A silent rite of passage in three stages:
Symbolic Death, Transition and Rebirth.
An Iboga Journey ceremony is a silent, weekend-long rite of passage with raw iboga root bark, held for two to eight guests at one of Iboga Journey’s long-established ceremony spaces in Alberta, Canada. The full experience runs from Friday morning at 9am until Sunday afternoon. The Iboga ceremony begins Friday evening after the alchemy crystal singing bowl session and continues. through Saturday evening in three stages: Symbolic Death, when root bark is offered gradually through the night; Transition, a full day of stillness and emotional release; and Rebirth, when Bwiti music brings the body back to movement. Sunday morning closes the weekend with a shower, a full breakfast and a final sharing circle. Every ceremony is held by Treenz, a Bwiti-initiated Nganga.
When | Stage | What Happens |
| Friday morning | The Space | Arrival, settling in, opening of circle, intention sharing, Kambo experience |
| Friday afternoon | The Space | Settling onto mats, opening circle of gratitude and intention, then silence |
| Friday night | Symbolic Death | Raw iboga root bark offered about every hour for eight hours |
| Saturday | Transition | Deep meditative stillness, emotional release, herbal tea and fruit by mid-afternoon |
| Saturday evening | Rebirth | Bwiti music and 45 minutes of movement, then warm soup, fruit and rest |
| Sunday morning | Closing Circle | Shower, intention setting for Jaguar experience, beautiful brunch, sharing and closing circle departing mid-late afternoon. After showering, the next sacrament offering is Jaguar. A full nourishing breakfast is served supporting what the brain and body require to refuel and support neurogenesis. |
Settling onto mats, opening circle of gratitude and intention, then silence
Deep meditative stillness, emotional release, herbal tea and fruit by mid-afternoon
Bwiti music and 45 minutes of movement, then warm soup, fruit and rest
Arriving at the space on Friday afternoon, guests are able to relax and engage with one another and the providers. Meeting and sharing that afternoon eases anticipation and builds trust. The ceremony room, set in the walk-out lower level of the space so the work happens close to the earth, has three-inch foam mats laid out spaciously. Each guest chooses a mat and sets up bedding.
Natural, unaltered iboga root bark is offered gradually, every hour, for eight hours. This is a dedication to the rite of passage and the invitation for the death of illusion. The more attachment there is to illusion, the more turbulent its death. It shows up as resistance and acceptance. Each layer peels away with acceptance, but it takes resistance first to break the surface. Each round is an opportunity to see this and to test courage and trust, not only in the providers and the medicine but in oneself. First resisting fear, then accepting it.
Then going beyond it.
The medicine works its way through every cell, sending its energetic root system deep through the body and into the earth. As each resistance finally gives way, it can be coupled with some form of purge. Often the greatest test is to continue taking rounds after purging. Because the offerings are so gradual, sensitivities show themselves early and amounts are adjusted so that everyone can continue taking medicine well into the night. There is no need to judge or measure rounds. How many and how much is worked out with Treenz, and the amount of iboga taken varies widely from guest to guest.
With the offerings complete, choice is no longer involved. This gives rest to courage and beckons stillness. There is less whispering with providers, less purging and, slowly, less intensity. Guests remain in a deep meditative state, hyper-aware and awake, but still and silent. Emotions set free the night before have a chance to express themselves, which can be hard but extremely rewarding. New pathways of non-resistance form, so the mantra is “feel it to heal it.”
Emotional release comes in waves and, without judgement, we accept the deeper purpose beyond momentary understanding. By mid-afternoon a calming herbal tea is served, followed by fruit when guests feel ready. As hydration and nutrition are replenished, standing and moving become more comfortable, and it is often possible to sit outside for a short while late on Saturday afternoon. This unfolding takes place over the entire second day, and for some it is more challenging than the offerings.
Saturday can feel incredibly long, but as night falls there is a deep welcoming and relaxation. Stillness permeates to the core, simply there as existence itself. At this point guests have been on their mats for close to 24 hours. Rebirth has a deeply important function: bringing the body back from the ground, and connecting the group to the Bwiti through their music. In Bwiti ceremonies music is always joined with movement, so it feels right to experience it that way. The mats are set aside and the group sits in a circle on the floor.
The magic sounds of the Mougongo begin to vibrate, eventually energizing guests to stand. As the Bwiti music slowly rises in tempo, the circle walks counter-clockwise and, for some, the walking becomes rhythmic, almost like jogging on the spot. It does not matter how it is done, only that an effort is given. Forty-five minutes of music lets guests shake off the cobwebs and feel blood pumping life into the muscles once again. After the music, a warm bowl of nurturing soup is offered along with more fruit. Rebirth, hydration and nutrition all help the group finally get some rest that night.
On Sunday morning the shower is available for guests, with natural soap, shampoo and conditioner provided. After showering, a full dairy-free, meat-free breakfast is served, starting with a replenishing smoothie. Following breakfast, the group gathers one last time to close the circle. In the closing, the talking stick is once again shared and guests have the opportunity to reflect on their journey.
This can have a profound impact, as guests become mirrors for one another. The closing circle ends the collective energy created over the weekend and begins the solo voyage of integrating iboga’s frequency and watching the teachings unfold through life experience.
The ceremony may close, but your journey continues.
Everyone moves through the hours following the 3 sacrament experiences. After long days and nights of ceremony, the body may be tired, appetite may return slowly, and some guests may need more time before sleep comes. There is no expectation to rush. Time is given to rest, nourish, reconnect and allow the experience to begin settling.
We encourage guests to create spaciousness around their journey rather than returning immediately to the demands of everyday life. Depending on where you are travelling from, staying nearby for an additional night or two is recommended so that you can rest before making your way home.
And when you leave the ceremony space, you don’t leave the support behind. Iboga Journey offers monthly integration zoom gatherings for everyone who has journeyed with us throughout the years, creating an opportunity to reconnect, share and continue integrating within the community. Private integration sessions with Treenz or Ginny are also available for those wanting more individualized support.
At Iboga Journey, this work is not transactional. Once you have journeyed with us, you are part of the Iboga Family. Whether your ceremony was weeks ago or years ago the door remains open.
