The ceremony is now underway. While the ayahuasca is working, everybody is playing music, singing, and dancing (excuse the quality of the photo).

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The vines are beaten in order to separate the fibers. This will allow the active principles of ayahuasca to infuse the brew.

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It's 9pm, the ceremony has started. The participants take turn to drink the sacred brew, in silence, in the candlelit maloca. We've stepped out of everyday's world.

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Once it has boiled for a little while, the brew is left to cool down briefly. The ayahuasca vines and chacruna leaves are separated, filtered out, from the liquid.

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When all the liquid has been drained out, what's left is the fibers of the ayahuasca vines.

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The next step consists of adding water to the vines and leaves and bring it to a boil. Typically, a couple of hours are needed to extract the compounds from the plants.

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The ayahuasca is ready. Now is the time to set up the altar in preparation for the ceremony.
Sacred and meaningful objects are placed in the center of the ceremonial maloca.

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Finally, the ayahuasca brew is left to simmer and reduce. It gradually takes on its characteristic dark brown colour.

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