Ayahuasca: Integration
I went to the jungle expecting to be cured of my childhood traumas after seven Ayahuasca ceremonies; other plant medicine journeys were accompanied. Like most people seeking out Ayahuasca, I was ready for healing, expansion, and a life-changing experience. Well, I certainly got a life-changing experience, but the medicine isn’t simply a door to a new life; it’s a mirror.
Ayahuasca is a penetrative medicine in that it goes deep within the physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental bodies, purging energies that no longer serve you by providing you with an extreme perspective shift. Many people re-experience trauma as a way to face the emotions rather than keeping them buried. I experienced being dropped into another person’s consciousness so I could understand their perspective and pain. Some people report feeling intense feelings of unconditional love and acceptance.
All of these experiences can be groundbreaking and extremely healing. However, most people don’t go home as a new person free from their traumas as a direct result of the medicine. They go home with a new understanding of life, their experiences, and their emotions and are better equipped to face new challenges with this changed perspective. I have found that the more profound healing takes place long after the ceremony ends within the integration.
How does one integrate their incredible experience after a ceremony? Here are a few ways:
Journaling
The most beneficial thing I did while in Peru was write down my experiences the day after the ceremony to go back and reflect on each lesson that was shown to me. Now, a few years later, I can re-immerse myself back into that world just by reading the powerful words I had notated. It allows me to recall the experience firsthand without any memory distortions. Another option is recording a voice note, which can be faster and more entertaining to listen back to.
Support Group
The people I experienced the retreat with will forever hold a special place in my heart. I have kept in touch with many of them and find it helpful to reach out and see how they are doing with their integration and processes. Talking to family and friends who don’t quite understand your journey can feel frustrating and disconnected. Ayahuasca is truly an experience that is hard to describe, and having someone who went through it with you can be a game-changer.
Therapist
One step above speaking to your fellow journeyers would be to find a licensed therapist well-versed in plant medicines and alternative healing methods. With new legalities around psychedelics, there has become an increasing need for trained practitioners in integration and assisted therapy.
Awareness & Presence
It is easy to fall back into the habits and routines of life once a journey is over. However, it’s important to remember the lessons that the medicine gave you. Take some time every day, week, or month to check in with yourself and see if you have been integrating what you learned or experienced on your journey. Even just expressing gratitude for your ceremony can help bring you back into the mindset of healing, learning and expansion.
Self Allowance
Remember that no one is perfect, and integrating new experiences and perspectives takes time. It’s been two years since my seven Ayahuasca journeys, and I’m still working on processing everything I learned. Try not to be hard on yourself if you aren’t transforming as quickly as you’d like. Take it a day at a time and surrender to the creative flow of life. Your intuition and new perspectives can guide you down a beautiful new path. One you may not have ever imagined for yourself. Surrender.