Until recently, we organized services at various locations in the Netherlands. In these services we offered a place where you can make a spiritual journey in a protected environment. A journey to deeper layers of yourself, of the world and the cosmos. Our message is a message of Harmony, Love, Truth, Righteousness and Connectedness with nature and all creation.
Unfortunately, on the 28th of February, there was a court ruling that no longer allowed us to organize services in the Netherlands where we serve our holy sacrament. Daime may no longer be imported and the church may no longer serve Daime. Therefore we are obliged to resign our work.
Who wants to drink Daime in our churchis welcome to visit our garden in Brazil. The events that will take place there will soon be on our website.
In the Netherlands we still organize services in which we will sing the hymns together. No Daime will be consumed during these services.
Below you find a description of the service how we used to organize them in The Netherlands and how it’s still done in our garden in Brazil.
The ceremony
Drinking the sacrament can not be seen separately from the ceremony. During the ceremony, we make live music and we sing hymns. These hymns give you guidance during your journey and offer support. All participants take place in a circle and sing along. Together we make the ceremony.
In total, the ceremony takes about 4 to 6 hours, with tea being drunk at 2 or 3 times. There are always people present who have lots of experience with Santo Daime’s work. They provide guidance and help where necessary.
The atmosphere is positive, loving and warm. Afterwards there is time to relax, chat and eat something.
Intention
Thoughts are powerful. It helps to think about an intention for the ceremony beforehand. We ask each participant to write his or her intention or question on a piece of paper.
Preparation
Drinking the tea is not harmful or addictive but it can be an intense, beautiful and often confrontational experience. It’s good to know what you’re up to. Santo Daime is not a recreational means. It is a medicine that actively works with your blockades to grow further. It is a personal and spiritual journey; A meeting with yourself.
For a good preparation we recommend not eating too much or too fat for a few hours before the ceremony. Something in your stomach is fine, but make sure it’s something you’re comfortable with. We also strongly recommend that you do not use drugs or alcohol for a few days and drink enough water.
There are sources claiming that eating tyramine-rich foods may give rise to high blood pressure rises. However, there are also sources that claim the contrary. For the sake of certainty, you can avoid these foods the days before the ceremony. Examples of Tyramineric foods include: Old Cheese, Cheese, Melt Cheese, Various Types of Brie, Camembert, Emmentaler, Gorgonzola, etc., Alcohol-Free Beer (incl. Beer Yeast), Yeast in Vitamin Supplements, Marmite, Tartex, Soy Sauce, Soy Pasta, Tempeh
Contraindications
The tea contains MAO inhibitors. Adverse interactions are known when combined with certain medicines:
- All sympathomimetics (including amphetamine, cocaine, methylphenidate, ephedrine, metaraminol, certain asthma agents).
- Certain medication for cough, cold and hay fever that can be obtained without prescription, such as: Otrivin and dextromethorphan-containing agents (Dampo, VapoTab “Vicks”, Darolan et al.).
- Means against overweight such as Ponderal (Parnate, Nardil, Aurorix).
- Antidepressants and other agents that are given in psychiatric disorders such as: Prozac, Zoloft, Trazolan, Seroxat, Effexor, but also St. John’s wort, lithium, alprazolam (Xanax), buspirone (Buspar), L-tryptophan (may also be in reforming agents) L-DOPA and Tegretol.
- Certain anti-asthma medications such as: Berotec, Bricanyl, Ventolin, Salbutamol, Terbutaline, Pulmadil, Serevent.
- High blood pressure agents: β-blockers, methyldopa, thiazide diuretics, calcium antagonists and ace inhibitors.
- Pethidine and related narcotic analgesics (aspirin or paracetamol as an analgesic is safe).
- Antibiotics
- Prozac may not be used anymore at least 2 weeks prior to the ritual.
- Caution is also advised in: Antihistamines (in antiallergic drugs), disulfiram, propanolol, hydralazine, carbamazepine.
NOTE: This list is not complete; When using medicines, we recommend that you check with your pharmacy or your doctor if they are combined with MAO inhibitors.
Physical Diseases
Diseases that could pose a risk:
- Severe kidney disease
- Unstable diabetes mellitus
- Actually or expected feochromocytoma
- Tooth-acting thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
- Known liver disorders
- Abnormal blood cells (blood dystrusion).
- Epilepsy and severe neurological disorders
- Vascular diseases (angina pectoris, brain bleeding or stroke)
In certain serious unstable mental conditions such as schizophrenia, psychosis and borderline symptoms, Santo Daime’s drinking is discouraged.