Is Everything We See During Ayahuasca Real?
Insights from a common question we receive about visions in ceremony

At our center, we often receive deeply moving questions from participants or curious seekers trying to understand their experiences with plant medicine. Some of these inquiries are personal and profound, reflecting the complex emotional and spiritual landscapes that Ayahuasca can open within us.

From time to time, we’ll be sharing these kinds of questions, always anonymously and with great car, as a way to explore topics that many people are wondering about, but few dare to ask aloud. Below is one such question that touches on a topic we hear often: the reality and meaning of visions experienced during ceremony.

The Question (Anonymized and adapted for clarity):

“Several years ago during an intense Ayahuasca ceremony, I had a powerful and disturbing vision. I saw someone I used to be close to—a former partner and father of my children—being violently killed by what looked like mafia figures. I begged for it to stop, but a voice said, ‘This is karma. It’s not personal. It’s his path.’

Since then, I’ve wondered if this was just symbolic. But recently, I had a dream where he looked happy and youthful, surrounded by loved ones who have passed, as if it was a soul reunion. Then, the very next morning, I woke with overwhelming anxiety. When I called him, I found out his dog had just died, killed by two aggressive dogs belonging to people connected to criminal activity.

Now I can’t stop thinking about the vision. Was it a premonition? Was the dog’s death symbolic? Can something else take on the karma of another? Has anyone ever experienced symbolic or karmic “switches” like this? Is there any way to spiritually intercede or soften a possible future?”

Our Answer:

This is a powerful and emotionally charged experience, and we want to acknowledge the depth of what you're feeling. It’s completely valid to seek clarity and comfort in the face of such visions, especially when they appear to connect with real-life events.

One of the most important things to understand is that visions in Ayahuasca ceremonies are not always meant to be taken literally. While some may feel prophetic, it is quite rare for them to unfold exactly as seen. They are meant to be seen as dreams. Ayahuasca works with symbols, archetypes, emotions, and energies—often pulling from the depths of the subconscious or even the collective unconscious. This can include imagery, emotions, or scenarios that resonate on a spiritual level but aren’t direct reflections of future or current events.

In many cases, what is witnessed in ceremony reflects internal processing: fears, unresolved grief, guilt, or the need to release certain attachments. The mind, under the influence of powerful plant teachers, can create vivid metaphors to help us feel and move through complex emotions. The voice you heard in ceremony, for example, might have been offering a lesson in surrender, karmic understanding, or the impermanence of life, rather than announcing a literal fate.

Your dream, full of peace, reunion, and symbolic closure, may also be serving as a healing counterpoint—showing you the other side of the story. That dream may be just as important, if not more so, than the initial vision. Perhaps the dog’s passing, tragic as it was, brought a shift in energy or awareness that opened space for healing.

As for the concept of “karmic switches,” it's a theme present in many spiritual traditions, though interpretations vary widely. Some believe that karma can be softened or redirected through conscious intention, prayer, ritual, or deep acts of compassion. What matters most is the energy you carry forward. If your heart is moved to pray, send light, or hold space for healing—do so. Your love and intention can ripple further than you may realize.

In any case, if this continues to weigh heavily, it’s never wrong to seek help from a trusted guide, therapist, or healer. The integration process after ceremonies can last weeks, months, or even years, and finding safe spaces to speak, reflect, and release is key.

Visions during Ayahuasca can be mysterious and deeply impactful. But remember: they are invitations to feel, to understand, and to grow—not final verdicts or predictions. Trust your process, and be gentle with yourself.

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If you have questions or experiences you’d like us to explore in future reflections, feel free to reach out. We’re here to honor this path with you, one step at a time.