Last week, we published an article about plant medicine and our new friends at Rythmia, which you can read here. Today, we take the conversation deeper diving headfirst into a dialogue about plant medicine—specifically, how they are used, what they do, and how to use them as nature intended.
What often comes up when researching a plant medicine like Ayahuasca is that it’s not always “smooth sailing” as it were. There have been reports of rather uncomfortable and unsettling journeys, often ripe with vomiting and nausea. Yet, how is it that this plant medicine is gaining so much steam and popularity these days?
The Emergence of Plant Medicine
The core reason for the emergence of plant medicine is found in its ability to support a personal and spiritual transformation from within. People come out of their journeys with a newfound understanding of their lives, what it means to love, overcoming addictions, and support in curing all manner of diseases.
In our trip to Rythmia, we heard at least two stories from guests there who had expressed that they had cured their cancer after their first Ayahuasca journey, and had returned to continue their spiritual evolution.
Thus, it seems as though one of the side effects of plant medicine is to help facilitate a cleansing of the body, mind, and spirit. However, if there are deep longstanding issues within the psyche, the body may be forced to purge this by any means necessary, including throwing up.
In my own personal ceremonial experience, I was told by the medicine that as long as I breathed deep, trusted the process, and let go, I could get by without having to vomit. The plant medicine made it clear that all of these forms of purging only happen when we are holding onto something inside (such as ideas about the way things are that cause grief), and are unwilling to let it go. The medicine will attempt to assist you in releasing these attachments throughout your consciousness, but if it’s not coming out in any other way, then physically purging may be the last and best option to finally ‘get it out’.
Reverence for the Sacred Tools
But that’s just the thing with Ayahuasca—it is a Plant Medicine. As with all medicines, they must be treated with reverence as a sacred tool. To not do so would be to take for granted all of the potential wisdom and learning that can be derived from the shamanic journey, and reduces it to something that is less likely to help you with anything that you may be in need of some assistance with.
It is for this reason that we recommend for anyone who is interested in trying Plant Medicine to really take the time to go within and find out what intention you are needing help with first. If you can become clear on your “question” or your “miracle”, then it can support you in reaching your dreams. One rule with the medicine is that it will always honour your intention, and it will do so by connecting with your entire body of consciousness, and opening up the depths within, revealing both the light, and the dark.
Once this takes place, it’s just a matter of surrendering to the natural flow that moves through you, as you become aware of both hidden joys and sorrows within. A common thing you might hear from Plant Medicine shamans is “What’s coming is going”, and this essentially describes that all of the gunk that might be moving through you is akin to stored subconscious traumas within, and in order to get it “out”, it must move into a lighter state. This is done through acceptance, forgiveness, and allowing the movement of the energy within you. The fun part is that there isn’t actually anything to “do”. Once you’re in that state, just breathe, let go, and trust. The medicine will do all of the work for you, you just have to stay present to the magic that is happening within.
Even if these trips are uncomfortable, there is no such thing as a “good” or “bad” one. All of these trips are simply there as a way to learn to be present to the miracle of life that is happening all around us and to bring about a renewed spiritual healing within us.
The Authentic Shaman
One thing which needs to be mentioned here is that if you’re going to do a shamanic journey of any kind, you do it with an authentic shaman in an authentic setting. Personally, I have a hard time imagining myself doing Ayahuasca outside of Central or South America, because this is where the plant medicine was discovered, and where the practice of ceremony developed very purposefully. That’s not to say that the medicine can’t be used elsewhere; but before you take part in any experience, do your research. If you can, get to know the shaman you’re participating with before doing anything with just anyone. If you cannot, at least make sure they are authentic. Just as your own intention will affect the ceremony, so too will the shamans intention affect it. It’s very important to work with those who are there in service to all, and not there to serve themselves.
Thank you so much for reading,
With tremendous love, Jordan David
YOU CAN ALSO CHECK ANYTIME THIS FULL DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THIS SACRED PLANT:
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