Engaging with Safe & Ethical Psychedelic Medicine
Weaving ancient threads of true connection vs buying into the latest trend
As a Facilitator, I have found it challenging to share ancient medicine in the modern world due to the level of noise and distraction of consumerism. It was once the natural way that a plant or fungi would make itself known to someone and they would find the right facilitator through word of mouth. This is a great indication towards finding a facilitator who carries the medicine, rather than serving, as they are often lesser known for many good reasons. It also speaks to the importance of connection with a medicine that has been built over time, rather than someone who is very visible on social media or Meta Ads.
Although technology can be used wisely, and often plants or a facilitator will appear online in the right place, at the right time, even then they will generally be not be as accessible. Some of this is for their own protection and the size of the containers that they hold, ultimately it is also for the protection of those whom they are serving. This is because a true medicine carrier will limit the types of people that they serve through careful screening as well as the number of people that they will serve at any one time.
Extra care is needed in these times
In a time of so called psychedelic renaissance, it is very important to take into account a number of factors before allowing yourself to be served any medicine. There are always a number of factors around physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health that need to be taken into consideration. However, this is very heightened in the current state of many people since the Coronavirus as society has and is in a fragmented state that is rapidly changing. Therefore there is a far more pronounced and yet subtle influence that has meant that many people are suffering with more fragmented minds and dysregulated nervous systems that are simply not in the right place to receive certain medicines.
This is particularly specialised in these times, as much has changed and is continuing to change in the consciousness of humanity and the planet. There are many additional risk factors that have always been there, but they are particularly prominent during this time of spiritual warfare or “war on consciousness,” so discernment is extremely important before entering into any altered state.
You may also be interested in the Spiritual Epidemic Article which delves into this a little more…
Who is serving?
This is more important than you may expect, as it does not always come down to being an indigenous Maestra or Maestro, or a list of training and credentials, although significant experience and apprenticeship is vitally important as well as being in right relation with the medicine. There is something much more fundamental that no training can provide, as it is cultivated through many years of their own inner work, often requiring extended periods of silence & isolation.
The role of someone that serves medicine is to be as clear a vessel as possible for the medicine to do its work. In order to do this with safety & integrity, they need to be able to anchor themselves in silence. This is the fundamental grounding that enables them to navigate the multi-dimensional nature of medicine space themselves in order to become proficient in guiding others.
Presence & stillness allows for the facilitator to know what exactly is needed and when, whether it is in the group container, or for an individual within the group. This comes through without agenda, as it allows for THY will, rather than MY will, or bending to the will of individuals in the group. It also allows them to be as clear as possible so that they can be a mirror for those who are needing guidance, which can be a very nuanced when dealing with people in very open and vulnerable states.
Most importantly, true presence requires being centred in the heart, and so this becomes the True North which is not by any means in a love and light kind of way. It is in a way that carries so much light, it penetrates the darkness with pure love… In turn this will have the most profound impact on the medicine, the space and the individuals who receive it, even if it is not always the most comfortable…
Do they carry the medicine, or do they serve it?
Serving plant or fungi medicine has become increasingly more popular and available over the past decade. There can be good reason for this as people are finding more traditional alternatives to allopathic medicine that hasn’t been working for them. Certain medicines can be especially helpful for opening the heart or resolving trauma where talking therapies have had limited impact.
There are a number of people with good intentions, but have not developed the relationship or have not gone through the rigorous apprenticeship with the medicine they are serving. In simple terms, they have not sat with the medicine over extended periods of time in order to heal themselves and learn from the medicine, let alone have received the permission to serve.
This is not something that can be taught in a weekend or four day Cacao Ceremony Certification or even a 6 or 12 month Psychedelic Guide Training Programme. It is entirely possible the learn the language, learn the basics of setting the space, obtain the medicine, play ceremonial music and book a venue. It is very important to look beyond the image, and clever marketing as there are also those who may be misguided and see an opportunity with so many very willing or vulnerable people who are seeking… However, to carry a medicine is deep soul level work that takes many years to develop, often with long periods of isolation which is a challenge in today’s modern world.
