Shamanism Made Easy: Awaken and Develop the Shamanic Force Within - Christa Mackinnon 2018

A word of caution and encouragement
Sacred medicine plants
The Wider Web of Life

As said above, plant medicine journeys should not be seen as ’quick fixes’, which unfortunately we have a tendency to seek. Two more points of caution. First, there are physical health issues, such as heart conditions, high blood pressure and epilepsy, and mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia or psychosis, as well as certain forms of medication, which might be contra-indicative to partaking in psychedelic plant ceremonies. Secondly, as already indicated, you must ensure that the ceremonial shamanic leader is well trained and experienced. As offering plant ceremonies to western seekers has become a lucrative business, the market includes charlatans and pseudo-shamans.

For some people, plant medicines are part of the journey of expanding consciousness, of connection, of psycho-spiritual healing and becoming whole, but they are not the journey. The journey is an unfolding process, and if plant medicine is for you, you will know when you have reached the right point in your journey to take it. Some seekers will take it once, most will take it a few times, and for some it becomes part of the way.

The outcome for most seekers, besides personal healing and knowing, is a total change of world-view from accepting that there is only the one material world that we can experience daily with our senses to realizing that there are multiple energetic worlds and recognizing the reality of non-material spirit beings. Performed at the right time and guided by experienced shamans, medicine plant ceremonies can produce astonishing healing and transformational experiences, break through cognitive barriers and open our consciousness and our heart to the wonders of the worlds.