Behind Magic Ceremonies

Many people from the ‘western civilization’ have not heard much about magic ceremonies. Our society lost the culture of the constructive use of psychoactive plants. Many cultures in the world use psychoactive plants. Some of them are very aware of how to use them, and other cultures take them just as an unconscious habit. For example, we drink coffee every day to be ready for our work but also if we don’t work. Consequently, consumerism reflects the unawareness of proper use.  

What are they?

In traditional cultures like amazonian tribes or the aborigines, there is always an initiation ritual, that shows adolescents the proper way of using psychoactive plants, and how to maneuver through the experience. Tribal mythology is used as a map for the spirit world. From generation to generation and in the safe presence of the elder, the new generation grows into the responsibility of proper use.  

Collectively, there is a call to experience feelings of ecstasy. Especially, in a culture that suppresses the use of psychoactive plants. So, the only way to live it out is in exaggeration with socially-tolerated drugs like alcohol, or illegally with all types of chemical and natural drugs, without any guidance or advice for proper use. Consequently, we face a high number of deaths from drug abuse, overdosing, and addiction. Addiction and depression are the long-term consequences of a society that has no culture of constructive use of psychoactive plants. 

So, today’s challenge is to reincorporate the wisdom of ceremonies in our modern world, where there aren’t tribes but a big anonymous society. 

How does a ceremony work?

The basic idea of magic mushroom retreat ceremonies is to create a frame that offers a safe space, so the participants are secure and protected from unwanted impacts. This is very important because you are entering other dimensions of existence where there could be dark entities or mental patterns. We basically have no experience in how to handle these situations because nobody told us how. So, we have to learn again from the beginning, and the best way to do that is with a guide who grew up with plant medicine or has at least the experience and ability to support people in their processes.  

It is essential to give the consumption of plant medicine an intention. There should always be an sense of direction, and mental and physical preparation. What do you wish to experience or heal? It is highly recommended and common in traditional use to make fasting before. This includes a special diet which may last from one week up to months, and fasting a couple of hours before the ceremony. The fasting allows the participants to leave their everyday awareness and enter an altered consciousness. The diet already marks the frame of the ceremony and allows you to understand your body, mind, and spirit that something meaningful will happen. People have a gentler experience because they struggle less with the attachment of the body and let it go easier. 

Every ceremony has an altar, which represents the different aspects of life like plants, animals, mushrooms, minerals, and the four elements with appropriate objects. It is the spatial frame and marks the center of the universe with its four directions, the sky, and the earth. Ancestors and other beneficial entities can be invited to support the ceremony. 

The magic of music  

Everything is frequency, and healing music has a very harmonic wave of frequencies. Most of the time, the shaman sings or makes music. The music leads you through the experience and creates a bubble that protects the ceremonial space. Silence can be overwhelming sometimes so music helps the experience to be more easy going. Besides that, the simple but profound words of the medicine music songs connect with the essence of life, which is obvious in the journey. Also, drums or rattles are incredible tools to take you deep into yourself. They are often used as vehicles to travel to different dimensions inside of ourselves. 

Whenever you decide to participate in a magic mushroom or ayahuasca retreat ceremony, ensure the facilitator can provide a safe space and is aware of the importance of the diet and the altar. Always approach plant medicine with an intention, respect, and humility to create a conscious, constructive use. We all are part of a greater something and with the sacred plant medicine we remember, but as soon as we land here on earth again, we realize it is impossible to put the unspeakable into words, they seem a bit inert to describe the experience, similar to explaining how salt tastes to someone who has never tasted salt in life.