Thank you for making the commitment to join us for our May Retreat.

The following information is important to familiarize yourself with, as it contains thorough details on the preparation suggested leading up to the weekend. Please take your time with the information and if you have any questions or need clarification on anything, please do not hesitate to reach out. Please keep all correspondence from Pine Temple confidential.

Important Cancellation Policy
(As discussed in your interview)
* Your space is reserved with a non-refundable  deposit of $250. This deposit is only transferable to another retreat at our location if you cancel due to an emergency.

*You remaining balance can be paid the same route your original deposit was made, or in person if you prefer.

*The donation methods are cash, Venmo and PayPal as friends & family. (If you use a debit or credit card option via these platforms, you will be responsible for the extra fee)

*In the comment please write only the following: Your full name, phone number, and email and “DONATION”

“The body is a sacred garment. It’s your first and last garment; it is what you enter life in and what you depart life with, and it should be treated with honor.”

Martha Graham

The practices and dietary protocols leading up to a ceremony are known as a Dieta ⁠—and though the word most obviously refers to food intake, the preparatory practices extend to behavioral abstinence and spiritual practices, as well. The way we physically prepare our body for an expanded state of consciousness is of utmost importance ~ to diet, to cleanse and purify for the specific purpose of enhancing the healing potential of a journey.

Clearing out your digestive system from fatty and heavy foods, your circulation from intoxicants, and your mind from impure thoughts, certainly has its benefits. But they don’t always come easily.

Many of us “medicate” ourselves with unhealthy food; thus removing all those tasty dishes can be difficult. This is part of the surrender and discipline process necessary for making the most of the experience. Plus, the Diet will make you feel healthier and perhaps better prepared for more challenges, with a clearer mind to focus on your intentions. It also brings an energetic balance to your system, allowing the medicine to do its work more effectively. Some of the items on the list are included for the purpose of bringing you to an optimal physiological and spiritual state to receive the medicine, while others are there for factual health reasons. Your safety is a priority. 

In addition to refining your diet we also ask our guests to enhance their exercise and physical fitness prior to ceremony. We ask our guests to show up in their best peak shape in both mind and body to attain the full benefits of this work. 

THE DIET

Foods to avoid

Common Table Salt (sodium chloride) used in most commercialized foods and served in most restaurants.

o Pork

o Red meat (beef, goat, tuna, eel, etc.)

o Processed food and chemical preservatives

o Fermented and aged foods such as soy sauce, fermented dairy (kombucha, kefir, kimchi etc)

o soy products, soybean paste, tofu, bean curd, miso soup, teriyaki sauce, shrimp paste and pickled foods

o Sourdough bread

o Processed sweets, chocolate, and anything with refined sugar and products containing sugar

o Artificial sweeteners

o Spicy and excessively salty foods

o Products high in gluten such as cakes, cookies, and white bread

o Various protein- and yeast-based extracts or supplements

o Overripe fruits (e.g., bananas)

o Onions, garlic

o Pineapple

o Raspberries 

o Papaya

o Avocado

o Coffee (This can be difficult for some. Cutting with decaf slowly helps and Dandy Blend is a product that can be helpful)

o Black, green, kava, matcha tea

o Alcohol of any type, including wine and beer, even minimal amounts in cough syrups

o All street and recreational drugs, including Marijuana

o Violent films and video games

o Other intense psycho-mental or spiritual stimulation

o Specific medicinal herbs such as: St. John’s Wort, Kava, Ephedra, Ginseng, Yohimbe, Sinicuichi, Kratom

Preferred food

• Fresh, locally grown, organic foods

• Organic fruits

• Organic vegetables

• Organic grilled chicken

• Fresh wild-caught fish

• Organic eggs

• Oatmeal, quinoa, buckwheat, rice

• Homemade bread, gluten-free if possible

• Raw cashews or almonds, unsalted

• Pink Himalayan salt (sparingly)

• Coconut or olive oil (sparingly)

• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated

• Herbal teas

To prepare carefully, read over, and follow the guidelines:
In appropriate circumstances we will work with members and ceremonial participants in determining if and in what time frame they can eliminate their reliance on prescription drugs where possible, particularly if they are on MAOI or SSRI drugs. These medications will interfere directly with the effects of many natural entheogens, and, in some cases, the interaction can have serious health repercussions. DO NOT attempt to participate in a ceremony involving the consumption of natural entheogens while taking these medications and always consult with us first!

* IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL MEMBERS AND CEREMONIAL

PARTICIPANTS BE 100% TRUTHFUL AND ACCURATE WHEN DIVULGING

THEIR CURRENT MEDICATIONS AND PRIOR MEDICAL HISTORY! 

