Ayahuasca is one of those ‘experiences’ that travellers to South America (and Scarborough) are often tempted to try.

If you’ve ever spoken to anyone who has taken the hallucinogenic, under the guidance of a shaman, you’ll know it’s not for the faint-hearted.

That often puts people off, because the idea of wretching for hours in the midst of an intense trip isn’t everyone’s idea of a good time. For those who would rather just dip a toe in the water, so to speak, there’s now something a little more entry-level to start with.

You’ll be guided down the Gregório River into the heart of the Amazon, with your own shaman, and that’s where the magic happens.

VICE below:

This is Awavena, a 17-minute “mixed-reality” work that melds augmented reality, 360-degree film footage, and virtual reality. It was funded by the Sundance Institute, produced by Nicole Newnham and directed by Lynette Wallworth, a duo whose previous VR film Collisions won an Emmy. Awavena screened in January at Sundance, but has been under production even through this week as the team tweaks it based on emerging VR technologies.

It’s Hushahu’s [the first Yawanawá woman to become a shaman] story, but more than that, it’s a remarkable attempt to give the viewer the experience of physically being in the Amazon, drinking the Uni tea, and feeling the energy of their rainforest.

Here’s a look at the making of the VR extravaganza:

The movie is currently set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival, and if you’re fortunate enough to attend one of those, things can be taken a step further:

…the true screening of Awavena will include an optional second half where viewers could consume an herbal drink (not the real Uni tea) to enter the “Blessing Space.” Viewers will then be given a portable VR rig with a backpack in order to traverse the Yawanawá forest, translated through LIDAR scanning, in earnest. The forest will be responsive to the movement of the person in the VR rig in a screening room that has been set up to facilitate exploration.

Sounds like a decent day out.

[source:vice]