Facing Fear: A Conversation with an Ayahuasquero

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For the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a wonderful lineage of Ayahuasca shamans at the Blue Morpho lodge, just outside of Iquitos, Peru. The lodge has become more popular in recent years, recieving journalistic coverage from the New York Times and National Geographic, making it a global hot-spot for shamanic workshops.

Blue Morpho’s owner and founder, Hamilton Souther, is unique. He is a westerner, a “white guy,” who apprenticed with a lineage of Mestizo shamans. After completing a workshop this past June, I had the chance to share a dialogue with Hamilton about the nature of fear, the evolution of consciousness, some of the political issues that Ayahuasca shamanism is facing from the Peruvian Government, and the developing role of Ayahuasca Shamanism in the West.

Hamilton was quick to dive into the subject with me, setting the tone and prefacing our dialogue with an introduction to the medicinal nature of Ayahuasca.

HS: Before we get into any of the questions, I want to talk a little about Ayahuasca and what brings us to it. Life is not easy for anyone, and as we live life, we accumulate maladies that present themselves in our body, mind and spirit. We all come to Ayahuasca with specific things we would like to change or learn. We hope that there is something in the world that can help us, something that is different than anything we have tried in the past. We search for spirit. We search for meaning. So many people feel lost and scared. So many people doubt spirit but in their hearts want it to be true. We look at our lives and get confused. We do not know what to make of the past, how to proceed into the future and struggle with an idea of the present. Our pasts are filled with problems, traumas, pain, suffering, loss, anger and fear. We get angry and watch as it creates problems for us in our relationships. We end up hurting those closest to us. We never get to what would fulfill us because of fear.

We want something to make things better. To give us back meaning in the world. To help us transcend the definitions that science has given to everything, stripping life of what was mystical. We are filled with explanations and definitions about all aspects of life that leave us feeling alone and unimportant. We do not know if there is a God, a source, or a supreme power. We look for anything that could make sense out of a world filled with savagery, pain, suffering, disease, strife, war, killing, and rape. We hope and wish for meaning.

Over time disillusion sets in, and we begin to get depressed. The West is obsessed with suffering, hurt, and death. The West is obsessed with the dark side of duality. We do what we were taught, constantly, thinking it will work this time. We try another relationship and find ourselves in the same pattern. We try the next spirituality and find ourselves being helped for a short time, and then falling back into suffering. We try to make more money and find that the things we buy are nice when they are new, but soon are old and common. Over and over we find ourselves spinning in space, feeling like we are going nowhere. We are thirsty for something new, something exciting, but we are scared.

We think about drinking Ayahuasca. We ask ourselves many questions: Could I die? What will I see? Are demons real? Can this help me? What is the dark? What is wrong with me? What will I get out of it? Am I crazy? What will others think if they knew I drank Ayahuasca? Can this help depression? Can this show me my path? Will this give me direction? Will this take my anger away? Will this help me accept the past? Can I find forgiveness? We think about drinking Ayahuasca and hope it can make right what seems so wrong.

I have worked with hundreds of people from every background from over twenty countries. They have had every kind of past you can imagine. They have been through every kind of trauma you can imagine. They have suffered. I have witnessed people release depression during the course of five ceremonies, and be done with it. I have witnessed rape victims return to their body and feel intact for the first time in decades. I have witnessed people so angry at themselves and the world find peace. I have witnessed deep sadness flow out of the body, and seen joy flow in. The most stoic have cried. The disease of physical pain has vanished. Familial relationships have been restored. People have found their path, and have found their purpose. They have found Spirit and the infinite. They have found light and love in deep, real ways.

These people were normal every day people living normal Western lives. They were not different or special. We came to Ayahuasca looking for something and we found it. We received help in ways that we could not even imagine before Ayahuasca. Ayahuasca is a gift that allows us to look into ourselves and the world with clarity. We have the opportunity to discover truth and to reevaluate our actions and relationships. We are given the chance to go through immense change in a short period of time.

