A closer look at indigenous history indicates that the so called "traditional ayahuasca ceremony" may not be as ancient of a ritual as it's usually advertized. An ayahuasca ceremony is a ritual dedicated to immersing yourself fully into the effects of the sacred brew, ayahuasca. As the brew expands around the world, many websites are advertising “ancient” or “traditional ayahuasca ceremony” services. They are referring to a particular type of ceremony that has become the standard for Westerners attending ayahuasca retreats, whether in the rainforests of Peru or in the countryside around major cities worldwide. It looks something like this: a group of people drink together, at night, in a circle, while a shaman or ceremony facilitator “holds space” for all to journey deep into a visionary world shaped by music the guide plays or sings for them. According to some anthropologists, this so-called “traditional ayahuasca ceremony” design is one of many possible approaches and, in some senses, is a relatively new way of drinking the brew.