THE MEDICINES
Each plant medicine carries its own wisdom, tradition, and purpose. In our ceremonies, you’ll work with these sacred medicines in a safe, intentional space—guided by experienced shamans who honor their lineage and power.
OUR AYAHUASCA RETREAT MEDICINES
A powerful plant medicine that guides deep self-exploration, emotional healing, and spiritual awakening.
A unique plant medicine journey designed to bring insight, emotional breakthroughs, and inner peace.
A sacred tobacco blend used to clear the mind, ground the spirit, and enhance focus before ceremony.
The Bufo experience is often described as a complete departure from reality—a rapid, overwhelming, and indescribable merging with the universe itself.
OUR PSILOCYBIN RETREAT MEDICINES
A gentle yet profound teacher helping to dissolve barriers, expand consciousness, and cultivate inner clarity.
A unique plant medicine journey designed to bring insight, emotional breakthroughs, and inner peace.
A sacred tobacco blend used to clear the mind, ground the spirit, and enhance focus before ceremony.
AYAHUASCA
THE VINE OF THE SOUL
Ayahuasca is a gateway to self-discovery and a powerful tool for transformation. This ancient Amazonian brew, made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and Psychotria viridis leaves, has been used for centuries by indigenous cultures for spiritual healing, vision quests, and deep introspection.
This medicine is renowned for its ability to dissolve the ego, reveal hidden truths, and connect participants to the spiritual realm. Many describe their experiences as life-changing, helping them confront fears, release past traumas, and gain profound insights into their purpose and existence.
WHAT IS AYAHUASCA?
The Effects of Ayahuasca on the Brain, Body, & Mind
How Ayahuasca Reaches the Brain
The psychedelic effects of Ayahuasca come from a molecule called DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine), found in Psychotria viridis. DMT is naturally broken down in the stomach by an enzyme called monoamine oxidase (MAO), which prevents it from entering the bloodstream. However, Banisteriopsis caapi contains natural chemicals called harmala alkaloids, which temporarily block this enzyme. As a result, DMT is able to travel through the body, cross into the brain, and produce its full effect.
But Banisteriopsis caapi does more than just help DMT work. Research shows that its compounds can promote brain new connections and may protect nerve cells. This makes the vine itself an active agent in the psychological and neurological effects of Ayahuasca—not just a supporting role.
Effects on the Brain & Mind
- New Brain Connections and Psychological Flexibility Scientific studies have shown that Ayahuasca can increase connections between different areas of the brain. This is known as neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to change and form new pathways. In people struggling with depression, anxiety, or trauma, certain thought patterns become rigid and repetitive. Ayahuasca appears to temporarily weaken these rigid patterns and allow new ways of thinking to emerge. This may help explain the sense of clarity and emotional insight that many people report after a ceremony.
- Loss of Self and Connection to a Larger Whole
One of the most common and powerful effects of Ayahuasca is a temporary loss of self-identity, also called ego dissolution. During this state, people often feel like they’ve merged with nature, the universe, or a spiritual presence. This can sound abstract, but brain scans show that parts of the brain involved in creating our sense of self become much less active under Ayahuasca. When this happens, people often stop thinking about themselves in the usual way and instead feel connected to something much larger. - Emotional Healing & Release of Repressed Memories
Ayahuasca affects parts of the brain involved in memory and emotion, especially the amygdala and hippocampus. These areas process fear, trauma, and emotional memories. Under the influence of the brew, people often revisit painful or long-forgotten memories—but instead of being overwhelmed, they are able to process these emotions and gain new understanding. Many describe the experience as cathartic or emotionally cleansing. - Mood Improvement & Lasting Psychological Changes
Ayahuasca interacts with serotonin, the brain chemical most commonly linked to mood and well-being. This may explain why people often report feeling lighter, more peaceful, and more optimistic after a ceremony. In fact, early research shows that a single dose of Ayahuasca can lead to a lasting decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety. - The Physical Purge: More Than Just Nausea
Many people who drink Ayahuasca vomit, sweat, cry, or tremble during the ceremony. While this might sound unpleasant, these reactions are traditionally seen as a kind of physical release—a way to expel stored emotions or energy from the body. In Western medicine, this is often dismissed as a side effect, but for many participants, the purge feels like a vital part of the healing process.
