Greetings brothers and sisters!

After a long time of "researching" into consciousness and entheogens, I've taken my first steps on my journey into the world of the sacred teacher-plants.

I've suffered from some deep psychological issues all of my life. I admit that I desired a type of confrontation with myself and it seemed to me that sacred planst could be a key, or rather a tool for this. I felt ready to face reality and everything inside of me.

It was only a week ago since meeting up with a group which I had found who use the sacred plants regularly and offer an opportunity for people to join. The woman who leads the ceremonies had learned from a shaman in Ecuador.

From reading up on many users' experiences with all kinds of sacred plants (specifically ayahuasca), of course there were a lot of expectations in my mind. I was very nervous. My "teacher" had later explained to me that what I had been doing was dumb and that there really isn't much great information about ayahuasca on the internet.

The first night was an ayahuasca ceremony led by shamanic drumming, dancing, singing..

The second night was a psilocybin ceremony.

Due to my expectations and perhaps other blockages within me, at the time of the ceremonies I could swear I was sober. The whole time, I felt impatient, waiting for something. It felt like I wanted to sleep the whole time. I thought something must be seriously wrong with me. I can say the journey was very much "in my head". My thoughts seemed like a river, and I could only guide them gently. Very much like daydreaming.

It wasn't until after the ceremonies that I realized what had changed about me. The mushrooms seemed to have the biggest effect on me.

After the two nights, I felt like what I can describe as being in the moment. Feeling more peace. I remember my eyes glowing with color. I certainly looked more alive. I hadn't seen myself like this before.



Now, those who had guided me had explained that ayahuasca works gently. Or at least, they work with ayahuasca more gently than those who use it in South America for example. The ayahuasca they prepare is not very potent. But, this is good. They explained that we do not need to have diarrhea, puke or have intense trips to gain or learn anything from the sacred plants. I was informed that I would make more sense out of what the ayahuasca did about a week or so later.

What is the general view about this from you experienced travelers?

I am looking forward to the journey..

Welcome!

I think it's interesting that after all your research you chose to go with a guided approach. I think most people usually indulge without a 'guide' the first time they do anything like this.
I think being introduced that way is a good thing, especially since the brew wasn't strong. It's all about getting acquainted.

So since they said you should know more what the aya has given you a week later, what have you learned in the past week since doing it?

It seems that the mushrooms really put to work immediately in this way. I saw everything a little differently since. A big problem for me has always been stress and fear. I feel that these ceremonies opened this so called new "room", a space, if you will, in my consciousness which allows me to approach things differently. I started being conscious of the stressors in my life, of all the things I have been doing which do not serve a purpose to me or anyone else. I've calmed down with every aspect of my life in which I've been putting too much effort into, and for all the wrong reasons. Focus is something I am now able to practice.

The actual effect SEEMS so subtle. Nothing mind blowing with the conscious mind. However, I feel so very thankful for the plants and for everything!

Let's just say it was the first step to "grounding" myself to who I really am. The "theme" which came up a lot before and after the ceremonies in discussion was that of "rooting" oneself, as if to start with the root chakra.

Welcome. I'm glad, but not surprised, that the plants have helped you learn more about yourself. It is certainly that way for me and many others. In fact I feel like in recent months, I've been undergoing a paradigm shift and I feel like I am really starting to work more deeply with these tools to learn about my self in different ways than before. I've been seeing parts of my subconscious and self that I didn't before and I'm working with them. I look forward to this weekend, I'm trying my first oral syrian rue + vaped freebase combo. I've only experimented with freebase alone so I am excited to see for myself how the rue will treat me.

The best of wishes to you and your journey!

I'm at a point where I feel like I should decide whether to continue doing the monthly ceremony only or if I should take a leap and do it with a good friend and depending on the outcome, doing it a little more frequently.

The week after the ceremony had been amazing. I still carry some of the insights with good use, but this second week has been a lot of stress and I have been opened up to some even deeper emotions buried in my memories. I am learning.. slowly.. gently.. The power is in the FOCUS.. what used to be my main weakness.