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# Behold Retreats: Behold Retreats is a global team of facilitators, healers, medical advisors, and guest guides who have dedicated their lives to holding this space with care. This is who we are, why we exist, and how we hold this work.

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://beholdretreats.com/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Why Are Executives Seeking Plant Medicine After Success?](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/executives-seeking-plant-medicine/): For some executives seeking plant medicine, the interest begins there. There may be healing involved, or expansion, or simply a desire to understand themselves more clearly.
- [When Worlds Meet: Reflections from the World Ayahuasca Forum 2026](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/world-ayahuasca-forum-2026/): World Ayahuasca Forum 2026 | Girona, Spain | September 11–131,700 people. Many worlds. A shared conversation.
- [Beyond the Medicine: What Decolonizing Psychedelic Healing Really Means](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/decolonizing-psychedelic-healing/): Decolonizing psychedelic healing does not necessarily mean rejecting Western clinical practice. It can mean recognizing that clinical science is one knowledge system among many, and that traditional, ancestral, communal, and spiritual ways of understanding healing have their own value.
- [Paul Schrader Took 8 Ayahuasca Journeys at 80 to Create The Doors of Perception](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/paul-schrader-ayahuasca-journey/): For Behold Retreats, the Paul Schrader Ayahuasca story is particularly compelling because it illustrates something increasingly being explored by high performers, creatives, and people seeking a different perspective: the potential relationship between intentional psychedelic experiences, creativity, introspection, and personal transformation.
- [Why Are Athletes Exploring Plant Medicine Beyond Performance?](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/plant-medicine-for-athletes/): This is part of what makes plant medicine for athletes such a nuanced conversation.
- [What Actually Is Trauma?](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/what-is-trauma/): The word trauma carries a great deal of weight now. It gets used for events that reshape an entire life, and for days that simply went badly, and somewhere in between the meaning has blurred. So what actually is trauma, and how do you know whether you are carrying it?
- [Darkness Retreat or Ayahuasca: What’s the Difference?](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/darkness-retreat-or-ayahuasca-whats-the-difference/): Aaron Rodgers is in the headlines once again and we are constantly proud of his continuous work in the silence. This time it's not a ceremony in the jungle. It's reported contract terms with the Pittsburgh Steelers that would give him offseason time for a darkness retreat instead of a standard team program, as he heads into his final NFL season. (Not your common NFL request.)
- [Can Plant Medicine Support Longevity? What the Science Is Finding](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/can-plant-medicine-support-longevity-what-the-science-is-finding/): Short answer: research into plant medicine and longevity suggests that Psilocybin and Ayahuasca may act on several biological mechanisms of aging (cellular lifespan, telomere length, neurogenesis and chronic inflammation). Almost all of that evidence is preclinical, and no human trial has yet shown that plant medicine extends lifespan or healthspan in people.
- [The Gap Between Knowing and Changing: Why You See the Pattern and Repeat It Anyway](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/why-you-repeat-the-same-patterns/): Most people wondering why they repeat the same patterns have spent serious time trying to understand them. They know where it started. They can trace the logic. They have had the breakthroughs. And then they watch themselves repeat the pattern the following week anyway.
- [Microdosing vs Full Ceremony: A Nudge or a Doorway](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/microdosing-vs-full-ceremony/): Microdosing vs Full Ceremony is a question many people ask when first exploring Plant Medicine. People often lump all of this under one word, though microdosing and a full Ceremony are different tools for different jobs. Knowing which one you are actually after saves a lot of confusion.
- [Plant Medicine for High Performers: Why Going Inward Sharpens Your Edge](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/plant-medicine-for-high-performers/): Plant Medicine reaches people who are already thriving, too. Some of the most powerful experiences I have witnessed came from people who were doing well and wanted to go further. They came whole, and they came reaching.
- [Emotional Release in Ceremony: Why the Tears and the Purge Are the Medicine Working](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/emotional-release-in-ceremony/): Two worries come up more than almost any others before a first Ceremony: crying in front of people I just met, and the part people call purging. Emotional release in Ceremony often raises questions and uncertainty, so let me speak plainly about both, because knowing what they are tends to soften the fear.
