There is great healing potential when engaging therapeutically with sacred plant medicine/psychedelics;  these consciousness medicine tools have brought healing to many when nothing else worked.  Living with a persistent health condition - as many who live with it know - can be like traversing a river with rough rapids and rocks at every turn.  The experience can be destabilizing, demoralizing, lonely, and frightening. 

 

My story centers around the sudden onset of a chronic headache disorder manifesting in unrelenting dizziness with underlying complex trauma. The experience entailed years of trying interventions of pharmaceuticals, alternative therapies, medical trials, and rehab, to no avail. I was considered treatment-resistant - in that no treatments were helpful - until I pursued intentional therapeutic work with psychedelic medicines.  My path to this point was profoundly challenging,  certainly a rite of passage, and the self feels lost amid the struggle with disorder and loss. My research group delved into this lived experience of loss more rigorously by investigating through inquiry the journey of the self on the path of healing from a chronic health condition, specifically utilizing psychedelic medicine. There is more to share about my healing journey and research, which is included in a blog post. 

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Sacred Medicine Journey

 The medicine tools I have personally worked with in facilitated spaces include: the Amazonian brew Ayahuasca in Shipibo ceremonies, Psilocybin mushrooms in shamanic ceremonies,  Wuachuma/San Pedro cacti, as well as, engaging with MDMA and Ketamine assisted therapies in numerous sessions, and other compounds in a variety of dosing experiences.  Additional expanded states of consciousness experiences have included DreamShadow™ breathwork, vision quest, Lakota sweat lodge, sound healings, sensory deprivation, and dream incubation. 

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Wounded Healer Archetype

I have undergone a transformative experience that has changed the trajectory of my life. This profound event, often referred to as a shamanic illness or a sacred wound, has imbued me with insight, empathy, and wisdom that enables me to assist others on their healing journeys.

 

This personal journey through adversity and healing has given me a deep understanding of the human experience. Having faced and overcome many challenges, I possess firsthand lived experience of the pain, struggle, and resilience required for personal transformation. This intimate familiarity with the healing process allows me to connect with others who are navigating their wounds and to guide them toward growth and wholeness.

 

Through my healing journey, I have learned the importance of tending to the sacred wound—the symbolic representation of both personal suffering and the transformative potential it holds. I have discovered the power of vulnerability, self-compassion, and self-acceptance by embracing and honoring this wound. This wisdom allows me to keep a sacred space for my clients, creating an environment of trust and support where they can explore their wounds and find healing.

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Compassionate Witnessing

My role extends beyond simply offering guidance or advice. It involves deep listening, empathy, and holding space for others to share their stories and experiences without judgment, with what Carl Rogers referred to as unconditional positive regard. Through compassionate witnessing, I facilitate clients in finding their inner voice of truth; inviting them to sit with it, listen to it, embrace and express it - for this is the song of the soul.