Choosing an ayahuasca retreat is a meaningful decision. Each person who joins our retreat embarks on a unique and deeply personal journey.
Perhaps the best way to understand what awaits you is through the voices of those who have already walked this path. Our participants come from diverse backgrounds and share honest accounts of their personal journeys — the challenges they faced, the breakthroughs they experienced, and the lasting changes they carried home.
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Thais Freire de Benfica, 39
BioMedic, Brazil
@thaisfreire22I can say with absolute certainty that Know Thyself was the most transformative experience I’ve ever had. Before, I was trapped in automatic thoughts, not knowing where I was going or what I truly wanted for my life — nothing seemed to make sense in light of everything that was happening. The retreat helped me disconnect from the outside world and look within, allowing me to recognise the limitations, fears, and negative behavioural patterns that were preventing me from evolving.
Through the activities, magnificent ceremonies, and deep reflection, I was able to see life from a different perspective. I am learning to free myself from old habits, to value my emotional well-being, and to focus on what truly matters. The retreat gave me a sense of peace and clarity that I had never experienced before, and also connected me with incredible people who were going through similar situations.
Today, after the retreat, I feel more empowered to make important decisions in my life and to move towards my goals with confidence. Fear no longer paralises me, and problems feel smaller — I simply handle one thing at a time. The journey of self-discovery that I began at the Know Thyself retreat continues to impact me to this day, and I am deeply grateful to have lived this experience that changed my entire perspective.
Stella, 41
Anthropologist, Italy
My name is Stella. My story is one amongst many, a story of rebellion, a story of adventure and joy, but also a story of pain, and of anaesthesia. I grew up maybe too fast, leaving home in Italy at only 19 and going to live ad work in London, the swinging northern metropolis that had so much to offer. I survived working in a pub, squatting with the lively movement that repossessed abandoned places, the rave party movement, university, a professional careering India with quite a degree of success, while having a very rebellious lifestyle that inevitably made me encounter many substances and many paths to anaesthesia. That’s how I became an anthropologist, a traveller, an NGO worker, a faithful partner, a good friend and a yoga teacher, but I was none of them really. I had been struggling for many years with a lifestyle that wasn’t representing my inner nature, I had dwelled well into the seduction of substance abuse, while still functioning on the superficial level.
All good… nothing so strange in this very disconnected planet.
All good…
Up until the huge loss of my father’s passing happened, striking my life as it wasn’t mine to live, as if that immense pain caught me so unprepared it became something I had to escape from. I couldn’t cope with grief any longer. I was emotionally blocked and unaware that this pain would not go away. So I ran. I ran, as fast as I could. I ran from life thinking I was running against her.
But you can’t run away from yourself, you can only create a bigger void, or an emptier loop…. That’s when I used all the cards I had at my disposal to suffocate all that was FEELING. That’s when the road already prepared in my years of rebellion opened up and became a railway. Straight into numbness, surrendering deep into my shadow. It was the year 2017. All my light had gone searching for dad in the dark. But I didn’t know I was looking in the wrong place, for it is only in love and light that our loved ones can be found again.
I had encountered the power of the sacred plants many years before, my dad had introduced me to the work of Carlos Castaneda when I was only 14. Thinking about it now, it feels like he had prepared a message for me. He wanted the to find refuge into the ancient wisdom of the medicinal plants, maybe he knew iI would need it. And deep down I knew the solution was there. But I was afraid, and I had no willingness to love life again, I had lost hope and meaning.
Also, being an anthropologist with this baggage I had many expectations: I needed to find my own way to a Shaman, and my encounter with the Medicine would have been authentic and traditional, and I would refused to meet her in Europe.
I wanted to come to the source.
This is how I let almost 12 years slip by me, living a life that was not mine, a life where all my feelings had a mind, not a heart.
A life in which emotions where badly understood and handled, and judgment and disdain on my own self were my daily bread.
Even more so after I searched for help and was many times disappointed. I tried many therapies, holistic and traditional, I was admitted into a clinic, then a rehab and again into another clinic, I spent huge amounts of money with various professionals and I even surrendered to the dullness of pharmaceutical treatment. I kept relapsing because I realised that what was being taken care of was not my heart, I was not trying to heal my wounds, my relationship patterns, I wasn’t yet looking to find my soul had separated from me. I had lost my spirit.