- [Why You Can Understand Your Pain Completely and Still Feel It](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/why-you-still-feel-emotional-pain/): There is a particular kind of person I meet at almost every retreat. They have done more work on themselves than most people do in a lifetime. Therapy. Books. Modalities. Years of honest, courageous effort. Still wonder why you still feel emotional pain despite everything they have done to heal.
- [Plant Medicine vs Therapy: Two Different Doors](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/plant-medicine-vs-therapy/): People often ask me whether a retreat is meant to replace therapy. Here is how I see it after years of watching both work: they are two different doors that open onto the same house.
- [What a Plant Medicine Ceremony Actually Is (And Why People Find Clarity in One)](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/plant-medicine-ceremony/): When most people hear the words "Plant Medicine Ceremony," they picture something recreational. A party, a trip, a loss of control. The reality is quieter, more deliberate, and far more useful than that, especially if you are standing at a crossroads in your life.
- [Braden Summers Behold Alumni Highlight of the Month](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/braden-summers-behold-alumni/): "The greatest gift I never knew I needed was learning to trust the flow of life."
- [How Do I Choose the Best Ayahuasca Retreat?(Safe & Legal)?](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/ayahuasca-guide/): Your soul is calling and you’ve done your research.‍
- [10 Best Ayahuasca Retreats in Colorado](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/10-best-ayahuasca-retreats-in-colorado/): ‍
- [His Journey: NFL’s Adrian Colbert](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/adrian-colbert/): For 21 years, NFL safety Adrian Colbert carried a weight that no amount of training, no victory on the field, and no accolade could lift. It was the burden of not feeling enough—not feeling worthy of protection, value, care, or above all, love. In a profession that demands toughness, resilience, and an unwavering game face, vulnerability is rarely welcomed. But true strength, as Colbert would discover, lies not in building walls around the heart but in having the courage to tear them down.
- [His Journey: NFL’s Von Miller’s](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/von-millers-journey/): Von Miller is one of those men.
- [His Journey: NFL’s Jordan Poyer](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/jordan-poyer/): Jordan Poyer's journey from an NFL all-star to a seeker of self through Ayahuasca is a powerful tale of transformation, reflection, and growth. Once a seventh-round pick from Oregon State, Poyer has not only made his mark on the field as one of the NFL's most respected players but also embarked on a profound personal journey that led him to our sacred Costa Rica location partaking in a 6-Night all-inclusive Ayahuasca retreat experience. His experience was transformative, allowing him to share a space of healing and discovery with others, including his family, fostering a deeper connection to mind, body, and soul.
- [His Journey: NFL’s Aaron Rodgers](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/aaron-rodgers/): In a world where elite athletes are often defined by their physical strength and mental toughness, NFL's Aaron Rodgers stands out not only for his skill on the field but also for his willingness to explore the deeper realms of his personal growth (more specifically through the use of assisted psychedelics). Known for his resilience in the face of challenges and renowned Super Bowl MVP, Rodgers has always pushed the boundaries of what’s possible, both professionally and spiritually. But in recent years, his journey has taken a profound turn towards self-discovery, healing, and spiritual awakening. For Aaron, this journey led him to the sacred plant medicine of Ayahuasca - and, specifically, to Behold Retreats’ center in Costa Rica.
- [What Really Happens During a Bufo (5-MeO-DMT) Experience?](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/what-happens-during-bufo-5-meo-dmt-experience/): Bufo is slowly growing in popularity as Bryan Johnson live streamed his intense and powerful experience with the toad. However, we really stress the importance of differentiating that an intense experience is not the same as a properly integrated one.
- [Whats a Psychedelic Retreat: A Guest-Eye View of Plant Medicine](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/whats-a-psychedelic-retreat-really-like/): Rightfully so, in thinking about a retreat, you might feel some combination of excitement, nerves, hope, and curiosity.
