Ayahuasca Amazonian mythology, the Mother of all plant medicines. Like a Grandmother at times she heals with her love, other times with tough love as needed.
Ayahuasca is psychedelic, an ancient Amazonian concoction. Shamans in the Amazon have been cooking and drinking for centuries for medicinal healing, and for spiritual rituals. Ayahuasca is not a recreational drug and must be used only with the guidance of a Shaman to hold safety space. This substance is not to be used alone or brewed on your own. It is illegal in the United States and only allowed as Religious Practice and Ceremonies.
MAPS continues to research the healing properties of Ayahuasca for treating and healing PTSD, Addictions, Autism, Chronic pains, and other medical/physical ailments.
In the past few months I've given much pondering and reflection on the topic of going public with my Ayahuasca experience or not. I've encountered my own fears of being socially stigmatized, being seen as a witch, or being frown upon and ridiculed amongst peers in my professional field/work, psychology. I have been inspired and found the courage within by those that have gone before me and opened up the doors to this Mystical/Mysterious Plant, Ayahuasca.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Deepak Chopra MD, and Gabor Mate MD, have all spoken and documented about the healing properties of this Medicinal Ancient Plant. Why the hype now? I think we are tired of being sick, sick and tired of having limited solutions and now more than ever our Planet is revealing to us. We are having a conscious awakening that we need to befriend our planet and take care of it. Or it will destroy us, by our own doing. The more we tap into the healing properties of Planet Earth in reverence and honor the more it will work with us in a healing, loving way.
We are sick, in di-ease, caused primarily by high intensity stress and food. The restlessness of more, of success, of greed, and of power. We humans stop and change only with pain and by pain. Sad to say we stop on our tracks, or life stops us to reflect and change only when enduring the most difficult circumstances. Either our own health, divorce, loss & grief or by some heart drenching situation. Then and only then we are ready to let go of control, and look within our inner wisdom for healing. Tapping outside first for answers and guidance. We are in community and we live in community, for support and safety. We carry and hold each other by strength, courage, love, care, and kindness. There is nothing more moving than experiencing how we humans come together in a time of crisis.
Back to my journey with Ayahuasca; about 12 years ago I started to experience symptoms that simulated MS or Neurological/Nerve Disorder. I started my journey and deeper research last year. I was diagnosed with two chronic autoimmune conditions about 5 years ago. One last added Lupus in 2020. this that was extremely debilitating and I started to deeply feel hopelessness. I was on a handful of meds morning and night, and monthly biologic infusions. Not getting any better and feeling my life was over, I switched to a more holistic model. fyi: I have a history of C-PTSD, and I had done most of my healing prior to the Ayahuasca experience. So mental trauma was not much to work on for myself, it was mostly physical and what was in my gut. Ayahuasca works at the gut level. Cleanses and Clears!!
4 years ago I was in a terrible spot and turn to Traditional Chinese medicine. During that time, and in that journey, I heard many sharing their healing experiences with "other" substances, CBD & psychedelics. I tried CBD without much improvement, but it geared me towards research on other options out there. Psychedelics was far from my idea as an option. I did Acupuncture, Cryo therapy, Infra Red Sauna, physical training, some breathwork, etc. Some worked great and still use, others affected me more. Healing It's a personal journey.
I've worked now with a health coach for about a 1.5 year. Made many changes, including reducing stress levels, and clean eating. Even though I do have the occasional ice cream, I try to eat lots of fruits, little red meat or pork and pretty much non-dairy foods. Not to an extreme, just watching my food intake. With her I started to open up about Ayahuasca and really went researching for the best place for the experience. I read all I could read on the topic. I went to Costa Rica, Santa Teresa 2021 and looked, but didn't feel it was the right place. Until the right place showed up early this year.
Ayahuasca works at a NeuroCelebral level. It stimulates new brain cells and regeneration of neurons. (Beckley Foundation, UK). Dr. Gabor Mate and Deepak Chopra speak explicitly about their encounter and others with the Healing Medicinal Ancient Plant. Ayahuasca works internally, with you inner-healer. You experience visions of past and future but its not hallucinations. One is fully present and aware of what's going on. You are fully in your body, yet at the same time having an out-of-body experience. It's difficult to describe Spiritual experiences. I can say my life has been transformed and out of gratitude for my healing I've decided to dedicate time and all of me to helping others find their healing path.
I must say there is a calling from Ayahuasca and all those that I have spoken to say the same thing, including myself. You know when Mother Aya is calling and the path quickly shows up. The universe opens and allows this to occur. I never thought in a million years I would be in the middle of the jungle consuming Ayahuasca. No way, not me. But there I was and now I am talking about the mystical healing encounter with Ayahuasca, the ancient healer.
Trainings: Cannadelics at FIU was just offered. it was a 2 day event where this topic was deeply discussed, without reservations or red tape. By doctors, psychologists and Spiritual figures. That was fantastic, try to attend a forum of that nature. MAPS has a training, open registration is now available for next year. They are focusing more on MDMA (3rd phase research) but still cover other forms of psychedelics.
Gabor Mate has trainings and documentaries on the topic. Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy trainings for treatment of Complex Mental health disorders is another one by Peter H. Addy PhD. Furthermore, I have spoken to Whiz with "No Fallen Heroes" project. This project is dedicated to doing extensive work and research on Ayahuasca and the healing of C-PTSD for soldiers. Please look it up on Youtube.
Get informed prior to the journey, follow your intuition, and allow the healer in you guide you!