Eric Van Der Hoeff

In 2018 Eric registered himself for his first psychedelic retreat. On this retreat 2 journeys were made in a row with psilocybin combined with Caapi, the so-called “psilohuasca”. This extremely intense experience later turned out to be the seed to completely change the course of his working career. After 30 years of entrepreneurship as a consultant in fruit cultivation, he has now been running a retreat location since 2022. Together with his wife Marieke, who offers psychedelic-assisted coaching, they offer psychedelic retreats, lasting from 1 to 5 days. Eric has extensive experience with all types of psychedelics. However, he specializes in psilocybin and all possible combinations with it. After having made many journeys himself with various organizations, he has followed a training for facilitating psychedelic journeys. One quality is that he always remains well grounded in this landscape of mental work. His agricultural background provides a down-to-earth view and stability. He has now guided more than 500 participants with high-dosages of psilocybin. In order to continue expanding his knowledge, Eric spent a month in the jungle of Peru in February 2025 to learn from the Shipibo’s, the tribe that has been working with ayahuasca for thousands of years.

Marieke and Eric specialize in guiding people who want to work on their personal development. These are often people in the 35-65 age category with a stable mental condition, but who are stuck in certain patterns, are approaching a midlife crisis or are experiencing a mild burnout. But, also people who are completely satisfied with their lives or entrepreneurs who want to develop their qualities and gain insight into what else life has to offer, often visit The Matter. The company name The Matter was chosen because a psychedelic journey often provides insight into what really matters in life.

00:00-02:16 – Introduction

• Host introduces Eric van der Hoeff, who runs a psychedelic retreat facility in Columbus, Netherlands
• Dr. Barrett attended Eric’s retreat in August and found it “extraordinary”
• Episode will focus on Ayahuasca ceremonies and different levels of psychedelic experiences

02:16-05:28 – The Matter Retreat Facility Overview

• Facility capacity: Small groups of 8-9 participants plus facilitation team
• Location: Rural center of Utrecht province, surrounded by fruit trees
• Design philosophy: Built specifically for psychedelic experiences with soft materials, calm colors, quiet environment
• Services offered:
  • Monthly 3-5day psychedelic retreats
  • Entrance-level programs with middle dosages
  • Deep dive high-dosage experiences
  • Primarily psilocybin journeys
• Collaboration: Works with 7-8 other companies doing psychedelic work at the venue

05:28-07:17 – Group vs. Individual Sessions

• Legal structure: Both group ceremonies (4-8 people) and one-on-one coaching allowed
• Group dynamics: “One plus one equals three” – group sessions often more powerful than individual
• Individual sessions: For people too afraid for group work or with special issues
• Safety emphasis: Stresses importance of experience, especially for group facilitation

07:17-09:04 – Facility Name & Background

• “The Matter” meaning: “What really matters” – psychedelics help people focus on what’s truly important
• Gifted vintage car: 56-year-old Volvo given by impressed client, now used as company transport
• Eric’s experience: 7 years of psychedelic work, starting with “psilohuasca” (psilocybin + MAO inhibitor combination)

09:04-12:53 – Introduction to Ayahuasca Work

• “Psilohuasca” combination: Banisteriopsis caapi (MAO inhibitor) + psilocybin
• Legal issues: Ayahuasca forbidden in Holland, creating complications
• Lithuania retreats: Works with experienced shaman every two years
• Shamanic approach: Uses traditional rituals and tools, balanced with clinical methods
• Partnership: Works with Marika (more coaching-focused) to balance shamanic and clinical approaches

12:53-16:26 – Master Plant Dieta Experience

• Peru experience: 19-day master plant dieta with 11 Ayahuasca ceremonies
• University analogy: Dieta is the “university to become a shaman”
• Ceremony structure: 6-8hour ceremonies in complete darkness without traditional guidance
• Training purpose: Learning to remain stable and functional while under full medicine influence
• Dietary restrictions:
  • First 5 days: complete fasting (water only)
  • Remaining days: one meal daily (white rice, lentils, two eggs, fish every other day)
• Sensory enhancement: After 10-11 days, all senses heightened to 150% capacity