I was not born a shaman. I came to Ayahuasca searching for all the same things, and for all the same reasons, as our guests. The answers I found brought change to my life that released anger, pain, suffering, trauma, hurt, judgment, sadness, and disillusion. I came to Ayahuasca, and I trained in it to fulfill a path of Spirit. We are not different. We are not special. We have followed our hearts and discovered a world filled with mystery and medicine. Through those discoveries we learned to help others find what was meaningful to them, and that brought meaning to their lives.

Ayahuasca is a divine gift to the world, and it is a gift to be able to share it with others. I am truly grateful for how this gift changed my life and how it continues to guide and change others.

AE: So how did the Blue Morpho lodge come into being? What are some of the challenges you have faced as a westerner who has trained with indigenous shamans?

In 2001 I had a spontaneous awakening to Spirit, and through that awakening I was called to apprentice. I was still living in California. My spirit guides told me that I would move to Peru, and within the first 90 days I would find an apprenticeship and train to be a master shaman. Within the 90 days, I found my apprenticeship during my first Ayahuasca ceremony. In the days after that first ceremony, I inquired about how I could live in the jungle and learn the medicine. A local family granted me permission to live on their land. I built a simple jungle house deep in the forest, on the same land where the ceremony had been held. We were in a part of the forest homesteaded by only seven families sharing miles of river. Upriver, there were no permanent inhabitants. This was the raw jungle. There were no roads, facilities or modern conveniences. The only way in and out was the small river. I was in an area about 24 hours travel from Iquitos that just happened to be close to master shaman Maestro Julio Llerena Pinedo’s house.

The Blue Morpho Center for Amazonian Shamanism came into being during my apprenticeship. After the first year of apprenticeship, I began studying under Maestro Alberto Torres Davila and Maestro Julio Llerena Pinedo. Alberto and I agreed to work together and offer the opportunity to others to participate in ceremonies and dietas. We held ceremonies and dietas there for three and a half years until we moved to our current location, on Kilometer 52.5 of the Iquitos Nauta Rd.

Training with indigenous shamans is very difficult. First there are the cultural differences and language. Then you face their worldview and knowledge, which is very different than the Westerner’s. I was taught through direct transference of understanding and medicine, through ceremonies and dietas, meaning that the Maestros don’t talk with you about your apprenticeship. You are expected to learn by realization and spiritual connection. It is an amazing way to learn but very different than anything expressed in the Western world. Alberto and Julio did not care that I was a “white man.” Before they agreed to train me they studied me in ceremony to see my virtue and heart. When they agreed to teach me they told me that if I could survive I could learn the medicine. They meant survive in a very literal sense: physically, mentally, and spiritually. You go into ceremony and survive, meaning you live through it. The longer you survive, the longer you can learn. There are only two ways out of an apprenticeship: You either die, or quit. I had to look deep within myself to transcend those two possibilities.

There are many different kinds of shamans. There are those that heal and help others and then there are the ones that harm. The path of medicine is the path of the healer. The path of the dark arts is the path of harming or hurting. As an apprentice, you have to choose over and over to be a healer and not get sucked into the dark arts. This is the real battle between the light and dark forces. The guest sits in the field of energy provided by the healer. They are safe and are able to receive the medicine because of the presence of the healer. There are also enemy shamans, or “brujos.” These are shamans who use dark and demonic spirits to harm or kill others. When you apprentice, they come after you and try to kill you. This goes on and on, and you are expected to win the battles and continue to learn. Over time you are trained to deal with the conflict, and you carve a space for your own mesa that is fortified and protected from the demonic attacks of the rival shamans. It is in the protected space that the healer practices the medicine and helps others. Apprenticing to become a healer and receiving the help from the medicine are two very different things. Apprenticing was the most difficult thing I ever did, and I am truly grateful to have survived.

A lot of people in spiritual communities who are familiar with Ayahuasca are initially skeptical of places like Blue Morpho because of the perception that these experiences are just “tourisms.” The phrase “ayahuasca tourism” is a kind of epithet in these circles. What are some of the difficulties of running an Ayahuasca healing center that is both a business and a miraculous place of medicine and transformation?