Long-Term Benefits
Studies have found that Ayahuasca users often show long-term improvements in their emotional health, including greater mindfulness, resilience, and a stronger sense of meaning in life. That said, the effects of Ayahuasca can’t be fully understood through chemistry or neuroscience alone—we believe it works on a much deeper, spiritual level.
According to Shipibo-Conibo legend, the first illness to affect humanity was not physical—it was fear. As people became disconnected from the natural world and the spirits that guide it, fear of death, fear of separation, and fear of suffering took root.
Seeing this, the plants gathered in council and offered a remedy: ayahuasca. More than a medicine, it was a sacred teacher—meant to help humans remember who they are and reconnect with the living world around them.
Ayahuasca opens the senses to the unseen, dissolves illusions, and invites us back into harmony—with nature, with spirit, and with ourselves.
At MexiSoul, we see ayahuasca as a tool that helps strip away the layers of conditioning and false identity we’ve picked up through life. We believe we are spiritual beings having a human experience—and that within each of us, there is an essence guided by consciousness, separate from the mind and ego.
Ayahuasca creates space between these two aspects of self. In that space, many people experience a deep clarity: a glimpse of who they truly are, beneath the stories and programming of the mind. Through visions, emotion, connection, and release, the medicine invites us to let go of what no longer serves—and reconnect with our essence.
We also believe that every experience in life, no matter how painful, is a teacher. Nothing is a mistake. Everything you’ve lived through can guide you back to your own truth, your own being.
Every Ayahuasca journey is unique, but understanding the general structure of a ceremony can help participants feel prepared. While experiences vary widely, a typical Ayahuasca ceremony includes:
Setting & Preparation
- Participants gather in a ceremonial space that has been cleansed, blessed, and protected by the shaman.
- The shaman and facilitators provide guidance on setting intentions, preparing the mind and spirit for the journey ahead.
- The atmosphere is quiet, reflective, and sacred, allowing for deep personal and spiritual connection.
Drinking the Brew
- Each participant is served a cup of Ayahuasca, prepared with care and intention.
- The brew has a strong, earthy taste, and effects generally begin within 20-60 minutes.
- Participants sit or lie down as the medicine takes effect, guided by the shaman’s Icaros.
The Journey
- Many experience visions, emotional releases, deep introspection, or a sense of unity with the universe.
- Some may encounter past memories, ancestral spirits, or symbolic imagery that reflects their inner world.
- Physical reactions like crying, shaking, or purging (vomiting, sweating) are common and considered a form of energetic and emotional cleansing.
Guidance & Support
- The shaman and facilitators monitor and guide each participant’s journey, offering reassurance and energy work when needed.
- Traditional instruments like drums, flutes, and rattles are used to deepen the experience and move energy.
- Participants are encouraged to surrender to the process, allowing the medicine to work as it needs to.
Closing & Integration
- The ceremony ends with a closing ritual, grounding participants back into their bodies and surroundings.
- Participants may share their experiences, journal, or sit in quiet reflection.
- The following days are dedicated to integration, helping participants absorb and apply the insights gained.
Ayahuasca is not about seeing visions or seeking a specific outcome—it is about trusting the medicine to show you what you need, in the way you need it. Every ceremony is an opportunity to learn, heal, and grow, held in a safe and sacred container.
Everyone's experience with ayahuasca is different. Some people feel all of the following, while others may feel none. The brew tastes bitter. At first, you may not feel anything. Then, uneasiness may start in your body. Soon after, purging often begins—usually through vomiting. Some people see visions. Others feel energy move through the body. Many feel deep unity—with others, with nature, or with a sense of source. Some people report feeling guided by a higher intelligence, sensing the presence of ancestors, or experiencing a deep remembrance of who they truly are. But again, each journey is unique.
Setting & Preparation
- Participants gather in a ceremonial space that has been cleansed, blessed, and protected by the shaman.
- The shaman and facilitators provide guidance on setting intentions, preparing the mind and spirit for the journey ahead.
- The atmosphere is quiet, reflective, and sacred, allowing for deep personal and spiritual connection.
Drinking the Brew
- Each participant is served a cup of Ayahuasca, prepared with care and intention.
- The brew has a strong, earthy taste, and effects generally begin within 20-60 minutes.
- Participants sit or lie down as the medicine takes effect, guided by the shaman’s Icaros.
The Journey
- Many experience visions, emotional releases, deep introspection, or a sense of unity with the universe.
