EntheoNation: Psychedelics | Shamanism | Visionary

On today’s episode of The EntheoNation Podcast, we host Michael Costuros of Entrepreneurial Awakening, a company specializing in ayahuasca retreats for entrepreneurs. During our chat, we look back on Michael’s own journey in the entrepreneurial world and how he discovered the powers of ayahuasca before dedicating himself to aiding others on their own quests. Michael details the specifics of his program and comments on his beliefs for a progressive yet respectful practice. We discuss some of the difficulties that are present in a modern, cross-cultural context and also imagine the future of what has become a more and more popular trend. Our guest’s own experience has led him to cultivate, what he calls, a ‘detached engagement’ to business, through which he is able to be engaged with the work but feel detached from the trauma and reaction of every day fluctuations. I personally love this description! Entrepreneurial Awakening was born out of Michael’s own explorations and I can’t help but feel that the organization is all the better for his personal touch and ethics. Key Points From This Episode: An introduction to Michael’s entrepreneurial journey and his first retreat. The idea of ‘detached engagement’ as a way to manage success. How Michael started to facilitate ayahuasca retreats himself. The pricing model and specifics of Michael’s retreat package. Ego death and the relationship between experience and entrepreneurship. Potential conflicts in spaces that possibly contradict each other. The choices Michael has made and how he positions himself and the courses he runs. Some of the effects and changes Michael has witnessed in his participants. The benefits that Michael views as most prominent from the periods. The future of the current spike of interest in ayahuasca retreats. Openness to new ways of mixing the tradition of ayahuasca. The four common traditions of ayahuasca usage. Michael’s most far out visionary experience! And much more! Art by Juan Carlos Taminchi Tweetables: “Fully engaged with the game of the start-up and not emotionally attached or in a reactive, traumatized state relative to whatever was going on that week.” — @mCosturos [0:02:55.4] “I leave my agenda at the door, I don’t have an agenda for them.” — @mCosturos [0:17:54.3] About Michael Costuros Michael has been leading a business mastermind program aimed at tech entrepreneurs since 2011. Unlike most business coaching available, his is unlike any other, a course which includes a ten-day long trip to Peru, where participants take part in three traditional ayahuasca ceremonies. During the three-month long program, participants are treated to 1-on-1 coaching with Michael and are given extensive integration after their ayahuasca experience. Why did Michael decide to use psychedelics in his high-end business coaching? Michael has always had an interest in psychedelics being born in the Bay Area to Hippie parents. In 2008, when his tech startup was facing a number of challenges, his wife convinced him to travel to Peru for an ayahuasca ceremony. He was reluctant at first, but the ceremony revitalized his interest in his business. He came back to San Francisco “reinvigorated and free.” Michael wanted to share the benefits he’d found from his experience to other business owners. At the back of his mind, he was sure that he’d be able to help those entrepreneurs who wanted to improve themselves and grow their companies. He has this idea that through the ayahuasca experience, he could help people remove all the ‘schmutz’ from their lives, allowing them to feel ‘more like themselves.’ Michael’s course starts at around $11,000, which isn’t cheap. But for a three-month long business mastermind, this sounds a reasonable charge, especially considering it includes a ten-day long retreat in Peru. Michael claims that he doesn’t make much money through this business, just about covering costs,