Without a heart I was trying to address the pain through the mind, and it’s many fluctuations. Thanks to my mum and her Yoga teachings I nevertheless always touched base with myself, and when I embarked on my solo Asian journey to become a teacher, I realised how the mind can trick you into states of presumed presence and consciousness. I wasn’t using substances but I was not healed. I was abstinent. All my judgments and decisions were filtered by this altered state of consciousness which is even more confusing than the anaesthesia. After so long searching, through the mysterious ways in which life happens sometimes, the calling became too evident, and I arrived at Eden with a frozen heart. I was prepared and ready to do everything it took to come back to myself. And with this baggage and trust I surrendered to the guide of the sacred medicine, and to the magical people that brought me to her. I had come with my bare life, the little that was left of me surrendering to trusting the process, and the wisdom of the universe where everything is vibration, and our souls are reunited to the source. I had nothing to loose, nothing to demonstrate.
My barriers were ready to drop and my masks ready to fall. And so they did. The life at Eden embraced me gently into feeling again, into abandoning myself to the rhythm and the stories of the forest, and to the magical group of seekers and teachers that I found so alike. Finally I was no longer alone in my search. Realising the power of empathy, of the universal love that surrounds us, and that so much of what we carry with us and makes us heavy, is not necessarily true, nor not entirely ours to carry. I felt safe and supported by Paul and his beautiful family, by my fellow travellers, by the beauty of the place and all the spirits that protect it. And I was able to enter the dimension of the spiritual work without fear, because the energetic field was so aligned and loving and protective. And Mamacita Ayahuasca is wise and gentle.
The work with this sacred medicine cannot be described in human words. To grasp her kindness and power into meaning, any word is demising. Let me just say that what happened to me - and a very wise person near me confirmed - was a spiritual surgery. I got reunited with my spirit, with my feelings and with my heart. As they had withdrawn and were patiently waiting for me to be ready and strong enough to embody them again. They say that ayahuasca presents you to your death, but death is only a new beginning. It is only through connecting to the fear of death that I realised that I was afraid of life really.
During the work with the medicine there is no fear, there is no separation, there’s no beginning so there can be no end. All is synchronicity and time does not exist, at least not the way we conceive it. You let go of the pain, cause you finally are able to experience it fully, heart sinking deep in all that is, and was, and will ever be.
Your lost ones whisper to your heart, the medicine sings to you and everything that scarred your soul suddenly becomes so simple. You realise that everything is impermanent but nothing is really ever lost. That you have within you all the stardust you need to heal your wounds, and the path to awareness and clarity becomes enlightened. Letting go, surrendering, being at peace… after so long.
Now I know I’m worthy of love, and that all the pain I experienced was mine to carry and is a supreme teacher, all I went through even unconsciously, or only half present, was preparing me to this moment. The moment in which I embrace the full potential of my being, with no constructions, with humbleness and above all with my whole unfrozen, beating heart. My heart bets again so strong I can her it sometimes when I stand in stillness. It has the sound and the rhythm of the cosmic dance of creation. The one that makes all life possible.
Lost as I was in trying to fix my life, I had forgotten who I was. The medicine gently told me how to know who I am, and what I want, without hesitation, without conditioning and with “radical love”. Because this is what remains after us, and was already here much before we were stars in the sky. The love we carry in our beings is infinite, and will live long after us.This realisation reconnected me to my dad. He was and is with me at all times. I finally opened up to the possibility of healing, not through the mind’s chatter, but through the heart and the spirit that ignites every single being.
With an explosion of gratitude in my heart I will cherish this encounter with the sacred wisdom of mamacita Ayahuasca forever, and I am so deeply aware. And she keeps bringing surprises and epiphanies, and I am sure she will do so for a long time coming. Above all, She showed me a place inside of me where all the comfort and the healing is possible. Self love, awareness, presence, healing. They are not something transcendent, they are living deep inside of each of us. This is a magic key to heal all the pain of the entire world, not only limited to the individual but to the cosmos itself: this ancient wisdom, this beautiful power it’s within all of us.
Now I know this life if worth living, in clarity, in presence and with our entire being. It only takes a small but courageous step into the blue and the unknown, a child step of trust, a leap of spirit to feel the kind embrace of the universe, and this vibrating connection with all living things and the whole creation. All the rest is just noise. And we are never alone.