- Some may encounter past memories, ancestral spirits, or symbolic imagery that reflects their inner world.
- Physical reactions like crying, shaking, or purging (vomiting, sweating) are common and considered a form of energetic and emotional cleansing.
Guidance & Support
- The shaman and facilitators monitor and guide each participant’s journey, offering reassurance and energy work when needed.
- Traditional instruments like drums, flutes, and rattles are used to deepen the experience and move energy.
- Participants are encouraged to surrender to the process, allowing the medicine to work as it needs to.
Closing & Integration
- The ceremony ends with a closing ritual, grounding participants back into their bodies and surroundings.
- Participants may share their experiences, journal, or sit in quiet reflection.
- The following days are dedicated to integration, helping participants absorb and apply the insights gained.
Ayahuasca is not about seeing visions or seeking a specific outcome—it is about trusting the medicine to show you what you need, in the way you need it. Every ceremony is an opportunity to learn, heal, and grow, held in a safe and sacred container.
PSILOCYBIN
THE FLESH OF THE GODS
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic found in certain mushrooms, known for its ability to open the heart and expand awareness. It has an especially powerful effect when used in a ceremonial setting—supporting deep emotional release, personal insight, and connection with something greater. Many describe enhanced sensitivity, inner clarity, and a renewed sense of self. Research continues to explore its therapeutic potential, especially in supporting those navigating depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
WHAT IS PSILOCYBIN?
Science of Psilocybin
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in over 200 species of mushrooms, often referred to as “magic mushrooms.” For centuries, Indigenous cultures across Mesoamerica have used these mushrooms in ritual and healing contexts. Today, psilocybin is drawing attention from neuroscience and psychiatry for its potential to interrupt mental illness, foster emotional insight, and occasion lasting psychological transformation.
How Psilocybin Affects the Brain
Once ingested, psilocybin is rapidly converted into psilocin, the active compound responsible for its psychoactive effects. Psilocin binds to serotonin receptors, particularly the 5-HT2A subtype, which plays a major role in regulating mood, perception, and cognition. This temporary shift in serotonin signaling alters how information flows across brain networks especially those involved in self-reflection and rigid thought patterns.
Brain imaging studies reveal that under psilocybin, areas like the default mode network (DMN)—a network associated with habitual self-talk and rumination—show reduced activity. As these dominant pathways quiet down, new connections between brain regions emerge. This reorganization may allow individuals to see themselves and their lives from radically new perspectives.
Effects on the Brain & Mind
- Interrupting Negative Thought Loops
Psilocybin appears to “shake loose” patterns of repetitive, self-critical thinking that underlie many mental health conditions. In clinical studies, individuals with depression report a temporary lifting of mental fog, followed by greater clarity and flexibility in their thinking. By weakening the grip of entrenched narratives, psilocybin can open the door to new interpretations of one’s story. A useful metaphor describes the brain as a ski slope: repeated thoughts carve deep tracks into the snow, making it hard to veer off course. Psilocybin lays down a fresh layer of snow, allowing thoughts to move freely and form new pathways, rather than staying stuck in the old grooves. - Promoting Neuroplasticity & Emotional Growth
Psilocybin doesn’t just alter thought—it changes the brain’s architecture. Animal studies and preliminary human research suggest that psilocybin can promote neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new neural pathways. This may explain why a single psilocybin experience can catalyze lasting changes in behavior, mood, and emotional outlook. - Ego Dissolution & Connection to Something Larger
Many people who take psilocybin report a profound dissolution of the boundaries between self and world. This is sometimes described as a loss of ego—a moment when the usual sense of “I” disappears, replaced by a feeling of unity with nature, the universe, or a deeper aspect of oneself. Brain data support this: regions that normally help us maintain a fixed identity become less coordinated, allowing for a more fluid experience of self. - Mystical & Peak Experiences
Psilocybin has a unique ability to trigger experiences that participants describe as “spiritually meaningful” or “mystical.” These moments often involve feelings of sacredness, timelessness, and deep insight. The intensity of these experiences has been linked with long-term improvements in well-being and life satisfaction. - Emotional Release & Psychological Integration
In many cases, psilocybin brings up repressed emotions or long-forgotten memories. While this can be difficult in the moment, it often leads to insight and resolution. Emotional release—through crying, laughter, or bodily sensations—is common and is often interpreted not as a side effect, but as part of the healing process.