A medicine carrier is distinguishable as the medicine lives within them and speaks through them, this brings with it a transmission or frequency of the essence of the element, plant, tree, fungi or cure that they carry. They do not necessarily always need to serve the medicine in order to do so as it can be shared through the body, sounds, words or silence.
If they do serve the medicine, it is often very clear that a deep relationship has been cultivated and that they encourage those that receive to do so, rather than to simply ingest. In addition, it is very likely that they have harvested the medicine themselves, with permission or have a very reliable source and they certainly prepare the medicine themselves with appropriate prayers, protocols and permission in place.
For those receiving the medicine can often come with a particular set of screening, protocols and/or container that is safe and appropriate for receiving the medicine.
Where do they serve the medicine?
It is important that there is a relationship with the land that they are serving and that they have permission from the spirits of the land. This will have come from living in, regularly visiting and/or receiving a direct invitation to serve in a particular place.
This will not be in a warehouse or casino in a city, or a yoga studio with only one toilet downstairs for 30+ people, it will be in a carefully curated space that is supported by nature, with a safe physical setting for those serving and receiving. This will often mean exclusive use of a retreat centre or venue with extended time before and after ceremonies.
Just like in life, safety is never guaranteed and this is particularly the case with psychoactive medicines as it can bring shaky legs, vulnerable states, purging and shifts in perception of reality as well as opening portals to the other world. However, the setting of the container is everything in order to ensure that the environment is supportive and can provide what is needed when things get challenging.
Additionally, permission with the spirits of the land and having trees in particular and/or a body of water close by can be hugely helpful for those who are serving as well as receiving. When the veils become thin between the physical and spirit worlds, isn’t it good to know that the neighbours are happy, or even helpful?
What container are they setting?
Setting a container begins long before getting to a venue, you can see signs of this if you are given information on how to prepare, what to bring, if there are any dietary, medication or substance restrictions before, during and after. Usually you will speak to one of the facilitators prior to booking, so the screening process is also a part of the container as it ensures that the people attending are in a fit state to receive the medicine, which is a safety factor for all who are in the space. They will welcome questions about their background or ways of working as well as what to expect (even if it is the unexpected).
Are they allowing space for you to arrive, feel welcomed and prepared before receiving medicine?
Ideally, is there space to be outside in nature before or after ceremonies?
Is there space to begin the rest & integrate after the ceremony closes?
Will they provide guidance or resources on how to integrate afterwards?
Do they have appropriate experience or training in guiding through trauma?
Can they provide aftercare support or referrals for those that are facing challenges?
How many people do they hold space for in a ceremony?
Very importantly, do they limit the number of people for each container? Usually a good rule of thumb is no more than 12-16 people depending on the medicine, venue size and number of facilitators. Large groups of 20+ people, especially in these times, with so much unresolved trauma just under the service, it is very unlikely that they have your best interests at heart.
Another factor that is worth mentioning, is if they have a team in place to support the work and if they do, that they have the appropriate roles, experience and presence. This will not simply be someone who has attended a number of ceremonies or retreats before, but has attended least some years behind them of this work or similar. Depending on the medicine, if it is psychoactive, typically if there are numbers of more than 4-6 people there needs to be another suitable person on hand in case assistance is needed.
Are they serving multiple medicines in one retreat?
Depending on the medicine being served, in the majority of cases it is not necessary to serve more than one medicine on a retreat. In fact in some cases it can be very disrespectful, detrimental, a risk for inducing psychosis or even potentially fatal. One such instance would be any retreat that includes Ayahuasca and Bufo, as they are strongly contraindicated.
As mentioned in these times of quickening in the awakening of consciousness on this planet and in humanity, it is like adding fuel to the fire that is already out of control by mixing multiple psychoactive medicines in one retreat. The majority of people need to become more grounded in the body before receiving one medicine, never mind being blasted with a number of powerful master plant medicines, or a mixture of organic and synthetic, often without due diligence, within a matter of days.