On today’s episode we welcome visionary artist Amanda Sage. Amanda has had a long journey with her painting and is here to share all her insight on the subject of translating inner visions into physical art. We have a look at some of Amanda’s background and her discovery of her innate ability to channel her inner worlds into beautiful images. Amanda finds that spoken and written language are often a limiting medium, whereas images are a much better vehicle for communicating the unspeakable experiences from her spirit realms. We chat a bit about the history of painting and how Amanda views the timeline of ‘visionary art’. She is adamant it is not a new art form at all with many examples of visionary art available. We also go into how to best access these dreamscapes in a world filled with noise and distractions. I asked Amanda about her relationship to mind altering substances and she was happy to share some of the experiences she has had but was equally clear that they are not the foundations of her work. For Amanda, psychedelics are often abused, not shown due respect and even overused by those who do respect them. From there, we also chatted about the message Amanda tries to convey and how to maintain the lessons that these dreamscapes offer us in our day to day activity. All this and more in the episode so tune in! Key Points From This Episode: Lorna’s new habitat and some of the synchronicity she has been experiencing. Amanda’s backstory and how she found her ability in visionary art. The transcendence of visual languages as opposed to the boundaries of the spoken. Amanda’s use of medium, dreams and the vehicle of vision. A timeline for visionary art and defining what can be included in the continuum. Amanda’s visual ability before she started her schooling. Accessing visionary dreamscapes in a stifling contemporary climate. Breaking free from the analytical and channelling the collective voice. Amanda relationship to entheogenic agents and her first LSD experience. The evolution of Amanda’s art and the influence of the community. How Amanda views the message of her work and some themes from her art. The shifting of consciousness as the cause of Amanda’s work. Implementing and carrying the inspiration of the visions into everyday life. Sharing visionary spaces and communal journeys into these. Amanda’s most far visionary experience. And much more! Art by Amanda Sage Tweetables: “Creativity is something that we use in our lives at all times.” — @amandasageart [0:08:27.3] “I find that what visionary art to me really means is that it is medicine.” — @amandasageart [0:10:44.2] About Amanda Sage Amanda Sage is at the forefront of a new breed of visionary/interdimensional artists using art as a tool for personal, spiritual, planetary growth and transformation. Amanda was born April 19, 1978 in Denver, Colorado to her mother YOU and father Jackson, with two brothers still to come. Her childhood was filled with healthy, tropical, media-free, creative freedom in Florida without the distraction of formal schooling until she entered 4th grade in Colorado. After finishing high school in Boulder, Colorado in 1996 at the Shining Mountain Waldorf School (where ‘coincidentally’ her high school art teacher was the Fantastic/Visionary artist HIKARU), her travels and projects bounced her between Bali, Indonesia and Vienna, Austria. Sam Bull from Leap Now helped guide her in connecting with the revolutionary midwife Robin Lim in Bali, and initiating the first contact with the artist and teacher Philip Rubinov Jacobson. After graduating she went to Bali as a volunteer for close to a year, and amongst other projects & exotic distractions, illustrated an herbal book with over 70 indigenous plants and herbs for the natural Birthing Clinic, now called Bumi Sehat. In this time she also extended production of her Batik clothing and design project that she had started in high...