- [Plant Medicine Retreat Integration: Incorporating Your Breakthroughs Into Daily Life](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/integration-for-breakthroughs/): Integration after a Plant Medicine Retreat is just as important as the experience itself and is the process of life after the ceremony ends. It involves the way you choose to maneuver through life and what you choose to do with all the new downloads and wisdom received from plant medicine. This entails everything from the most grandiose events to the most subtle occurrences. Integration is your response to life after ceremony. 
- [Psychedelics and the Pineal Gland: Unlocking Spiritual Awakening](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/your-pineal-gland-spiritual-growth-and-psychedelics/): Clients come to us because they’re interested in psychedelics.
- [Why Leaders and High Performers Are Driven by the Wrong Force](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/leaders-are-typically-driven-by-the-wrong-force-heres-why/): Leaders are typically driven by the wrong force. Here’s why.
- [Private 5-MeO-DMT Retreats: Experience, Format & Who It’s For](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/private-5-meo-dmt-retreat/): Considering a private 5-MeO-DMT retreat instead of a group experience? Is there really be that big of a difference? 
- [40 Reasons to Go on an Ayahuasca Retreat (and 40 Reasons Not To)](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/40-reasons-to-go-on-an-ayahuasca-retreat-and-another-40-reasons-not-to-go/): In this article, we share both 40 reasons to go on an Ayahuasca retreat, followed by 40 reasons not to go.
- [The Best Ayahuasca Retreats Near Me (2026 Guide)](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/ayahuasca-retreat-near-me/): ‍
- [The Matrix and Best Experience in the Universe: Being Human](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/the-matrix-and-the-best-experience-in-the-universe-being-human/): Do you remember how you felt after you saw The Matrix for the first time? 
- [40 Reasons of an Ayahuasca Retreat](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/40-reasons-to-go-on-an-ayahuasca-retreat/): When I first had the idea for this blog post, I couldn’t help but laugh. Something as sacred and complex as an Ayahuasca retreat, reduced to a list? Would that be blasphemous?
- [10 Best Ayahuasca Retreats in the USA (2026)](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/10-best-ayahuasca-retreats-usa/): Being called for your Ayahuasca journey is potentially the most profound and transformative way to connect with your inner self and experience holistic personal growth and healing. Near the USA, several retreat centers offer the opportunity to experience the powerful effects of the psychedelic brew called Ayahuasca, which is made from two Amazonian plants: the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the Psychotria viridis leaf. Used for centuries by indigenous people of the Amazon basin, Ayahuasca ceremonies are guided by experienced shamans and Shipibo healers who ensure you feel safe throughout the night.
- [Inner Peace: What you Seek is Inside You](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/inner-peace-what-you-seek-is-inside-you/): Today we’re going to talk about finding inner peace. For now, we’ll keep this relatively short, as this is quite a deep subject.
- [Aaron Rodgers’ Transformative Ayahuasca Journey in Costa Rica](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/aaron-rodgers-ayahuasca-journey-behold-retreats-costa-rica/): Netflix has premiered Aaron Rodgers: Enigma, a documentary series offering a rare glimpse into the NFL legend’s life off the field. From recovering from an Achilles injury to a profound exploration of his inner world, the series highlights Aaron’s journey to rediscover his purpose and align with his highest self (despite major public backlash).
- [What Happens After an Ayahuasca Retreat: Integration](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/ayahuasca-integration-after-retreat/): Prepping for ceremony and retreat can often times be more straight forward than prepping for the integration portion itself. Once the ceremonies are complete and the team along with the jungle (or the mountains, or the coastline), the medicine, and the icaros have held you - and now released. You've been cracked open, rearranged, shown things you didn't know how to ask for. And then you fly home.
- [Men’s Ayahuasca Retreats](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/mens-ayahuasca-retreats/): Many men today are navigating stress, life transitions, and mental health challenges without strong support systems or spaces to open up. It can feel like you are in a solo vortex spinning your wheels and yet nothing is quite fitting as you would like it to.
