"The medicine went on to give me crystal clear instructions on ny integration, handing me a blueprint on how to study the language of my own heart. I'm excited to share more of those teachings in the future." Me too, there are so many vage information but nothing specific, but I guess when they say that a bwiti shaman is learning for years even decades from the Nima, there is a lot of specific orally teachings. This is the real esoteric knowledge given from the master to the adept. And it certainly has do to how transform inner Energy and tab into heart awareness. Something you only can experience at the end but there are techniques and wisdom out there.
Thank you so much Annabelle. For me, the first phase lasted ~3 hours and the second, introspective phase easily 18-24 hours, a little bit harder to tell. I definitely still feel the effects of the medicine - more clarity, less chatter, more presence. I feel less called to engage in mindless activities. My heart feels very, very open.
No I meant when did you have your experience? Recently? Or a while ago? I hope these experiences continue to show others the power of plant based medicine’s healing powers!!
I appreciate your nuanced perspectives and continue to educate myself on both ends of the spectrum (love Jules Evan's work), and try to catch myself whenever I'm swinging too far into extremes. Next week's article will actually address this!
I have heard quite a few "horror stories" from Iboga - not in a way that it creates permanent damages, but rather that the experience can be incredibly difficult. That risk seems to be lower with Ibogaine, which is why I decided to go for the isolated molecule in my first experience rather than the whole plant.
The clinic I went to (Beond) does work with Benzos to interrupt experiences that become too challenging. I know they provide the option, but I don't know how often it is exercised. It could be an interesting investigation! I will ponder it 😊
Also interesting would be how many indigenous people who do psychedelic on a regular basis have so called horror trips. I guess some of them would name and frame it different. May be getting HPPT for a Shibibo is not perceived as a disorder and maybe they could implement this into their dayli life in the jungle better then a westener in a big city.
Nevertheless this would be a excellent work for a ethnologist to spot some light on, someone with an approach like Carlos Castaneda but less prosaic and more scientific.
Absolutely! The way these tools are used in indigenous communities is very, very different. In Ayahuasca shamanism some traditions don't even speak of trauma, it's all about deities and entities. Would be super interesting to see how they deal with more challenging experiences, and how they make sense of them.
There is another article from the author where he quotes Terence mc kenna and his brother about a very devastating horror trip on shrooms which he once wanted to make public but deleted the passage from the book before publishing. After this experience he stopped shrooms completely and very strongly reduced his overall psychedelic consume. The article did not sound made up at all. For me this was a moment where I could hear the illusion of his persona and the narrative of the holy shrooms which was promoted by him break and needet some time to rearrange my own perspectives. Would be interesting what's out there when it comes to iboga and horrortrip and psychological adverse effects which exist for shure. Another topic where you maybe know something or could write a whole article. Is there a protocol and some sort of studies when it comes to horrortrip stopping with for example Benzodiazepines.
Julia - wondering if you did the booster dose of Ibogaine at beyond. It’s something that I’m choosing to forego in the name of coming home after 5 nights instead of 10, but I have concerns that I am missing something essential to the process and if I’m going all that way, do I just do it “right”! I noticed in your podcast with beyond as well as your story here you didn’t say anything about about the booster dose which makes me wonder if you didn’t do it, or if you did, and it just wasn’t extremely additive…
Hi - I believe I already responded to this in the other thread :) Anyways to reiterate here, I didn't do the booster because I felt complete after my journey. More than anything the booster is important for those in treatment for opioid addiction, to ensure continued interruption of withdrawal symptoms. So no need to worry in my opinion, you'll have a profound experience as is.
I think a lot about the long-term effects and beyond the extremely positive ones I've already experienced from this work over the past few years (overcame 4 "mental disorders", stopped drinking and smoking, improved my self-image and self-talk, became physically healthier, not to mention the abundance, joy, and awe I experience now on a daily basis), I also continue to educate myself from research - which shows over and over how remarkably safe these medicines are, and the outcomes they produce (better mood, increased neuroplasticity, better habits, increased connection to nature, and many more)
I keep going back because I continue to evolve and find parts within me I want to explore using these tools. I have 1-2 big medicine experiences a year.
