I speak from experience when I say that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. When we’re working to heal our minds from emotional trauma and restructure our thoughts, there are many important things we need to do, such as daily meditation and breathing exercises. We must exercise, eat well, manage our finances, maintain our relationships, care for our children, keep the house clean, take care of our elders, and so on.
Some people do not find the same benefits from clinical therapy that they might experience in a plant medicine ceremony, such as those involving ayahuasca, peyote, or mushrooms.
I have some brief exposure to the communities that facilitate these ceremonies. I’ve sat in several of them and sense that they and the medicines are compassionate practices, focused, and effective for helping people achieve breakthroughs when traditional methods fall short. Combining psychotherapy with plant-based medicines that induce hallucinations can offer a double benefit. Of course, it’s not for everyone; hallucinating can be very scary. I remember when I was 15 and took LSD—it was terrifying for me for five hours because I couldn’t control the hallucinations, and nothing I saw was beautiful, pleasant, or healing. The circumstances were far from ideal; we were just children experimenting out of boredom, anxiety, fear, and anger, which likely amplified those feelings.
Ceremonies are guided by trained individuals and are conducted with the intention of healing the mind in a controlled, distraction-free environment. This setting encourages common hallucinations to occur, and one might say the hallucination itself is just a doorway to help transition from an ordinary sense of reality to one that is more expansive. For instance, we might usually feel disconnected from everything in the universe, even though we know from scientific equations that everything is actually connected. What if you could suddenly feel that connection and find it reassuring? What if you could feel the beauty of nature around you and be deeply moved by it? What if, for the first time, you could hear music and feel immense gratitude for your sense of hearing, marveling at the intricacies of musical vibrations moving through the air? Could we turn that experience into a profound realization that we are part of something much bigger than our obsessions and self-created problems?
I believe the answer is yes, but with one caveat: the insights gained during a ceremony must be transformed into a practical methodology for daily life. The experience should change our way of thinking and smooth out our reactions, guiding us to live a life filled with compassion and mindfulness, following the guidance we received during the ceremony. If we don’t do this, the ceremony’s impact diminishes, and we may feel the need to return repeatedly, which is also okay if that's what some people require for their path.
Those who engage in plant medicine ceremonies often incorporate philosophies from traditions like Buddhism, Hinduism, Yoga, and the ancient teachings of indigenous cultures that lived harmoniously with the earth. These ceremonies should not be taken lightly or used for recreational purposes, like attending a Pink Floyd concert just to “trip out.” While some might find such experiences pleasurable, the therapeutic benefits are often temporary when approached in this way.
I also believe you don’t necessarily need medicine to achieve breakthroughs. From my own experience, we can make lasting, sustainable improvements through hard work—meditation, breathing exercises, changing behavior patterns, understanding the psychology of the mind, improving our diet, focusing on relationships and community, and engaging in practical exercises. When you realize how challenging it is to make progress in life despite all these efforts—writing, meditation, yoga or tai chi, therapy, listening to lectures, reading books, and applying what you learn—then these ancient ceremonies in a modern context can be a valuable tool.
It's important to be honest with yourself and ask: What is missing in my life that makes it hard to have a breakthrough without using medicine? You need to ask yourself that same question even when you use plant medicine: What do I need to do to maintain the sense of connection and embrace I felt from the sacred medicine? The answer lies in breathing, in returning to a parasympathetic state of mind, and staying there long enough for it to become your mental baseline. Most of the world operates in a state of fight-or-flight, which is how we leave childhood, and everyone around us often shares that same mindset. It becomes so normalized that we don't recognize the difference. Achieving a parasympathetic state of mind is challenging and requires a different approach, and even once there, it’s a delicate balance between being triggered and staying relaxed.
Therefore, like with anything in life, buyer beware. Stay aware of yourself, continue to delve deeper into your motivations, and work on the essential aspects of your personal growth. Find ways to release negative emotions and cultivate a positive state of mind long enough for it to become your baseline and habitual pattern. If you find that you can’t achieve this on your own, then perhaps an intervention through medicines and ceremonies may be needed. I believe they help most people who use them. There will always be exceptions because no two people are alike, and there are countless ways to administer and receive these medicines.
I recommend thoroughly researching a qualified shaman and spending enough time with them and their community to understand why they are on the right path and qualified to serve sacred medicine. Just as you wouldn't risk your life by flying with an inexperienced pilot or on an ill-maintained plane, you shouldn't risk your mind by engaging in a ceremony without knowing who you are taking these medicines with.