learn from the plants and animals around me.
In one of my first ceremonies, I was com-
municating telepathically with a wild boar. I
could tell it wanted to show me something. As
I followed it, it led me to a temple in South In-
dia, where the main deity was Lord Vishnu. It
occurred to me much later that Lord Vishnu
once took the form of a wild boar in one of
his incarnations. I took this as a sign and
visited some temples in the south during my
next visit back to my home in India, where
I had a profound spiritual awakening at a
Shiva temple in a South Indian town called
Srisailam.
Further into the medicine journey, we
might have visions of people in current or
past lifetimes with whom we have strong
attachment or detachment. The medicine can
show us the purpose of these people in our
lives and ways to heal, fortify, or let go our
relationships with them. It provides a different
perspective of why we are not fully at peace
with ourselves or with these people.
My next and most powerful visions are
related to the spirits and my relationship
with them. Most of my visions are from this
realm. From my telepathic connections with
several celestial being and saints such as
Shiva, Durga, Ganesh, Krishna, Hanuman,
Sai Baba, my spiritual teachers and many
more; I have learned many things. I’ve learned
about the nature of consciousness, mysteries
of the universe, and harmonious living with
divine alignment. It is common to see visions
of the forms of divine we are most attached
to. The longer we sit with these medicines, the
distinctions between the different man-made
gods vanish and we begin to connect with the
singular stream of consciousness that is run-
ning through all creation. This, in my view, is
the most powerful lesson.
I was also blessed with telepathic down-
loads on a number of subjects: space and
time, extraterrestrials, rhythms of the uni-
verse, oneness in all creations, nature and age
of god, visitations from ancestors in parallel
universes, and more. The nature of the visions
described above vary for each person, based
on their past samskāras and present state of
consciousness.
I must mention that many of these vi-
sions are metaphorical, and I'd suggest not
interpreting them verbatim. Sometimes it is
very clear as to what the learning is, while
other times it is less clear. It is important to
ponder these visions and wait for guidance
on how they can be interpreted. I have found
that one of the benefits of my repeated plant
medicine journeys is that the more I sit with
the medicine, the easier it becomes to interpret
my visions.
Healing with Plant Medicine
Many people in plant medicine communities
have found that they experience spiritual ben-
efits such as leading simpler and more harmoni-
ous lives, as well as strengthening affiliation to
their own religious and spiritual faiths. Com-
munity members have shared with me a number
of physical and mental health benefits from
sitting in plant medicine circles. While these are
anecdotal, the scientific communities are turning
their attention here. For example, a recent study
conducted at the University of Sao Paulo in
Brazil investigated the antidepressant effects of
Ayahuasca. Researchers around the world are
looking at the psychological and physiologic
effects of Ayahuasca in addiction and mental
health. Investigations of psilocybin mushrooms
for depression have been published in esteemed
journal The Lancet and is an area of active re-
search. There is even an organization devoted tothe modern study of plant medicines. MAPS, the
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic
Studies, “is a nonprofit research and educational
organization that develops medical, legal, and
cultural contexts for people to benefit from the
careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana.”
I do want to mention that not everybody
has the positive effects I have had with Aya-
huasca. The plant is a living spirit. Some have
expressed dissatisfaction with the medicine
or the process of consuming it. In my humble
opinion, each experience depends on the au-
thenticity and integrity of the people who are
administering the medicine and the intentions
of the people taking it.
If plant medicines are part of your path, I
wish you good health and spiritual growth.Yogi Arvind is a Los Angeles based spiritual teacher,
entrepreneur, and activist: yogiarvind.com.7 SUGGESTIONS FOR SAFELY
PARTICIPATING IN PLANT MEDICINE- CHOOSE A FACILITATOR CAREFULLY
Choose a person with considerable experience with the medicine to administer it for you.
If you are interested in authenticity, look for people with a spiritual lineage as compared to
people who are doing plant medicine for only commercial reasons. In my opinion, people
who are already energy workers or healers often make good medicine people. - FOLLOW THE DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
Many medicine ceremonies suggest specific dietary guidelines in preparation for the
experience. Follow them. Even without specific guidelines, eat a clean and simple diet at
least one week before the medicine. - THE JOURNEY BEGINS BEFORE THE CEREMONY
People often say that the journey begins the moment you make the decision to commit to a
ceremony, or when you feel called by the spirit of the plant. You may start having
experiences or become aware of insights before even drinking the medicine. - SURRENDER TO THE MEDICINE AND THE PROCESS, DO NOT TRY TO CONTROL IT
Any doubt and fear projected towards the medicine will affect the experience of the
journey. Pre-conceived expectations may leave you disappointed. Make peace with the idea
that the spirit of the medicine will show you what you need to know and what you are ready
for in the journey itself. - DISCUSS YOUR MEDICAL CONDITIONS AS WELL AS ANY SUPPLEMENTS AND
PHARMACEUTICALS YOU ARE CURRENTLY TAKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS
OF THE MEDICINE
Let them be the judge of your suitability to sit with the medicine. Be transparent about any
concerns so you can work with the facilitator and the medicine effectively. - START WITH A SMALL QUANTITY OF THE MEDICINE AND GRADUALLY INCREASE
THE SERVING SIZE
More is not always better. Make sure to not let ego determine your dose. - BE PREPARED FOR AN INTEGRATION PROCESS AFTER THE CEREMONY
Take some extra time to rest well, recollect the lessons from the ceremony, and see how you
can integrate these lessons in your real life. Only share your experiences with others after
you have gone through the integration process