Lasting Psychological Benefits
A growing body of research suggests that psilocybin may lead to enduring positive changes in emotional health, especially when used in therapeutic or ceremonial settings. Studies show that a single high-dose session can result in reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and addiction for months afterward. Participants also report increased openness, creativity, and appreciation for life.
Unlike many conventional psychiatric treatments, psilocybin does not dull emotion or suppress symptoms—it appears to amplify inner experience and catalyze insight. In this way, it is less like a medication and more like a psychological tool—one that must be handled with care, intention, and respect.
In Mazatec tradition, psilocybin mushrooms were not seen as a substance, but as a sacred being—los niños santos, the “holy children”—guides that speak through visions, songs, and dreams. The mushrooms were used in “Veladas, nighttime healing ceremonies guided by a curandera or curandero.
At MexiSoul, we view psilocybin as a bridge connecting our human experience with a greater consciousness. We believe it helps us remember who we are beneath the roles, stories, and expectations we carry.
Psilocybin softens the grip of the mind and ego, allowing a deeper part of us—our essence—to come forward. In that space, we may see patterns more clearly, release old beliefs, and feel a sense of connection with something much larger than ourselves.
This medicine isn’t about escaping—it’s about returning. Returning to truth, to clarity, and to the deep knowing that we are not separate from life, from each other, or from the intelligence that moves through all things.
Psilocybin journeys can last 4–6 hours, with effects building gradually and peaking before softening into reflection and integration. Every experience is unique, but common effects include:
Visuals: Shifting colors, patterns, and enhanced connection to nature
Emotional release: Tears, laughter, grief, or waves of joy
Insight and introspection: Revisiting memories, recognizing patterns, or seeing life from a new perspective
Ego softening: A sense of merging with the world around you, dissolving separation
The medicine meets you where you are—sometimes gentle, sometimes intense—but always guiding you toward what’s ready to be seen, felt, or healed.
SATORI
THE MEDICINE OF AWAKENING & REMEMBRANCE
Satori is a powerful plant medicine ceremony that combines two sacred components: Tepezcohuite (Mimosa tenuiflora), a natural source of DMT, and Syrian Rue (Peganum harmala), a plant containing MAOIs. This combination creates a visionary state that can invite deep insight, emotional release, and a sense of profound connection.
WHAT IS SATORI?
Satori is a proprietary medicine served at Mexisoul Retreats—one we’ve developed using sacred plants native to Mexico. Like Ayahuasca, it contains DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine), the compound responsible for inducing expanded states of consciousness. But while Ayahuasca sources DMT from the chacruna leaf (Psychotria viridis), Satori draws it from tepezcohuite (Mimosa tenuiflora)—a tree with deep roots in Mexican healing traditions and confirmed by phytochemical analysis to contain significant levels of DMT in its root bark.
Taken on its own, DMT is rapidly broken down by the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the liver—too quickly for a journey to unfold. That’s why Satori is paired with Syrian rue (Peganum harmala), a natural MAO inhibitor. Guests take the Syrian rue capsule first, followed by the tepezcohuite capsule. Syrian rue contains harmala alkaloids which are inhibitors of MAO, allowing the DMT to remain active in the body long enough to facilitate a deep experience.
Although the active compound is the same, Satori is not Ayahuasca. It is its own medicine—with its own rhythm, character, and lessons. That said, it shares many of Ayahuasca’s potential benefits. Research suggests that DMT and harmala alkaloids may promote neuroplasticity and support emotional processing. These mechanisms may help disrupt ingrained patterns tied to anxiety, depression, and trauma [10][11].
Unlike traditional brews, Satori is taken in capsule form and does not contain the vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) that gives Ayahuasca much of its intensity. As a result, the experience tends to be gentler on the body—physically lighter, with fewer instances of nausea or purging.
Imagine a mountain that represents the entirety of your being—your identities, stories, and experiences. At the very summit lies a profound level of consciousness. Ayahuasca is like a guide that helps you navigate the slopes, exploring every part of the mountain and ultimately learning how to reach the top. Satori, however, takes you directly to the top, offering you a glimpse into that heightened level of consciousness . It allows you to see beyond the layers of ego and conditioning, connecting you with the vast consciousness that you are an integral part of.
