Most of the world has probably heard of Ayahuasca, the mysterious Amazonian brew that has been growing in popularity over the last 10 years. Retreat centers have been popping up all over the Americans and ceremonies are being held all over the world. Comparatively, I’m curious how many know about Yagé. If you look it up online it seems as though it is just another name for Ayahuasca but that is far from the truth. Not only are they different brews, but yagé carries a very distinct energy. I have had the honor to be working closely with the Secoya “ Siekopa’ai” for the last four plus years and have seen first-hand the differences of this particular brew and culture. I was asked to give you a little background on the Secoya, their traditions and how their Yagé differs from Ayahuasca.
Siekopa’ai
The Secoya, also known as the Siekopa’ai, is a small group of indigenous people from Northwestern Ecuador and the Peruvian Amazon. They have been living in this region of the amazon for thousands of years. Their ancestral homelands are located in Lagarto Cocha on the border of Ecuador and Peru.
During the 1940's a war between Ecuador and Peru separated the people. Around 600 Secoya moved up to the Aguarico river area of Ecuador near Cuyabeno National park and around 900 went down river into Peru.
They speak Paicoca, which is part of the Western Tucanoan language group. Though most of the younger generation now also speak Spanish as they have been slowly assimilating into westernized culture mainly due to evangelical missionary groups and the oil and palm industries that have been encroaching upon their territory for the past 20 or so years.
The Secoya are known for their deep knowledge and tradition of working with Yagé. They have been practicing these ways for hundreds, if not thousands of years. It is such a part of their life that it is embedded in their mythology as well as their daily life. Through Yagés visionary power they saw how to emulate the heavenly beings they met, whom they call Wiñapaí. These heavenly beings taught them ways to call in wildlife for food, lead the community, heal the sick and much more.
Below I will give some information on the unique way the Secoya brew their Yagé as well as the types of ceremonial methods and nuances which set them apart from other indigenous approaches. Secoya are unique in both their preparation and approach to the ceremonial use of Yage’.
YAGÉ HAO - Sunrise Renewal Ceremony Preparation
It is Secoya tradition to cleanse the body before partaking in a Yagé ceremony. Many different traditions have their own way of cleansing before ceremony, usually by drinking a purgative plant. Besides cleansing the body, these Renewals are a way of allowing one to purge up all unwanted substances, thoughts, and attachments. It is the Secoya’s belief that purging is best done during these early morning Sunrise Renewals and that it’s best to avoid purging during their Yajérepá, or Proper Yagé night time ceremonies. Put another way, by intentionally purging during the Renewals, we are less likely to feel the need to purge during the all night (Yajérepá) ceremonies.
Some Shipibo retreat centers uses a combination of two medicinal plants. One plant is a lily called Azucena, and the other a tree sap called Oje. Some ashrams will drink a very strong tea of licorice or even just copious amounts of salt water. All these traditions have the same goal in mind, to cleanse the digestive tract, liver, gall bladder and lungs. This essentially tones the body and gets rid of blockages so one can get to the deeper healing . By doing this and following a strict diet, it allows one to become more present and ultimately will assist us in going deeper with the medicine.
For Renewals, the Secoya make a watered down version of Yagé. Using just the leaves of the Yagé (Ayahuasca) vine and the leaves of Yagé Oco. Yagé is extremely bitter and helps to cleanse the liver and regulate PH in the body. Most westerners, unlike most other cultures, don’t have bitter foods in their diet.
The Renewal brew is made in the evening before the ceremony. Then at 3am everyone meets in the Yagé Wai (Ceremonial Lodge) where hammocks are set up. Each person is called up to get their first gourd of Yagé Hao. Each gourd holds around 1 liter of medicine. They then take their gourd and head to a bench on either side of the lodge and drink the renewal. It is encouraged to hold the first gourd in for about 15-20 minutes. After this time most people start to purge, and one should go and receive their subsequent gourds.
Each person is encouraged to drink at least three servings, if not five or more. Drinking more allows you to go deeper and clean out the bile. Once done purging it is best to lie in your hammock and rest. Even though this brew is watered down, it can have extremely strong effects. It can be quite a shock when it comes on so quickly, though it doesn’t last nearly as long as the evening Yajérepá ceremony. Usually it will last between one to three hours. Afterwards breakfast is served in the Yagé Wai.
Yajérepá - Night Ceremony
After cleansing with at least two Sunrise Renewals, preparation begins for the Yajérepá ceremony which will last all night long.
These ceremonies start around 8pm and can go well past sunrise.
In preparation for the ceremony everyone fasts for the day, even limiting water intake to the best of their ability. Around 5pm it is tradition to paint one’s face and put on the proper attire of a clean tunic, beaded jewelry, etc.