Today’s episode is a conversation with Christina Pratt, founder of the Last Mask Center in Oregon and the host of the Why Shamanism Now Podcast. As an experienced healer and modern shaman, Christina is here to talk about her practice in the last thirty years and what has directed her path in life. We traverse a range of topics around shamanism and really glean Christina’s vast insight when it comes to qualifications, communications, responsibility and other points of importance. For Christina, the job of the shaman in today’s climate is to bridge paradigms. We live in a mostly globalized world with many outlets and tools at our disposal, and the ability to communicate with the spirits should be a respectful yet available option for anybody. She strongly believes in the responsibility with which a shaman is entrusted, but balances this with the personal aspects of spirit work, so that each person may find their own way to be a positive force. Christina has a wealth of wisdom to share so tune in! Key Points From This Episode: What led Christina to the path of Shamanism after a life of confusion. The life changing experience that altered Christina’s path. The influence of Christina’s upbringing on her interpretation of this experience. Discussing the qualifications of spiritual leadership and shamanism. Our birthright to a personal relationship with the spirit. The open ended nature of the shamanic calling and work. The arguments in the shamansphere that waste time instead versus creating positive change. The shaman’s responsibility to the world or his / her community. Changing the world through your everyday choices and actions. The challenges that arise when shamanic practices are blended, cross-culturally. Mediating your environment and communicating with helpful spirits. The helpful spirit that we all have access to. And much more! Art by Luis Tamani Tweetables: “I arrived accidentally and reluctantly. Like most westerners I did not have any schooling or education in how communicate with spirit directly.” — Christina Pratt [0:02:12.1] “I just thought I’m being tested and I am failing. Which was kind of new experience for me.” — Christina Pratt [0:09:00.2] About Christina Pratt Shamanic healer, teacher, and author, Christina Pratt, opened the Last Mask Center for Shamanic Healing in New York in 1990. She has been serving clients on both coasts since then, opening the Center in Portland in 2001. Pratt, a teacher of exceptional clarity, humor, and inspiration, has taught at The Omega Institute, Rowe Center, Hollyhock, Breitenbush Hot Springs, and Sleeping Lady Retreat Center in addition to the workshops produced by Last Mask Center. She is a frequent and honored speaker for the American Holistic Medical Association and local salons. Pratt's book, An Encyclopedia of Shamanism, was received with good reviews. Pratt's training began in 1986 amid a lifetime of dance. Her shamanic work is a synthesis of studies with Ecuadorian, Tibetan, Tamang, and African shamans, the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, the Center for Intuitive Energy Processing, and personal shamanic experience. Masks of Illusions and the Authentic Self was first offered in Hawaii in 1992. The Cycle of Transformation has continued each year since, providing opportunities for transformation and initiation. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Entheonation on Patreon Christina Pratt Last Mask Centre Oregon Why Shamanism Now Radio Show Medicine Music for the Soul Arrow To The Sun by Murray Kyle Acknowledgement: Birds of Paradise Desert Dwellers Emancipator The Human Experience Kaminanda Phuture Primitive Shaman’s Dream Art by Luis Tamani

Welcome to today’s episode of The EntheoNation Podcast! In this episode, I am joined by Rachael Sessions who is a plant medicine advocate, shamanic guide and musician. She interviews me at the Modern Shaman Summit about accessing the gifts of the earth and the energy of nature to empower ourselves. We all have the ability to become visionary leaders and light workers, it is just a matter of tapping into our own innate power and getting in sync with the world around us. During our chat, we look at the beginning of my quest, how I found my calling and how this calling fits into these troubling times. We give special attention to power and money. Rachael and I also discuss the idea of remuneration for shamanic practices and services and the ethics around this. We finish off our discussion with a meditation on the importance of community and finding your tribe. I believe this to be the most important step in any person’s spiritual journey and there is no reason in the age of connectivity that you cannot find your people. Finally we are blessed to have a beautiful song by Aayam to carry us out of the episode, so tune in to get it all! Key Points From This Episode: Differences between Eastern Shamanism and examples from the Amazon. Proper, non-parasitic etiquette when visiting restricted areas in the rain forest. A turning point in Lorna’s life in 2004 in the Brazilian Amazon. A message from the forest that Lorna received and chose to to accept as her calling. Lorna’s shamanic training and the idea of lineage. Connecting these shamanic practices with prosperity, power and purpose. Reasons why shamanism has garnered a mixed reputation with regards to money and power. Should spirituality and shamanism be free? Or what payment is appropriate? Lorna’s belief in the power of your tribe and how this can allow you to grow. How to connect with a tribe and utilizing online tools such as email. And much more! Art by David Hewson Tweetables: “I know there can be a lot of negative connotations around shamanism and power and so what I want to emphasize is that the power that I am talking about is not power over other people.” — @EntheoNation [0:20:15.4] “I think what is really exciting and needed in this world right now is this integration of people who are interested in these plant medicine traditions but who come from other backgrounds.” — @EntheoNation [0:28:06.1] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Entheonation on Patreon Modern Shaman Summit Rachael Sessions on Bandcamp Rachael Sessions Entheonation Spiritual Evolution The Jaguar that Roams the Mind World Ayahuasca Conference Shaman Songs of the Amazon Rainforest Aayam on Bandcamp Art by David Hewson Medicine Music for the Soul Pay Madre Naturaleza by Aayam - Andrea Márquez & Christian Amín Vàrkonyi Lyrics: Gran espíritu, gran abuela, gran abuelo como soy me presento ante ti como soy te pido bendiciones y agradezco el corazón que has puesto en mi Cuando vengo no mas vengo, no mas vengo gran espíritu sabrás a lo que vengo a entregar mi corazon, mi corazon corazón que es lo único que tengo Corazón que es lo único que tengo Corazón que es lo único que tengo Translation: Great spirit, great grandmother, great grandfather I stand before you as I am As I am, I ask for your blessings I appreciate the heart you have placed in me When I come, I’ll come no more, I’ll come no more Great spirit you will know why I’ve come To give my heart, my heart Heart that is all that I have Heart that is all that I have Heart that is all that I have Acknowledgement: Birds of Paradise Desert Dwellers Emancipator The Human Experience Kaminanda Phuture Primitive Shaman’s Dream