Specific restrictions with potentially LETHAL interactions:

• Antidepressants: SSR’s, MAOI’s, Serotonin enhancing medicines like Seroquel

Antihistamines, medication for colds, sinus problems, hay fever or allergies sleep aids

Medicine for asthma, bronchitis or other breathing problems

• Antipsychotics

o Appetite suppressants (diet pills)

• Central nervous system depressants

o Recreational Drugs

Illegal or recreational drugs that are VERY dangerous to combine with MAOIs:

 – cocaine

– amphetamines (meth-, dex-, amphetamine), ephedrine, MDMA (Ecstasy), MDA, MDEA, PMA

– opiates (heroin, morphine, codeine, and especially opium)

– dextromethorphan (DXM)

– nutmeg

Illegal or recreational drugs that can be dangerous to combine with MAOIs:

– mescaline (any phenethylamine), barbiturates, alcohol, kratom, kava, 5-MEO-DMT

 • Opiates or synthetic opioids, Morphine, Vicodin …and the like

• Amphetamines Ritalin, Adderall Dexedrine, Benzedrine and the like

• Do not take anything other than an aspirin/ibuprofen within 10 days without consulting us first

• Prescription drugs used to treat high blood pressure, please notify us what kind you are taking

• Anyone taking antidepressant medications will not be permitted to participate

• Antidepressants must be stopped at least 3-4 weeks before the ceremony! Please contact your doctor to safely discontinue use and inform us

• Women who are pregnant are not permitted to participate

• Dental: Please, do not schedule any dental work or surgery one week prior to and following a ceremony!

Some specific pharmaceutical drugs that should not be combined with MAOIs (some are mild risks, others serious):

– Actifed- Adderall- Alaproclate- Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin)- Amantadine hydrochloride (Symmetrel)- Amiflamine- Amineptine- Amitriptaline

– Amoxapine (Asendin)- Atomoxedine- Bazinaprine- Befloxetone’- Befol- Benadryl- Benmoxinb (Nerusil, Neuralex)- Benylin- Benzedrine

– Benzphetamine (Didrex)- Bicifadine- Brasofensine- Brofaromine (Consonar)- Buprenorphine- Bupropion (Wellbutrin)- Buspirone (BuSpar)- Butriptyline

– Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Epitol)- Chlorpheniramine- Chlor-Trimeton- Cimoxetone- Citalopram (Celexa)- Clomipramine (Anafranil)- Clorgyline

– Codeine- Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)- Cyclizine (Marezine)- D-deprenyl- Dapoxotine- Desipramine (Pertofrane, Norpramin)- Desvenlafaxine

– Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)- Dextromethorphan (DXM)- Dibenzepin- Dienolide kavapyrone desmethoxyyangonin – Diethylpropion

– Disopyramide (Norpace)- Disulfiram (Antabuse)- Dobutamine- Dopamine (Intropin)- Dosulepin- Doxepin (Sinequan)- Duloxetine (Cymbalta)- Emsam

– Entacapone- Ephedrine- Epinephrine (Adrenalin) – Escitalopram (Lexapro) – Esuprone- Etorphine- Femoxitine- Fenfluramine (Pondimin)- Flavoxate 

Hydrochloride (Urispas)- Fluoxetine (Prozac)- Fluvoxamine- Furazolidone (Furoxone)- Guanethedine- Guanadrel (Hylorel)- Guanethidine (Ismelin)

– Hydralazine (Apresoline)- Hydrazine- 5-Hydroxytryptophan- Imipramine (Tofranil)- Iprindole- Iproniazid (Marsilid, Iprozid, Ipronid, Rivivol, 

-Propilniazida) – Iproclozide (Sursum)- Isocarboxazid (Marplan)- Isoniazid (Laniazid, Nydrazid)- Isoniazid rifampin (Rifamate, Rimactane)- Isoproterenol 

-(Isuprel)- L-dopa (Sinemet)- Ladostigil- Lazabemide (Pakio, Tempium)- Levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa)- Linezolid (Zyvox, Zyvoxid)- Lithium (Eskalith)

– Lofepramine- Loratadine (Claritin)- Maprotiline (Ludiomil)- Mebanazine (Actomol)- Medifoxamine- Melitracen- Meperidine (Demerol)

– Metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel) – Metaraminol (Aramine)- Metfendrazine (Inkazan)- Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)- Methyldopa (Aidomet)

– Methylphenidate (Ritalin)- Metralindole- Mianserin- Milacimide- Milnacipran- Minaprine (Cantor)- Mirtazapine (Remeron)- Mofegeline

– Moclobemide (Aurorix, Manerix)- Monomethylhydrazine- Montelukast (Singulair)- Nalbufrine- Naloxone- Naltrexone- Nefazodone

