If you’re exploring plant medicine solutions, you may have come across the term bufo ceremony. In a bufo ceremony you work with the potent 5-MeO-DMT secretion of the Sonoran Desert toad for a deep, ego-dissolving journey that often unfolds in under 30 minutes.
Unlike an ayahuasca retreat that can last six to eight hours, your bufo experience moves quickly, guiding you into pure awareness and then back to everyday consciousness. Lawayra, the highest rated ayahuasca retreat in South America, has a good article comparing bufo and ayahuasca ceremonies. In this guide, you’ll learn what a bufo ceremony involves, how to prepare, what you might feel as your ego dissolves, and how to integrate the insights that remain.
Bufo ceremony overview
What is Bufo?
Bufo refers to a ceremonial practice centered on 5-MeO-DMT, a powerful psychedelic compound found in the skin secretion of Bufo Alvarius, also called the Sonoran Desert toad. When inhaled or vaporized, this toad medicine can trigger a rapid onset of profound altered states, often described as a full release of personal identity and deep connection with universal consciousness.
Key components and origins
- Source: secretion from the Sonoran Desert toad, sustainably harvested in small quantities
- Active molecule: 5-MeO-DMT, distinct from the DMT in ayahuasca
- Lineage: modern facilitators draw on indigenous wisdom and contemporary protocols to honor the medicine
- Setting: intimate group or one-on-one sessions led by trained guides
Typical ceremonial setting
You’ll usually gather in a dimly lit room or outdoor circle, seated on cushions or mats. Soft music may play, and you may wear an eye mask to focus inward. A facilitator administers measured doses while monitoring safety. Towels, water, and blankets are on hand—comfort and trust are top priorities.
Prepare for your ceremony
Set and setting essentials
Creating a supportive environment helps you surrender fully:
- Comfortable mat or low cushion
- Eye mask and light blanket
- Calming playlist or tone instrument
- A pitcher of water and small towel
- A trusted facilitator or sitter
Physical preparation steps
Proper preparation amplifies safety and clarity:
- Fast lightly: avoid heavy meals 4–6 hours before the ceremony
- Stay hydrated: drink water throughout the day
- Rest well: aim for 7–8 hours of sleep the night before
- Avoid alcohol or other substances for 24 hours
- Wear loose, breathable clothing
Cultivating intentional mindset
Your mindset shapes the journey:
- Journal any fears, questions, or hopes ahead of time
- Meditate or sit in silence for 10–15 minutes
- Set a clear intention—healing, insight, or release
- Share your intention with the facilitator
Experience ego dissolution
Onset and peak phases
Your bufo ceremony typically follows this timeline:
- Administration: you inhale or vaporize the 5-MeO-DMT
- Onset (seconds to minutes): you feel a rapid energy shift
- Peak (5–15 minutes): ego boundaries dissolve, often deeply and fully
- Return (5–10 minutes): sensations ease, and awareness of your body returns
- Afterglow (up to an hour): gentle clarity and emotional release
Common sensations and visions
Every journey is unique, but many report:
- A sense of unity with all existence
- Dissolution of time and space
- Encounters with blinding white light
- Cosmic geometric patterns
- Overwhelming peace or bliss
Navigating challenging moments
Even brief intensity can feel disorienting. To stay grounded:
- Focus on your breath—slow inhales and exhales
- Trust your facilitator’s guidance
- Repeat a simple mantra in your mind (for example, “I am safe”)
- Remember the peak is short; sensations typically shift within minutes
If you feel lost, allow the experience to unfold rather than resist. Most people find that surrendering to the medicine brings the deepest insights.
Integrate your insights
Post-ceremony self care
In the hours after your bufo ceremony:
- Rest quietly, ideally in a peaceful space
- Keep hydrated and eat light, nourishing foods like fruit or broth
- Avoid screens and overstimulation
- Consider a gentle walk outdoors to ground yourself
Journaling and reflection
Writing helps you translate non-ordinary insights into daily life:
- Note any images, feelings, or revelations you recall
- Ask yourself: “What did this show me about my fears or patterns?”
- Track any shifts in mood or perspective over the next week
- Revisit your pre-ceremony intention and compare
Community integration practices
Sharing with others accelerates growth:
- Join an integration circle or online support group
- Schedule a check-in with your facilitator
- Explore therapy or coaching trained in psychedelic aftercare
- Practice mindfulness, breath work, or gentle yoga daily
Compare Bufo and Ayahuasca
Ceremony length differences
In a bufo ceremony your core experience lasts around 20 minutes, with a brief afterglow. By contrast, ayahuasca ceremonies typically run six to eight hours, including preparation and post-ceremony sharing.
Experience focus comparison
Bufo drives you into immediate ego dissolution and non-dual awareness. Ayahuasca unfolds more gradually, guiding you through emotional processing, vivid visions, and symbolic storytelling over several hours.
Therapeutic application differences
Both medicines show promise for anxiety, depression, and trauma. Bufo research is still emerging but suggests rapid relief. Ayahuasca studies on mood and PTSD are more established, highlighting long-term benefits when paired with integration work.
Whether you choose bufo or ayahuasca, the insights you gain depend on preparation, guidance, and integration. If you feel called to explore a rapid, high-intensity journey into pure awareness, a bufo ceremony can offer profound clarity in a condensed time frame. Approach it with respect, clear intention, and an open heart, and you may discover a deeper sense of unity and presence that extends far beyond the session itself.