I don't know if I will continue to do more - probably! My intentions have shifted from a focus on deep healing to spiritual curiosity and exploration, and simply becoming a better person through every journey I do.
I don't believe people are either healed or unhealed, I think people are on the healing path. That's a life-long path, I will always be on it. But yes, I no longer struggle with many of the thought and habit patterns that made my life difficult for many years. But the work of integrating all parts of yourself into your consciousness and allowing all of it to be there without shame, judgement or repression - that's the life-long journey from the mind to the heart in my mind.
I take substantial amounts of time off from medicine work, usually up to 6-12 months in between experiences to simply "be" as you say. When I feel like I've integrated all teachings and am ready for new ones, only then I return.
My end goal with all of this work is to remove all the barriers within me that are in the way of becoming the purest expression of love.
This drug can have dangerous cardiac effects that can cause arrhythmias or death. Just have to have one’s eyes and mind open for both good and bad. Recent research study documented these risks. It can help opioid detox but too risky for prime time
Yes, this is why this medicine requires a clinical setting (Ibogaine specifically, the risk profile is different when the medicine is consumed in its natural form as Iboga root bark). My understanding is that most of the cardiac issues and deaths have occured in addiction patients that were not properly clinically supervised.
Finally an article that gives a voice to this plant medicine. Thank You!
Thanks Gary for the incredible compliment. If I could only achieve one thing with my writing, it would be this.
"The medicine went on to give me crystal clear instructions on ny integration, handing me a blueprint on how to study the language of my own heart. I'm excited to share more of those teachings in the future." Me too, there are so many vage information but nothing specific, but I guess when they say that a bwiti shaman is learning for years even decades from the Nima, there is a lot of specific orally teachings. This is the real esoteric knowledge given from the master to the adept. And it certainly has do to how transform inner Energy and tab into heart awareness. Something you only can experience at the end but there are techniques and wisdom out there.
How long ago was your experience and are you still feeling the effects of the medicine? What an amazing piece you’ve written. Thank you 🙏🏼
Thank you so much Annabelle. For me, the first phase lasted ~3 hours and the second, introspective phase easily 18-24 hours, a little bit harder to tell. I definitely still feel the effects of the medicine - more clarity, less chatter, more presence. I feel less called to engage in mindless activities. My heart feels very, very open.
No I meant when did you have your experience? Recently? Or a while ago? I hope these experiences continue to show others the power of plant based medicine’s healing powers!!
Oh, yes it was very recently! Beginning of February
Thank you for continuing to share your experiences-
Thanks for being here, Elizabeth!
As you are a very informed plant medicine user I refer you to this link as it rounds up the overall picture and approach to the topic:
https://www.ecstaticintegration.org/p/successfully-treating-c-ptsd-with?utm_campaign=email-post&r=l5on7&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
I have only heard the anti psychedelics probaganda or the pro psychedelics voices. As always the truth is in the middel.
I appreciate your nuanced perspectives and continue to educate myself on both ends of the spectrum (love Jules Evan's work), and try to catch myself whenever I'm swinging too far into extremes. Next week's article will actually address this!
I have heard quite a few "horror stories" from Iboga - not in a way that it creates permanent damages, but rather that the experience can be incredibly difficult. That risk seems to be lower with Ibogaine, which is why I decided to go for the isolated molecule in my first experience rather than the whole plant.
The clinic I went to (Beond) does work with Benzos to interrupt experiences that become too challenging. I know they provide the option, but I don't know how often it is exercised. It could be an interesting investigation! I will ponder it 😊
Also interesting would be how many indigenous people who do psychedelic on a regular basis have so called horror trips. I guess some of them would name and frame it different. May be getting HPPT for a Shibibo is not perceived as a disorder and maybe they could implement this into their dayli life in the jungle better then a westener in a big city.
Nevertheless this would be a excellent work for a ethnologist to spot some light on, someone with an approach like Carlos Castaneda but less prosaic and more scientific.
