Visitor information

A Santo Daime Work is a sacred and profound experience. Our founder, Mestre Irineu, stated in his Decree: “No one is free of responsibility, and whoever has responsibilities, always has a duty to fulfill.” It is our duty, then, to assume self-responsibility regarding our participation in a Santo Daime Work.

Given the spiritual nature of this Work, the Daime offers an opportunity to align with divine light. Our bodies—physical, emotional, mental and spiritual—open to allow access to and communion with spiritual energies, guides, healers and teachers. It opens our consciousness, giving us the opportunity to deeply experience love and truth.

Within this space, you may see and feel many things. Some may be very beautiful and some may be more difficult. The Daime opens us to what is highest and lowest in ourselves. The purpose is to use the highest in us to transform what is in need of clearing and healing.

Ask that whatever happens is for the highest good, and know that we cannot transform and heal what we don’t recognize as part of ourselves. Also know that whatever you experience, you are not alone. There will be Guardians—specially trained church members—who will attend to you. And whether or not you can see them, spiritual guides and healers will be present to help you as well.

Medical considerations

The sacrament taken during a Santo Daime Work includes a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) as one of its constituents. MAOIs can dramatically increase the effects of some drugs, including SSRIs, to the point of becoming dangerous. SSRIs block the reuptake of serotonin in the brain. Because MAOIs inhibit the breakdown of serotonin, the combination of MAOIs and SSRIs can lead to dangerously high levels of serotonin in the brain, called Serotonin Syndrome. It is important to avoid all SSRI antidepressants (i.e. Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil) for two weeks prior to a Santo Daime Work.

For questions about other medical considerations, please contact your doctor. You can also contact us for general information about the compatibility of Santo Daime with medications.

Ways to learn more

Here are a few documents created by leaders of the Santo Daime church which may be helpful in your discernment about attending a Santo Daime work:

A Brief History of the Santo Daime Religion | Excerpt from the preface by Padrinho Alex Polari of The Religion of Ayahuasca: The Teachings of the Church of Santo Daime.

Forest of Visions (original title) | A preface by Jonathan Goldman from the book The Religion of Ayahuasca: The Teachings of the Church of Santo Daime by Padrinho Alex Polari.