SKYMIND and into infinity......
Having dabbled in many spiritual pursuits I had reached the conclusion that its almost impossible to reach understanding around what this life is from someone else living in it as well. Blind leading the blind. You cant get "there" from "here". And I tried almost all of them- conventional therapy to spiritual pursuits in the human realm. To say I was at my wits end would be appropriate. As a going human concern I was surrendering to the absolute truth that we just grind it out in misery until our number comes up. Bleak.
Plant medicine intrigued me, but the idea was extremely intimidating to me. I had been "high" before, and was not looking to repeat that experience. I wanted and desperately needed answers.
That intense desperation led me to Demian, and the Peaceful mountain Way.
After jumping through some small hoops, I began a dialogue with Demian around where I was, what I hoped for, and if this was the right path for me. I gained confidence in my inner guidance through our talks, and booked a solo ayahuasca retreat. They give very specific guidance around preparing for the journey, and I took those suggestions extremely seriously. The diet. Etc.
Demian and his staff are not shamans. They do not pretend to be, nor attempt to replicate that experience. What they do have is a very broad conventional education background in metaphysics, psychology, divinity, and the use of plant medicine. They are the real deal, and they will do everything in their power to ensure you get the answers you desire. BUT- it's your work! You must meet the medicine more than half way. If you are called to do this- take it very seriously. Do as you are told for preparations. Treat this sacred journey with reverence and respect. I did, and the results were beyond anything I ever imagined. Glorious. Love. Peace. Honesty. Infinity. Astonishing.
If Mother Aya is calling you- I believe in my heart she doesn't care where you meet. If you want to go to Peru - go! She'll meet you there. Kentucky, Arizona, Hawaii? GO. She will meet you there too. My own meeting was decided a thousand years ago. It didn't matter where I was when we met- it was only that we DID meet. THAT is what mattered.
I find it quite funny the dialogue I read regarding "good" shamans, and bad ones and so on and so forth. My experience is that these opinions do not matter to this intelligent , incredible, perceptive , all knowing plant.
My own retreat experience was between me, and the plant. Demian and his staff were there for every minute of my journey, and held me through some of it. But the work was mine, and mine alone. And it is WORK. I also knew that even though they were there- that this work had nothing to do with them. This was between me and God. They were there to witness, encourage, and protect. I asked nothing else from them. They delivered in spades, and they have my eternal gratitude and allegiance. Seeing this work done in others IS their life work.
What was crystal clear to me was that surrendering to this experience, and the surrender does not end, didn't depend on who was there, or if they wore a funny hat and smoked cigarettes and blew smoke on me.
The only thing that mattered was that it was time for this to happen. It had been waiting for me for eons. And I was ready to surrender, to trust, to let go and go and go, and to be shown everything I needed to see. To hold this world in my palm. The weight of the sadness of the entire world in a single tear drop. The joy of the universe in a laughter that bellowed out from me that I had not heard in years. I thought I forgot how. I could go on and on about my experience. What I have now is an intense gratitude , reverence, and respect for this sacrament. Ahhhhhhhh.
This life is sacred to me now. Integration with this experience is ongoing, but Demian and the staff are there for me as long as I need them. We are family. They are my brothers and sisters. They have been for thousands of years.
I hope this review is helpful to you. Wherever you decide to go- please remember it's between you and the plant. The only Zen you find on the top of a mountain is the Zen you take with you. Wherever you go- there you are. Either way this plant will take you where IT knows you need to go. It knows. It's always known. Respect it.
Good luck, and God Bless Read More