The sacred mirror that Ayahuasca shows us is often the thing that most scares us about working with this medicine. There is an innate resistance/protection in us all to fully see our true selves and not just the persona we believe ourselves to be. 

Mama Aya helps us to meet those parts, with love and grace, for when we have greater understanding and compassion for ourselves we can embrace it all and show up in the world in all our flawed yet beautiful completeness. 

I really wish this had never even happened but it has. The world of spiritual practice has merged with social media and the results are confusing at best but if we’re being honest it’s mostly a hellish cringe fest.

I spoke about this a year ago, asking that ceremony be kept sacred and not filmed or photographed to be used for social media.

My point being that ceremony is carried by our intention, and if you are filming it, the intention changes to attention automatically.

Seen by many as a weed, this plant is nothing short of majestic in my eyes and can be added to the list of under valued, under appreciated plants. Though many herbalists have gone a long way in extolling the virtues of this tenacious plant, I still feel it has some way to go before it can shake its image as an invasive weed and be fully appreciated for its medicinal and spiritual qualities.

It’s been incredibly joyful and expansive to reconnect deeply with Indricana (Cannabis) this past month. Over the past few years I’ve been holding dietas with this miraculous plant but this year she has come in full force to make her presence and gifts felt. I’ll add here that Indricana is the name we call Cannabis.  It’s the name she gave me and it’s stuck for us ever since.

A master plant diet is a sacred process of communion with a plant or tree practiced by many Amazonian tribes and their healers.

Done with the purpose of learning to become a curandero or prescribed to a patient as a process of healing, more often than not, dieting a plant involves a combination of learning and healing. Beyond the chemical compounds the plant offers through consumption, a master plant dieta allows us to merge consciousness with a plant and experience its traits and energetic signature.

Integration Series Part 3. 

For us integration means alchemy. When we take those challenging lessons from our experiences and shine a light of truth on them. Having more awareness, love and compassion for ourselves so that we are able to create new outcomes in our life. Truly embodying those learnings in our everyday life. 

What does integration mean for you? 

Neil Kirwan, co-founder of Sowa Soma speaks about the afterglow of the experience having gone as we get into the mundane flow of life again. Months 1-3 (and beyond) are where those lessons learnt are put to the test. This usually comes with some mistakes and failings, but try not to be too hard on yourself. This is all part of bringing more awareness into our lives, choosing not to repeat old patterns and behaviours. 

As more and more people come to Ayahuasca, an estimated 4m people (ICEERS study) around the world have experienced the potent Amazonian brew, so too has plant medicine interest piqued.

Neil Kirwan, Ayahuascero and co-founder of Sowa Soma talks about what happens 1-2 weeks following any energetic work, including Ayahuasca ceremonies or retreats.

If you're considering drinking Ayahuasca for the first time, here are some useful things to take into consideration to help make it a safe and enjoyable experience.

How to navigate integration following an ayahuasca ceremony, retreat or master plant dieta. The do’s and the don’ts.

Screening participants before and ayahuasca ceremony is an essential part of our practice.

What happens during an ayahuasca ceremony? Knowing the general structure of how a ceremony works goes a long way to creating a sense safety for your first ayahuasca ceremony.

The what is easy, who is Ayahausca is a much harder question to answer. Many refer to her as feminine or mother like whilst others disagree

Should I drink Ayahuasca? What do we need to consider when asking this question?

Our connection with nature in the UK may not be on the same level as the tribes of the Amazon, but the plants are ready and waiting with the same vigour and healing power of their rainforest counter parts. And they have so much to say!

With my initial teaching in mind, it is clear to me that the western world is not happening to Ayahuasca. Ayahuasca is happening to the western world. It is the spirit here that has the guiding hand.

A real point of contention that will often raise red flags on both sides for more experienced drinkers is the practice of drinking Ayahuasca in your own home Vs drinking in a group with a curandero/facilitator/shaman at a retreat centre.

After many journeys to the darkness, the abyss, the void I decided to write an article about my experience, What started out as an article turned into a poem, twisting and turning, moving and flowing.