The Rise of the Fake Shaman Culture
And how to spot those who walk with integrity.
And how to spot those who walk with integrity.
Today, we want to shed light on an uncomfortable yet crucial topic: the rise of the fake shaman culture.
The aim of this share is to raise awareness, and to offer some guidance on how to spot those who walk with integrity.
That said, this is a nuanced and delicate topic, and by no means do we claim to have it all figured out.
Our own guidelines are constantly evolving, but for now, at Taozen retreats, we're currently only collaborating with indigenous Amazonian shamans over 50 years old, from long-standing lineages.
This means that in our ceremonies there may be younger people helping out and holding space, but there will always be an elder shaman leading.
In the past, we’ve sat in ceremonies led by people who were not indigenous to the Amazon, and who were too young or inexperienced to hold the space safely.
Most of them mean well. But good intention does not equal preparation.
Too often, their unintegrated shadows lead to psychological, sexual, and/or financial harm.
The ayahuasca world remains mostly underground.
No certifications or official standards. And no clear ‘calculable’ way to know who’s truly fit to serve (other than your own intuition or trusted sources)
Anyone can wake up tomorrow and claim to be a “shaman” or “medicine person.” And many do…
The result? A marketplace of ungrounded egos and unsafe ceremonies.
With the Amazonian tribes we sit with, the lineage itself and the community decide who is fit to serve.
Not Instagram or those that have bought “blessings” after a handful of jungle trips.
Every shaman we’ve seen “go dark” was too young (most of them in their 30s) and lacked proper mentorship.
They are often trained by other inexperienced, young “shamans” or not trained at all.
We know of people who have been drinking ayahuasca (not even training to become shamans) for less than 10 years, who are now training other people to become shamans…
Even more concerning, some of these trainings include teachings that trigger participants to “drop their sexuality.” According to the belief systems promoted in these circles, homosexuality is viewed as a trauma response or something “out of balance” with the natural order of the universe. Within their worldview, only heterosexual men can become shamans.
As a result, we’ve seen people undergoing these trainings begin to identify as heterosexual after a lifetime of being gay.
To us, this is deeply troubling and profoundly serious. It raises ethical red flags, to say the least, and highlights the dangers of distorted spiritual authority.
We’ve heard these premature “shamans” say “age is just a number” or “I’m an old soul.” Ok…you may be an old soul, but you’re still in a human body having a human experience.
The way we see it, becoming an ayahuasca shaman takes at the very least 10+ years of full-time, dedicated training. Shortcuts simply do not exist in this world.
In the traditional Amazonian lineages we work with, shamans are held accountable by the community. The tribe keeps them in check - spiritually, socially, and ethically.
Sadly, many people’s first ceremonies are led by Western facilitators who also combine ayahuasca retreats with other powerful medicines such as bufo, yopo, and psilocybin. This is dangerous, in our opinion.
Traditional, Amazonian tribes only combine ayahuasca with tobacco, rapé, sananga, kambó, and other non-psychoactive plants. Not with mushrooms, LSD, MDMA, or whatever else is trending and profitable.
When ayahuasca is taken out of its original context, it risks becoming a superficial, self-centred, extractive and abusive practice.
Before your next ceremony, ask questions if you want to scratch beneath the feathery surface:
🌿 Who’s serving the medicine?
🌿 What’s their lineage?
🌿 For how many years have they trained?
🌿 How many ceremonies have they led?
🌿 Who is their teacher?
🌿 What kind of master plant dietas have they participated in?
Trust your gut and use discernment. Do not glorify. Because most out there…they aren’t who they say they are.
In this work, “fake it till you make it” can get people really hurt.
May your ceremonies be safe, respectful, transformative, and filled with beauty.
With love,
Taozen
