Ayahuasca experiences in Uruguay: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of Neovegetalismo and Santo Daime
Ismael Apud, Juan Scuro, Frank Lozano Jara, Juan Ignacio Retta, Ignacio Carrera
Journal of Psychedelic Studies March 30, 2026 DOI: 10.1556/2054.2025.00496 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 44 |
| Population | Participants of a neovegetalismo group and Santo Daime Church in Uruguay |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca experiences differed by ritual context: neo-shamanic rituals yielded intense experiences with frequent corporal, emotional, sensorial, and personal themes, while Santo Daime rituals were gentler with lower frequencies of spiritual and transcendental themes. The authors suggest experiences are shaped by the interaction of the brew, ritual setting, and participants' mindset. |
Abstract
Abstract Background This study presents the qualitative findings of interdisciplinary research exploring ayahuasca-induced experiences in two distinct groups in Uruguay: a neo-shamanic group rooted in the Peruvian vegetalismo tradition and a Santo Daime Church.
Aims: Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the study examines similarities and differences in subjective experiences during a neo-shamanic ritual and a religious ritual ( n = 18).
Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 26 participants of a neovegetalismo group and with 18 participants of Santo Daime.
Results: Experiences in the neo-shamanic ritual were generally intense, with 145 coded segments categorized into six main themes. Corporal Experiences emerged as the most frequent (69%), followed by Emotional, Sensorial, and Personal Experiences (61% each one), Spiritual & Transcendental Experiences (50%), and Cognition & Volition (19%). In contrast, the Santo Daime ritual, characterized by dance and communal singing rather than deep introspection or visions, was described as gentler (42 coded segments). The most frequently reported themes were Corporal (50%), Emotional (44%), Personal (39%), Sensorial (28%), Spiritual & Transcendental (6%), and Cognition & Volition (1%).
Conclusions: Findings suggest that ayahuasca-induced experiences are shaped by the interaction between the brew, ritual setting, and participants' mindset, highlighting both recurrent and context-dependent experiential patterns.