The greatest question is WHY?
The majority of the time, if someone is simply serving multiple medicines as a way to create a “peak spiritual experience,” there will not be an answer to this question. If they do have an answer, they will often simply be repeating something seems to be wooly, outdated or misplaced… It can be very good to educate yourself on the origins of and use cases of various medicines so that you can make an informed choice if it is right for you to receive.
A good indication that it is not best practice to serve psychoactive medicines together or within a short space of time would be if they are from different cultures or tribes. It is very unlikely that one western individual would be fully proficient in serving both Ayahuasca and Bufo, as they are highly specialised, they come from very different worlds (plant and animal) as well as the fact that these would be from different regions and tribes, so they would never be served by one individual.
Some cases where it is appropriate may be that there is a plant or tree that can be supportive before or after a ceremony, for deepening a connection with a plant or tree, sometimes an individual requires some additional support with medical condition or on a spiritual level. This would be particularly the case with Tobacco and Tree Dietas for example, as Tobacco serves as a bridge to help to clear the body & mind in order to open the connection to the Tree. This similarly applies to Ayahuasca, where the connection or support with certain plants or trees can be of great assistance before or after a ceremony.
What support/aftercare are they offering?
At a minimum, you should be aware before entering into any container, if there will be support in the aftercare or at least know that there is the possibility of referrals if they are needed. This will often look like how to take care of yourself in the days following, if there are any dietary/substance restrictions.
It is also very important to remember that integration can be an ongoing part of life for years to come, so something may arise much later on that makes more sense than it did during or just after the retreat. It can be really helpful to touch base with the facilitator at these points, as they can provide guidance or support when it is needed. Likewise, sometimes someone with a history of trauma or a chronic health condition can take a longer time to recover, especially if they have had a more challenging retreat or ceremony.
Will you be able to get in touch with the facilitator after the retreat, if needed?
Is there a group integration session after the retreat to touch base?
Are they offering integration sessions or do they have someone available for this?
Do they have a list of referrals for ongoing therapy?
How do they support ongoing sustainability & right relationship?
The ultimate antidote to the latest trend and spiritual capitalism is sustainability and right relationship as they go hand in hand with nature’s way of reciprocity.
This often goes back to the question of if they have harvested the medicine themselves or they receive it from a trusted and sustainable source. It also takes into account that the consumer mindset has infiltrated what is sacred, this isn’t about making money bad or wrong. It is about the energy of entitlement that comes when a medicine or an experience can be bought or consumed, rather than opening to receive…
This is the forgetting that nature must replenish its resources and that there is a season for everything. There is a time where a certain medicine will be more present and a time when it will not be. There is also a time that comes when the medicine is no longer needed, or it is returning to its original place of origin after its purpose in the wider world is complete.
In some cases, it may or may not shock you, but a true medicine carrier will stop or limit serving a medicine if they cannot support ongoing sustainability and right relationship. This is a hallmark if they take a break for extended periods of time in order to be able to serve sustainably, be it their own health & wellbeing and/or the sustainability of the plant, tree or fungi that they are serving.
One such example would be that there are an increasing number of people stepping back from serving or supplying cacao as it has become more of a commodity. Climate impacts in recent years have dwindled crops and much of the cacao industry is now based in Africa, where it is not native and is connected with slave trade. So those sources that are in right relationship and sustainable are worth their weight in Gold…
Did you find this helpful?
I hope that you find this a helpful resource, please do share with others who may find it helpful, as to understand these fundamentals & receive medicine from a true medicine carrier is a gift that will keep on giving. This is by no means extensive, so if you have your own suggestions to add, please do share in the comments so that others may also benefit.
As always, it would really support me to share more on this platform such as more writing, meditations and podcasts. I would love for this to become a more active community portal and in reciprocity rather than simply consuming content. So if you can afford the price of a coffee and traybake each month, please do consider a paid subscription.
Le Grá,
Tara