🌿 Safety for Women and Physical Touch in Ceremony

One of the most important aspects of any Ayahuasca (Yagé) retreat is safety. Healing requires trust, and trust requires clear boundaries. At Ocóyái, we hold a sacred responsibility to create a safe space for women, men, and all participants.

Here are the standards we uphold to protect and honor every individual:

1. No Physical Contact Between Participants

During ceremony, each person is in their own process. There is no reason for extended physical touch, cuddling, or crossing into another participant’s space. Even if intentions feel supportive, it can disrupt another’s healing.

No sexual contact is permitted—even between married couples—during ceremonies.

2. Men and Women on Separate Sides of the Maloka

Following traditional structures, men and women sit separately in the ceremonial space. This protects focus, respect, and energetic boundaries while honoring lineage and preventing ways in which incidents can happen.

3. Curaciones del Taita

If physical healing (curación) is needed, it is always conducted by the taita (medicine guide) within the sacred framework of ceremony. This is distinct from casual or peer-to-peer touch. This is also done in the center of the maloka. At no time will a facilitator ask you to do or go anywhere 'private' for anything.

4. Women’s Guidance and Support

Before participating, women are invited to meet with Aleja or one of our female guides. This allows for uncovering underlying traumas, clarifying boundaries, and ensuring each woman feels heard and prepared.

5. Sleeping Arrangements

Participants sleep in pairs (within our tents, cabins) or in the Maloka if they choose to ensure safety, accountability, and support without isolation.

6. Clear Escalation if You Feel Uncomfortable

If at any point you feel unsafe, there is a clear standard:

• First, speak to one of the facilitators (men go to a male facilitator, women to a female facilitator).

• If the concern involves a facilitator, escalate directly to Aleja or the retreat director.

• Every concern will be taken seriously and addressed immediately.

7. Dress Standards for Women

Women are asked to dress conservatively, honoring the spiritual and communal nature of the Maloka. Clothing should not be designed to attract physical attention but rather reflect respect for the medicine and the sacredness of the space.

Final Thought

Ayahuasca ceremonies are not just about personal healing—they are about community healing. Boundaries ensure that everyone feels safe to go deep into their process without fear of intrusion or harm. By holding these standards, we protect not only individuals but also the integrity of the medicine itself.

Explore this topic further

If this resonated, you can continue exploring this theme here:
→ www.ocoyai.com/eight-gaps

These ideas sit inside a broader orientation to healing — one that values stability, community, and long-term change over peak experiences.

If you’re new to Ocóyái, the best place to understand that orientation is the Start Here page:
→ www.ocoyai.com/start-here