Enthogenic Medicines

The term entheogenic means finding God within. By working with entheogenic medicines, we can commune with the divine, creating primary spiritual experiences. A primary spiritual experience is one in which you have a direct experience with your infinite, spiritual (or soul) self, personal contact with the divine. Each medicine helps us connect to different aspects of our infinite self, giving us valuable information we can use to navigate our reality. We integrate what we learn from the medicines, from the divine, and from within, ultimately allowing us to grow and expand into alignment with our higher selves.

The spiritual aspects and interpretations described throughout these medicine descriptions are based on the personal experiences, spiritual understanding, and interpretation of our Medicine Woman and Lead Ritualist. They are offered as spiritual perspectives rather than medical claims or universally shared experiences.

All medicines should be taken sacredly and with respect. Always say a blessing over your medicine, thanking the spirit of the medicine for allowing you access to this communion. Set your intentions each time you sit with a medicine. Sit ceremonially, in a sacred way, with medicines that call you into their presence. Remember to be ready to surrender to the medicine coming into each experience with no expectations. Many of these medicines create extremely profound experiences that require guidance from experienced ritualists. We highly recommend communing with these sacred medicines with a medicine carrier who is experienced in providing the safe, sacred container needed for their medicine to operate at its full potential.

Tobacco is a plant medicine used by native tribes for healing and spiritual insight. This medicine is classified as psychoactive (mind-altering). It contains a molecule called Nicotine that binds with our body’s nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, providing a medicine we are naturally ready to accept. One way we use tobacco is in the form of Hapé. This medicine is made with Nicotiana Rustica and other medicinal plants. The plants are crushed into a powder that is applied through the nostrils. Ancient Awakenings makes its own Hapé blends, working with the Spirit of the medicine as a guide. Another way we use tobacco is in the form of Ambil, which is a tobacco paste. This paste is applied by rubbing it on the gums and holding the tobacco in your mouth for an extended time. We also use tobacco in rolled form that is smoked but not inhaled. This is normally referred to as Mapacho. This medicine experience can last anywhere from 10 minutes up to an hour or more.

Tobacco medicine is grounded in a powerful masculine warrior energy. It connects us back to the Earth and opens our hearts. It helps connect our heart and third-eye chakras, allowing us to see love with divine sight. We come before Grandfather Tobacco in respect and reverence, surrendering to His gifts of invigoration and renewal. We walk forward with His strength flowing through our entire being, allowing us to stand grounded and firm in this existence.

Cannabis (Ganja) is another medicine we use that is classified as psychoactive (mind-altering). This beautiful medicine comes to us from the Cannabis Sativa plant. The flowers of this plant contain a molecule called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that provides a host of medicinal benefits. THC binds to the body’s natural cannabinoid receptors, allowing us access to all its healing benefits. The flowers of this plant can be ground and smoked (or vaped), providing an instant effect in the body. You can also orally ingest the THC. Onset using oral ingestion is 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. This medicine experience will last around 2-4 hours.

Cannabis brings a calming of the mind and body and is traditionally known to be a more feminine energy. She provides a peaceful but powerful energy that allows us to easily flow in this world. This medicine is an amplifier, so it will intensify your current experience. She works well with other medicines to help expand their power.

In our medicine space, we use Cannabis when we offer Ganja Yoga. This is a gentle Yoga class that is done while smoking Cannabis, allowing the medicine to work through the body with each inhale. Cannabis is only offered during ceremonies to those who work with her often and are familiar with her amplifying powers.

We say a prayer over the medicine to begin our communion; ॐ गञ्जा गुरु गञ्जा शान्ति शान्ति शान्ति. We pray to the medicine: Om Ganja, Guru Ganja, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. May this glorious Goddess connect, teach, and bring us peace. Please spend some time in prayer with the Spirit of this medicine if you plan to work with her in our space.

Another medicine the Earth provides is the Mushroom. We can commune with the Spirit of the Sacred Mushroom. This medicine comes to us inside of mushrooms called Psilocybe cubensis. They contain a molecule called Psilocybin that, once converted to Psilocin, binds with our body’s serotonin receptors, creating a sense of peace and connection. This medicine is a psychedelic (mind-manifesting) medicine also known as a hallucinogen. She has the potential to create a profound connection with all that is, allowing us to have experiences that are beyond this reality (primary spiritual experiences). This medicine experience normally lasts 4-6 hours.