- [Healing Anxiety and Depression: Ayahuasca Insights & Stories](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/healing-anxiety-depression-through-ayahuasca-science-personal-stories/): One of our most asked questions: Does Ayahuasca help with depression?
- [5-MeO-DMT: The Psychedelic Toad Experience](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/5-meo-dmt-the-psychedelic-toad-experience/): If you're looking for high-integrity, ethical, and expertly-facilitated retreats with ayahuasca, psilocybin, or 5-MeO-DMT (Bufo), Behold Retreats is setting the global standard in professionally in psychedelic retreat facilitation for small groups and individuals.
- [Women’s Ayahuasca Retreats: Why Sacred Feminine Space Matters](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/womens-ayahuasca-retreats-why-a-sacred-feminine-space-matters/): A wave of women awakening, remembering, and releasing what was never theirs to hold...
- [What Is Consciousness?](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/returning-to-consciousness/): Something interesting is happening.
- [10 Best Luxury Ayahuasca Retreats – Updated 2026](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/10-best-luxury-ayahuasca-retreats/): ‍
- [10 Best Ayahuasca Retreats In Peru 2026](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/10-best-ayahuasca-retreats-peru/): We're so excited you've chosen to discover the life-changing world of Ayahuasca Retreats, and trusted us to guide you in some research as we dive into the 10 Best Ayahuasca Retreats In Peru. With an increasing interest in the healing power of psychedelics, Ayahuasca has garnered attention from researchers and seekers alike. As the psychedelic movement gains momentum, Peru has emerged as a sought-after destination for those seeking profound experiences with this sacred plant medicine. Amidst the plethora of choices available, it is essential to understand the various factors that contribute to a safe and transformative retreat. Join us on this journey as we explore the top Peru Ayahuasca Retreats for an unforgettable journey of self-discovery.
- [Choosing Between 5-MeO-DMT Bufo Retreat vs Ayahuasca Retreat](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/5-meo-dmt-retreat-vs-an-ayahuasca-retreat/): Learn more about the difference between Ayahuasca and 5-MEO-DMT with the below video.
- [Smoking DMT Toad Venom For Anxiety: Does It Work?](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/smoking-toad-venom-for-anxiety-does-it-work-updated/): You have the ability to change this. You do. You really do.
- [Why Are Rich People Smoking Toad Venom? (The Real Reason…)](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/why-are-rich-people-smoking-toad-venom-the-actual-reason/): More and more people are wanting to journey into higher realms with 5MeO DMT ceremonies, and many of those people are of a higher income. So the question is, why are rich people smoking toad venom? 
- [Is Ayahuasca Legal in the USA? 5 Reasons to Travel Abroad](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/legal-ayahuasca-retreats-usa/): Before jumping into an Ayahuasca Retreat just because it's close to home, here are some considerations we highly recommend to help you decide whether your time and hard-earned money may be better spent on a Retreat experience abroad, where legality may not be as large of an impediment as it is the U.S. In this blog we'll explore:
- [14 Best Ayahuasca Retreat Washington 2026](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/14-best-ayahuasca-retreats-in-washington/): Whether you're seeking to overcome personal challenges, deepen your spiritual practice, or gain a greater understanding of yourself and the world around you, these retreats offer a unique and powerful way to do so. In this article, we will be highlighting the top ayahuasca retreat Washington that specializes in plant medicine and spiritual healing in their healing center.
- [11 Best Ayahuasca Retreats Oregon (Updated)](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/11-best-ayahuasca-retreats-in-oregon-updated/): For deeper insights into what makes up a safe and quality plant medicine retreat, check out the results from our recent plant medicine retreats survey.
- [Psychedelics and the Success of Influential Entrepreneurs](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/are-psychedelics-responsible-for-the-success-of-many-influential-entrepreneurs/): Psychedelics are more “mainstream” than you probably think. There have been many notable thinkers, creators, and leaders who have experimented or habitually used psychedelics such as Ayahuasca, Psilocybin, and LSD - from scientists, inventors and business figures to writers, painters and musicians.