First of all, Blue Morpho is a center of Amazonian Shamanism. We offer workshops to explore this shamanism, not tours. The only thing remotely similar to typical tourism about “ayahuasca tourism” or Blue Morpho is that people from other countries come to experience Ayahuasca shamanism. You are from another part of the world, and you go to another country to drink Ayahuasca, so now others label you a “tourist” on a “tour.” If you simply travel to another country, you are a tourist. But if you drink Ayahuasca in America, you are breaking the law.

I was a tourist when I went into the forest and built a house in the middle of the jungle, covered in millions of mosquitoes and poisonous snakes. I bathed in the river everyday like the locals, swimming in the same waters as piranha, thirty foot anacondas, electric eels, and sting rays. I sat in ceremony and battled the strongest witchdoctors in the area. I worked with and saved locals who were dying from different illnesses, and during all of that the Peruvian government still considered me a “tourist.”

I welcome anyone who wants to come to Blue Morpho to sit in traditional ceremonies headed by a local shaman who started apprenticing at the age of 8 and has participated or held more than 2,500 ceremonies. At the same time, we offer a safe and protected environment designed to recognize your individual needs, creating an experience that is positively transformational.

Blue Morpho offers our guests the very best of traditional Ayahuasca shamanism, and at the same time provides an environment that is safe. We present our work in English and have translators available to the guests to be able to speak with the locals. Nine days and five ceremonies with us will push you to the limit of your abilities, and it is nice to be in an environment where you are being looked after while going through something transformational and intense. We offer services that make your process easier, like having all of your meals prepared and your laundry done. When you have vomited all night and are still tired in the morning, it is nice to know there is someone to help you. The Maestros and apprentices are at the camp 24 hours a day on call to help in any crisis or emergency.

Our ayahuasca retreats offer daily hikes and excursions, meditations and an arts and crafts center. The days are filled with shamanic activities and fun, and the nights with ceremony and strong medicine. There are huge differences in the kinds of experiences people have with different shamans. In many cases the participant is expected to handle their ceremonies with minimal input from the shamans, and then deal with the after effects alone. At Blue Morpho, the experience is different. Nine days with us is a continual evolution of medicine in an environment that is nurturing and supportive. After every ceremony, there are meetings with the Maestros and apprentices to go over the ceremonies and to further explore spiritual theory and thought. There is constant input from others and a helping hand. We care about you and work with you to make sure the experience is the very best possible

Then there is safety. We have staff that are trained in Western medicine and are prepared to handle any emergency. We are in the jungle and understand the needs of people who are not from here. We have staff that help in the ceremonies and who do not drink. They help others to the bathroom, bring them a clean bucket if they’ve vomited, put water on their heads, and bring extra blankets. For each ceremony, we have at least nine staff including Maestros, apprentices and helpers. All of these things come together to provide an experience that is safe and truly life transforming.

There is no conflict in running a business and a spiritual center. We work from our hearts and from the principles of the medicine that Ayahuasca teaches us. The conflict in the Western world surrounding business has nothing to do with business at all. Business is the result of the individuals practicing it. If people worked from a place of love instead of greed and competition, business would look different worldwide. We need to take responsibility for creating the terms that we use to describe the world. Here, we have created a business out of our own inner values.

In the West, many people make a living claiming healing or shamanic powers. Do you think it’s possible for Ayahuasca shamanism to be adopted in the Western marketplace and work as it does in the jungle?

Yes, I think that Ayahuasca healing could work very well in the West, but first the laws would have to change. Then practitioners would need to come to traditional mesas and complete traditional apprenticeships. I think the medicine and the spirits of the medicine want to help humanity. They want to travel to other cultures. But apprenticeship and training are the most important things to consider. An Ayahuasca shaman typically has to complete five to ten years of formal training to attain the level of Maestro. They are considered by the local population to be doctors. In the West, shamans would have to be trained and recognized in this same capacity. The traditional medicine would need to be acknowledged as a viable and concrete form of medicine, respected by government and other practitioners. A change of this magnitude would take many years in the West. It could happen, but I don’t see it taking place in our lifetimes.

