2016 – The Second World Ayahuasca Conference, Acre, Brazil
During October 2016, the edge of the Amazon rainforest in Rio Branco Brazil hosted representatives from more than 17 indigenous cultures and over 100 international experts to discuss ayahuasca use in the twenty first century. Organized by ICEERS (International Center for Entheogenic Education, Resource and Service), the event attracted shamans, healers, anthropologists, psychologists, conservationists, botanists, artists, filmmakers, musicians, and others. Ben De Loenen, ICEERS founder and executive director, told PsyPress:
“The goal of the conference is to add momentum to the struggle for the recognition of ayahuasca and its ritual practices as a cultural heritage to be protected, not exploited, and more specifically, to honor traditional cultures and the tremendous legacy they have contributed to humanity. As more and more people from around the world participate in ayahuasca ceremonies for healing, self-exploration, and personal development, it is necessary to address the challenges that arise.”
Most of the talks and panel discussions from the event are available for viewing on the ICEERS YouTube channel.
The first World Ayahuasca Conference was held in Ibiza (Spain) in 2014, and the third and largest edition of the conference was held in Girona (Spain) in 2019 with 1400 attendees.
References
World Ayahuasca Conference website.
ICEERS YouTube Channel.
