, but we will never import large amounts of any plant or medicine.

• We favour retreat locations that are locally owned and that give participants the opportunity to be in close connection with nature whilst maintaining a familiar level of comfort.

• We request that retreat participants show respect for the local environment and do not pick or take any plant without first obtaining permission from the owner of the retreat/location.

 

 

Use of Artificial Intelligence

The plant medicines teach us the value of human creativity and authentic communication and I believe that a tranmission is received through receiving information that has been written or created naturally versus through arifical intelligence. At the same time, the introduction of AI has proven to be quite useful in helping me to do things that I otherwise wouldn't know how to do or that would otherwise take valuable time away from the more important work with the medicines and people.

 

In communication, digital content and marketing, I sometimes use AI for:

• Audio and video editing and enhancement.

• Image generation for images that are not intended to imitate a photograph.

• General organisation and assistance with lists, spreadsheets, etc.

• General searches and information sourcing.

 

I never use AI (unless it is built into a program that I can't do anything about) for:

• Any kind of personal communication including emails, messages and automated messages.

• Writing blog posts, articles, written information and copy beyond obtaining a list of ideas.

• Creation of videos or audio files – I will only use it during editing.

• Digital photographs or photo-like pictures, or the creation of anything that may give the illusion of being a representation of reality.