In today’s episode, we host author and ethnopharmacologist Dennis McKenna to talk about the pharmacology of Ayahuasca. Dennis is also a lecturer and the brother of the late, celebrated psychedelic explorer Terence McKenna. We chat with Dennis about exactly how Ayahuasca works in the body both immediately and in the long term. Dennis has himself conducted studies on these fields and his findings, although early, in an under-crowded field are very thought provoking. Dennis gives a great introduction to the DMT compound and its place in the natural world and its history of human usage. From there we look at its current status and increasing usage before considering some of the chemicals with which it should not be combined. We also share some inspiring and special music from Liquid Bloom to guide us out of the episode. So listen in to hear all about it! Key Points From This Episode: A basic illustration of exactly what pharmacology is as a field of study. How Ayahuasca fits into this study and its components. The evolutionary function of our internal detoxification processes. Ways that DMT and Ayahuasca bypass this processes of inhibition. Speculation about how early Ayahuasca brews were discovered or invented. Suitable plant candidates for the brew. Balancing the DMT compound’s ubiquity in nature with its illegality. The relationship between the legal status of substance and its so-called toxicity. Why certain antidepressants should never be combined with Ayahuasca. The process that can occur when combining these drugs. Why serotonin transporters are usually more efficient in Ayahuasca drinkers. The studies that Dennis conducted around these findings in Brazil. The lack of long-term studies on the pharmacological effects of DMT. The potential transformative quality of Ayahuasca to the human psychological state. A beautiful and meditative piece of psychedelic music from Liquid Bloom. And much more! Art by Jheferson Saldaña Valera Tweetables: “I think the agenda of those who want to prohibit it or restrict access, the reason they do is because it makes you have funny ideas.” — @DennisMcKenna4 [0:14:43.1] “It is extremely common, it is actually a neurotransmitter in the brain. It occurs not only in plants but also in fungi and animals, including us. It does occur in the brain, it occurs in other parts of our body, our lungs, adrenals and so on.” — @DennisMcKenna4 [0:22:27.1] About Dennis McKenna Dennis Jon McKenna is an American ethnopharmacologist, research pharmacognosist, lecturer and author. He is the brother of well-known psychedelics proponent Terence McKenna and is a founding board member and the director of ethnopharmacology at the Heffter Research Institute, a non-profit organization concerned with the investigation of the potential therapeutic uses of psychedelic medicines. McKenna received his Master's degree in botany at the University of Hawaii in 1979. He received his doctorate in botanical sciences in 1984 from the University of British Columbia,where he wrote a dissertation entitled Monoamine oxidase inhibitors in Amazonian hallucinogenic plants: ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological investigations. McKenna then received post-doctoral research fellowships in the Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health, and in the Department of Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine. McKenna's research led to the development of natural products for Aveda Corporation as well as greater awareness of natural products and medicines. He has authored numerous scientific articles and books. He co-authored The Invisible Landscape with his brother Terence and Botanical Medicines: the Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements with Kenneth Jones and Kerry Hughes. McKenna spent a number of years as a senior lecturer for the Center for Spirituality and Healing, part of the Academic Health Center at the University of Min...