Satori is deeply rooted in the ancient tradition of Jurema Sagrada, a ceremony from northeastern Brazil. For centuries, the Jurema tree (Tepezcohuite) has been revered for its ability to open the pathways between the physical and spiritual realms. By combining Tepezcohuite with Syrian Rue, a natural MAOI, the Satori ceremony honors these ancestral practices, offering a powerful and transformative experience.
The Satori experience typically unfolds gradually and gently, building over time rather than hitting all at once. Effects may include:
Heightened clarity and insight
Emotional release and heart opening
Visuals or shifts in perception
A profound sense of unity, connection, and love
Unlike some traditional plant medicines, Satori is designed to reduce intense physical purging while still facilitating emotional and energetic release. The journey often feels lucid, conscious, and deeply expansive—allowing participants to witness their thoughts, patterns, and beliefs from a new perspective.
KAMBO
THE FROG MEDICINE
Kambo is a powerful Amazonian medicine derived from the secretion of the Kambo frog. Known for its rich blend of natural peptides, it works on the physical, emotional, and energetic levels—helping the body release what no longer serves. Through intensifying the body’s own natural detoxification process, Kambo clears space within, bringing the systems back into alignment and preparing the body for deeper ceremonial work.
WHAT IS KAMBO?
Kambo is the secretion of Phyllomedusa bicolor, a tree frog native to the Amazon. Applied through small superficial burns on the skin, its active compounds are absorbed into the lymphatic system and bloodstream. Kambo is not a hallucinogen. It doesn’t alter perception, working directly on the body’s systems instead.
Peptides as Medicine
What makes Kambo unique is its chemistry. The secretion contains a diverse blend of peptides—short chains of amino acids that function as messengers between cells. Each one targets a different system in the body, acting with speed and precision.
- Phyllocaerulein stimulates the digestive system, triggering bile release and intestinal movement. This is one of the primary drivers of the purge.
- Phyllomedusin and Phyllokinin open blood vessels and enhance circulation, producing the warmth, sweating, and facial flushing often experienced during a session.
- Sauvagine activates the stress-response system, releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. This temporary surge boosts energy, sharpens focus, and modulates immune activity.
- Dermorphin and Deltorphin, natural opioids, may contribute to the pain relief and calm that follow the purge.
- Dermaseptins and Adenoregulin support the body’s defense systems. These peptides act like natural antibiotics, disrupting bacteria, fungi, and even viruses.
How It Works
Kambo’s effects unfold quickly. Once absorbed, its peptides activate various systems at once: blood vessels dilate, the heart rate rises, and the digestive tract purges. Sweating, urination, defecation, and vomiting are not side effects—they’re part of the medicine. They’re how the body clears space.
Though the experience is intense, it is short-lived, lasting on average 15-20 minutes. As the peptides are broken down, the body settles into a state of restored equilibrium. Many describe feeling lighter, clearer, and more energized in the hours and days that follow.
At Mexisoul Retreats, Kambo is offered as a preparatory treatment—a way to cleanse the body and reset the system before entering deeper internal work. It is a powerful return to physiological balance.
The Kambo experience is intense, physical, and fast-acting. Within minutes of application, participants typically feel warmth or pressure in the body, followed by nausea, sweating, or dizziness as the purge begins.
The purge can include:
Vomiting (most common)
Sweating, shaking, or crying
Defecation or urination
Emotional release and energetic clearing
While the experience usually lasts 20–40 minutes, the effects can ripple for days—leaving many feeling clear, light, and deeply cleansed.
Kambo is applied by first burning the top layer of the skin with incense, creating small entry points. The secretion is then placed directly onto these points. Within 2 to 5 minutes, most people begin to feel the effects—commonly a rise in body heat, pressure in the head, and a sense of unease. This phase often leads to a purge. While vomiting is common, purging can also involve going to the bathroom, crying, shaking, or other physical and emotional releases. Not everyone purges, and the form it takes can vary. The active phase typically lasts 15 to 20 minutes. Afterward, most people feel physically tired but mentally calm, often reporting a sense of lightness and readiness for deeper ceremonial work.
BUFO
THE MEDICINE OF PURE BEING
Bufo is often called “The God Molecule”—a sacred secretion from the Sonoran Desert toad (Bufo Alvarius) known for inducing powerful, non-dual states of consciousness. This medicine is unlike anything else—it strips away the layers of the ego, the mind, and even identity itself, guiding participants into direct connection with the source of all existence.