Recently, the Peruvian government has begun discussing the regulation of Ayahuasca shamanism and lodges like Blue Morpho. Could you explain what is happening?

The government is deciding to legislate the practice of “Medicina Tradicional” in Peru. But this is not about Ayahuasca shamanism or centers like Blue Morpho alone. There are many different practices of Traditional Medicine in Peru; some are shamanic and some are not, but all will be legislated The general idea seems to be to bring some sort of control and regulation to Traditional Medicine so it will be considered and recognized as a legal practice alongside allopathic medicine.

Lots of ideas about how this should happen are being tossed around, but for now, everyone is still in the idea phase and nothing concrete has happened. We believe that, within the next few years, great changes will come to affect the free and open practice of Traditional Medicine. The local populations are protecting their rights to their heritage and traditions. The government wants to have some kind of say and oversee quality control for the safety of the population. One of the problems with the popularity of this kind of medicine is charlatanism, and people can be harmed by “shamans” that are not fully trained – or trained at all. Once again, visionary shamanistic practices take years to learn traditionally under the best Maestros.

What would you like to see come out of this?

I would like to see the government legislate to protect the free and open practice of all Traditional Medicine in Peru, and to recognize it as a legally sanctioned medicine form. We need to protect the tradition of formal apprenticeship and immediately title the current Maestros without further or additional requirements. They have lived their whole lives as masters of traditional medicine, and deserve to be able to continue to practice backed by a title and the government.

Do you consider Blue Morpho to be a place that is vital to the evolution of the planet’s consciousness?

First of all, we need to address: What is the planet’s consciousness? The consciousness of the planet is our consciousness. There is no separation or difference. We make up the consciousness of the planet. What you know of Human Consciousness is your own. We need to address that reality and begin to explore and question our lives from that place. Most people are not ready for that kind of responsibility. It scares them to think that they are part and parcel of everything they don’t like, things they blame or judge.

We might first stop worrying about the planet and start looking at the problems in our relationship to each other. When we do that, we will start to change the world. The planet is doing just fine. When we push it too far, it will push back and rebalance. That rebalancing could mean the loss of a major part of the human population. This is something we do not want to see, and it is what we fear. We fear being part of the restructuring and dying in it. We fear being meaningless, so we imagine concepts like the evolution of the plant’s consciousness.

Let’s get real and look at ourselves. Let’s look at how we are the planet’s consciousness, and it is our own darkness that permeates our thoughts. Let’s transcend that darkness and see how the planet and others respond. We need to start loving, start thinking positively, start treating others with respect, and start holding compassion for others. Traditional shamanism teaches those things. Blue Morpho was built out of, and stands upon, those principles.

What is your vision for the future of Blue Morpho?

My vision for Blue Morpho is to continue the work which we’ve started. We will continue to help those that come to us for as long as we can. We practice how we live, and Blue Morpho is an extension of our lives. It is a dream and a reality at the same time. We are grateful to everyone that comes to us to experience this powerful medicine and give to them our very best. We love Ayahuasca shamanism and love to share it with others. We received its gift, and offer that gift to those that feel it is their time.

Ayahuasca is about dealing with fear. From your many exeperiences, how have you come to understand fear?

Fear? What isn’t fear? Look around you – everything you see is a reaction to fear. Dividing the world into what you like and what you don’t is a reaction to fear. Your job, all your feelings are a reaction to fear. Every thought you have ever had is a reaction to fear. It is all fear. The world is fear; society is fear; community is fear; family is fear; and all organization is fear. Who are you? Investigate it totally and take a walk of fear.

Ayahuasca will take you through everything you fear, every reaction of being scared you can imagine. A demon comes to eat you, eat your mind, eat your heart. It is the same thing that gnaws at you during the day, the same thing you don’t like. People aren’t ready to deal with fear. They can hardly deal with their basic urges. Fear will take someone into himself, not his or her idea of self. When you look in the mirror, you see a reflection. When you look out at the world, you see it reflected against a mirror made out of fear. It is the same thing.

