Tim Driskell's Adventures
Plant medicine • Redlands, Florida

Sitting with Ayahuasca in Redlands

A weekend of healing, reflection, community, and connection shared by Tim and Kym.

Kym and I have sat in ceremony with ayahuasca in many places—from Colombia to Virginia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Florida—and the healing has always been incredible. These photographs preserve the setting and community of one meaningful weekend in Redlands.

A journey inward

Kym and I have sat in ceremony with ayahuasca in many places—from Colombia and Costa Rica to Mexico, Virginia, and Florida. Every setting has been different, yet the deepest purpose has remained remarkably consistent: to slow down, become honest with ourselves, and make room for healing. This weekend in Redlands, Florida, offered another opportunity to travel inward together.

A lush tropical walkway leading into the peaceful Redlands retreat grounds.
A lush tropical walkway leading into the peaceful Redlands retreat grounds.
The open-air retreat house where the weekend gathering began.
The open-air retreat house where the weekend gathering began.

Arriving in Redlands

The retreat felt separate from the hurried world outside it. Tropical plants crowded the walkways, moss hung from old trees, and the open-air buildings seemed to belong naturally to the South Florida landscape. Before ceremony, people settled in, prepared their spaces, shared food, and gradually became a temporary community.

Tim and Kym relaxing together during their weekend in Redlands.
Tim and Kym relaxing together during their weekend in Redlands.
Participants preparing the open-air pavilion before ceremony.
Participants preparing the open-air pavilion before ceremony.
A quiet pathway through the tropical retreat grounds.
A quiet pathway through the tropical retreat grounds.
The sheltered outdoor kitchen and gathering area used throughout the weekend.
The sheltered outdoor kitchen and gathering area used throughout the weekend.

A carefully held space

For us, these ceremonies have never been recreational. Intention, preparation, experienced guidance, and a safe environment matter enormously. The pavilion was arranged so that each person had a comfortable place to sit or lie down while still remaining part of the circle. Buckets, blankets, mats, water, and quiet support were close at hand.

Participants resting inside the spacious, circular ceremony pavilion.
Participants resting inside the spacious, circular ceremony pavilion.
The pavilion arranged as a comfortable and supported space for healing.
The pavilion arranged as a comfortable and supported space for healing.
The community together during the quiet hours of the night.
The community together during the quiet hours of the night.

Nightfall and the fire

As darkness settled across the property, the pavilion and gardens took on a different character. Soft lights picked out the palms and old trees, while the ceremonial fire became a steady center through the long night. At times there was music, movement, or quiet conversation. At other times, nearly everyone rested in silence with their own thoughts and emotions.

The softly illuminated pavilion viewed from the garden after nightfall.
The softly illuminated pavilion viewed from the garden after nightfall.
The open-air ceremony pavilion glowing warmly in the Redlands night.
The open-air ceremony pavilion glowing warmly in the Redlands night.
A wide view of the group gathered beneath the thatched pavilion.
A wide view of the group gathered beneath the thatched pavilion.
The ceremonial fire, a steady source of warmth and focus through the night.
The ceremonial fire, a steady source of warmth and focus through the night.
Members of the community sitting together around the fire.
Members of the community sitting together around the fire.
The fire being carefully tended during the nighttime ceremony.
The fire being carefully tended during the nighttime ceremony.
The ceremonial fire burning beside the open pavilion.
The ceremonial fire burning beside the open pavilion.

The work of healing

Ayahuasca has encouraged both of us to look directly at experiences that are easy to avoid in ordinary life: old pain, difficult choices, grief, fear, forgiveness, gratitude, and love. The value is not simply in what happens during ceremony, but in what we carry home afterward—the willingness to live with greater patience, compassion, humility, and awareness.

Participants resting and reflecting in the open-air ceremonial space.
Participants resting and reflecting in the open-air ceremonial space.
The group gathered in a circle inside the pavilion.
The group gathered in a circle inside the pavilion.
A quiet period of rest and personal reflection during the long night.
A quiet period of rest and personal reflection during the long night.
The community resting together in a safe and supportive setting.
The community resting together in a safe and supportive setting.

Sharing the journey with Kym

Kym has been an essential part of this chapter of my life. We have supported one another through beautiful experiences and difficult ones, and we have learned that healing is rarely a straight path. Sitting together does not mean having the same experience. It means respecting each other’s journey and being present when the other person needs reassurance, space, or simply a familiar hand.

Tim and Kym together beneath the thatched roof during the Redlands weekend.
Tim and Kym together beneath the thatched roof during the Redlands weekend.
Kym and Tim sharing a smile during a quiet moment between ceremonies.
Kym and Tim sharing a smile during a quiet moment between ceremonies.

Nature, spirit, and connection

These weekends reinforce ideas that have grown stronger throughout my life: that we are inseparable from nature, that every person carries a history we cannot immediately see, and that kindness matters. The tropical garden, open sky, fire, music, and shared vulnerability all contributed to a feeling of connection—to one another, to the Earth, and to something larger than any one individual.

