Friday, July 5, 2024

Wow! What a day and what a ride! Not sure I can capture the experience in words.

We left our place around 10:45 to go to the Temple where the plant medicine Ceremony was being held. It was to have started at 11:00.

We finally got started around 1:45. Everything runs on relax time here and happens when it happens, not necessarily at what time the clock says.

There were seven participants, three helpers and the leader. We were in an octagon shaped building that had a fire pit in the middle of it. Each of us had our our own mat, blanket and pillow.

They opened the ceremony with song and prayers and blessings. Then we each went to the leader to be served our portion of the plant medicine. I took half of the small cup. Some took a full portion of the big cup and some took a full portion of the small cup.

After everyone was served we all sat or laid on our mats and allowed the medicine to do its magic. It took me about 15 minutes to start to feel it working.

While we were allowing the medicine to do its thing, the leader and the helpers sang prayer songs that were absolutely beautiful. They called in the angels for us to support us during our healing time.

For me, the medicine did two physical things. I must have walked up to the bathroom at least ten times during the next hour or so. I am ready for a colonoscopy!

I also got the shakes. My arms and legs shook like crazy for what felt like hours but it was probably only 45 minutes or so. I would get a short break and have to go to the bathroom but as soon as I laid back down I started shaking again. At times I had to sit up to allow my head to shake.

The leader came over a couple times to check on me and encouraged me to allow the shaking for as long as I needed to. Like I had a choice!

It finally stopped and this time when I went to the bathroom on the way back to my mat, I went outside and stood on the wet earth for a bit and allowed the rain to cleanse me.

The leader offered most a second cup of medicine. I was unable to stand at that point and was still feeling the intensity of the little half cup I had taken an hour ago.

At some point they offered those that wanted a puff on Santa Maria (cannabis). I was in the midst of my shaking and didn’t notice when it came my way. At that point, I didn’t need anything else in my system.

The ceremony didn’t get over with until 7:45. Some of the group had taken a second full cup as well as something they snorted and it took a bit for the effects of all of that to wear off.

After the ceremony they fed us a delicious chicken vegetable soup with rice, salad and watermelon. After we ate we said our goodbyes and came back to our rooms.

I am exhausted and sore from all the shaking. I have a massage tomorrow morning at 10:30 for which I am very grateful.

It was a totally different experience to do plant medicine with all women and in the daytime as compared to my experience in Peru. I wish every woman could experience a room full of acceptance and unconditional love like I felt today.

I still need to process what all happened and to understand what my healing was all about. I have some ideas but nothing very firm in my mind yet.

Time for a shower and bed. Trusting I will sleep very well tonight.

Grateful for the love and support I was given during ceremony today, grateful for the courage to take the plant medicine and grateful for the women that do this work with such grace and love.