In this episode, we welcome repeat guest, Shonagh Home. Shonagh Home is a magic mushroom healer, shamanic therapist, teacher, writer and poet. Through her work, Shonagh assists clients to break chronic, self-defeating patterns, and move into empowered personal sovereignty. She is an international public speaker on the subject of visionary shamanic-spirit medicine, a voice for stewardship of the honeybees, and a teacher on the subject of Traditional Foods. Her work delves into the deep layers of the soul in an effort to call up the hidden wisdom and ancestral magic that lies dormant in every man and woman. Her poetic translations from the nature realm endeavor to break the spell of forgetting and call us back to our true nature. In this episode, we hear how Shonagh discovered the healing power of mushrooms and discuss their benefits, as well as the precautions that need to be taken, when using magic mushrooms. We also learn more about the ancient teachings and ancient shamans of mushroom healing and the role of women Seers in today’s modern world. We also delve into the controversial topic of neo-shamanism and hear the most pressing message from the nature spirits today, in the voice of Shonagh’s stream-of-consciousness poetry. Key Points From This Episode: My experience at a three-day ecstatic dance style campout with magic mushrooms. The life-changing guidance I received through fungal consciousness at this event. Discover how Shonagh Home become a healer and shamanic practitioner. The level of caution that needs to be exercised with magic mushrooms. Shonagh’s book Love and Spirit Medicine that details her mushroom experiences. Shonagh’s one year spent doing monthly deep immersions with mushrooms. Discover more about ancient teachings in mushroom healing and rituals. Neo-shamanism and working with indigenous medicines outside of indigenous context. How can we discern between out of integrity shamanism and shamanism of integrity? The role of the Seer and the medicine of the owl: Breaking patterns with magic mushrooms. Is there a place for medicine women in today’s modern world? Find out how we can use visionary mushrooms to wake the hell up! What is the most pressing message from the nature spirits at this time. Listen as Shonagh reads her healing poem “Stone Circle Whispers” live on the podcast. And much more! Art by Paula Duró Tweetables: “Let us remember that there is no formal training in our western culture for this.” — Shonagh Home @entheonation [0:11:23.1] “These are profound, powerful substances that have ability to infer incredible healing.” — Shonagh Home @entheonation [0:11:57.1] “You cannot break a bad habit until you can see what it is you are doing.” — Shonagh Home @entheonation  [0:29:22.1] “The medicine woman is desperately needed in today’s world.” — Shonagh Home @entheonation [0:30:10.1] “The most pressing message is to get back to the natural cycles and honor nature.” — Shonagh Home @entheonation [0:35:23.1] About Shonagh Home Shonagh Home is an author, shamanic bridge, teacher and public speaker. Her offerings focus on the cultivation of our intrinsic abilities – intuition, creativity and multi-dimensional awareness. A woman of Celtic and North Germanic blood, she works with the mushroom in tandem with the nature spirits to reawaken the once treasured bond linking humankind, nature and the invisible realms. Her work with those in need is deeply probing and revelatory, breaking the spell and activating in the seeker an entirely new place of reference. In addition, Shonagh is a beekeeper and apitherapist, administering bee venom therapy for a variety of illnesses such as MS and arthritis. She is a voice for the plight of the honeybees, offering a powerful solution in the form of Biodynamic farming and gardening, as put forth by Rudolf Steiner. She is author of the books, Ix Chel Wisdom: 7 Teachings from the Mayan Sacred Feminine,

