The Medicine’s Prayer
I will take you into your mind
A message from Ayahuasca
There you will find beauty sublime
There you will find terror and pain
You will find a peace beyond pleasure
You will find a strength beyond fear
I will take you into your mind
To face your soul within
To conquer your self within
This is my prayer for humanity
This is my prayer for humanity
Introduction
Entheogens are psychoactive substances utilized for the purpose of inducing a mystical or spiritual experience. They have served humanity for thousands of years, with the oldest known depiction of entheogen use being approximately 9,000 years old! Ceremonial use of entheogens continues into the modern era, with established churches across the world using ayahuasca, ibogaine, mescaline, psilocybin, and other compounds. Entheogens are also leading to breakthroughs in western medicine and therapy, with ongoing studies being conducted into their benefits.
Used properly, entheogens are powerful tools of healing. They heal us by reconnecting us to the earth, to each other, and to states of awe and wonder. Through this rekindled connection, we will be better able to address environmental issues, tribalism, and nihilism. Entheogens are a catalyst for change.
Author’s Note
The term “Entheogen” in this article primarily refers to serotonergic psychedelics, which include mescaline, psilocybin, DMT, and LSD. The terms “Entheogen” and “Psychedelic” are used interchangeably throughout the article. Entheogens can also include other plant medicines and psychoactive compounds, such as marijuana. The key difference between an entheogen and a recreational drug is how it’s used.
What Entheogens Do
The Scientific
Serotonergic psychedelics (Such as mescaline, psilocybin, DMT, and LSD) are chemically similar to neurotransmitters such as serotonin. This allows them to bind to neurotransmitter receptors, altering cognition and perception. Once the substances have taken effect, they decrease activity in portions of the brain’s default mode network. This network is a critical component for self-perception. Dampening it therefore contributes to ego dissolution.
While portions of the default mode network are dampened, psychedelics also increase the amount of activity in other regions of the brain. Specifically, these regions are said to reach a state that is “higher in entropy.” One demonstration of this can be found in the series “Mind Field,” in an episode on ayahuasca. In the episode, brain scans taken during an ayahuasca journey show increased activity through more complex brain wave graphs.
How exactly these physical effects lead to mystical experiences remains as mysterious as consciousness itself. The experiences last for anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the substances ingested.
The Spiritual
I am not my possessions
Recorded during a psychedelic journey
I am not my body
I am not my thoughts
I AM
multiplicity
simplicity
peace
There’s more to a beautiful scene than mere smears of color. Anyone who has looked at an inspiring piece of art, or a serene sunset, has felt this. One might say that such events are nothing more than photons being interpreted by the brain. To do so, however, is to completely ignore their experiential aspects.
To see things at a deeper level is to see not words, but poetry, not smears, but art, not a crude lump of flesh, but a human being in all their complexity. Entheogens open us up to this world of sensation and meaning, where it may have been dulled before.
Furthermore, by suppressing the ego (Self-perception and cognition), psychedelics can take us beyond the stories we tell ourselves. As one delves deeper into the experience, one can begin to see things from a perspective outside one’s occupation, one’s race, and one’s preferences. One may even glimpse the awareness that is shared among us all.
In recognizing this common awareness, this shared humanity, we may learn to live in harmony, not ruthless competition. We may learn that there is so much more to life than meets the eye.
A War On People
Entheogens are healing depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, addiction, and more at unprecedented rates (Investigate the research for yourself). Despite this, governments around the world have classified many of them as “dangerous, with no known medical use.” Anyone caught with these substances is subject to extreme retribution, including decades in prison. For a crystal clear glimpse into the hypocrisy of the war on drugs (Specifically on entheogens), check out this photo of one of thousands of medical marijuana dispensaries in the US:
Now, read the US DEA’s scheduling.
The erroneous scheduling of entheogens is too broad a topic for this article. Suffice it to say that, to deny their legitimate usage is to bury one’s head in the sand. Furthermore, classic psychedelics such as mescaline, psilocybin, DMT, and LSD are not addictive, contradicting their status as having a high potential for abuse.
Watch documentaries on entheogens. Know that, in most countries, every single person in those documentaries who took entheogens for healing deserves punishment under the letter of the law. Would you be the one to throw the cancer patient in prison? To fine the veteran? To shut down the healer’s ceremony?
