Episode Details

It seems like everyone wants to do psychedelics with a shaman. No one really looks at the other spiritual practices.  Tom decided to puke, like a lot.  But there were reasons.  We spoke to Dre and Charlotte from the Ancestral Project to explain why he decided to try it, not only once but three times.

Summary

In this conversation, Matt and Tom speak with Andrea and Charlotte from the Ancestral Project, who are both shamans. They discuss the origin story of the Ancestral Project and how they came to practice shamanism. The conversation also touches on the importance of decolonization and understanding the broader perspective of shamanism. Andrea and Charlotte share their personal journeys into shamanism and challenge stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding the practice. The conversation explores the relationship with medicines and the need for a measured and controlled approach. It highlights the power of groupthink and the dangers of misinformation. The conversation also delves into the potential for abuse in spiritual modalities and the importance of asking the right questions when seeking a facilitator. The integration process is emphasized, with a focus on patience and gentleness. The ceremony process, including the use of combo, is discussed, along with the challenging dieta. The conversation concludes by emphasizing the need for proper guides in the healing journey. In this conversation, Charlotte James and Undrea Wright discuss various aspects of psychedelic practices. They emphasize the importance of personal experience and understanding the depths of these journeys before supporting others. They also highlight the ethical considerations of providing psychedelic therapy without personal experience. The conversation touches on the rise of shamanistic experiences and the commercialization of psychedelics. The speakers discuss the value of providing information and checklists to ensure safe and informed psychedelic experiences. They also emphasize the importance of listening to intuition and respecting personal boundaries. Finally, they discuss the accessibility and responsibility of psychedelic practices in healing oneself and contributing to the healing of others.

Takeaways

Shamanism is a practice that supports people in getting in right relationship with themselves and all other beings.
Decolonization is an important process in shamanism, as it involves deconstructing and challenging underlying assumptions and constructs.
Shamanism is not limited to specific cultures or regions, but is a practice that has been present in various forms throughout human history.
Personal experiences with substances like cannabis and tobacco can be part of the shamanic journey, and it is important to understand their cultural and ancestral significance. Personal experience and understanding the depths of psychedelic journeys are crucial before supporting others.
Ethical considerations should be taken into account when providing psychedelic therapy without personal experience.
The rise of shamanistic experiences and commercialization has complicated the distinction between charlatons and legitimate practitioners.
Providing information and checklists can help ensure safe and informed psychedelic experiences.
Listening to intuition and respecting personal boundaries are important in navigating psychedelic experiences.
Fear in psychedelic experiences should be understood and transmuted into respect.
Psychedelic practices are accessible to everyone and carry the responsibility of healing oneself and contributing to the healing of others.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Accidental Time Off
02:39 Introducing the Ancestral Project
03:12 Starting with a Prayer
06:17 Origin Story of the Ancestral Project
08:26 Discovering Shamanism
14:26 Getting Started in Shamanism
26:24 Understanding Shamanism and Decolo