We come to this Spirit to gain access to its ancient wisdom. The medicine provides a reconnection by which we are able to remember who we truly are, our true nature or natural essence. With this knowledge recaptured, we can find new ways to walk in this reality. We say that “the medicine shines a light in the dark to help us find our way home.” The truth that we tend to come to understand is that we had the power within us all along, and when we surrender to this truth, we can step into our purpose and the existence we were born to experience.

This medicine comes from the seeds of the Peganum harmala plant. The molecules contained in this plant are monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). An MAOI inhibits the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which is involved in the breakdown of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. This can increase the availability of these neurotransmitters in the body and brain. There is a strict diet involved 24 hours before ingesting this medicine. In our space, guests participating in this type of retreat will be provided meals that meet the food requirements of this medicine. Please consult your doctor if you are taking any prescription medications, as many have interactions with MAOIs. 

Syrian Rue is used alone to provide access to a place of peace, flow, and ease. She will guide you into a dreamlike state that you can feel throughout your entire body. Within her gentleness, you will find yourself slowing down and allowing yourself to experience life more fully. She also provides an ease of access to the divine. Meditations and dreams are enhanced as she guides us into the other realms.

Syrian Rue can also be used with mushrooms containing psilocybin to create a powerful, deep connection with all layers of reality. Since the Rue is an MAOI, it slows down the elimination of the psilocin, thus extending the journey. The intensity of the medicine will also be increased. A standard mushroom journey is around 4-6 hours. With this medicine added, the experience will be 8-10 hours long.

This Master Teacher medicine is lovingly referred to as Momma Aya. It originated in South America and has been honored in sacred ceremonies for thousands of years. The medicine is created by combining two native plants, Banisteriopsis caapi, which contains an MAOI, and Chacruna, which contains DMT. Combining these two powerful plants allows the DMT to be orally active and creates a longer journey. Ceremony can last anywhere from 2-12 hours or more, depending on how much medicine is consumed and how many boosters are given. Ayahuasca provides access to the Divine allowing us to remember who we really are. Awakening to this knowledge can provide access to extreme healing from any dis-ease. We can find the power within to expand into a glorious new creation.

The cactus provides us with a beautiful Grandfather medicine. San Pedro, coming from South America, and Peyote, from North America and Mexico, both contain mescaline. This beautiful, masculine energy force can bring great awakening. This journey can last anywhere from 6-12 hours or longer, depending on the tradition.

This medicine gently brings you into a space of stillness and oneness. The dream world engulfs our space, and are able to walk between. When we surrender to this medicine, we feel our flow return as we release all that no longer serves us. With this energy removed, we are also given new insight with improved clarity. We are physically and spiritually able to see more than we could ever see before. With crystal vision rooted in the divine, we walk forward with ease. We are able to walk through the chaos without being distracted.

This medicine comes from a toad that is native to the Sonoran Desert. The medicine is gently extracted from the animal in a way that does not cause harm. A crystal-like substance remains once the medicine dries, and this is smoked in sacred ceremony. The medicine contains 5-MEO-DMT, also known as the God Molecule. This journey lasts from 15-45 minutes, with many finding direct access to Source during this time.

Kambo is a non-psychoactive secretion from the Giant Green Monkey Tree Frog, aka Phyllomedusa Bicolor. This secretion produces a powerful physiological response and has traditionally been used in cleansing and purgative rituals. The secretion contains short-chain amino acids known as peptides.

There are reports and personal accounts of people experiencing benefits from Kambo in areas including clearing negative energies, migraines, depression, cancer and tumors, fertility issues, deeply rooted toxins, chronic pain, alcohol and drug addictions, chronic fatigue, PTSD, HIV, AIDS, MS, diabetes, panic attacks, herpes, hepatitis, Parkinson’s, autoimmune conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, Lyme disease, gut and digestive issues, Candida overgrowth, parasites, fungal infections, mold toxicity, thyroid health, chronic hormonal imbalances, Alzheimer’s, hypertension, psoriasis, and more. These reported experiences have not established Kambo as a medically proven treatment for these conditions, and further research is needed to determine whether Kambo has therapeutic benefits.

Kambo can also produce significant adverse effects, including intense vomiting, changes in heart rate and blood pressure, fluid and electrolyte disturbances, and, in rare cases, serious or life-threatening complications.