On today’s show, I interview Mark Plotkin, ethnobotanist, author and president of The Amazon Conservation Team. Mark originally founded this organization as a way to commune between the two disparate fields of aiding the people of the Amazon and the rain forest itself. In his experience, other conservation efforts did not bring these two worlds together, something that is integral to any real effort for either. During our chat, we look at the early years of Mark’s organization, working with local leaders in the Amazon to create maps of the areas and the challenges that these processes posed. We also get to hear from Mark about what keeps him motivated, the status of Shamanism in the contemporary climate and what he believes are essential attitudes towards successful social entrepreneurship. Through our discussion, we learn what ethnobotany as a study can look like and get some nuggets of wisdom from a learned and dedicated student of the jungle. We also end off the episode with a wonderful Ecuadorian psychedelic piece of music from Nicola Cruz! So let’s dive right in and hear what Mark has to say! Key Points From This Episode: The reasons Mark started his organization, The Amazon Conservation Team. Mark’s definition of social entrepreneurship for non-profit organization. The initiative that Mark spearheaded in which he provided GPS skills for map creation. Some of the challenges that Mark faced in educating and creating maps in the Amazon. The spiritual boomerang and the reasons Mark keeps going with his quest. Mark’s perspective on the fundamental characteristics of success and the importance of luck. How 9/11 almost closed the doors of The Amazon Conservation Team. Times in the field when Mark feared for his life and the lessons experience has taught him. Modern Shamanism and the navigating the contemporary world with ancient wisdom. Mark’s beliefs around the spirit world and his experiences relating to it. Day to day life in the field and what ethnobotany consists of. Advice to social entrepreneurs who might be considering working in the Amazon. Mark’s attitude and approach to changing the world effectively. And much more! Tweetables: “What we like to say when we are asked about these type of social entrepreneurship approaches, is that it is the marriage of ancient shamanic wisdom and 21st century technology.” ” — @DocMarkPlotkin [0:10:42.2] “We didn’t set out to map the Amazon, we didn’t set out teach Indians how to use technology, what we did set out to do was give these guys a level playing field or even an advantage on that playing field over the people who want to take advantage of them in may cases.” — @DocMarkPlotkin [0:16:00.1] About Mark Plotkin Mark J. Plotkin is an ethnobotanist and a plant explorer in the Neotropics, where he is an expert on rainforest ecosystems. Plotkin is an advocate for tropical rainforest conservation. After attending Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, Plotkin worked at Harvard University's Museum of Comparative Zoology when he joined an expedition searching for an elusive crocodilian species in 1978 and was galvanized into returning to education. He completed his bachelor of liberal arts degree at the Harvard Extension School, his master's degree in forestry at Yale School of Forestry, and his Ph.D. at Tufts University; during which he completed a handbook for the Tiriyó people of Suriname detailing their own medicinal plants—the only other book printed in Tiriyó language being the Bible. He went on to do research at Harvard under Richard Evans Schultes. He is the author of the book Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice. Other critically acclaimed books by Plotkin include Medicine Quest, The Killers Within: the Deadly Rise of Drug-Resistant Bacteria (with Michael Shnayerson), and The Shaman's Apprentice, (a children's book with Lynne Cherry). In 1995, Plotkin and prominent Costa Rican conservationist Liliana Madrigal formed the A...