Bufo ceremonies are not for the faint of heart. This is not a visionary journey, but a full immersion into what many describe as pure being—a momentary experience of oneness, unconditional love, and the complete dissolution of the self. For some, it is life-changing. For others, it is a profound reminder of the vastness within.
WHAT IS BUFO?
Bufo is a powerful entheogenic medicine derived from the secretion of the Bufo alvarius toad, an amphibian native to the Sonoran Desert. This milky secretion, produced as a natural defense mechanism from large glands on the toad’s skin, contains one of the most potent psychoactive compounds known to science: 5-MeO-DMT. Unique among amphibians, Bufo alvarius is the only species known to naturally produce such high levels of 5-MeO-DMT.
Though often compared to Ayahuasca, Bufo is pharmacologically distinct. While Ayahuasca contains N,N-DMT, Bufo contains 5-MeO-DMT—a structurally related compound with significantly different effects. Although both interact with serotonin receptors, 5-MeO-DMT is a non-selective serotonin receptor agonist that binds more strongly to serotonin receptors—especially 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A—than N,N-DMT does. This interaction is central to its powerful psychoactive effects, which can be comparable to other DMT-based medicines, but often unfold with a higher level of intensity.
Unlike Ayahuasca, which is taken orally and requires a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) to prevent the DMT from being broken down in the digestive tract, Bufo is typically administered through inhalation. When smoked or vaporized, 5-MeO-DMT bypasses the liver and enters the bloodstream almost instantly through the lungs, leading to an onset within seconds and a much shorter total duration—typically 10 to 20 minutes. This contrasts with the slower onset and multi-hour duration of Ayahuasca, which can last 4 to 6 hours or longer due to its oral route and MAOI combination.
But shorter does not mean lighter. In fact, the intensity of the Bufo experience is often far greater. Many report complete ego dissolution, transcendence of time and space, and encounters with what they describe as universal consciousness—all within a matter of minutes. The rapid onset and sheer depth of the experience make Bufo one of the most intense and transformative psychedelic medicines known.
Bufo is the most modern of the medicines we work with. Unlike the other medicines we offer, it has no known indigenous lineage. Its ceremonial use began in the 20th century—but its power is timeless.
This medicine contains 5-MeO-DMT, a compound capable of inducing what many describe as a direct encounter with the Divine. The shift is immediate. There is no buildup. The self dissolves, thought vanishes, and what remains is awareness—vast, formless, and infinite.
People often describe:
- A total collapse of ego and identity
- A feeling of merging with all that exists
- An encounter with pure love, light, or Source
- A deep emotional release, followed by stillness and awe
What sets Bufo apart is that it often dissolves your sense of self entirely. It doesn’t guide—it removes the need for direction. Many call it a spiritual death and rebirth. Others say it feels like going home.
When held with care, Bufo opens a space beyond language—where healing doesn’t happen through insight, but through direct experience of the sacred.
The Bufo experience is often described as a complete departure from reality—a rapid, overwhelming, and indescribable merging with the universe itself. Unlike visionary plant medicines, Bufo is not about the story or the visions—it’s about everything and nothing, all at once.
Participants report:
Ego Dissolution: A total loss of personal identity and the concept of “self”
Non-Dual Awareness: Experiencing reality beyond separation—just pure being
Emotional Release: Deep weeping, laughter, or spontaneous physical release
Sensory Overload or Stillness: Some feel intense vibrations, while others experience vast, peaceful silence
Timelessness: A sense that minutes stretch into eternity, outside of linear time
While the active journey lasts 15–30 minutes, the emotional and spiritual effects often ripple for weeks or months, offering profound shifts in perspective.
Bufo is inhaled as vapor. By the time you start to exhale, you're often already somewhere else entirely. The shift is fast. It's hard to describe what Bufo feels like. Many say it’s a total release—a vanishing from this reality. Some see visions. Others go under, like anesthesia, and return with no memory of what happened. The experience lasts about 20 minutes. But for the person in it, time disappears. It can feel like forever—or no time at all. Like with other psychedelics, every experience is different.
