Many Ayahuasca conferences these days...

Among the original Shamanism conferences is this one, The International Amazonian Shamanism Conference, going 4 years now. It is much more affordable ($500 for the whole conference i think) and while this Ayahuasca Convergence 2008 claims to be near capacity, The 4th International Amazonian Shamanism Conference can hold hundreds, no one would be turned away. Also, conference organizer Alan Shoemaker offers free accomodation on his land near the Itaya river, bring a tent and you can camp in the jungle. There are full-time gaurdians there, and even a nice shower and toilet!

Some of the:

The 4th International Amazonian Shamanism Conference presenters

and some of the:

Conference curanderos

Also, some other interesting things taking place over the next few months at Dr. Luis Eduardo Luna's place, Wasiwaska, in Brazil

Three lectures by Rick Strassman
• From Fireworks to Biblical Prophecy - A Long and Winding Trip through Other Realities"
• DMT - The Spirit Molecule.
• Prophecy - What it is, How it Works, and Why it is our Natural Birthright.

Three lectures by Graham Hancock
• Recovering the Fingerprints of a Lost Civilisation.
• As Above, so Below – The Ancient System of Sky-Ground Magic in Architecture, Myth and Measurement.
• Shamanistic consciousness: The supernatural and human evolution.

Lectures by Luis Eduardo Luna
• Psychointegrator Plants of Ancient South America.
• Ayahuasca and Creativity.
• Amazonian Shamanism and Animal Transformation.
• Entities in the Ayahuasca World. A Discussion.
• Jigsaws from the Big Puzzle.

Four lectures by Dennis McKenna
• Healing Journey: Psychedelics in Medicine.
• Plant Human Coevolution.
• The Neuroscience of Spirituality.
• Mushroom and the Mind.

my interest has been very much raised by everything I've read, both on RS and elsewhere, about ayahuasca. But I have no idea where to go. The stories I've read--personal experiences and lessons learned, advice about how to approach ayahuasca--are all very helpful in their own way. Now I'd be very grateful if someone could give me practical advice about how to proceed.

I've searched google. Apparently Blue Morpho is a big name that provides an ayahuasca service. Bear in mind that I make about $10 an hour at the library, so I'll be saving up for a long time before I can afford this trip--if I can possibly save money on this, that'd be wonderful. Nevertheless, I'd rather not get a Disney version of the experience, and I'd rather not waste a lot of money on something that painfully reminds me I'm just a tourist.

It seems a lot of people have personal experience with ayahuasca, and I'd love any advice on how you got there. Where'd you go, how'd you get there, did you have to stay over in a hotel, did they pick you up from the airport, anything. Or, did you do it stateside? How? I'm entirely oblivious to the practicalities.

If you'd like to help in a non-public way, my email is michaelmatejka@gmail.com

Thanks!

Ayahuasca works in a rather wonderful way. It finds you. So the journey is inward and from their outward. Anyway, stay present, strike up conversations with semi-random people. It says hi by teasing your curiosity which it sounds as if it has, from this comes intention, dedication and direction to seek it out.  However when you set out to find it a funny thing will happen, everything will just fall in place.  This is likely not a coincidence.  Be patient, seek an authentic experience where it is taken during a ceremony led by a shaman. Many places to go in south america, not all are the same. no hotel, middle of jungle with jungle luxury. It really does not happen in the states and if it does they invite you... so be patient and again strike up intelligent conversations with semi-random people and go to places you might think to strike up such conversations. One thing for sure, be willing to let it all go to get there. After your journey with ayahuasca keep your planes open for at least a week to allow you to settle in as much as is possible, it may be impossible but reflection time will be needed for sure so dont just jump back into your life. enjoy the journey and for now do what you can by meditating,  yoga.. get way into your diet...get in touch with yourself as much as you can. this will greatly help!!! Light love and blessings to all!