The Secoya elders believe that for the best absorption and the deepest healing possible we avoid any unnecessary movement during the late night ceremonies and that by remaining still and quiet (which also includes not purging), we are inviting subtler energies to emerge and ideally inviting in the ‘spirit doctors’ or Wiñapai to join us in ceremony. Any distraction can make it harder to reach the energetic realms that provide us with our most powerful visions, insights and healing.
Everyone is in hammocks and silent throughout the night except to go up for more medicine or to go to the bathroom. The first cup is a primer to get the body and mind ready for the rest of the night. Second servings are usually about 2 hours later, and at this point the elder serving will sing into your cup for you passing the visions and lessons into the medicine. Three or more servings are up to the individual and medicine is served up until dawn.
Typically, the first half of the ceremony is silent. The jungle is full of life and the music it makes is out of this world. In the Secoya perspective, the actual ceremony starts around 3am, as this is when they say the veil is the thinnest between us and the heavenly realms. At this point the elders will start to sing, calling in the Wiñapai, or spirit doctors. The singing is beyond profound as they can sing for hours, some nights singing the same song deep in to the morning. It can feel like you are put in a trance as the songs and medicine work together in harmony.
At sunrise the elders do healings for those interested. After working with the spirits throughout the night they know what is best for each individual. People from the village may show up for healings as well.
In my experience, Ayahuasca ceremonies tend to start around 8pm and end around 3. I was told that this is because they typically work with the elemental and earthly energies. Calling in the plant and animal spirits to help with the work. The medicine seems to come on quite fast, but can also dissipate after only a few hours. During this time there are typically songs or Icaros sung to help guide the experience. Healing work is being done throughout the ceremony. One distinct difference between Ayahuasca and Yagé ceremonies that I’ve witnessed many times is that even after drinking just 2 cups of Yagé, its effects can last very late into the morning, sometimes as late as noon.
The Brew
One notable differentiation in Secoya Yagé compared to Ayahuasca, is that all the bark is pounded off of the vine. By pounding off the bark, it makes the brew cleaner and less purgative as the bark is high in tannins.
Secoya Yagé is brewed with a combination of three different plants, Tara Yagé vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and Yagé Oco leaf (Diplopterys cabrerana), and a pygmy Yagé variety called Wai Yagé. All of the plants are grown in the elder’s gardens that have been relocated from the wild and/or passed down from those before them.
Only a small amount of Yagé Oco leaves are used per batch. It is said among the elders that the vine is the teacher and the Oco allows it to open up. Yagé Oco leaf contains the psychoactive alkaloids N,N-DMT, trace amounts of Bufotenine, NMT, and MTHBC.
Only a small amount of the bark is used from the Wai Yagé, which seems to amplify the medicine. The more that is added the stronger the brew. The brew is prepared fresh each day of ceremony by an Elder and his apprentice. Freshly brewed medicine is smoother and cleaner with no chance to ferment and all the energy that has been infused in the making of the brew is still very alive in the medicine as well in the space.
The brew is cooked over the wood of Iron Palm for 4-5 hours at a raging boil. Then it is strained and reduced for another hour or so until it is golden in color with a thick yet watery consistency. When all these plants are cooked together under strict guidelines and in a sacred manner with detailed attention, the medicine can reveal itself in very magical ways.
Compared to a lot of Ayahuasca, where they keep the bark on the vine and usually add a lot of Chacruna leaves, (which sometimes can make up to 20% of the brew), Yage’ is considered to be less purgative. From my experience, Ayahuasca is often cooked really thick and each person only drinks around 1/2 - 1oz of medicine. It is also tends to be very sweet and seems to sit more in the stomach making you have to purge.
The Secoya occasionally cook a thick “honey” for serious students who are on the path. The student will consume a large gourd of this thick brew as part of their initiation on the Secoya path. This is a very special ceremony where only 1-2 people drink while an elder and sitters drink water Yagé. There is also a rarely made initiation recipe that uses only the Wai Yage vine bark and Yagé Oco. This is reserved for students on the path and done in a small setting. As it uses a lot of the very rare Wai Yage vine.
Doing this work is stepping onto a path which will eventually change the way you perceive yourself and the world. In my humble opinion it is best to find a lineage that works for you and stick to it. At first you are going to have to “shop around” to see what works best for you, but be discerning and do your homework. Both medicines are super powerful, so it is best to be mindful and discerning in your work.
This work is quite unique and different than a lot of the medicine work happening. To be a Yagé drinker is a very profound and challenging path. It takes a lot of courage and will-power.
If you are interested in working with the Secoya, we are honored to be able to bring small intimate groups once or twice per year to work with the Yagé with guidance from the Secoya elders.