Dealing with fear is something that takes place once a person gets real. When a person begins to understand impeccability and for the first time decides to throw all logic to the wind, to see if there really is a supreme being. Is there something out there that is more than just a thought? Most people have no idea they are only in their minds – a basic thought with no understanding.

People awake to fear, sleepwalk through their day in fear, are savage to each other, and then go to bed all because of fear. Ayahuasca gives you the opportunity to face fear looking right at it. It is full fear. You feel scared. You see the dark, the demonic. You interact with it, see it and talk with it. And then you realize it is all in you. It is nothing more than you made up of fear. You puke and poop, can’t walk, laugh, cry, scream, sweat, and hope you will survive. You will survive it and wish you never have to do it again. The ceremony will approach, and against what you consider your better judgment, you sit again and drink again. You deal with fear. You are the fear. You face yourself. The scariest thing you have ever done, and the most valuable, in one.

How can you use fear to take you to Spirit?

You can’t use fear to take you to Spirit. Spirit and fear are the same thing. Fear is what makes everything look solid and real. Just because something looks a certain way does not mean it is that way. Fear plays alongside life and hypnotizes everyone into thinking it is real. That’s the funny thing. People are so caught up in what is real or not, that they don’t see that the dilemma of real and not-real is them – already duped.

They are asleep, wanting to wake up – thinking they will wake up to a nightmare, when they are already in the nightmare. That is how fear works. The fear itself is Spirit. You have to, for one brief moment, stop fearing and see that you have been asleep in fear your whole life. You have to say yes to fear. What you say yes to, cannot be fear. You will be free of it for a brief moment – until you remind yourself of something you don’t like. Then fear streams in again.

Oh, the fear. We forget to laugh at how silly we really are. Spirit is what everything has always been. People are looking in the old for something they think is new. How can you ever find anything new in something old? You can’t, so stop trying. The new is Spirit. You see that fear and spirit are not in relationship, but rather fear is a manifestation and representation of spirit.

You are in the game – you can’t get out. Stop trying to figure out how to get out of the game with a mind that is in it. You have to find something new, something else. Try thinking with your heart. Actually use it to think. You know how the mind thinks. It keeps trying the same thing over and over, thinking that if it can have a prettier box, then the inside will be different. Well I can tell you that you are making new designs in the old poop.

Try something new, like a heart that feels from a stream instead of a memory. Forget fear by doing something new, like loving. That sickly sweet thing is not love. That clingy thing is not love. That need is not love. That is all fear. Open your heart. Face the fear of opening your heart just once, because you can do it. You can do it.

Just once, and you will see that there is something more than the fear. And when the world melts away, there is only one thing left. You will still be there, but you will experience yourself for the first time.