Hey there Beautiful Visionaries, This is Lorna Liana, host of EntheoNation, from Koh Phangan Thailand, a tropical paradise, trance music mecca, Ibiza of the East, and portal of transformational consciousness. It’s the kind of place where, if you threw a crystal you’d hit a vegan tantric yogini. EntheoNation is launching Season 2 of the podcast after a long 2 year hiatus. I’ve received so many emails asking when EntheoNation would start up again, and I want to thank you so much for your support. I did not expect to put this podcast on hiatus for 2 years, but the time definitely flew by. It’s also a significant amount of work to put together a podcast, it’s hours of time spent in topic research, and scripting. Also, everyone on the podcast production team, except me, gets paid, and it can be difficult to allocate that much time, effort, and money towards a passion project that doesn’t generate revenue, because, well, there aren’t a heck of a lot of corporate sponsors you can find for a channel about psychedelics. Also, in the last year, I relocated 6 times, including 2 visits to Brazil, while I went through my application process for a Spanish residency visa. As soon as I got it, I moved to Barcelona, but in the summer, Ibiza captured my heart. I am so overjoyed to make Ibiza my permanent home, for now. Ibiza is a shamanic hub. Over the summer, my Brazilian medicine family came over to host a 4 day prayer ceremony with about 30 indigenous shamans and elders. It was an epic gathering, that I have to say, was a peak moment, a convergence of so many powerful and meaningful aspects of my life, that I felt the unfolding of destiny. You see, in 2004 I took a trip to Huni Kui territory in the Brazilian Amazon, and traveled 5 days by boat to a remote village with 2 documentary film teams, to participate in the Festival of the Royal Hawk. I almost didn’t go on that trip, because I couldn’t speak Portuguese, however, there was one man who could speak English. His name was Fernando Assad, or better known as Txai Fernando. He and his team recorded sounds of the forest and indigenous chants, formed the musical group Amazon Ensemble and produced their first album Mãe Inini. Fernando went on to lead ceremonies with his band and bring groups to the Amazon. My life totally changed as well. During that 4 month trip I received a message from the forest around me that I had to learn emerging technologies to preserve indigenous wisdom, and find a way to empower indigenous people with emerging technology. I went on to pursue a career in Internet marketing, in the San Francisco startup world of disruptive technology, and then became a digital nomad. This mission has become a journey of a lifetime. I had not seen Txai Fernando since then. 13 years later, we would meet again in Ibiza. As I walked through the doorway of the villa where the Yawanawa ceremony would take place, he was, just at that moment walking out. We stopped, face to face for the first time in 13 years. And, looking at each other, I blurted, “I wouldn’t have gone on that trip if it weren’t for you, and the fact that you spoke English.” He looked at me and said, “That trip totally changed my life.” “Mine too!” “It changed their lives also. In fact, the Festival was so powerful and revealed a lot of intense energy for them. Some dark energy. Somebody died. It got so bad, that they actually moved the entire village. Nobody lives there anymore.” And so it was that night, in the dome at the House of Colors, that I sat with the Yawanawa, my medicine family from the Condor Eagle tribe in Alto Paraiso, Brazil, in my new home of Ibiza. And Txai Fernando, after 13 years, wearing a magnificent headdress of Harpy Eagle feathers, overflowing with joy, served me a cup ayahuasca. The moment the medicine touched my lips, destiny came full circle, and I realized I indeed harnessed the power of visionary states and manifested a life beyond my wildest dreams.

Philippe Lewis, the Exquisite Lover, is a Sex & Intimacy Coach, Certified Sexological Bodyworker, Trained Somatica Practitioner, and Epic Event Producer. For the last 18 years, he has been exploring relationships, intimacy, sensuality and sexuality with individuals and communities through teaching, writing, coaching and (sexy) events with the goal of growing men and women into… The post 26 The Burning Man Relationship Survival Guide | Philippe Lewis appeared first on EntheoNation.

Larry Norris is the founder and executive director of ERIE (Entheogenic Research, Integration, and Education). ERIE is a group dedicated to entheogenic research and the development of integration tools, as well as bringing diverse entheogenic speakers, practitioners, and researchers to share their wisdom with the San Francisco/Bay Area communiy. This summer Larry The post 25 Psychedelic Love, Surviving Burning Man | Julie Megler & Larry Norris appeared first on EntheoNation.