– Nialamide (Niamid)- Nisoxetine- Nomifensine- Norepinephrine (Levophed)- Nortriptyline (Aventyl)- Octamoxin (Ximaol, Nimaol)- Oxybutynin chloride (Ditropan)

– Oxycodone- Oxymetazoline (Afrin)- Oxymorphone- Orphenadrine (Norflex)- Pargyline (Eutonyl)- Parnate- Paroxetine (Paxil)- Pemoline (Cylert)

– Percocet- Pethedine (Demerol)- Phendimetrazine (Plegiline) – Phenelzine (Nardil)- Phenergen- Phenelzine (Nardil, Nardelzine)- Pheniprazine (Catron)

– Phenmetrazine- Phenoxypropazine (Drazine)- Phentermine- Phenylephrine (Dimetane, Dristan decongestant, Neo- Synephrine)- Phenylhydrazine

– Phenylpropanolamine (found in many cold medicines) – Phenelzine (Nardil)- Pirlindole (Pirazidol)- Procarbazine (Matulane)

– Procainamide (Pronestyl)

– Protriptyline (Vivactil)- Pseudoephedrine- Oxymetazoline (Afrin)- Quinidine (Quinidex)- Rasagiline (Azilect)- Reboxetine- Reserpine (Serpasil)

– Risperidone- Salbutemol- Salmeterol- Selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar)- Sercloramine- Sertraline (Zoloft)- Sibutramine- Sumatriptan (Imitrex)

 – Terfenadine (Seldane-D) – Tegretol- Temaril- Tesofensine- Tetrindole- Theophylline (Theo-Dur)- Thesbutiaint- Thioridazine (Mellaril)- Tianeptine

– Tolcapone- Toloxatone (Humoryl)- Tramidol- Tranylcypromine (Parnate)- Trazodone- Tricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Elavil)

– Trimipramine (Surmontil)- Triptans- Tyrima- Vanoxerine- Venlafaxine (Effexor)- Viloxezine- Yohimbine- Zimelidine- Ziprasidone (Geodon)

At least 6 weeks before:

Any medication that has an effect on the serotonin system, including Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and MAOI drugs, should be cleared from your body through a slow weaning process with advice from your or our doctor, so you are off your medication until at least 3-4 weeks before the actual ceremony.

At least 4 weeks before:

Eliminate pharmaceutical drugs (prescription & over the counter). This includes allergy pills, hormonal supplements, NSAIDs, and more. Again, always consult with a medical professional and us first.

At least 1 week before:

Start the DIET that we have provided in the attachment

One change in behavior suggested before meeting the plant spirits is abstinence from sexual activity, both with others and on your own.  Sexual intimacy is a powerful form of energetic connection between people and it can deplete the individual of spiritual energy that would otherwise be used in the healing process during the plant medicine ceremony, limiting ones ability to dive deep and can prevent the medicine from communicating with you clearly. This is something to keep in mind after your weekend as well, preferably for the two weeks after.

While cannabis can be an ally for many people, we highly recommend that you abstain in the weeks before the retreat. These are two plant spirits that do not work harmoniously together. Cannabis is known to decrease the benefits of ayahuasca during ceremony.

Sleep at least 7 to 8 hours for three days before and after the journey and take naps if you feel tired from your activities. Take care to cleanse and purify your physical body so that you feel ready for your experience, using sage, incense, and salt or flower baths. 

Go into nature and practice grounding. You want to move stagnant energy out of the body, and on the other hand, you want to quiet the physical system. You want to go into a journey with a sense of vitality, yet rested enough for the experience. It can be helpful to get a massage or go to a sauna to begin the process of relaxation. It is a matter of discernment and balance.

What to bring

May in New England can bring warm days and occasionally chilly evenings. Coming prepared will ensure your comfort. Bunk beds are provided for guests in shared spaces.

We highly suggest:
-A twin size bottom fitted sheet for your mattress
-Warm sleeping bag, a pillow and extra blanket
-An extra sleep pad for on top of mattress if you prefer a more plush surface
-Extra blanket for ceremony
-Warm pajamas and socks
-Slippers for ceremony space
-Clothing that is easy to layer
-Poncho or rainjacket (just incase)
-Comfortable clothing for ceremony
-Flashlight or headlamp
-Reusable water bottle
-Toiletries and towels
-Swimsuit
-Natural bug repellent & sunscreen
-small 4×6 tarp

Optional:
-Flowers for the altar
-Sleep mask & Ear Plugs
-An instrument
-A journal

***Please keep an eye on your email to ensure that our messages are not going to your spam folder.

We look forward to connecting more in our WhatsApp group,
The Pine Temple Team