Has Anyone Here Experienced Ayahuasca?

[Deleted member 26214]

Regarding this, I can comment the Ayahuasca is not illegal in many countries, and even if it might be, it might be prepared with different combinations of plants, which might be legal. So practically even in the U.S. it could be prepared legally.

Also for me I find that it helps activate/catalize internal processes so basically it is more about you then what you might think. Also I am not completely sure the a cure comes solely from inside. Family friends etc are also involved. And some people in Ayahuasca might feel connection to things other themselves. I don't like the term drugs.

I treat ayhuasca as medicinal plants, just like many other medicinal plants. Its a medicine for our emotions, body spirit etc.

Of course it doesn't fit anyone, and care should be taken, but for some people it can bring much healing.

 

[Philippa]

Hi jivangilad.

Thanks for replying with some of your story about this experience. I'd love to know more of course. I'm curious to know how it heals negativity, as you say? I've always found meditation a good way to allow all the crap to surface in my mind, to clean it out.

When you speak of faith, do you mean faith in yourself, or faith in a higher power, God, things that have not been proven by mainstream science?

Singing sounds like a lovely way to stay happy throughout the process. :) Yes, I'd love to hear more...

Are you from the U.S?

In Australia it is still very much an illegal substance...even though acacia trees are everywhere here. Acacia is where the DMT comes from. It's a heavy prison fine if you are caught with it, or preparing it for ceremony for others, so there are some wonderful people who take real risks to make sure this medicine finds the people who need it.

I also agree that healing is not always something that can happen without family and people who can support and take responsability for their part to play in trauma, bit we all know that already. Acknowledgement of past wrong doings can be immensely healing in itself. But it rarely comes...that's the sad part.

 

[Philippa]

Hi Hashi,

Yes, I can see how what I said may have been a bit vague.

I guess I was saying that the way I approach healing is not to just take a pill and hope for the best, and believe everything mainstream psychologists and psychiatrists tell me. I mainly employ art and meditation as a means for healing as well, and think that looking at the individual, as a whole, not just ticking boxes and diagnosing and prescribing pills, is a more humanistic approach, though I don't have a problem with people using prescribed meds IF they actually give them a chance to look at what they need to look at to heal, and not just turn them into zombies who become dependant on them and everyone around them.

I see ayahuasca as being a medicine that shows people things about themselves that need to be addressed. In that way it is more of a clarifying, insight inducing medicine than merely taking a pill that makes us docile and lethargic. In this way it can assist getting in touch with our inner shaman, if meditation is something that the individual has a hard time with.

I personally don't feel that I need to take it to heal, as I've already faced my demons years ago and done the hard work of addressing what needed to be addressed in me. Having said that, as I evolve and have been through more traumatic things since then, I am curious to see how it may assist me.

Does that make more sense to you?

 

[Deleted member 26214]

I didn't know acacia is forbidden in Australia, and in the forums I have seen Australians speak about it freely.

Is Mimosa also forbidden?

Actually I don't even cook the plants, but use the raw powdered material, and I wonder if this is forbidden. I am Israeli.

Anyway, by healing negativity, I mean, that I can feel the anger for example coming out. For me it can come accompanied with involuntary angry shouts. So it is the opportunity of the body to release this negativity/ emotions/ body blockages. The same with stress, or sadness.

I then can continue singing. I then feel liberated from some of the negativity that I have. Then some positive energy can replace naturally the negativity the has been discharged. Actually traditionally in the Amazon, singing is being used.

In faith, I meant faith in god, of whatever you believe in. Because you might feel connection to things outside of you. Although again, it is personal.

As for me meditation comes difficult and maybe I am more blocked the you in my normal state. I think Ayahuasca has helped me a lot to open where meditation and conventional tools could not.

 

[Philippa]

Acacia and mimosa are the same plant. If you saw Australians speaking openly about them on a forum, they may have been using fake usernames? I've seen people speak about it as well from australia on forums. It is most definitely illegal here, as is Ayahuasca. People go to jail for holding these substances...even for ritual use and intent to heal.

Thanks for sharing that jivangilad. Yes, it makes sense that it would help purge you of those emotions...though I don't really view anger and sadness with the label 'negative'. I just see them as normal human emotions. It's good you are getting it all out of your system.

 

[Echo]

If any of you are in the UK, you will be aware of the reports in the press about the death of a teenager who had travelled to Colombia and, at his hostel's suggestion, had taken part in shamanic rituals involving ayahuesca. I have no personal views on trying such things out, but it is evidently necessary to be really careful.

 

[Philippa]

If any of you are in the UK, you will be aware of the reports in the press about the death of a teenager who had travelled to Colombia and, at his hostel's suggestion, had taken part in shamanic rituals involving ayahuesca. I have no personal views on trying such things out, but it is evidently necessary to be really careful.

I hadn't heard about that no, but I'm sure it does happen. Actually, I've never heard of anyone dying on an ayahuasca journey. It makes me think that he may not have done his research very well and found a dodgy shaman who gave him wrong stuff...but who knows.

There are always dangers...but there are dangers taking prescription meds as well. How many people killed themselves on prozac when it first came out? The majority of people have a profound, life changing experience that stays with them for the rest of their lives.

Some people have bad experiences, or experiences they didn't like, or say were unpleasant...which is a part of the whole 'facing the shadow' aspect of growth...but I've not heard of people actually dying thus far.

It has become a bit of a 'fad' thing to do. Go to the amazon and take ayahuasca. Most westerners don't know what they are in for and think it's just a cool story to take back to their friends. It's a sacred plant medicine, and it demands respect. The plant itself is alive, and the shamans believe it holds a spirit of it's own that has intelligence and consciousness of it's own.

Whatever your beliefs are, it's always best to approach something like that with great respect.

 

[Echo]

@Philippa - I don't know why either, but the reports say his hostel recommended this shaman. He may have been unaware, at 19 years old, of any dangers or the need to research further.

 

[Philippa]

@Philippa - I don't know why either, but the reports say his hostel recommended this shaman. He may have been unaware, at 19 years old, of any dangers or the need to research further.

Sounds like it.

That's pretty negligent of the hostel owners to recommend that to someone who was that young and didn't know anything about it. His parents might end up suing them or something...?

 

[Echo]

Here is one of the news reports: Link Removed

And here is the Daily Mail report (I can't stand the DM, but this report has more details): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...mbian-road-tribal-drug-ritual-went-wrong.html

 

[Philippa]

I think it's also important to remember that the media doesn't always print the exact story the way it is told from the horses mouth. There were a couple of things that sounded quite suspect from that first article.

There is a whole preparation time before a person partakes in this ritual. They are instructed to maintain a certain diet and alkalize their bodies for at least 2 weeks before they ingest the brew and they are also meant to be screened by the shaman and deemed suitable for the experience, as well as abstain from all other drugs and alcohol.

If he was a backpacker, and a teenager, he probably wasn't eating very well and drinking alcohol a lot prior to this ritual, and he wouldn't have had a lot of money to spend on a proper ayahuasca ritual. Some people do it for free, but that doesn't mean they know what they are doing...others charge a small fortune, and they may be just as bad. These things could have made a real difference. We don't know the full story.

It sounds like he just went into it thinking it would be like getting high or something? He had no idea what he was dealing with.

 

[Echo]

Who knows? Unfortunately, it happened and someone has lost a son. It is worth people knowing that it can happen and equally that if done properly, as you describe, may have benefits. Research is all, but how many young people are that aware?