19:44-21:19 – Ayahuasca Composition & History

• Traditional components:
  • Banisteriopsis caapi vine (MAO inhibitor)
  • Chacruna leaves (contains DMT for visuals)
• Preparation: 8-hour boiling process
• Historical mystery: Incredible that ancient peoples discovered this specific combination from 80,000 Amazon species
• Sophistication: Shows advanced knowledge of indigenous peoples, far beyond “primitive” stereotypes

21:19-26:01 – Shamanic Training & Language

• Shipibo tradition: Tribe with 2,000-3,000 years of Ayahuasca experience
• Language learning: Participants taught basic Shipibo language during dieta
• Ikaros (sacred songs): 21 basic holy songs for opening ceremonies, inviting spirits, healing
• Eric’s progress: Can now perform 4 of the 21 Ikaros
• Ceremony structure:
  • Total darkness (rarely even saw moon)
  • First hour in complete silence
  • Shaman begins singing after 40-60 minutes when medicine takes effect
  • Participants must sing while in altered state

26:01-30:20 – Lithuania vs. Peru Experiences

• Lithuania format: 3 ceremonies over 4 days (Thursday-Monday)
• Integration differences: Lithuania less hands-on with integration, more self-reliant approach
• Shaman characteristics: Powerful masculine presence, plays guitar, excellent singer
• Group size: 8-20 participants (larger than Eric’s venue)
• Support level: Less hand-holding than European-style retreats

30:20-35:34 – Purging & Purification Processes

• Standard purging: Most people vomit during Ayahuasca (Eric usually doesn’t anymore)
• Peru intensity: 80% of ceremonies involved vomiting due to extremely strong, bitter medicine
• Dual purification:
  1. Vomiting during night ceremonies (7:30 PM – 2:00/3:00 AM)
  2. Morning “vomitivo” ritual (7:30 AM wake-up)
• Vomitivo process: Special tea held in stomach for 3 minutes, then 3-4 liters of lemongrass tea to induce vomiting
• Cultural context: Peruvians do weekly purification (Saturday family tradition)
• Additional purification: Nasal cleaning with wasabi-like burning sensation
• Frequency effects: Shaman’s mother sings at higher frequency, triggering group purging

35:34-42:06 – Spiritual Contact & Purpose

• Eric’s goals: Determine if contact with entities is real or self-generated
• Skeptical approach: Remains grounded despite extensive psychedelic experience
• Light language phenomenon: Witnesses participants speaking unknown languages during ceremonies
• Entity investigation: Wanted to distinguish between internal wisdom and external spiritual contact
• Healing verification: Testing whether traditional shamanic healing claims are legitimate

42:06-46:38 – Master Plant Connection

• Plant assignment: Each participant assigned specific plant spirit (Eric got Cecropia tree)
• Cecropia characteristics: Largest Amazon rainforest tree, over 1,000 years old
• Plant medicine: Daily bark/root extract during first 5 days of fasting
• Communication method: Spirits communicate through dreams, not during ceremonies
• Dream revelations: Eric experienced unprecedented vivid dreams despite normally not remembering dreams
• Shamanic interpretation: Daily dream analysis with shamans to understand spiritual messages

46:38-50:36 – Divine Connection & Shamanic Work

• God concept: Sees God as everything, source energy within everyone
• Oneness experience: Feels universal connection during deep states
• Entity contact: First time experiencing genuine connection with external entity
• Shamanic methodology:
  • Traditional: Shaman takes medicine, patient doesn’t
  • Shaman receives guidance through dreams
  • Next day: Shaman tells patient what to do based on spiritual instruction
• Energy balancing: Maestro uses Ikaros to maintain balance during powerful ceremonies

50:36-53:04 – Recommendations & Approach

• Beginner advice: Start with psilocybin before Ayahuasca (gentler, no purging)
• Fasting clarification: 5-day fast specific to master plant dieta, not regular Ayahuasca ceremonies
• Dietary restrictions: Normal Ayahuasca requires avoiding certain foods (raw fish, ripe avocados/bananas) due to MAO inhibitor interactions
• Healing approach: Shamans often start serious healing work with 21-day dietas

53:04-57:12 – Closing & Contact Information

• Website: thematter.nl
• Partnership: Works with Marika
• Future plans: Hope to meet Dr. Barrett again in person

• Email: eric@thematter.nl
• Website: thematter.nl
• Telephone Number Whatsapp: 0031 653 216873

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