For many people, ayahuasca enters their lives through curiosity. For Sam Believ, founder of LaWayra Ayahuasca Retreat in Colombia and host of the Ayahuasca Podcast, it arrived during a period of deep uncertainty. At the time, he was an engineer with no spiritual background, no interest in religion, and a highly skeptical mindset. Yet a series of experiences with ayahuasca would gradually transform not only his understanding of healing, but also the entire direction of his life.
Today, LaWayra has grown into one of the most highly reviewed ayahuasca retreats in South America, employing dozens of staff members and welcoming guests from around the world. Looking back, Sam says he never actually planned any of it.
From Depression to Direction
Before ayahuasca became part of his life, Sam was struggling with depression and a lack of purpose.
Like many people, he had achieved goals that society encourages: a successful career, financial stability, and professional recognition. Yet despite these accomplishments, something felt fundamentally wrong.
When he first encountered ayahuasca, he was not searching for a business opportunity or a spiritual mission. He was searching for relief.
Over the course of several ceremonies, something unexpected happened. Instead of simply helping him feel better, the medicine began pointing him toward a completely different path.
One particular experience in the Colombian jungle stood out. During a powerful ceremony, he felt as if ayahuasca was showing him a new direction for his life and making it clear that working with the medicine would become part of his future.
At the time, the idea seemed almost impossible.
Building a Retreat Through Synchronicity
Rather than carefully planning a retreat center, Sam describes the creation of LaWayra as a series of fortunate coincidences and unexpected opportunities.
At first, he was simply renting rooms on a small rural property where he lived.
Then someone approached him wanting to host ayahuasca ceremonies there.
That opportunity led to others. New teachers appeared, new connections formed, and gradually a small gathering evolved into a full retreat operation.
Today, what began with a handful of participants has grown into a large organization with ceremony teams, maintenance crews, construction projects, marketing staff, and dozens of people working together toward a shared vision.
Despite the growth, Sam still sees the process as something that unfolded naturally rather than something he consciously engineered.
Why Accessibility Matters
One of the central ideas behind LaWayra is accessibility.
Sam believes ayahuasca should not be reserved only for wealthy spiritual seekers.
In many parts of the world, ayahuasca retreats have become expensive luxury experiences that are out of reach for average people.
His goal has always been different.
He wants ordinary people — teachers, construction workers, office employees, parents, and retirees — to feel that ayahuasca is something available to them if they genuinely need healing.
This philosophy influences everything from pricing to retreat structure.
The objective is not exclusivity but inclusion.
Healing Without Becoming Someone Else
Another barrier Sam frequently encounters is the perception that ayahuasca belongs only to a specific spiritual culture.
Many people worry that they need to completely change who they are before participating.
They imagine adopting unfamiliar beliefs, dressing differently, or embracing lifestyles that feel uncomfortable.
Sam strongly disagrees with that idea.
His own background is proof that a person can remain practical, skeptical, and grounded while still benefiting from plant medicine.
The goal is not to become someone else.
The goal is to heal.
According to him, ayahuasca does not require a new identity. It simply creates an opportunity to reconnect with parts of yourself that may have been buried or forgotten.
Understanding the Purge
One of the biggest fears newcomers have is the possibility of purging.
Stories about vomiting often discourage people from exploring ayahuasca in the first place.
Yet Sam believes this fear comes largely from misunderstanding.
In traditional Colombian practice, purging is considered an essential part of the healing process rather than an unpleasant side effect.
Many participants discover that after releasing physically, they also experience emotional relief.
The process often feels cleansing rather than uncomfortable.
In fact, experienced participants frequently reach a point where they actively welcome the purge because they associate it with release and healing.
The Importance of Preparation
Preparation remains an important part of any ayahuasca experience.
Sam believes some modern recommendations have become unnecessarily restrictive, creating fear instead of helping people.
At the same time, he stresses that certain guidelines matter greatly.
Avoiding alcohol, recreational substances, and certain medications — particularly antidepressants — is critical for safety.
A clean diet, reduced stimulation, and intentional preparation help create a stronger connection with the medicine.
The goal is not perfection but readiness.
Why Every Experience Is Different
One of the reasons ayahuasca remains difficult to describe is that no two experiences are exactly alike.
Some people see vivid visions.
Others receive emotional insights without visual effects.
Some experience physical healing, while others focus entirely on psychological or spiritual themes.
Even the same person can have completely different experiences from one ceremony to the next.
According to Sam, expecting a specific outcome is often the quickest path to disappointment.
Instead, participants are encouraged to arrive with an intention while remaining open to wherever the medicine chooses to guide them.
Healing Beyond Expectations
Over the years, Sam has witnessed countless stories of transformation.
People struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction, trauma, eating disorders, autoimmune conditions, and chronic emotional pain have reported profound improvements after working with the medicine.
Not every story follows the same pattern.
Sometimes participants receive obvious insights. Other times, change happens gradually after they return home.
What consistently surprises him is how often people leave with benefits they were not actively seeking.
Someone may arrive hoping for clarity about a relationship and discover relief from depression.
Another may come seeking emotional healing and unexpectedly lose interest in alcohol or other unhealthy habits.
Preserving Tradition
Although ayahuasca is becoming more popular globally, Sam believes it is important not to separate the medicine from its traditional roots.
He often compares tradition to the roots of a tree.
Without roots, the tree cannot survive.
For him, working with experienced indigenous shamans, respecting ceremonial practices, and maintaining traditional preparation methods are all essential parts of responsible ayahuasca work.
Modern accessibility should not come at the expense of authenticity.
Looking Toward the Future
When asked about his long-term vision, Sam often returns to a simple idea: healing.
He believes society is facing growing levels of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and disconnection.
Ayahuasca is not a miracle cure, but he sees it as one powerful tool among many that can help people reconnect with themselves and each other.
For someone who never expected to enter the world of plant medicine, the journey has been surprising.
Yet perhaps that is part of the lesson itself.
Sometimes the path that changes your life is the one you never intended to follow.
Listen to the whole podcast episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/27Pccq34EQZ36Z6Aq8f3Ti