Old trees and tropical plants illuminated along the garden paths.
Old trees and tropical plants illuminated along the garden paths.
The retreat glowing beneath the trees on a warm South Florida night.
The retreat glowing beneath the trees on a warm South Florida night.
A softly lit garden path winding through palms and hanging moss.
A softly lit garden path winding through palms and hanging moss.
The tropical garden and pavilion illuminated after dark.
The tropical garden and pavilion illuminated after dark.
Palms, hanging moss, and soft lights creating a peaceful nighttime setting.
Palms, hanging moss, and soft lights creating a peaceful nighttime setting.
A private resting alcove tucked beneath the thatched roof.
A private resting alcove tucked beneath the thatched roof.
A curtained opening leading from the pavilion into the garden.
A curtained opening leading from the pavilion into the garden.
Blue hour settling over the thatched pavilion and tropical Redlands landscape.
Blue hour settling over the thatched pavilion and tropical Redlands landscape.
A contemplative sculpture among the retreat’s spiritual artwork.
A contemplative sculpture among the retreat’s spiritual artwork.

Returning to ordinary life

The ceremony eventually ends, but the real work continues afterward. Integration means taking whatever was learned and applying it to daily life: listening more carefully, reacting less quickly, caring for our relationships, appreciating our good fortune, and continuing to learn. We do not return as entirely different people. We return with another chance to live more consciously.

Participants gathered in the pavilion as the weekend moved toward its close.
Participants gathered in the pavilion as the weekend moved toward its close.
The final circle, sharing space and reflection after a powerful weekend.
The final circle, sharing space and reflection after a powerful weekend.
The community together at the end of the Redlands ceremony weekend.
The community together at the end of the Redlands ceremony weekend.

Complete Redlands Photo Gallery

Every photograph from the weekend is displayed full size below. Select any image to open the original JPG in a separate tab.

A lush tropical walkway leading into the peaceful Redlands retreat grounds.
A lush tropical walkway leading into the peaceful Redlands retreat grounds.
The open-air retreat house where the weekend gathering began.
The open-air retreat house where the weekend gathering began.
Tim and Kym relaxing together during their weekend in Redlands.
Tim and Kym relaxing together during their weekend in Redlands.
Participants preparing the open-air pavilion before ceremony.
Participants preparing the open-air pavilion before ceremony.
The softly illuminated pavilion viewed from the garden after nightfall.
The softly illuminated pavilion viewed from the garden after nightfall.
The open-air ceremony pavilion glowing warmly in the Redlands night.
The open-air ceremony pavilion glowing warmly in the Redlands night.
A wide view of the group gathered beneath the thatched pavilion.
A wide view of the group gathered beneath the thatched pavilion.
The ceremonial fire, a steady source of warmth and focus through the night.
The ceremonial fire, a steady source of warmth and focus through the night.
A quiet pathway through the tropical retreat grounds.
A quiet pathway through the tropical retreat grounds.
The sheltered outdoor kitchen and gathering area used throughout the weekend.
The sheltered outdoor kitchen and gathering area used throughout the weekend.
Old trees and tropical plants illuminated along the garden paths.
Old trees and tropical plants illuminated along the garden paths.
Members of the community sitting together around the fire.
Members of the community sitting together around the fire.
The retreat glowing beneath the trees on a warm South Florida night.
The retreat glowing beneath the trees on a warm South Florida night.
Participants resting and reflecting in the open-air ceremonial space.
Participants resting and reflecting in the open-air ceremonial space.
The group gathered in a circle inside the pavilion.
The group gathered in a circle inside the pavilion.
The fire being carefully tended during the nighttime ceremony.
The fire being carefully tended during the nighttime ceremony.
A quiet period of rest and personal reflection during the long night.
A quiet period of rest and personal reflection during the long night.
The ceremonial fire burning beside the open pavilion.
The ceremonial fire burning beside the open pavilion.
The community resting together in a safe and supportive setting.
The community resting together in a safe and supportive setting.
Tim and Kym together beneath the thatched roof during the Redlands weekend.
Tim and Kym together beneath the thatched roof during the Redlands weekend.
Kym and Tim sharing a smile during a quiet moment between ceremonies.
Kym and Tim sharing a smile during a quiet moment between ceremonies.
A softly lit garden path winding through palms and hanging moss.
A softly lit garden path winding through palms and hanging moss.
Participants resting inside the spacious, circular ceremony pavilion.
Participants resting inside the spacious, circular ceremony pavilion.
The pavilion arranged as a comfortable and supported space for healing.
The pavilion arranged as a comfortable and supported space for healing.
The community together during the quiet hours of the night.
The community together during the quiet hours of the night.
The tropical garden and pavilion illuminated after dark.
The tropical garden and pavilion illuminated after dark.
Palms, hanging moss, and soft lights creating a peaceful nighttime setting.
Palms, hanging moss, and soft lights creating a peaceful nighttime setting.
A private resting alcove tucked beneath the thatched roof.
A private resting alcove tucked beneath the thatched roof.
A curtained opening leading from the pavilion into the garden.
A curtained opening leading from the pavilion into the garden.
Blue hour settling over the thatched pavilion and tropical Redlands landscape.
Blue hour settling over the thatched pavilion and tropical Redlands landscape.
A contemplative sculpture among the retreat’s spiritual artwork.
A contemplative sculpture among the retreat’s spiritual artwork.
Participants gathered in the pavilion as the weekend moved toward its close.
Participants gathered in the pavilion as the weekend moved toward its close.
The final circle, sharing space and reflection after a powerful weekend.
The final circle, sharing space and reflection after a powerful weekend.
The community together at the end of the Redlands ceremony weekend.
The community together at the end of the Redlands ceremony weekend.