Join Us For Retreat
Description of Services and Retreat Leader
Preparation and Participation
New York Medicine Retreat with Maestra Courtni “StarHeart” Hale
Step into a transformative weekend of healing, clarity, and renewal—just 45 minutes from New York City.
This immersive small-group experience is designed for those ready to realign mind, body, and spirit through guided ceremony, movement, and integration.
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Friday: Arrival and Purification
7:00 PM — Medicine Walk
A two-mile therapeutic walk to map your personal path, clarify intentions, and ground into the land.
8:00–10:00 PM — Kambo Somatic Reset & Detox
A guided purification process to release toxins and energetic residue, supporting nervous system recalibration before deeper ceremony work.
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Saturday: Alignment and Activation
11:00 AM — Restorative Yoga and Movement - A late breakfast or light snack followed by intentional movement to awaken the body’s energy centers.
12:30–2:00 PM — Sound Bath, Teaching, and Integration Practices
Breathwork, harmonic resonance, and focused teachings on the principles of energy, intention, and consciousness alignment.
After Sunset — Sacred Medicine Ceremony
An immersive night of guided ceremony and sound journey lasting until approximately 1:00 AM.
2:00 AM — Lights Out and Quiet Integration
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Sunday: Integration and Return
10:00 AM — Talking Stick Circle
A closing circle for reflection, sharing, and integration of insights.
12:00 PM — Departure and Return
All phones and keys are returned as participants reenter the world balanced, grounded, and renewed.
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Integration Support
Participants receive unlimited access to group integration via WhatsApp for 28 days following the retreat.
This space provides shared reflection, emotional support, and continued accountability as the work deepens over time.
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Preparation and Participation
Medical Screening and Religious Training Required (non-dogmatic)
Participants are encouraged to complete 3–5 preparatory sessions—in person or virtual—to align nutrition, breathwork, yoga, and emotional readiness before the retreat.
These sessions establish the physical, mental, and energetic foundation necessary for safe and powerful ceremonial work.
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Facilitator
Maestra (Dr.) Courtni “StarHeart” Hale
National Merit Scholar | B.A. Latin American Studies & BAS International Relations, American University | Masters Metaphysical Studies | Bachelors Ministerial Studies |
Doctoral Researcher, University of Sedona
Traditional Native Medicine Practitioner & Lineage-Trained Ceremonialist
25+ Years of Integrative Healing, Breathwork, and Consciousness Research
Courtni Hale’s work bridges academic research with ancestral medicine, guiding high performers, professionals, and seekers through a structured system of transformation that restores balance, insight, and embodied clarity.
Common Questions and FAQ
Is Ayahuasca safe?
Ayahuasca is a sacred medicine that has been used for thousands of years in Indigenous traditions — but safety depends entirely on context.
The environment, facilitation, and personal preparation all determine the outcome.
At Plant Medicine University, we focus on education before ingestion — helping you understand contraindications (especially medications and mental health conditions), screening properly, and preparing your body and nervous system.
When approached with respect, intention, and the right guidance, Ayahuasca can be profoundly healing. When rushed or commercialized, it can be destabilizing.
How should I prepare for a ceremony?
Preparation is half the medicine.
We recommend at least two weeks of physical and energetic cleansing:
- Avoid alcohol, red meat, processed foods, and overstimulation.
- Focus on hydration, clean nutrition, and rest.
- Begin simple daily practices — breathwork, meditation, and journaling your intentions.
Our Four Keys Preparation Session provides a personalized plan for you: diet, mindset, and nervous-system readiness.
We also help you understand the symbolic map of the Four Keys — Vision, Vehicle, Void, and Vortex — so you know what to expect when the journey begins.
Will I get sick or lose control during Ayahuasca?
The physical purge (vomiting or shaking) is part of the traditional healing process, but not everyone experiences it.
The medicine cleanses the body, emotions, and energy field.
Loss of control is rare when the setting is safe and well-facilitated.
During proper ceremony, you are guided, not lost — supported through sound, rhythm, and trained guardianship.
If your nervous system is already balanced, the experience becomes less about chaos and more about revelation.
That’s why preparation and post-ceremony integration are essential.
How do I choose a trustworthy retreat or facilitator?
Look for three things:
Lineage, Legality, and Integration.
- Lineage: A clear, respectful connection to an authentic Indigenous or spiritual tradition.
- Legality: Compliance with the local or federal laws of the country you’re visiting.
- Integration: A plan to help you ground and apply insights afterward.
Avoid anyone posting photos inside ceremony or advertising only through social media.
Sacred ceremony should feel private, reverent, and ethical — never transactional.
At Plant Medicine University, we guide you through this evaluation process, helping you identify red flags and find facilitators aligned with your values.
What happens after ceremony — how do I integrate?
Integration is where the real work begins.
After the visions fade, your task is to translate them into sustainable change.
That means stabilizing your nervous system, refining habits, and living in alignment with your insights.
Our Four Keys Integration Sessions help you bridge the mystical and the practical — using HeartMath-based biofeedback, journaling, and micro-habit systems to anchor transformation into daily life.