This week, we go deep into the spiritual heart of psychedelics with Celina De Leon, founder of the Circle of Sacred Nature Church and adjunct faculty at the Graduate Theological Union. Celina has spent 20 years working with ayahuasca – or yagé, as it’s known in the Kamentsa indigenous community of Colombia, her root lineage.
We talk about the contemplative practice of yagé, its unique characteristics, and how it opens us up to benefits beyond individual mental health. So much goodness!
The main thing is: we go into ceremony – we experience how the deliberateness and care of ceremony takes us into the sacred present.
In Celina’s guided practice, we feel into the mystery of this and try to articulate the remembering that happens… although, of course, no words can ever be adequate.
So friends, come experience it with us :)
LINKS:
Circle of Sacred Nature: www.circleofsacrednature.org
Posada Natura: www.posadanatura.org
Upcoming Retreat: posadanatura.org/plant-medicine-retreats
The Afterparty
Tasha and Jeff get personal about some of the benefits of exploring psychedelics over the long-term, but also some of the ways they can be destabilizing.
No one needs to do psychedelics, but if you do, be responsible: Find an experienced community that understands how to hold a safe container, and …. pace yourself!
We also get into a great discussion about how to think about teachers and communities of practice at a time when there are not enough deeply experienced teachers to go around.
Let us know in the comments how this practice was for you!
K, That’s all for this week. Thanks for tuning in!
Love always,
🧘🏽♀️ Tasha & Jeff 🧘🏼♂️
I'm going to need to watch the Afterparty a few more times. As a family doctor with many years of experience teaching/mentoring/coaching, this conversation inspires me and makes me appreciate that I've actually learned some things over the years and possibly some of them are transferrable to this space. My goal as a teacher is to unlock the things you already know, which is where the "I can't believe I didn't think of that" comes from.
*And* (holding the both/and...) as a person about to launch into facilitating a community of practice without a core teacher of my own, plagued by self-doubt/self-criticism/self-flagellation, I can't believe that I agreed to do this, and I'm not sure I'm starting small enough. Hoping that on repeated watching, inspiration will win out over abject terror that I'm actually in the "charlatan" category. At least I'm not adding psychedelics into the mix! ;-)
It takes courage to embark ! I’m already impressed 💕. Everyone deserves support, find your hand holders for the moments you need them 💕
Congratulations! You're going to be amazing! ♥️
Thanks! At least one of us thinks so… 🤣🤣🤣
LOL!
I really liked the clarification of this- “The medicine of a teacher is … your capacity to hear what they say and know it aligns with your deep thinking” - it’s such a neat way to remind us of the ownership of wisdom and ones individual path. Tasha, I love how you role model for others the confidence of being true to oneself and that you take time to emphasize self empowerment. Beautiful sharing thanks ❤️💕❤️💕❤️💕❤️
Thank you so much for this conversation. So so helpful. I’m very interested in and committed to having an ayahuasca journey. I am on anti depressants and would like to know if it’s still safe to have an ayahuasca journey. Thank you again.
I enjoyed the ayahuasca meditation immensely and experienced quite a bit of tension from my body. As Tasha mentioned —it felt very medicinal. I agree. The meditation felt very spiritual which is what I very enjoy, welcome and embrace. 💯 My body and brain does not tolerate medicinals. Perhaps it’s because I am a heavy duty neurodivergent, highly sensitive and an empath. With these innate traits my body seems to be able to easily release tension during a spiritual and mindful meditation without relying on medicinals. That said, we are all very different and have different preferences and tolerances. I think it’s great for those who find it very helpful!! Whatever works works!!