I have just returned from co-facilitating a magic mushroom retreat at the beautiful Mother’s House retreat centre in Holland. It was truly an honour to be of service to the participants, to the team, and to the sacred psilocybin mushrooms.
A full moon, 1 sweat lodge ceremony, 1 sound bath, 2 mushroom ceremonies, 3 breathwork journeys, 4 meditations, 5 nights, 6 facilitators, 7 participants, sharing circles, integration and a whole lot of beautiful music, magic and medicine. Oh, and not forgetting 1 sweet little dog and 2 cats, the guardians of the house who kept watch during ceremony. We guided participants through deep inner work using many of the tools and techniques I use in my practice.
I was humbled by the courage of the participants, each with their own unique intentions and journeys. From exploring spiritual expansion, to deeper understanding of self, healing old wounds, and finding clarity, purpose and direction. It is truly a privilege to hold safe and loving space for people to take the deep dive into the unknown on a journey of self-discovery, to the ‘antipodes of the mind’ and into the Great Mystery led by the sacred spirit of the mushrooms. ‘Los Ninos’ (the children) as they are known in the Mazatec tradition, truly came out to play with love, joy and that child-like sense of wonder. The ceremonies were beautifully held, with a mixture of recorded and live music that flowed and carried the participants through each moment of their voyage. I was blessed to be welcomed into The Medicine Tribe, and to work with such beautiful loving souls who are passionately dedicated to safely serving the participants and the spirit of the sacred medicine. Mother’s House truly is a home away from home, a nurturing sanctuary set in a beautiful peaceful location surrounded by nature. As well as the beautiful artwork and the wellness facilities that make it the perfect place to retreat to find a moment of calm and contemplation.
In addition to the ceremonies and therapeutic work, I was once again struck by the healing power of community and connection. The mycelial network connects individual plants together, allowing them to communicate and work together to transfer water and minerals so that the whole forest can thrive as an eco-system, providing healing and support to one another. In the same way, we came together in community, from different backgrounds with unique stories and wounds. Being able to speak openly about personal struggles, to be heard, to be seen and to be understood without judgement. To be accepted, and to know that you are not alone in your humanness is a wonderfully powerful healing in itself. “The most effective medicine is being witnessed and cared for by compassionate others”. At the end of the second ceremony, we sat together under the stars in the dancing light of the fire and made music together.
The journeys continue long after retreat has ended, integrating insights and using the 6 week window of enhanced neuroplasticity to make positive permanent changes. We will come together again online in 4 weeks time to check in and to share integration insights and challenges. Each participant’s process of integration will be as unique as their journey, though we suggest helpful tools and techniques, it is up to the individual to use their inner wisdom and intuition and learn what works for them. There is no specific timeframe for integrating such a transformative and profound experience, healing does not occur overnight, some insights may take a lifetime to process. However, the seeds have been planted and the first shoots of new life have begun their journey up towards the light, fed by compassion and watered with awareness.
In the words of Rene Daumal - “You cannot stay on the summit forever. You have to come down again….One climbs and one sees; one descends and one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself….by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one no longer sees, one can at least still know.”
Like the individual plants in a vast forest, through invisible threads that run deep underground, we are all connected. May we work together and share our resources, provide shelter for others, staying grounded through our roots, whilst reaching up into the stars, bending with the winds, shedding what no longer serves us to make way for new growth and patiently becoming stronger day by day.
