In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of http://www.lawayra.com) speaks with Una Meistare. Una is a prominent Latvian cultural journalist, art critic, and co-founder/editor-in-chief of Artterritory and Spirit Territory. Having spent over two decades exploring fashion and design, she now researches alternative states of consciousness, ethnobotanical healing, and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.

  • 00:00 – 02:00: Overview of Latvia’s mental health statistics, high suicide rates, and Una’s background in art journalism

  • 02:01 – 04:30: Una’s initial introduction to Ayahuasca through an interview with Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto

  • 04:31 – 07:15: First secret ceremonies with the Huni Kuin tribe and attending the World Ayahuasca Conference in Girona

  • 07:16 – 10:15: High rates of treatment-resistant depression in Latvia, suicide statistics, and organizing therapeutic psychedelic conferences

  • 10:16 – 13:30: Traditional plant harvesting protocols, asking permission from nature, and overcoming cultural stigma

  • 13:31 – 16:30: Integration challenges, psilocybin’s potential in Latvia, and local mushroom-foraging culture

  • 16:31 – 22:30: Deep dive into the traditional Latvian pirts (sauna) ceremony as an ancient method for altered states of consciousness

  • 22:31 – 26:30: The energetic qualities of trees (oak and linden) and cross-cultural parallels in heat-based healing

  • 26:31 – 32:00: Seasonal dynamics in Latvia, extreme light/dark cycles, and reconnecting with nature

  • 32:01 – 36:15: Sauna rituals as a healthy alternative to heavy alcohol consumption

  • 36:16 – 41:10: The surge of Ayahuasca tourism in Latvia, interpreting symbolic messages, and Rick Strassman’s perspectives on ego amplification

  • 41:11 – 46:40: The intersection of psychedelics, art, emotional intelligence, and Una’s exhibition on six universal emotions

  • 46:41 – 50:10: Final thoughts on inner healing, self-reflection, and where to find Una’s work

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to http://www.lawayra.com.

Find more about Una Meistare at http://www.artterritory.com and http://www.spiritterritory.com.