Learning from Mistakes in Ayahuasca and Life
In every healing journey, mistakes are inevitable. Yet in the ancestral teachings of yagé, there is a profound distinction between equivocación (a simple mistake), error (when a mistake hardens into a pattern), and certeza (clarity and assurance). Understanding these differences is key not only to walking the path of plant medicine, but also to living more consciously in everyday life and learning from mistakes.
What Is an Equivocación?
An equivocación is not a failure — it is an imprecision, a small slip, or a confusion that naturally arises as we learn and grow. The word itself suggests something incomplete, an emotional or mental stumble. We make assumptions, act too quickly, or give something for granted, and the result does not align with reality. In ancestral language, an equivocación is part of being human, a natural part of our spiritual apprenticeship.
The danger comes when we repeat the same equivocación again and again. When confusion becomes a habit, it transforms into error. This is where the healing work begins: to recognize the mistake before it crystallizes into something more difficult to resolve.
From Equivocación to Error: When a Mistake Becomes a Burden
In our daily lives — and in the ceremony — the line between equivocación and error is thin. A moment of impatience, a defensive reaction, or an ego-driven decision may seem small. But if left unchecked, these patterns repeat, and the equivocación hardens into an error. Errors are not only intellectual mistakes; they can damage relationships, cloud our purpose, and close the doors to spiritual growth.
One of the greatest errors is the illusion of control — the belief that we can dominate every outcome or dictate the timing of our healing. This often leads to frustration, anger, and unnecessary conflict. The medicine teaches humility: we are not here to control life, but to align with it.
The Path Toward Certeza (Clarity)
Against equivocación and error stands the virtue of certeza. Certeza is the state of inner clarity that emerges when we admit our mistakes with humility and patience. It is the calm assurance that guides our decisions, removes doubt, and anchors us in truth. When we cultivate certeza, we stop wasting energy in vague arguments or defensive attitudes, and instead direct our attention to what truly matters.
In the yagé tradition, certeza is not given from outside — it is discovered within. The medicine shows us our patterns, but it does not walk the path for us. To reach certeza, we must accept responsibility, let go of ego, and practice self-observation. This is the real integration: transforming the lessons of ceremony into everyday clarity.
Lessons from the Circle of Word
In the circle of word, elders remind us that admitting a mistake is an act of courage. The one who accepts equivocación is not weak but strong, because they allow themselves to learn. Admitting an error is not about shame or punishment, but about honesty and reconciliation — with oneself, with others, and with life itself.
This teaching aligns with what modern psychology calls “growth mindset”: the understanding that mistakes are opportunities for learning, not permanent failures (American Psychological Association). Ancestral wisdom anticipated this truth long ago: when you learn from equivocación, you avoid the real error.
Ayahuasca as a Teacher of Mistakes
Yagé ceremonies often bring to light the very mistakes we try to hide. Participants may see visions of past choices, feel the weight of unspoken words, or experience the consequences of avoidance. The medicine does not punish — it reveals. In this revelation lies the opportunity to heal. What once felt like failure becomes a doorway to responsibility, forgiveness, and certainty.
In this sense, yagé is not about escaping life but about seeing it more clearly. The real ceremony is life itself. Each equivocación we admit, each error we transform, brings us closer to certeza — and to the freedom of living with clarity.
How to Practice This Teaching Daily
- Observe your thoughts and actions: notice when impatience or ego appear.
- Admit small mistakes quickly: humility prevents equivocación from becoming error.
- Cultivate patience: give life and healing their proper time.
- Seek reconciliation: apologize, forgive, and restore balance.
- Anchor in certainty: act from clarity, not confusion or haste.
Walking with Certeza
The teachings of equivocación, error, and certeza invite us to take responsibility for our path. Mistakes will come — they are part of learning. But with humility, patience, and constancy, we can avoid falling into error and instead discover the beauty of clarity. This is the medicine that continues after the retreat, in the real ceremony of life.
If you feel called to explore these teachings more deeply, we invite you to join our Authentic Ayahuasca Retreat in Colombia. Guided by experienced taitas and held in the mountains of Antioquia, our retreats provide a safe space to learn, heal, and discover your purpose with the support of tradition and community.
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