HAPÉ
THE MEDICINE OF GROUNDING & CLARITY
Hapé (also known as Rapé) is a sacred Amazonian snuff made from finely ground tobacco leaves and medicinal plants—used for centuries by Indigenous tribes as a tool for grounding, cleansing, and spiritual connection. This powerful blend is more than just tobacco. Hapé is a deeply intentional medicine, traditionally applied through the nose to clear mental chatter, open energetic pathways, and reconnect to the Earth. It is known for its ability to quiet the mind, sharpen focus, and release emotional or energetic blockages.
For many, the experience is both humbling and clarifying—a moment of stillness that reconnects the body and spirit to the present moment. Hapé reminds us that sometimes, healing means coming back down to earth—rooted, clear, and fully here.
WHAT IS HAPÉ?
Hapé (or rapé) is a traditional Amazonian snuff made from Nicotiana rustica, a potent species of tobacco. The leaves are dried, powdered, and mixed with alkaline ashes from medicinal plants, then administered through the nose using a blowpipe.
The pharmacology of hapé is dominated by nicotine. N. rustica contains significantly more nicotine than common tobacco—up to 18% by weight. The alkaline ashes raise the pH of the mixture, converting nicotine into its freebase form, which is absorbed quickly through the nasal mucosa. This allows nicotine to reach the bloodstream rapidly, with plasma levels comparable to smoking within 5–10 minutes.
Once in the body, nicotine acts on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) throughout the central and autonomic nervous systems. In the brain, it stimulates the release of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine—producing effects such as enhanced focus, alertness, and short-term mood elevation.
At the level of the nervous system, hapé initiates a sympathetic response: heart rate increases, pupils dilate, breathing deepens. This is not subtle. The system wakes up. And yet, for many, the aftermath is marked by a rebound into stillness—a sense of grounding that follows the activation.
Hapé also stimulates the trigeminal nerve, often inducing tears, salivation, and nasal clearing. These effects are not side effects—they are part of the medicine’s action.
At Mexisoul Retreats, hapé is offered as a way to ground the nervous system, focus the mind, and clear space—physically and mentally—for deeper work.
Hapé is primarily made from tobacco, one of the first elements of the Earth. Known as the Grandfather of plant medicines, tobacco is revered for its high spiritual protection and healing properties. When we work with Hapé, we connect with the Sacred Spirit of Tobacco. Sitting with Hapé is a prayer, a spiritual communion.
Indigenous people live in harmony with the Earth, plants, and animals, believing that all things have consciousness, energy, and spirit—everything and everyone is divine and sacred. They communicate with plants, and for them, life itself is a prayer.
The Indigenous create Hapé with intention and love. The use of tobacco as snuff, or Hapé, originates with Indigenous Brazilians, though many tribes and cultures worldwide also use it as a sacred medicine. Tobacco carries a masculine energy, grounding and stimulating, offering balance. It heals on physical, emotional, energetic, mental, and spiritual levels.
Tobacco is highly sacred, and even the smoke (Mapacho) is used for clearing and healing. The alchemy of turning Earth into Air creates a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds, cleansing energetic fields, releasing blockages, and purging toxins, emotions, and thoughts.
Hapé is often blended with other plant medicines, herbs, barks, and tree ash, each combination created with specific intentions for healing. As you deepen your relationship with Hapé and its blends, treat them as powerful plant teachers. Hold questions, set intentions, and honor each sacred session.
The Hapé experience is immediate, intense, and deeply grounding. Upon application, most people feel a sharp, earthy sensation as the medicine clears the sinuses and begins working through the body. It’s common to experience:
Watery eyes or runny nose as the medicine cleanses the system
Emotional release—tears, laughter, or the surfacing of grief
Mental clarity and focus
A deep sense of grounding and connection to the Earth
Some blends may produce a mild purgative effect, triggering nausea or light vomiting as the body releases toxins or stuck energy. This is considered a normal—and often welcome—part of the clearing process.
Hapé is administered through a tepi, a hollow tube used to blow the powder into the nostril. The initial sensation is sharp and uncomfortable—similar to the sting of water entering the sinuses. This impact interrupts mental noise, clearing the mind almost instantly. The effect is grounding, pulling attention away from abstract thinking and into direct bodily presence. It places the user firmly in the here and now. Some individuals may experience nausea or purge, though this varies. Hapé is used to prepare the nervous system and mental state to receive deeper plant medicines with clarity and focus.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Whether you’re curious about our retreats, have questions about plant medicine, or just want to connect, we’re here to help. Reach out, and a member of our team will personally get back to you.