Thank you mamacita medicina,
thank you Paul,
thank you to my wonderful fellow wonderers,
thank you Eden and todos los Espírititos de la selva,
And also thanks to myself
You all reminded me who I am from the beginning, and in the beginning we are loved, and we are pure love.
AHO!
John T, 56
Company Director, UK
My first experience with the Know Thyself retreats was in 2010. I had been looking for a spiritual retreat of a type I've done before: clean eating, meditation, yoga, a time out from day to day stresses to contemplate. I'd not heard of ayahuasca until I came across the Know Thyself web presence. A few conversations with Paul convinced me to take a leap of faith and try something new.
The retreat coordinated by Paul had everything my previous experiences provided, with the added option of partaking in the forest medicine ceremonies. I can say that I came back from that experience a better person, more self aware, kinder to others and to myself.
Over the last 14 years i have attended four Know Thyself retreats. Each experience is uniquely insightful. On my most recent visit I took my daughter and niece to experience the transformative power of the ceremonies. Both found the experience truly enlightening, learning about themselves and helping to guide their decisions about the future.
Each time I've returned, Paul has enhanced the experience, a process of continuous improvement, incorporating feedback and personalising the schedule to suit the participant group.
I have no hesitation in recommending Know Thyself retreats and the infrastructure that Paul has created there.
Tatiana Martins, 44
Marketing Manager, Brazil
@tatinha20taty You know when you're searching for something, and the universe conspires to make it happen? That’s exactly what happened with me Eden and Know Thyself— and it was the best decision I ever made. Eden is a beautiful and inspiring place, full of incredible people who only add to the experience. These days were filled with care, love, and kindness in every activity. I have no words to express my gratitude for everything I received — I just know that I want to stay connected and continue in this positive energy field. Only gratitude! 🙏
Henry Dummett, 49
Pharmaceutical Executive, UK
Know Thyself was one of the most transformative experiences of my adult life, a real turning point. When I went back to work, I felt nothing could cause me fear or anxiety or stress. I felt bulletproof. All of the stress that I’d felt before was completely lifted. I had insights that just hit me, like moments of epiphany. Even though it’s many years later, these insights still act as guides in my decision-making today.
Tiemen Weistra, 40
Security Manager, Holland
My experience with Know Thyself had a deep, long lasting impact on my life. It’s not easy to quantify with words what I experienced, but I can say that for the first time in my life I deeply felt my own soul, that my illusionary self image dissolved, and a sense of unity came over me. I felt a divine presence, like an oversoul, and had visions of the earth and the planets all around, their molecules, atoms, lights and vibrations, and felt a divine intelligence at work, opening me to insights about the origins of life and of consciousness itself. I felt I connected with my essence, I received deep healing and a new life and will be forever grateful for this experience.
Mark, 53
University Lecturer and Author, UK
It was a wonderful retreat! The ceremonies were amazing and I knew we were in safe hands. It was as if a magic and had us all under Mother Ayahuasca’s spell. I can’t really explain it, but the singing, and the energy that it brings is really magical and in no time I was connecting with God and in another dimension. It was so powerful, so miraculous that as I said, I just cannot explain it except to say that it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. That, and with some incredibly powerful medicine are a wonderful combination which took me into different dimensions giving some unforgettable experiences with the medicine.
The venue was great. It’s not only in a beautiful location, but the atmosphere is pure, unspoilt, and easy to connect with Source. The rooms were also good, clean, spacious and with the glass walls I had lovely views which meant I could see from all angles and had the sunshine coming in all the time. I love the fact that everything was made by hand with care and attention. The Maloca was great and well made.
I Loved the food, it was healthy and delicious and as a former chef I really appreciate when good food is made with love and care. Top marks!
The programme was nice and varied. Having four ceremonies over 10 days is just about right It was nice that we could have at least a day in between ceremonies to digest and integrate the experiences.
The hiking, massages, yoga, and the activities were lots of fun and really created a wonderful mood.
All the staff were great. The price was very reasonable and actually well worth it simply because the medicine was so powerful, the people really nice and the setting great.
A big thank you! I got far more than I expected and was more than impressed with the entire experience.
