ceremonial plant medicine use: notes for the curious beginner
psychedelics have been used ceremonially for millennia. our ancestors to the south realized the mystical properties and healing capabilities of their sacred plant medicines. these medicines were ingested by village shamans to seek guidance from their spirit ancestors, heal the physical and mental illnesses of villagers, and for connecting to god. when members from the western world stumbled upon plant medicines in the 1950’s, what was left behind was the ceremonial setting that powered these medicines to their true potential. fortunately, as time has gone on, more and more westerners are being called to participate in the ceremonial use of plant medicines.
ceremonial settings are safe spaces that invite in healing and transformation. how such a space is created depends on the shaman/practitioner, his/her traditions and rituals, and their lineage. in proper ceremonial preparation, a participant is asked to prepare in at least 3 ways: do a ‘dieta’ (diet in spanish), discover their intention for the ceremony, and be prepared to ‘do the work’. a dieta is a diet cleansing of sorts that begins about two weeks out from a ceremony. the dieta holds power in the preparation process as it’s an energetic commitment to feeding the body foods that reduce toxins, contribute to vibrant health, and honors the body as a vehicle for the medicine. for first time ceremony participants, developing an intention with a shaman will help to elevate an experience as specificity is oftentimes key to the experience you desire. the intention will serve as the purpose of being called into healing whether it is to deal with trauma, connect with ancestors, learn about your past or sort through a big decision. ‘doing the work’ means being prepared to go where a journey might take you; sometimes it will be difficult and will require courage. but it is all worth it.
it’s the commitment and the respect for the medicine that opens up a world of potential and when coupled with the right shaman or practitioner, one can find deep healing. as is common with ceremonial experiences, ‘the work’ doesn’t end when the psychedelics wear off. this kind of a deep and transformational experience comes with integration where participants gain the most. in ceremony it is difficult to track everything that is happening for you but through the experience you are changed and it often occurs on a subconscious level. these changes are revealed as you leave the ceremonial space and begin to move throughout your world. it is in noticing these changes and discussing them with a shaman that one finds lasting and meaningful healing.
like going to the movies: comparing recreational settings v. ceremonial settings
recreational psychedelic use is like going to a movie at the theatre. you’ll watch the show, probably experience a range of emotions, and sometimes you’ll walk away horrified, entertained, and maybe inspired to some action. in the end it was fun and worth it because you had a good time and get to talk with your friends about the parts of it that you enjoyed.
ceremonial psychedelic use is like crafting and then watching the movie of your life where you become the main character, supporting characters, director, producer, and writer all at once. you get to see so much more of the production, you see yourself from different perspectives, and the emotions of the characters are inextricably linked to your own emotions. you empathize with the supporting characters in ways that you maybe never thought you could and you see the ways in which you were wrong as well as the ways in which you were right. in the end you walk away with transformational compassion for yourself and the people in your life. and maybe afterward you share some of your experience with the people you care about, but you might just keep it near and dear to your heart.