Andrew Johnstone is in charge of designing the Burning Man Man Base, and ensuring that the Man burns safely, so that flaming tons of debris do not cascade down onto the thousands of revelers below. Originally from Great Britain, Andrew currently resides in San Francisco with his wife and children. Since 2005 he apprenticed under Rod Garrett, the architect The post 24 Can Burning Man Change the World? | Andrew Johnstone appeared first on EntheoNation.

Elizabeth Bast serves as a writer, poet, yoga teacher, yogic life-style coach, visual & performance artist, fusion temple dancer, and musician. She studied at New College of San Francisco with an emphasis on Art and Social Change. Chor Boogie a.k.a. Joaquin Lamar Hailey is an internationally acclaimed spray-paint artist. His visionary murals The post 23 Iboga: Kicking Heroin Addiction with the Ultimate Ancestral Trip | Elizabeth Bast & Chor Boogie appeared first on EntheoNation.

Rak Razam is the world’s leading ‘experiential’ journalist, writing about and helping shape the emergence of a new cultural paradigm in the 21st century. A writer, film producer and culture maker, he bridges the worlds of shamanism, consciousness and popular culture. Author of the critically acclaimed book Aya Awakenings: A Shamanic Odyssey and the companion… The post 22 Western Shamans, Sacred Tea Servers & Charlatans | Rak Razam appeared first on EntheoNation.

Susana Bustos, PhD, is a transpersonal counselor, professor of psychology, and independent researcher on the entheogenic shamanic traditions of the Americas. Her main body of research and clinical work has focused on Peruvian Amazonian Vegetalismo practices, particularly on the effects of song (icaros) and plant diets on healing processes, as well as on the integration of experiences with plant medicines The post 21 Icaros, Shaman Songs & Plant Music | Susana Bustos appeared first on EntheoNation.

Shonagh Home is a well-known author, shamanic practitioner, teacher, and public speaker. She has become the “feminine voice for the reverent shamanic use of psilocybin mushrooms”. Her book Love and Spirit Medicine archives and keeps track of her mystical journey and shamanic exploration into the heart of entheogenic mushrooms. She travels The post 20 Psilocybin Mushrooms, Spirit Guides & Otherworldly Intelligence | Shonagh Home appeared first on EntheoNation.

Android Jones began studying art at age 8.  He attended the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota FL, where he trained in traditional academic drawing/painting and animation. Jones interned at George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic and later founded Massive Black, an art development company based in LA.  Android began his career as… The post 19 Quintessential Death Trip, Interdimensional Beings, Archetypal Love, & Art | Android Jones appeared first on EntheoNation.

Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana. Rick studied with Dr. Stanislav Grof and was among… The post 18 Psychedelics & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Rick Doblin appeared first on EntheoNation.

Benjamin De Loenen studied audiovisual media in The Netherlands, and received his Masters degree with honors as a film director and editor for his documentary ‘Ibogaine-Rite of Passage’ (2004), which he directed and produced. He became active as a public speaker about Iboga internationally and eventually The post 17 Ayahuasca Legal Defense & The Road to Decriminalization | Benjamin De Loenen appeared first on EntheoNation.

Swami Chaitanya, aka “The Swami of Pot”, is a radical classical: he started his life as an East Coast intellectual and now in his early seventies is a West Coast Cannabis Holy Man. Swami moved to San Francisco in 1967 and calls himself “an original hippie.” He went on to live in South America, Europe… The post 16 Weeding Thru the Weed, How to Judge Emerald Cup Cannabis Contestants | Swami Chaitanya & Nikki Lastreto appeared first on EntheoNation.

Javier Prato is an independent film maker from Argentina. Since his big leap to Hollywood, California in 2000, he has kept himself busy by having his short films screened at various film festivals. His satirical and controversial short, Jesus Christ: The Musical, also known as Jesus Will Survive, has had an immeasurable number of views on e-mail attachments… The post 15 Spirit Medicine: Becoming One with Magic Mushrooms | Javier Prato appeared first on EntheoNation.