Absolutely! The way these tools are used in indigenous communities is very, very different. In Ayahuasca shamanism some traditions don't even speak of trauma, it's all about deities and entities. Would be super interesting to see how they deal with more challenging experiences, and how they make sense of them.
There is another article from the author where he quotes Terence mc kenna and his brother about a very devastating horror trip on shrooms which he once wanted to make public but deleted the passage from the book before publishing. After this experience he stopped shrooms completely and very strongly reduced his overall psychedelic consume. The article did not sound made up at all. For me this was a moment where I could hear the illusion of his persona and the narrative of the holy shrooms which was promoted by him break and needet some time to rearrange my own perspectives. Would be interesting what's out there when it comes to iboga and horrortrip and psychological adverse effects which exist for shure. Another topic where you maybe know something or could write a whole article. Is there a protocol and some sort of studies when it comes to horrortrip stopping with for example Benzodiazepines.
Julia - wondering if you did the booster dose of Ibogaine at beyond. It’s something that I’m choosing to forego in the name of coming home after 5 nights instead of 10, but I have concerns that I am missing something essential to the process and if I’m going all that way, do I just do it “right”! I noticed in your podcast with beyond as well as your story here you didn’t say anything about about the booster dose which makes me wonder if you didn’t do it, or if you did, and it just wasn’t extremely additive…
Hi - I believe I already responded to this in the other thread :) Anyways to reiterate here, I didn't do the booster because I felt complete after my journey. More than anything the booster is important for those in treatment for opioid addiction, to ensure continued interruption of withdrawal symptoms. So no need to worry in my opinion, you'll have a profound experience as is.
Thanks for sharing your experience !
I ask these questions in love and light.
-Are you ever concerned about LongTerm affects on your heart, body, and mind from these intense experiences ?
- Why do you keep continue ‘doing’ new, or more, psychedelics continuously ?
- After this Iboga experience, which sounds like the deepest, most rewarding, healing, cleansing … experience, anyone Could possibly Do ,
will you continue to Do more ? Why ?
- Will you ever be ‘Healed’ or enough ?
- After Doing so much for -+5 yrs, do you think some Time Off to fully integrate and just BE, might be good for you ?
- What is your End Goal with all these combined experiences ?
Thanks for your insights and time !!
♾️🌓
Hi Eric,
Answering in the order of your questions below!
I think a lot about the long-term effects and beyond the extremely positive ones I've already experienced from this work over the past few years (overcame 4 "mental disorders", stopped drinking and smoking, improved my self-image and self-talk, became physically healthier, not to mention the abundance, joy, and awe I experience now on a daily basis), I also continue to educate myself from research - which shows over and over how remarkably safe these medicines are, and the outcomes they produce (better mood, increased neuroplasticity, better habits, increased connection to nature, and many more)
I keep going back because I continue to evolve and find parts within me I want to explore using these tools. I have 1-2 big medicine experiences a year.
I don't know if I will continue to do more - probably! My intentions have shifted from a focus on deep healing to spiritual curiosity and exploration, and simply becoming a better person through every journey I do.
I don't believe people are either healed or unhealed, I think people are on the healing path. That's a life-long path, I will always be on it. But yes, I no longer struggle with many of the thought and habit patterns that made my life difficult for many years. But the work of integrating all parts of yourself into your consciousness and allowing all of it to be there without shame, judgement or repression - that's the life-long journey from the mind to the heart in my mind.
I take substantial amounts of time off from medicine work, usually up to 6-12 months in between experiences to simply "be" as you say. When I feel like I've integrated all teachings and am ready for new ones, only then I return.
My end goal with all of this work is to remove all the barriers within me that are in the way of becoming the purest expression of love.
This drug can have dangerous cardiac effects that can cause arrhythmias or death. Just have to have one’s eyes and mind open for both good and bad. Recent research study documented these risks. It can help opioid detox but too risky for prime time
Yes, this is why this medicine requires a clinical setting (Ibogaine specifically, the risk profile is different when the medicine is consumed in its natural form as Iboga root bark). My understanding is that most of the cardiac issues and deaths have occured in addiction patients that were not properly clinically supervised.