## Pages
- [Share Your Story](https://beholdretreats.com/share-your-story/)
- [7-Week Transformation Program](https://beholdretreats.com/transformations/7-week-program/): Once you answer your calling toward your retreat, there is work to be done before, during, and after retreat. If you’re looking for true, long-lasting results, working with a professional is highly encouraged as it will bring you personalized accountability and strength during your time of transition. 
- [Schedule Your Discovery Call](https://beholdretreats.com/discovery/): Whether you’re exploring plant medicines for the first time or deciding which retreat is right for you, our Discovery Call is an opportunity to ask questions, learn about our retreats, and determine whether Behold is the right fit for your journey.
- [Our Process](https://beholdretreats.com/our-process/)
- [The Science](https://beholdretreats.com/about/the-science/)
- [Subscribe](https://beholdretreats.com/subscribe/): Receive thoughtful insights on plant medicines, retreat preparation, integration, new articles, and upcoming retreat opportunities.
- [Frequently Asked Questions](https://beholdretreats.com/faq/)
- [Safety](https://beholdretreats.com/safety/)
- [Ayahuasca Guide](https://beholdretreats.com/get-guide/)
- [Private Retreats](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/private-retreats/)
- [Refund Policy](https://beholdretreats.com/refund-policy/): A Behold Retreats (“BR”) guest is not eligible for a partial or full refund unless they fail to pass the medical evaluation immediately following the sale of a retreat has been paid for by the guest. In the event that a guest does not pass the medical evaluation, the guest shall be refunded within two weeks of the failed medical evaluation minus a $200 USD administration fee.
- [Testimonials](https://beholdretreats.com/testimonials/)
- [About](https://beholdretreats.com/about/)
- [Blog](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/)
- [Retreats](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/)
- [Website Data Collection and Privacy Policy](https://beholdretreats.com/privacy-policy/): ‍Third Party Pixels and Cookies:‍
- [Home](https://beholdretreats.com/)

## Experiences
- [Costa Rica Ayahuasca Retreat](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/costa-rica/ayahuasca-retreat/)
- [Costa Rica 5-MeO-DMT Retreat (Bufo Alvarious)](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/costa-rica/5-meo-dmt-retreat/)
- [Costa Rica Women’s Ayahuasca Retreat](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/costa-rica/womens-ayahuasca-retreat/)
- [Mexico Ayahuasca Retreat](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/mexico/ayahuasca-retreat/)
- [Portugal Ayahuasca Retreat](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/portugal/ayahuasca-retreat/)
- [Portugal 5-MeO-DMT Retreat (Bufo Alvarious)](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/portugal/5-meo-dmt-retreat/)
- [Costa Rica Ayahuasca Eco Retreat](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/costa-rica/ayahuasca-eco-retreat/)
- [Costa Rica Psilocybin Retreat](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/costa-rica/psilocybin-retreat/)

## Medicines
- [Ayahuasca](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/ayahuasca/)
- [5-MeO-DMT](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/5-meo-dmt/)
- [Psilocybin](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/psilocybin/)

## Locations
- [Costa Rica](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/costa-rica/)
- [Mexico](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/mexico/)
- [Portugal](https://beholdretreats.com/retreats/portugal/)

## Categories
- [Choosing a Retreat](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/category/choosing-a-retreat/)
- [Cost & Logistics](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/category/cost-logistics/)
- [Integration & Aftercare](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/category/integration-aftercare/)
- [Medicine Education](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/category/medicine-education/)
- [Mental Health & Healing](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/category/mental-health-healing/)
- [News / Media](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/category/news-media/)
- [Notes From the CEO](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/category/ceo-notes/)
- [Preparation & Readiness](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/category/preparation-readiness/)
- [Retreat Experiences](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/category/retreat-experiences/)
- [Retreat Location Guides](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/category/retreat-location-guides/)
- [Safety & Screening](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/category/safety-screening/)
- [Spirituality & Consciousness](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/category/spirituality-consciousness/)
- [Uncategorized](https://beholdretreats.com/blog/category/uncategorized/)