Ayahuasca Workshops at Blue Morpho can be booked at: www.bluemorphotours.com

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How Much Does LSD Cost? When shopping around for that magical psychedelic substance, there can be many uncertainties when new to buying LSD. You may be wondering how much does LSD cost? In this article, we will discuss what to expect when purchasing LSD on the black market, what forms LSD is sold in, and the standard breakdown of buying LSD in quantity.   Navy Use of LSD on the Dark Web The dark web is increasingly popular for purchasing illegal substances. The US Navy has now noticed this trend with their staff. Read to learn more.   Having Sex on LSD: What You Need to Know Can you have sex on LSD? Read our guide to learn everything about sex on acid, from lowered inhibitions to LSD users quotes on sex while tripping.   A Drug That Switches off an LSD Trip A pharmaceutical company is developing an “off-switch” drug for an LSD trip, in the case that a bad trip can happen. Some would say there is no such thing.   Queen of Hearts: An Interview with Liz Elliot on Tim Leary and LSD The history of psychedelia, particularly the British experience, has been almost totally written by men. Of the women involved, especially those who were in the thick of it, little has been written either by or about them. A notable exception is Liz Elliot.   LSD Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety LSD, Lysergic acid diethylamide, or just acid is one of the most important psychedelics ever discovered. What did history teach us?   Microdosing LSD & Common Dosage Explained Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing LSD.   LSD Resources Curious to learn more about LSD? This guide includes comprehensive LSD resources containing books, studies and more.   LSD as a Spiritual Aid There is common consent that the evolution of mankind is paralleled by the increase and expansion of consciousness. From the described process of how consciousness originates and develops, it becomes evident that its growth depends on its faculty of perception. Therefore every means of improving this faculty should be used.   Legendary LSD Blotter Art: A Hidden Craftsmanship Have you ever heard of LSD blotter art? Explore the trippy world of LSD art and some of the top artists of LSD blotter art.   LSD and Exercise: Does it Work? LSD and exercise? Learn why high-performing athletes are taking hits of LSD to improve their overall potential.   Jan Bastiaans Treated Holocaust Survivors with LSD Dutch psychiatrist, Jan Bastiaans administered LSD-assisted therapy to survivors of the Holocaust. A true war hero and pioneer of psychedelic-therapy.   LSD and Spiritual Awakening I give thanks for LSD, which provided the opening that led me to India in 1971 and brought me to Neem Karoli Baba, known as Maharajji. Maharajji is described by the Indians as a “knower of hearts.”   How LSD is Made: Everything You Need to Know Ever wonder how to make LSD? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how LSD is made.   How to Store LSD: Best Practices Learn the best way to store LSD, including the proper temperature and conditions to maximize how long LSD lasts when stored.   Bicycle Day: The Discovery of LSD Every year on April 19th, psychonauts join forces to celebrate Bicycle Day. Learn about the famous day when Albert Hoffman first discovered the effects of LSD.   Cary Grant: A Hollywood Legend On LSD Cary Grant was a famous actor during the 1930’s-60’s But did you know Grant experimented with LSD? Read our guide to learn more.   Albert Hofmann: LSD — My Problem Child Learn about Albert Hofmann and his discovery of LSD, along with the story of Bicycle Day and why it marks a historic milestone.   Babies are High: What Does LSD Do To Your Brain What do LSD and babies have in common? Researchers at the Imperial College in London discover that an adult’s brain on LSD looks like a baby’s brain.   1P LSD: Effects, Benefits, Safety Explained 1P LSD is an analogue of LSD and homologue of ALD-25. Here is everything you want to know about 1P LSD and how it compares to LSD.   Francis Crick, DNA & LSD Type ‘Francis Crick LSD’ into Google, and the result will be 30,000 links. Many sites claim that Crick (one of the two men responsible for discovering the structure of DNA), was either under the influence of LSD at the time of his revelation or used the drug to help with his thought processes during his research. Is this true?   What Happens If You Overdose on LSD? A recent article presented three individuals who overdosed on LSD. Though the experience was unpleasant, the outcomes were remarkably positive.

The Ayahuasca Experience
Ayahuasca is both a medicine and a visionary aid. You can employ ayahuasca for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual repair, and you can engage with the power of ayahuasca for deeper insight and realization. If you consider attainment of knowledge in the broadest perspective, you can say that at all times, ayahuasca heals.

 

Trippy Talk: Meet Ayahuasca with Sitaramaya Sita and PlantTeachers
Sitaramaya Sita is a spiritual herbalist, pusangera, and plant wisdom practitioner formally trained in the Shipibo ayahuasca tradition.

 

The Therapeutic Value of Ayahuasca
My best description of the impact of ayahuasca is that it’s a rocket boost to psychospiritual growth and unfolding, my professional specialty during my thirty-five years of private practice.

 

Microdosing Ayahuasca: Common Dosage Explained
What is ayahuasca made of and what is considered a microdose? Explore insights with an experienced Peruvian brewmaster and learn more about this practice.

 

Ayahuasca Makes Neuron Babies in Your Brain
Researchers from Beckley/Sant Pau Research Program have shared the latest findings in their study on the effects of ayahuasca on neurogenesis.

 

The Fatimiya Sufi Order and Ayahuasca
In this interview, the founder of the Fatimiya Sufi Order,  N. Wahid Azal, discusses the history and uses of plant medicines in Islamic and pre-Islamic mystery schools.

