The Dieta
Nourish your body. Prepare your spirit.
The dieta is a traditional practice that runs through everything we do at La Matriztica. The body and the spirit are not separate. How you eat in the days before ceremony is part of how you arrive. These guidelines are not rules. They are an invitation to treat yourself with the same care you are bringing to the ceremony itself.
Starting the Dieta
We ask that you begin at least three days before ceremony — longer if you feel called to. Remove processed foods, garlic, onions, heavy meats, alcohol, and marijuana. What remains is simplicity. Eat gently. Let the body begin to settle before the ceremony asks anything of it. Think of this time as the first breath of what is coming.
What to Eat
Vegetables. Grains. Legumes. Light animal proteins if needed. Food that is close to the earth and easy on the body. Nothing that demands too much to digest. In many traditions, the understanding is simple — what you consume becomes part of what you carry in. Feed yourself accordingly.
A note on Salt
Salt is traditionally avoided for at least ten days before and after ceremony. This is rooted in ancestral tradition, not modern instruction. We ask you to honour it as part of the practice.
The Day of Ceremony
Eat well in the morning. A simple, nourishing breakfast and lunch. After 2pm, please only drink water, coconut water, or herbal tea. No caffeine. Let the day become quieter as it moves toward the evening. The ceremony will meet you wherever you are.
Beyond Food
The dieta asks more of you than what is on your plate.
In the days before and after ceremony, we ask that you set aside marijuana, caffeine, and alcohol. Not as a moral position. As a practical one. Each of these affects the quality of your experience.
We also politely ask that you refrain from sexual activity in the days surrounding ceremony. This is traditional guidance, held across many lineages. The understanding is simple — energy that is kept inward serves the work differently than energy that moves outward. It is always your choice to honour it.
And finally, the most understated element. Be mindful of what you feed your mind to. What you watch. What you listen to. What you allow into your attention in the days before you arrive. The preparation is not only physical. What fills the mind becomes part of what you bring into the space.
Medical
Considerations
If you are taking prescription medication — particularly SSRIs or MAO inhibitors — please let us know before attending. Some medications require careful consideration in a ceremonial context. We will speak with you directly about this before you arrive. And always, please consult your doctor before making any changes to your medication. Your safety matters to us.