Psychedelics and evolution

Hi Greg,

As Rad mentioned "JWG spent time with a peyote master from the Navajo nation who instructed him in the proper use of peyote. As a result, he had direct perceptions of the inner universe which is very different than 'psychedelic' induce experiences generated by synthesized drugs. " I wanted to also mention an experience I had not with the use of the natural plant medicine but what I witnessed as a result of someone NOT being a "master" who instructed the use of plant medicine. I feel that this is information that could be beneficial in sharing.

At the beginning of the year, I went out to an "Indigenous Church", and I was holding a class going over the astrology of the state that I live in. I went out three separate occasions, I showed up and I did the class and left. Each time I would get a client from that experience. Inevitably each time the client would open up to me about what they were experiencing while being "under the medicine". What I came to realize is that it is very important to know who is in fact serving the medicine. These people would take the plants and then the facilitators would then project all types of religious shame onto these people. I would hear these stories and found out that the woman who was running this church, although she was of the Sac and Fox nation and Mexican lineage, she was not accredited or affiliated with the national indigenous church. She was never trained by elders as to how to use the medicines that she was serving. These medicines were Sappo, Buffo, Ayahuasca, and psilocybin. In fact, she would serve these to people for four days straight, have these individuals' set intentions, but then shame them while on these medicines. They were not only in a very vulnerable state, but no one was talking about spiritualizing. In my opinion what I gathered was she was wanting to be a "pseudo god" to feed her own egoic state. There was no talk about spiritualization or teaching on how to utilize the state that they were in to have that direct perception. I then would hear about the things that would happen to others while there. Some felt that they experienced demonic possession after the fact, for others they were shamed when they spoke up about the lack of morals and ethics going on at this place.

With each client I received from this place, I heard the same stories over and over (by the way, three of these people had the first Scorpio eclipse directly conjunct their Uranus in the 4th, Pluto in Libra/3rd and Virgo south nodes). These stories pertained to wanting Spiritual community, learning how to spiritualize, and feeling yet again lost. The question I would ask to all of them was "why did you start coming to this place", the universal answer was "to create a Spiritual connection". To that I would ask a JWG bottom line question, "so who is pointing the way home to God?", and with that question they would answer the question for themselves, "no one". It was an epiphany for them, and a very hard and expensive lesson. For some they are still paying for the mental, emotional, and spiritual trauma that occurred for them and consequences of not having discernment when their inner voice was saying that something was "off" about this place. I also heard the term "recruitment" thrown around a lot regarding the woman who owned this and wanting clients from all over the state and nation.

It was a real experience for me personally to understand what can happen within the spiritual community at some of these places and I share this with you because it is a reality of what can happen at these medicinal "churches". Also reflecting back to what JWG stated that he spent time with an indigenous man who was a master at helping guide and journey others through the medicine in a proper way to have that direct experience. It is so often not talked about, and I saw firsthand how detrimental it can be to not have discernment around these places. It also taught me a really big lesson in whom I want and do not want to be affiliated with, ESPECIALLY with the work of EA.

For those who want to utilize plant medicine I think it is of utmost importance that if it is at one of these medicinal churches to make sure to ask if you can spend time there first and to get to know the people who are going to be administering these plants. To ask questions about what they do when they administer these medicines. If they are talking about whether or not they guide people how to use the medicine to experience the inner universe or not. I would be pointed and ask who they learned how to do this from and where this wisdom was passed down. If it is a one or two time trip to Peru/ the Amazon, then I would be very careful about allowing that person to facilitate this process. I would also ask if it is an Indigenous Church if they are in fact a member of the National Indigenous Church, because they have strict guidelines revolving around the serving of medicine. Also, I have heard the same horror stories from people who have gone on retreats where plant medicine was served.

I know I didn't answer the question regarding astrology, but I did feel called to tell you about this.

<3,

Jordyn

Thanks for responding to my post Jordyn and your advice around investigating spiritual experience through the use of psychedelics. I'm a pisces and have always found collectives of any description really hard to deal with when im in an altered state, however that is induced.

I guess there are levels of experience; it's possible to really benefit from being with others in an altered state, but generally it has worked best when its just me. There maybe certain situations where a guide my be required, but for me I would never chose someone I didn't fully trust and have had some kind of relationship with. Im not suggesting this is the case or need for everyone though!!

Sorry to hear about your experience with the dodgy shaman. I guess these days we have to exercise more discrimination than ever because there are so many ways to get what you want, and most of what is being offered is inappropriate and rooted in more selfish motives............when used properly at the right time, these instruments are useful to some. At other times its simple self indulgence at best, and high level destruction at worst!

Thanks and I'm really enjoying your transit posts!