A war on entheogens is a war on people.
Moving Forward
Magic mushrooms, ayahuasca, ibogaine, mescaline-containing cacti, and other entheogens grow from the ground of their own volition. Without any human intervention, they spread, letting mankind access their gifts as they do. These medicines are humanity’s birthright, as much as the fruits and grains we eat for sustenance.
If we take a wise approach, handling them with care, and in a sustainable manner, we may all benefit from their use for centuries to come. Imagine a world where medicines are freely available from the earth itself, and we are not punished for consuming them. We can make that a reality.
Using Entheogens Skillfully
Like any tool, entheogens can be used skillfully, or unskillfully. To get the most out of an entheogen induced journey, be mindful of your intention, your set and setting, and integration. Failing to take these preparations seriously can lead to undesirable consequences, such as a ‘bad trip.’
Please also be conscious of sustainability when using entheogens. Some entheogens, such as peyote, are already endangered. Be mindful of where your medicines are coming from.
Intention
Undergoing a psychedelic experience without setting an intention is like rowing into the open ocean without a plan. Be explicit about your reasons for taking a psychedelic. These could be healing, spiritual insight, problem-solving, or something else. Even if the goal is just to have fun, be explicit about that. Setting intentions helps to give context to a psychedelic experience.
Another major part of intention is dose. Decide whether you want a very intense experience, or something more gentle, and measure your dose appropriately.
Set And Setting
Set and setting refer to the mindset (Set) and the physical environment (Setting) of someone undergoing a psychedelic experience. For mindset, ensure a clear mind prior to a psychedelic journey. Meditation, or calming activities such as a walk in the woods, are a great way to clear the mind before undergoing a psychedelic experience. Ensure that ongoing tasks are completed beforehand, so they don’t provide a source of anxiety.
For setting, psychedelic journeys should be conducted within a ‘container,’ a specific area set aside for the purposes of the journey. The container should be peaceful, both aesthetically and auditorily. Ensure that there is an ‘anchor’ within the container. This is an object that keeps you grounded. Anything that brings you comfort could make a good anchor. When the experience gets too intense, anchors can help bring it down.
Other areas to be mindful of with setting include lighting, the time of day, and temperature. It’s also important to let someone know you’re undergoing a psychedelic experience. Just like with hiking or camping, no one can help you if they don’t know where you are or what you’re doing! If you’re a beginner, find someone to stay with you while you journey.
Integration
Often, entheogens can show people aspects of themselves that they never noticed before. They can be catalysts for major life changes. Ultimately, however, it is up to the individual to change their own lives. This can make the period following a psychedelic journey the most difficult (And rewarding) of all, as people seek to incorporate the lessons they’ve learned into their life.
This is where integration comes in. Be intentional about incorporating learned lessons into your life. If possible, find an integration coach. Integration coaches specialize in helping people integrate their psychedelic journeys. These could be licensed therapists, non-professionals who have taken courses, or indigenous shamans. Determine the qualifications you’re looking for when seeking out integration specialists. If you already have a therapist, talk to them about your experiences.
Resources
Documentaries
- From Shock to Awe – Documenting two combat veterans’ journeys as they seek to heal from PTSD with the aid of psychedelics.
- How To Change Your Mind – Exploring what psychedelics can teach us about consciousness, dying, addiction, depression and transcendence.
- Mindfield: Ayahuasca – An exploration into the science and experience of an ayahuasca journey.
- Reconnect – A successful CEO, disconnected from his purpose, mission, and family, embarks on a journey to reconnect.
Books
- A detailed account of DEA-approved clinical research using DMT, one of the world’s most powerful psychedelic compounds:
- A philosophical essay on a mescaline journey, by Aldous Huxley:
Ongoing Research And Data
- The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies:
- Centre for Psychedelic Research | Imperial College London:
- Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research:
- UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics:
- Psychedelic Alpha, making data in the psychedelic sector available to all (Be sure to check out their monthly research review):
Databases
- Erowid – One of the most comprehensive online databases on psychoactive substances. Please note that not everything on this site is an entheogen:
Community
- The Humano Ludens Discord community: