In May 2025, we recorded a Tantra Talks episode on the use of Ayahuasca with our Tibetan Buddhist teacher, Lama Tashi Dundrup.
The episode was based on our collective personal experiences with Ayahuasca. Not ingesting Ayahuasca ourselves, but interacting with others who did engage with Aya and observing the results they experienced. We also discussed our discomfort with the casual, almost disrespectful way Aya’s use is described in modern “wellness culture”.
During this past episode, we were critical of Ayahuasca use because our views were shaped by several negative personal experiences over the years. Unfortunately, this led to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and inaccuracies in what we shared during the episode.
So… when I received a horrified text a few days after this episode aired from a trusted friend and colleague, who has a sacred and lineage-based relationship with Aya, I immediately asked if we could do another episode to set the record straight.
There were several things we got wrong about Aya in our previous episode. And there were a few things we got right, namely:
1. Recognizing how sacred and powerful this plant medicine is.
2. Understanding the importance of respect, honor, and authentic lineage when working with plant medicines.
It is crucial to acknowledge that these negative experiences often stem from Ayahuasca being used in what can best be described as “tourist settings” rather than authentic, lineage-based ceremonies. Recognizing the cultural origins and traditional practices associated with Ayahuasca can help discern between misuse and appropriate engagement.
In this week’s episode of Sex Is Medicine, we strive to set the record straight and offer authentic, lineage-based guidance for the most proper, respectful, and effective ways to engage with this medicine from the plant world.
Tune in to learn about how to properly engage with Ayahuasca through the lens of lineage. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or committed, this episode equips you with lineage-tested principles.
Discover:
- What we got wrong in the previous episode and WHY
- The very real dangers of using Aya without proper lineage and guidance
- How to be in the right relationship with Aya
- The dynamic dance of Tibetan Tantra and Aya
- Why lineage matters in both Ayahuasca and Tantra
- The different lineages of Ayahuasca ceremonies
- What to look for in an Aya facilitator
- What to be aware of when looking to explore Aya use
- Why Ayahuasca is not for everyone and how to know if it is right for you
To paraphrase the Shipibo lineage approach to Ayahusaca use, ‘To engage with Aya without understanding and respect is like trying to speak with the tree without knowing its roots, for it can bring peril to the unprepared.’
This profound wisdom illustrates the necessity of respectful engagement with Ayahuasca, rooted in lineage and guidance.
Understanding and respecting lineage is crucial in both Ayahuasca and Tantra practices.
Lineage refers to the transmission of teachings and practices through an unbroken line of teachers and practitioners, ensuring that the integrity and authenticity of the knowledge are preserved.
In Ayahuasca traditions, this often involves receiving guidance from experienced facilitators who have been trained within specific cultural and spiritual frameworks, such as the Shipibo or Huni Kuin tribes. Similarly, in Tantra, lineage ensures that practices are rooted in authentic spiritual teachings, often passed down through generations within a particular tradition.
Recognizing and honoring these lineages helps practitioners engage with these powerful traditions safely and respectfully, fostering a deeper connection and understanding of their profound benefits.
Join us for our LAST Sex Is Medicine Reboot episode for 2025 and STAY TUNED for Season 2 launching February 2026!
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We appreciate your thoughts and feels, so please submit any questions or topics you’d like us to cover in the upcoming season.
About our guests:Dawn & Piper — Sacred Spirit Circles
Piper and Dawn’s friendship began 25 years ago and has evolved into a shared vision devoted to healing, integrity, and embodied community. Together they weave Tantra, plant medicine, and decolonial practice into spaces that honor the sacredness of the body and the wisdom of the earth.
Dawn’s path spans over 15 years working with essential oils, cannabis, ketamine, hape, and ayahuasca, guided by teachers including Page Marli Tume and the Huni Kuin Tribe.
Piper’s journey began with ceremonial cannabis and deepened through psilocybin, cacao, wachuma, and ayahuasca, and was rooted in study with Page Marli Tume of the Huni Kuin, in addition to Shipibo ayahuasqueros.
Both are Reiki Masters and Certified Tibetan Buddhist Five Element Tantra Practitioners.
Together, they bring grounded reverence and joy to the art of healing, inviting others into connection, community, and remembrance of the sacred.
- Learn more about healing with medicine at Dawn Rises Tantra
