The Shaman and drugs.

This is one of those subjects that comes up from so many angles. Students eagerly ask when we are going to do a special journey, people in the audience will ask what my favorite drug is, what drugs are best for certain visions and so on. I attribute the attention put on this from stereotypes and the general desire of people to get high.

I like the term “teacher plant”. It implies that the plant has something to teach and a process in which to do so. I would like to also point out that in this culture you can get Baker Acted for things like saying a plant told you something, especially if you admit to doing what the plant told you to do. I think this an interesting for a culture to do, especially when it is based on a religion in which a prominent figure received divine wisdom from a plant. Personally, I think I would have a better conversation with a bush that wasn’t burning. It wouldn’t be rushed.

Lets look at a possible first time for anyone to try a teacher plant. They were walking along and saw a mushroom that looked and smelled like the other ones they ate so they picked a few and snacked on them as they hiked. Then they heard the trees quietly laughing, then they were laughing, all the animals looked like they were smiling and it felt sooo good to swim because the river was now seen as this sensual world that they never noticed that way before. They thought of tribal issues and came up with solutions. They imagined a new type of dwelling as they stared at a passing turtle. They went home and told everyone and the people were amazed. The people wanted to know what spirit told of these things, and what was so funny? The person who told these things said, “I don’t know why all this is so funny or what spirit told me, but I did find some new mushrooms in mammoth shit. Wanna try some?” Someone else could have used some dried stems and buds of a plant to start a fire. As the smoke blew over them they noticed a different way of looking at things and their opinions had changed. At some time the people concluded that the spirits of the plants were communicating with them and teaching. The Shaman’s job was to get to know these spirits and regularly communicate with them and find better ways to do so through ceremonies, rituals and mixes of substances that would help people integrate and better understand their world.

Now we are in the 21st century. Our world is no longer flat nor the center of the universe, but the drugs did get better. Visions can be had on a plasma screen TV and some krippy. Ecstasy can bring out the friendly spirit in everybody and world problems can be thoroughly discussed over red wine and a white line. Mushrooms can still lighten the fear of the oncoming hurricane. Sailors can channel the spirit of Captain Morgan as the land lubbers channel Jack Daniels as the New Agers say “It’s all good.” Let’s not forget the blue diamond for the Kundalini weenie that could last for hours. In a time and country where there is a drug for every condition of humanity, the real adventure in the spiritual journey could be sobriety.

The teacher plants have their place in traditional Shamanism and in the modern world. We can get far from nature in our modern society and the technology that bombards us with useless information and noise. It can be hard to just relax enough to get to sleep, much less meditate or pursue different perceptions so in these times the teacher plants can help but we should remember the goal is always to grow out of the need for that teacher. Just like you did in school. The skill is in remembering the space you held with the teacher plant and be able to bring that back at will. Those plants and ceremonies are not for beginners but for the people who have gone through the self discovery and exploration process well enough to have their “demons” and issues in proper perspective. If you don’t have yourself together before the journey, the journey can pull you apart.

I’ve done about every mix known to Shamanism and the everyday world for ceremonies and recreation. It was a learning experience and I stayed after class for extra credits but at this time in my life I have the tendency to do the mixes when I am not doing anything Shamanic. In everyday life I’ll have my mood altering substances ( I get bored easily) but before, during and after ceremony I will be straight. Same with readings, classes and lectures and I’ve been known to fast for a week before Shamanic work if I think that food may interfere with the space I want to hold. I can call back the space I had with the teacher plants if I want to. I think if you need to use the plants every time you want to journey you’re either like the kid that never graduated or you’re a junkie. Just my thoughts.

Another thing to look at as far as a perception altering process is physical exertion. I would go on long runs through the mountains and let my body take over to get to the point of perfect breath and timing. I was totally high and clear of thought. Sweat Lodges are similar in that the force the body to shut down non essential systems, the first of which is ego, allowing one to sit joined in spirit and body without interference. I’ve done the Lodges with many mixes but none better than after physical exertion and fasting. I would recommend trying the plants and mixes as a part of training but only with someone who has extensive knowledge and experience and after you have yourself in order. People think that they can have an altered journey and get themselves together but that is the farthest thing from the truth. The “drugs”, wherever their source, are there to allow or promote a different perspective. Nothing more.