 

Consideration Ayahuasca for Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Research indicates that ayahuasca mimics mechanisms of currently accepted treatments for PTSD. In order to understand the implications of ayahuasca treatment, we need to understand how PTSD develops.

 

Brainwaves on Ayahuasca: A Waking Dream State
In a study researchers shared discoveries showing ingredients found in Ayahuasca impact the brainwaves causing a “waking dream” state.

 

Cannabis and Ayahuasca: Mixing Entheogenic Plants
Cannabis and Ayahuasca: most people believe they shouldn’t be mixed. Read this personal experience peppered with thoughts from a pro cannabis Peruvian Shaman.

 

Ayahuasca Retreat 101: Everything You Need to Know to Brave the Brew
Ayahuasca has been known to be a powerful medicinal substance for millennia. However, until recently, it was only found in the jungle. Word of its deeply healing and cleansing properties has begun to spread across the world as many modern, Western individuals are seeking spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being. More ayahuasca retreat centers are emerging in the Amazon and worldwide to meet the demand.

 

Ayahuasca Helps with Grief
A new study published in psychopharmacology found that ayahuasca helped those suffering from the loss of a loved one up to a year after treatment.

 

Ayahuasca Benefits: Clinical Improvements for Six Months
Ayahuasca benefits can last six months according to studies. Read here to learn about the clinical improvements from drinking the brew.

 

Ayahuasca Culture: Indigenous, Western, And The Future
Ayahuasca has been use for generations in the Amazon. With the rise of retreats and the brew leaving the rainforest how is ayahuasca culture changing?

 

Ayahuasca Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
The Amazonian brew, Ayahuasca has a long history and wide use. Read our guide to learn all about the tea from its beginnings up to modern-day interest.

 

Ayahuasca and the Godhead: An Interview with Wahid Azal of the Fatimiya Sufi Order
Wahid Azal, a Sufi mystic of The Fatimiya Sufi Order and an Islamic scholar, talks about entheogens, Sufism, mythology, and metaphysics.

 

Ayahuasca and the Feminine: Women’s Roles, Healing, Retreats, and More
Ayahuasca is lovingly called “grandmother” or “mother” by many. Just how feminine is the brew? Read to learn all about women and ayahuasca.

What Is the Standard of Care for Ketamine Treatments?
Ketamine therapy is on the rise in light of its powerful results for treatment-resistant depression. But, what is the current standard of care for ketamine? Read to find out.

What Is Dissociation and How Does Ketamine Create It?
Dissociation can take on multiple forms. So, what is dissociation like and how does ketamine create it? Read to find out.

Having Sex on Ketamine: Getting Physical on a Dissociative
Curious about what it could feel like to have sex on a dissociate? Find out all the answers in our guide to sex on ketamine.

Special K: The Party Drug
Special K refers to Ketamine when used recreationally. Learn the trends as well as safety information around this substance.

Kitty Flipping: When Ketamine and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Read to explore the mechanics of kitty flipping.

Ketamine vs. Esketamine: 3 Important Differences Explained
Ketamine and esketamine are used to treat depression. But what’s the difference between them? Read to learn which one is right for you: ketamine vs. esketamine.

Guide to Ketamine Treatments: Understanding the New Approach
Ketamine is becoming more popular as more people are seeing its benefits. Is ketamine a fit? Read our guide for all you need to know about ketamine treatments.

Ketamine Treatment for Eating Disorders
Ketamine is becoming a promising treatment for various mental health conditions. Read to learn how individuals can use ketamine treatment for eating disorders.

Ketamine Resources, Studies, and Trusted Information
Curious to learn more about ketamine? This guide includes comprehensive ketamine resources containing books, studies and more.

Ketamine Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to ketamine has everything you need to know about this “dissociative anesthetic” and how it is being studied for depression treatment.

Ketamine for Depression: A Mental Health Breakthrough
While antidepressants work for some, many others find no relief. Read to learn about the therapeutic uses of ketamine for depression.

Ketamine for Addiction: Treatments Offering Hope
New treatments are offering hope to individuals suffering from addiction diseases. Read to learn how ketamine for addiction is providing breakthrough results.