A big thanks for your love and care during the retreat and wishing you much success in 2024 for all your wonderful work in helping people heal. Nothing I feel is more important at this time.
With love and peace.
Mattijs De Vries, 40
Carpenter, Holland
It was important for me to find the right place. Eden and the programme was perfect for my process. I needed help to beat my nicotine addiction, as I’d been a smoker for nearly 30 years and I thought it was impossible to quit. Ayahuasca helped me to get to the root of my problems, and the programme and the support I received was really helpful in preparing me for my new start. I now have more energy, I feel healthier, and I look better. This programme can really help people, but you have to want it also. I really wanted it and ayahuasca gave me what I asked for which I felt is an important part of it.
Ieva Launage, 39
Life Coach, Lithuania
@ninah_sol_soul_pearlI was looking for solo retreat to do ayahuasca, a place to hide away for some time where I could connect with nature, meditate, and just enjoy some peaceful time with myself. My friend recommended Know Thyself as a very trustworthy place.
I felt truly amazing there! It’s very cozy, protected and relaxed. The place itself is healing! And the river near by is just amazing!!! Also waterfalls, hummingbirds flying around, the sounds of nature. It’s just real paradise! And I also I love the people! Everything is very high frequency. I loved the relaxed atmosphere, and also that after the ceremonies we connect with nature a lot, sit by the fireplace or by the river.
I left the retreat feeling very clear about what I want, and also trusting myself much more! I returned home to Europe with completely different energy.
I’d just express my gratitude to all team for such a wonderful retreat. Especially Paul for creating this wonderful place. I will be returning next year for some more work with them.
Anderson Lemos, 46
Business Owner, Brazil
@anderson_flipflop More than a retreat, Know Thyself was a huge turning point in my life. Eden, such a magical place. My body was filled with peace, serenity, and above all with love, and I gained a much clearer vision of what I’m here to do here in this world. My perception of what love is was taken to another level, where I was able to connect with nature and its immeasurable power. Today, after this experience, which is impossible to recount in words, I feel more capable, wiser, more confident, more aware of who I really am. I love more, I'm more grateful, and more attentive to the path I'm on. A hug to Paul, and congratulations on the work you’re done with such delicacy, technique and wisdom! A hug to Eden. I hope that everyone can experience this step forward in life.
Andrej, 51
Lithuania
My intentions at the Know Thyself Retreat were to experience the medicine in her homeland and to clean my body on physical and subtle planes, and to try to open my inner resources as much as possible in the time I had there, to dive deeper into myself and connect with the elements and with nature, and to explore how the medicine works over a series of ceremonies.
The first ceremony broke up all my assumptions and expectations, the energy of nature (spirit) filled me and overflowed and harmonised my structures and also showed me how I can get rid of my pain and fears which were stuck inside me. The medicine took the pain and fear away because they were no longer useful in my development, offered a choice to live without accumulated fears and pain or draw them back (of their own free will).
The 4rd ceremony was for me the strongest in intensity, the medicine prepared me for that - very powerful energies of light passed through me, they filled me and the space around, showing me their power and ability to heal. My body remained without power when I was distracted and filled again and again when I held the center in myself. I did not imagine that I could do that!! During the rest of the night the medicine attuned me, adjusted my settings, formatted me like a violin. Streams of vibrations tuned me to higher vibrations and events in my future life, everything happened in a perfect moment, in a perfect place with jewel-like precision, softness and love. The creator knows how to amaze :) !!
It was magical to experience the medicine in nature, the day trips were special, and Paul’s approach to people and the work he does is admirable. Eden is a true paradise, the food is excellent, and miraculously there are no mosquitoes!
A few months after the retreat I can observe that I became calmer and my self-confidence has risen considerably. I love to itself and have a deeper understanding and compassion for other people. I enjoy an increase in time when I am in a state of awareness, became much less fond of mind games, imaginary problems and situations no longer fill my mind (almost). A deep consciousness that I am more than I am fills me.
