In recent years, there has been a growing number of celebrities who have tried Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian plant medicine that contains the psychoactive compound DMT. Some of these high-profile figures have even travelled to Peru or other South American countries to participate in ceremonies with traditional shamanic practitioners. Many of these celebrities have spoken publicly about their transformative experiences while meeting Mother Ayahuasca, describing it as a powerful tool for self-discovery, healing, and personal growth.
Let’s look closer at 12 celebrities who have tried Ayahuasca and their experience with the sacred medicine.
1. Sting
Sting, the frontman of the band The Police, has been open about his experience with Ayahuasca. His first encounter with Ayahuasca reportedly happened in the Amazon rainforest over 20 years ago in Brazil – he described it as being “wired to the cosmos”. He claimed that it felt like a genuine religious experience with a higher intelligence at work which helped him to reconnect with the universe.
2. Madonna
While Madonna, the American singer and actress, has not been as outspoken as some other celebrities about her Ayahuasca experiences, it is clear that it had a profound impact on her. She reportedly drank the sacred medicine in Brazil and spoke about her experience in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar in 2017. She described her encounter as “one of the most intense experiences” of her life which was “very painful” but at the same time “liberating” and which helped her to gain a deeper understanding of herself and her purpose in life.
3. Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan, the American actress and singer, has been open about her struggles with addiction and mental health, and her celebrity Ayahuasca experience appears to have been a crucial aspect of her journey to recovery. She reportedly tried the sacred medicine in Thailand while filming a reality TV show. She has stated that the encounter allowed her to confront her past traumas and aided her in overcoming her addiction to drugs and alcohol.
4. Jim Carrey
In a 2017 interview with Norm Macdonald, Carrey described his encounter with Mother Ayahuasca as “the most beautiful thing you can ever experience.” The Canadian-American actor claimed that the experience was “intense”, both physically and emotionally. Still, it helped him to confront his ego and gain a new understanding of his place in the universe.
5. Megan Fox
The American actress and model is another celebrity who has tried Ayahuasca, reportedly having her first encounter in Costa Rica during a ceremony with the Shipibo tribe. She describes the experience as “incredibly intense” and “unbelievably painful”, where she felt “dying and being reborn” at the same time. In her 2020 interview with Vanity Fair, she recalls her profound experience and claims that it gave her a new perspective on her life.
6. Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon, the American actress and activist, is also a long-time advocate for unconventional methods of healing and spirituality, and her encounter seems to have played a role in her journey. She has talked openly about her experience with Ayahuasca in an interview with The Daily Beast in 2016, where she described it as “profound” and “transformative” that allowed her to confront her fears and anxieties. Sarandon is a vocal advocate for the legalisation of Ayahuasca in the USA.
7. Neal Brennan
Neal Brennan claims that taking Ayahuasca helped him tackle his clinical depression once and for all where he does not need to take antidepressants anymore.
In addition, Brennan attributes significant personality changes to his experience: a deeper appreciation of relationships and more empathy among them. While according to his recollections, the encounters with the psychedelic brew were at times a “terrifying experience”, he declared that as a result of his repeated Ayahuasca encounters, he was “no longer atheist”.
8. Chelsea Handler
Chelsea Handler, the American comedian and television host, has spoken about her experience during interviews. In one of the episodes of the Netflix series “Chelsea does…” Handler tried Ayahuasca on camera in a shaman-led ceremony in Peru and later described it as “pretty intense”.
9. Paul Simon
Paul Simon, the American musician and songwriter, claimed that drinking Ayahuasca in the Amazon rainforest helped him to gain a new perspective on his life and his music.
Inspired by his Ayahuasca experience, Paul Simon wrote the song ‘Spirit Voices’, in which the lyrics paint a picture of his journey.
“Some stories are magical, meant to be sung
Songs from the mouth of the river
When the world was young
And all of these spirit voices rule the night
I drank a cup of herbal brew
The sweetness in the air
Combined with the lightness in my head
And I heard the jungle breathing in the bamboo”
10. Will Smith
The American actor and rapper, spoke about his profound experience with Ayahuasca in his interview with David Letterman, where he described the 14 journeys he took on the psychedelic brew as “the individual most hellish psychological experience” of his life. He claimed that the “psychological training” that happened on this journey helped him develop a trust and love of himself that he never had.
11. Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus is another celebrity who has tried Ayahuasca, saying in a Rolling Stone interview that once the brew had taken her to “the Mama Aya”, she felt like her entire life changed and that she was a new person. The American singer-songwriter and actress has been open about her challenges with mental health and sobriety and described her journey with Ayahuasca as a healing experience.
12. Aaron Rogers
American Football quarterback Aaron Rodgers has shared his transformative experience with Ayahuasca, emphasising the profound impact it had on his mental health, particularly in fostering unconditional self-love. This self-love, he believes, is a cornerstone of mental well-being and is essential for extending unconditional love to others. He has also talked about his experience with Ayahuasca as helping him overcome his fear of death. He described how the experience offered him a glimpse of the other side, altering his perception of death from being an end to a mere passage, a transition to the next chapter of life. This insight has been pivotal in reshaping his understanding and acceptance of life’s ultimate journey.
As we wrap up our list of celebrities who have tried Ayahuasca, it’s clear what a significant role this ancient medicine can play as a tool for personal growth, emotional healing, and mental clarity. Their experiences, ranging from confronting deep-seated fears to rekindling a love for themselves and the world around them, illustrate the diverse and profound impact of Ayahuasca, and the long-term positive effects it can have on those who choose to meet her.
Avalon’s Ayahuasca retreats in Barcelona provide a safe and nurturing environment for individuals seeking to explore the transformative powers of Ayahuasca. Experienced guides offer personalised attention and support, guiding participants through a journey toward self-discovery and inner healing. If you are wondering whether you are ready for Ayahuasca or are interested in more information, read more or schedule a call to get all of your questions answered.