Microdosing Ketamine & Common Dosages Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing ketamine.

How to Ease a Ketamine Comedown
Knowing what to expect when you come down from ketamine can help integrate the experience to gain as much value as possible.

How to Store Ketamine: Best Practices
Learn the best ways how to store ketamine, including the proper temperature and conditions to maximize how long ketamine lasts when stored.

How To Buy Ketamine: Is There Legal Ketamine Online?
Learn exactly where it’s legal to buy ketamine, and if it’s possible to purchase legal ketamine on the internet.

How Long Does Ketamine Stay in Your System?
How long does ketamine stay in your system? Are there lasting effects on your body? Read to discover the answers!

How Ketamine is Made: Everything You Need to Know
Ever wonder how to make Ketamine? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how Ketamine is made.

Colorado on Ketamine: First Responders Waiver Programs
Fallout continues after Elijah McClain. Despite opposing recommendations from some city council, Colorado State Health panel recommends the continued use of ketamine by medics for those demonstrating “excited delirium” or “extreme agitation”.

Types of Ketamine: Learn the Differences & Uses for Each
Learn about the different types of ketamine and what they are used for—and what type might be right for you. Read now to find out!

Kitty Flipping: When Ketamine and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Read to explore the mechanics of kitty flipping.

MDMA & Ecstasy Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to MDMA has everything you want to know about Ecstasy from how it was developed in 1912 to why it’s being studied today.

How To Get the Most out of Taking MDMA as a Couple
Taking MDMA as a couple can lead to exciting experiences. Read here to learn how to get the most of of this love drug in your relationship.

Common MDMA Dosage & Microdosing Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing MDMA.

Having Sex on MDMA: What You Need to Know
MDMA is known as the love drug… Read our guide to learn all about sex on MDMA and why it is beginning to makes its way into couple’s therapy.

How MDMA is Made: Common Procedures Explained
Ever wonder how to make MDMA? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how MDMA is made.

Hippie Flipping: When Shrooms and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Explore the mechanics of hippie flipping and how to safely experiment.

How Cocaine is Made: Common Procedures Explained
Ever wonder how to make cocaine? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how cocaine is made.

A Christmas Sweater with Santa and Cocaine
This week, Walmart came under fire for a “Let it Snow” Christmas sweater depicting Santa with lines of cocaine. Columbia is not merry about it.

Ultimate Cocaine Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
This guide covers what you need to know about Cocaine, including common effects and uses, legality, safety precautions and top trends today.

NEWS: An FDA-Approved Cocaine Nasal Spray
The FDA approved a cocaine nasal spray called Numbrino, which has raised suspicions that the pharmaceutical company, Lannett Company Inc., paid off the FDA..

The Ultimate Guide to Cannabis Bioavailability
What is bioavailability and how can it affect the overall efficacy of a psychedelic substance? Read to learn more.

Cannabis Research Explains Sociability Behaviors
New research by Dr. Giovanni Marsicano shows social behavioral changes occur as a result of less energy available to the neurons. Read here to learn more.

The Cannabis Shaman
If recreational and medical use of marijuana is becoming accepted, can the spiritual use as well? Experiential journalist Rak Razam interviews Hamilton Souther, founder of the 420 Cannabis Shamanism movement…

Cannabis Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to Cannabis has everything you want to know about this popular substances that has psychedelic properties.

Cannabis and Ayahuasca: Mixing Entheogenic Plants
Cannabis and Ayahuasca: most people believe they shouldn’t be mixed. Read this personal experience peppered with thoughts from a procannabis Peruvian Shaman.

CBD-Rich Cannabis Versus Single-Molecule CBD
A ground-breaking study has documented the superior therapeutic properties of whole plant Cannabis extract as compared to synthetic cannabidiol (CBD), challenging the medical-industrial complex’s notion that “crude” botanical preparations are less effective than single-molecule compounds.

Cannabis Has Always Been a Medicine
Modern science has already confirmed the efficacy of cannabis for most uses described in the ancient medical texts, but prohibitionists still claim that medical cannabis is “just a ruse.”

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