At the ceremonies before Brazil I appealed to my star family and asked them for help and support and the answer did not keep me waiting. I thank you, the universe, the creator and to Paul for responding to my call for help, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Tomer Landesman, 33
Investment Banker, Israel
@tomerlandesman My experience at the Know Thyself retreat was transformative! From the moment I arrived at Eden, Paul and his team made me feel at home, combining genuine care with a peaceful atmosphere. The connection with nature was undeniable, with the sound of birds and nearby waterfalls enhancing the magic. The ayahuasca ceremonies were deeply meaningful for me, conducted with great respect and intention, which allowed me to experience profound self-discovery. The meals were extraordinary, prepared with fresh, local ingredients. The days were enriched with visits to waterfalls, yoga, sauna, herbal baths, therapies, bonfires, and moments of introspection. Every aspect of the retreat reflected Paul’s vision of a sanctuary for growth and transformation. My time at Eden was an unforgettable journey. I will be back soon.
Paul Evans, 43
Director and Composer, UK
@paul_e_vans Eden is nestled in the most beautiful valley, surrounded by breathtaking nature—rivers, waterfalls, and mountains. The retreat space and accommodations blend seamlessly with the stunning surroundings, offering a serene and peaceful atmosphere and even volley ball & paddle.
The accommodations are spacious, clean, and comfortable, and the retreat food was absolutely delicious. Eden is the perfect place to reconnect with nature and yourself.
Paul, the host and facilitator, is wonderful, respectful, and has put together an exceptional team.
During the 8-day retreat, he created a safe and beautiful space for healing, which truly enhances the overall experience. I also received the best massage ever from Martina at Eden and would highly recommend this magical retreat to anyone seeking a transformative experience and looking to reconnect with themselves.
Angeline Paulaine, 34
France
The retreat in Eden was for me the perfect context to take ayahuasca: beautiful nature all around, harmonious and thoughtful constructions, nutritious and delicious food, various practices to help get into the body, very nice and supportive group. I really appreciated to be able to enter three ceremonies, putting less pressure on just one and allowing for a deeper work. During the ceremonies itself, the music felt transcendental and was incredibly supportive of the journey, being both a bridge and a portal between dimensions. The ceremonies were extremely powerful, joyful, transformative, and left me with immense gratitude for my life, happiness, and unpredicted new reflexions and directions.
Millie Twigger, 36
Nurse, UK
My experience at Eden was so far beyond my expectations. Being surrounded by such beautiful nature helped me to really connect and go deep into my Ayahuasca journeys. I would recommend Know Thyself and Eden for anyone who's on a path of self-exploration. It's changed my life for the better.
Marcele Cunha, 39
Women’s Mentor, Brazil
@amarcelecunha The Know Thyself retreat was an opportunity for me to cleanse the impurities of my soul, a time to wash away anguish, restlessness, and daily distractions, and helped me to bring about true renewal in my life. It was a time dedicated to introspection, connection with the universe, and self-discovery. I hope to return to Eden again soon. Much love!
Diego Manenti, 43
Brazil
@manenti.diego I can tell you that Know Thyself was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life. The place is amazing. The beauty of Vale do Capão is extraordinary. Paul, the host, welcomed us wonderfully and his team led the retreat with total professionalism and care. I left with my heart full of joy and with the certainty that I will return as soon as possible to relive this wonderful experience. I recommend it with complete confidence!
Thais Serpa, 41
Lawyer, Brazil
@advocacia.adair My experience at Eden was incredible! I participated in the Know Thyself ayahuasca retreat, and the experience was so profound that it’s hard to put into words. The connection with nature awakened and reminded me about what truly matters. The hospitality at Eden is another highlight. I leave as a much better person and hope to return soon.
Camila, 45
Business Manager, Brazil
Eden is a wonderful place, in the middle of the forest, with no noise other than nature. Incredible energy! A wonderful sky and a perfect view of the nearby mountain, Morro Branco. The accommodations are comfortable and the food is delicious. All of this is very conducive to ensuring that a true dive into ourselves is done with a lot of peace, a lot of love. They were very special moments, the people who were present were very wonderful. A tribe was truly formed here in these 8 days and each person supported and helped each other, contributing to making the other's journey the best possible. The ceremonies were wonderful and the music is divine! It makes all the difference. I feel so grateful that I took part in this retreat! The ceremonies helped me see many things, especially the light and love I have within me. I felt a lot of healing in my heart! Equally important was my spiritual knowledge and self-knowledge. Paul is also always outstanding and available! Super supportive. I am very grateful for this opportunity. All the Eden team was amazing! I will never forget those moments. For sure I will be back!